Highlands of Malaysia

Trip Start May 15, 2004
1
9
48
Trip End Aug 20, 2004


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Wednesday, June 9, 2004

Thoughts during my 6 hour bus ride - someone told me I should feel bad about watching pirated DVDs or buying them...why? Copyright laws generally exist and were written by a bunch of already rich people who want to become richer and protect their rich friends! What the hell do I care about laws written only to make rich people richer, generally by overcharging the poor and middle class? I may never buy or rent a movie again...at an authorized dealer that is! Haha, I mean I understand the artist wants their songs protected, but when they have an interview in their million dollar mansion and complain about people stealing money from their family it's a bit difficult to feel bad for them.
Anyway, I arrived pretty late in Cameron Highlands and checked into Fathers Guest House, which is a travelers dream...nice rooms, a restaurant, huge selection of (pirated) DVDs to watch on the big screen TV, homemade cakes for snacks, dogs to play with...NICE!

I woke up the next day with a severe headache and just watched DVDs (Kill Bill V2, Bad Boys 2, and the Bourne Identity).

June 9 - No headache, so I'm finally able to go hiking! After breakfast I head out to climb up Mt. Berembun (1812m), the highest peak near CH. It wasn't the easiest climbing...though the locals say it's clearly marked, there were clearly no markings at all! I end up asking a construction guy for directions and had to walk through some wooded Malaysian slum and then just basically guess. I started not feeling well again, a small headache, fatigue, kind of dizzy, really tired and had to stop several times...very strange for my normally hyper ass. I reached the top and planned on hiking longer, but decided it was best to descend. I came across a group of British girls and we talked a bit and then I continued down, ending up no where near where I began! The trail got very steep and the jungle became denser and somehow I end up in this plastic covered flower field with someones old furniture lying about. I eventually found the road and stopped at a nice flower garden, the flowers here are everywhere and beautiful, and then stopped in the park to read ( I finished another book, Black Notice and began The Best American Travel Writing). I stop again in a playground and watch the kids play and the locals stroll through the park. I get back to the guesthouse and learn that Mt. Bromo (where I took those great volcano sunrise pictures)has just erupted!! I was there only two weeks ago! Anyway, I'll go to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow and then hop an overnight bus to Merating, the port sity to get to Tioman island.

Random thought - having travelled for a bit with some friends for the first time just reinforces what I said about Japan and how the people you meet really make where you are memorable. I'm having fun and seeing great places, but it was even more fun travelling with some good people.
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