Penang
We spent Monday around the pool, nothing much to report, apart from my back massage for £6!! It was also Penang food festival but we didn't find out about it until we were leaving on Tuesday.
Penang to KL
Forget any 6-7 hour bus journeys, flights are only £30 and with only two days left it wasn't worth it.
KL
We arrived at KL and did the same bus journey and sky train from a previous post to our hotel - which by the way is another 5 star corker!!!!
We already booked club lounge in the hotel so we've got really REALLY good rooms facing the petronas towers and breakfast, afternoon tea & evening cocktails in the club lounge.
We caught the evening cocktails then headed to China Town where the shopping is excellent. I don't even remember getting back to the hotel, I was still wrecked from the free bar - dredding opening the shopping bags & seeing what I bought :-/
Today
This morning we headed to the Petronas Towers but didn't make it out of the shopping mall at the bottom.. Shopping is cheap over here.. Just hope the luggage allowance is too.
We made it back for afternoon tea and now, on our last night, are about to head for dinner at the top of KL Tower.
Just need to pull ourselves away from the free bar, let's hope our driver is late - they have been every other time!
Wednesday 18 March 2009
Sunday 15 March 2009
Penang
Penang (Batu Ferringhi)
All the travelling finally caught up again, so it was a day around the pool. We're staying in a small seaside resort which is 20 mins away from Georgetown - the main town. It really is a town too - you name it, it's got it, including all the usual fast food chains. I was dreading the whole of Penang being like that, but it wasn't.
Our resort reminds me of Bouganvilla in Mallorca, so it took me back to childhood a little bit. (Somewhere we spent summer as kids). It's family orientated, but pretty and has everything you need (like a bar in the middle of the pool!!!).
We had a stroll down the beach, but you can't go in the sea as it's full of jellyfish, there's also a huge rock in the sea, like a mini island, which the resort is named after - Batu Ferringhi - which means 'foreigners rock'.
We've just got back from the night markets - it's 4 ringgits (I keep calling them rupees to wind Bev up) for a dvd!, which is 80p and our dinner of Penang style chicken & prawn rice plus drinks was 6 ringgits - about £1.20!
I think we should all spend the recession in Asia!
All the travelling finally caught up again, so it was a day around the pool. We're staying in a small seaside resort which is 20 mins away from Georgetown - the main town. It really is a town too - you name it, it's got it, including all the usual fast food chains. I was dreading the whole of Penang being like that, but it wasn't.
Our resort reminds me of Bouganvilla in Mallorca, so it took me back to childhood a little bit. (Somewhere we spent summer as kids). It's family orientated, but pretty and has everything you need (like a bar in the middle of the pool!!!).
We had a stroll down the beach, but you can't go in the sea as it's full of jellyfish, there's also a huge rock in the sea, like a mini island, which the resort is named after - Batu Ferringhi - which means 'foreigners rock'.
We've just got back from the night markets - it's 4 ringgits (I keep calling them rupees to wind Bev up) for a dvd!, which is 80p and our dinner of Penang style chicken & prawn rice plus drinks was 6 ringgits - about £1.20!
I think we should all spend the recession in Asia!
Saturday 14 March 2009
Haunted Hotel, Highlands & Penang
Haunted Hotel
I had the worst night sleep last night in our rickety old run down hotel. As we came back from eating the steamboat, and walked back to our hotel, which is on top of the hill, lightening struck behind it and bats flew from the belfry setting the scene. It's like the shining. Our room even comes complete with blood stains on the carpet.
There's also a strange convent in the village that's owned by 3 American families that live there and come down into the village to eat with their student au pairs who stand around the table whilst the families eat. It's like earie Indiana (google it) or the twilight zone with a secret cult that runs the town.
By the way last night was Friday the 13th.
Malaysia as a country is very green, it's also very wet. The sun shines up until around 5-6pm and then it pours down none stop all through the night with Hollywood style lightening.
Cameron Highlands
BOH Tea Plantation
Bee Farm & Markets
Butterfly Farm
Strawberry Farm
Rose Garden
Buddhist Temple
BOH Tea Plantation
Another early start. First to the tea plantations where we stopped half way up the mountain for photographs of the stunning views. The pyramid hills blend into each other for miles and look like someone has come along and dropped a velvet jade blanket over them. We then got taken for a tour of the little factory and then had teacinos on the viewpoint (big wooden balcony that struts out over the tea plantation.
Bee Farm
The sign reads "the bee farm will not be responsible for any injury caused entering these premises" and if that isn't enough to put you off the bee hive boxes have neon orange stencils of bees on them to warn you.
Butterfly Farm
There was an additional entrance fee for the butterfly farm, and the last one we went to in Chiang Mai had 3 butterflys in it, so we didn't bother, we went shopping instead. There were also snakes & scorpians. Having said that we got to see all the butterflys and scorpians in the end - they were all pinned up & framed, ready to buy in the souvenir shop!
Strawberry Farm
You could pick all the strawberries you wanted and pay for them by weight - if only they weren't green and had finished growing. The little cafe made a really nice strawberry ice cream and the views from the roof top terrace made up for it.
Rose Garden & Buddhist Temple
Again there was an additional charge for the gardens, so we didn't bother. I should point out we wasn't being tight with our money (not that it's a bad thing if we were) but, we were more interested in the rice paddy fields across the road.
Our final stop was at the Buddhist temple. Even though I still felt templed out, it was still very impressive. There were roof slates with prayers on them stacked up against the side of the wall, I assume the monks will make them waterproof and eventually place them on the roof. (Or wash them clean for next years tourists).
We made it back in time to catch our 2.30pm bus to Penang (which turned up at 3).
Penang
It's taken 6 hours by bus to get to Penang, hence the long post..
On our journey to Penang I said to Bev I thought someone was standing near the bedroom door back at our spooky hotel. She said she did too but wasn't going to mention it. But then she also said the strangers from the convent probably come and do experiments on us in our sleep.
At least we made it back down the mountain in one piece!
I had the worst night sleep last night in our rickety old run down hotel. As we came back from eating the steamboat, and walked back to our hotel, which is on top of the hill, lightening struck behind it and bats flew from the belfry setting the scene. It's like the shining. Our room even comes complete with blood stains on the carpet.
There's also a strange convent in the village that's owned by 3 American families that live there and come down into the village to eat with their student au pairs who stand around the table whilst the families eat. It's like earie Indiana (google it) or the twilight zone with a secret cult that runs the town.
By the way last night was Friday the 13th.
Malaysia as a country is very green, it's also very wet. The sun shines up until around 5-6pm and then it pours down none stop all through the night with Hollywood style lightening.
Cameron Highlands
BOH Tea Plantation
Bee Farm & Markets
Butterfly Farm
Strawberry Farm
Rose Garden
Buddhist Temple
BOH Tea Plantation
Another early start. First to the tea plantations where we stopped half way up the mountain for photographs of the stunning views. The pyramid hills blend into each other for miles and look like someone has come along and dropped a velvet jade blanket over them. We then got taken for a tour of the little factory and then had teacinos on the viewpoint (big wooden balcony that struts out over the tea plantation.
Bee Farm
The sign reads "the bee farm will not be responsible for any injury caused entering these premises" and if that isn't enough to put you off the bee hive boxes have neon orange stencils of bees on them to warn you.
Butterfly Farm
There was an additional entrance fee for the butterfly farm, and the last one we went to in Chiang Mai had 3 butterflys in it, so we didn't bother, we went shopping instead. There were also snakes & scorpians. Having said that we got to see all the butterflys and scorpians in the end - they were all pinned up & framed, ready to buy in the souvenir shop!
Strawberry Farm
You could pick all the strawberries you wanted and pay for them by weight - if only they weren't green and had finished growing. The little cafe made a really nice strawberry ice cream and the views from the roof top terrace made up for it.
Rose Garden & Buddhist Temple
Again there was an additional charge for the gardens, so we didn't bother. I should point out we wasn't being tight with our money (not that it's a bad thing if we were) but, we were more interested in the rice paddy fields across the road.
Our final stop was at the Buddhist temple. Even though I still felt templed out, it was still very impressive. There were roof slates with prayers on them stacked up against the side of the wall, I assume the monks will make them waterproof and eventually place them on the roof. (Or wash them clean for next years tourists).
We made it back in time to catch our 2.30pm bus to Penang (which turned up at 3).
Penang
It's taken 6 hours by bus to get to Penang, hence the long post..
On our journey to Penang I said to Bev I thought someone was standing near the bedroom door back at our spooky hotel. She said she did too but wasn't going to mention it. But then she also said the strangers from the convent probably come and do experiments on us in our sleep.
At least we made it back down the mountain in one piece!
Friday 13 March 2009
Not to mention...
Not to mention the tops of trees that have snapped off. Wonder what fell on them...
Malaysia
KL
Yesterday we went for a walk through the city forest and headed to the KL tower. We didn't go up the tower because we're having dinner up there on our last night.
Most of the rest of the afternoon was spent arranging our trip & accommodation in the Cameron Highlands and relaxing in the spa at the hotel. We treated ourselves to food at Hard Rock and had a drink back at the hotel (which cost us £40 for 2 drinks, but let's not mention that). We were going to go clubbing but had to get up early because...
Cameron Highlands
...after a 4-5 hr bumpy coach ride up to the mountains, we're now in the Cameron Highlands where the tea & strawberry plantations are - exactly as you see them in the documentaries.
The views are amazing and so were the sheer drops above the tree tops as our bus speeded it's way around the narrow windy road - after an hour of gripping on to the edge of my seat my hands are still numb.
We're in the sleepy town of tanah rata, it's towards the border of Thailand, very Indian, very high up and cloudy. The weather is like an English summer (just like Chiang Mai), it's the first time I've worn my hoody!
Can you believe they have a starbucks in the middle of the tea plantations, where we're sat having American cheesecake and using their free internet. Although, back to culture, we're going for a steamboat across the road after this. A steamboat is the local speciality, it's like a spicey broth of noodles, veg, meat & fish which you cook (chuck everything in and let it boil) yourself and have yourself a mini feast!
We're up early again in the morning to visit the tea plantations and then catch the bus for another 5 hour journey to Penang.
The worst thing about travelling up the mountain is you have to get back down again, if you could see how much all the crash barriers were missing and bashed in from being hit, your hands would still be numb too.
Yesterday we went for a walk through the city forest and headed to the KL tower. We didn't go up the tower because we're having dinner up there on our last night.
Most of the rest of the afternoon was spent arranging our trip & accommodation in the Cameron Highlands and relaxing in the spa at the hotel. We treated ourselves to food at Hard Rock and had a drink back at the hotel (which cost us £40 for 2 drinks, but let's not mention that). We were going to go clubbing but had to get up early because...
Cameron Highlands
...after a 4-5 hr bumpy coach ride up to the mountains, we're now in the Cameron Highlands where the tea & strawberry plantations are - exactly as you see them in the documentaries.
The views are amazing and so were the sheer drops above the tree tops as our bus speeded it's way around the narrow windy road - after an hour of gripping on to the edge of my seat my hands are still numb.
We're in the sleepy town of tanah rata, it's towards the border of Thailand, very Indian, very high up and cloudy. The weather is like an English summer (just like Chiang Mai), it's the first time I've worn my hoody!
Can you believe they have a starbucks in the middle of the tea plantations, where we're sat having American cheesecake and using their free internet. Although, back to culture, we're going for a steamboat across the road after this. A steamboat is the local speciality, it's like a spicey broth of noodles, veg, meat & fish which you cook (chuck everything in and let it boil) yourself and have yourself a mini feast!
We're up early again in the morning to visit the tea plantations and then catch the bus for another 5 hour journey to Penang.
The worst thing about travelling up the mountain is you have to get back down again, if you could see how much all the crash barriers were missing and bashed in from being hit, your hands would still be numb too.
Wednesday 11 March 2009
Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.
Ao Nang & Krabi
The bus (£3 each) from Ao Nang took 1hr to get to Krabi airport and although we were told the flight would take 2 hours to get to KL, it took just 50 mins...
Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)
Upon landing in Malaysia, We jumped on another bus (£1.75) to KL Central then on the sky train (45p) to Bukit Bintang, the area we're staying in KL.
By the way, we passed some fantastic buildings on our journey, some like gigantic space ships on the top of hills. The Malaysia we saw was pretty modern & futuristic.
So far so good, then...
It just got better! Our hotel is amazing. I've stayed at some fantastic hotels (and some pretty posh ones too!) but the place is top notch and right in the heart of KL. When they say 5 star, they mean 5 star. It was also a bit of a wake up call back to reality - it's £5 for a bottle of water! (Although there's a massive plaza across the road with every kind of food for about £2 per meal).
The hotel has everything and everyone running after your arse - you know the kind of people that permanently live in hotels.. I now know why!
I've told Bev she can go explore the Cameron Highlands and I'll wait here.
The maid will have to clean around me ;-)
The bus (£3 each) from Ao Nang took 1hr to get to Krabi airport and although we were told the flight would take 2 hours to get to KL, it took just 50 mins...
Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)
Upon landing in Malaysia, We jumped on another bus (£1.75) to KL Central then on the sky train (45p) to Bukit Bintang, the area we're staying in KL.
By the way, we passed some fantastic buildings on our journey, some like gigantic space ships on the top of hills. The Malaysia we saw was pretty modern & futuristic.
So far so good, then...
It just got better! Our hotel is amazing. I've stayed at some fantastic hotels (and some pretty posh ones too!) but the place is top notch and right in the heart of KL. When they say 5 star, they mean 5 star. It was also a bit of a wake up call back to reality - it's £5 for a bottle of water! (Although there's a massive plaza across the road with every kind of food for about £2 per meal).
The hotel has everything and everyone running after your arse - you know the kind of people that permanently live in hotels.. I now know why!
I've told Bev she can go explore the Cameron Highlands and I'll wait here.
The maid will have to clean around me ;-)
Tuesday 10 March 2009
Goodbye to the land of little people.
Today is our last day in Thailand, we fly to Malaysia in the morning.
Today we went shopping, I mentioned in an earlier post it's better to barter during the day, what I didn't mention is that once Bev gets going there's no stopping her! We got some proper bargains! Here's how you play the game - you see something you like, they approach you with a calculator with the price on - it's then up to you to put in the lowest price you think you can get away with, they then type in prices and you repeat the process until you end up back at the price you originally wanted to pay!
How we're gonna get everything home I have no idea...
We've just come back from seeing more monkeys! These live at the end of Ao Nang beach where we're staying - there's a bridge that leads up to a mountain path they all play on. They're pretty tame and not shy about jumping on your back or sitting on your head.
When I'm home I'll try linking some video within the blog to show you!
So it's goodbye to the land of the little people (even I'm taller than them!!), where even the chocolate bars are sold in party size - no family bars here!
See you in Malaysia!!
Today we went shopping, I mentioned in an earlier post it's better to barter during the day, what I didn't mention is that once Bev gets going there's no stopping her! We got some proper bargains! Here's how you play the game - you see something you like, they approach you with a calculator with the price on - it's then up to you to put in the lowest price you think you can get away with, they then type in prices and you repeat the process until you end up back at the price you originally wanted to pay!
How we're gonna get everything home I have no idea...
We've just come back from seeing more monkeys! These live at the end of Ao Nang beach where we're staying - there's a bridge that leads up to a mountain path they all play on. They're pretty tame and not shy about jumping on your back or sitting on your head.
When I'm home I'll try linking some video within the blog to show you!
So it's goodbye to the land of the little people (even I'm taller than them!!), where even the chocolate bars are sold in party size - no family bars here!
See you in Malaysia!!
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