When I left America, I met a Canadian girl (Denise) on the plane, she was travelling to Australia for a year, I offered her a place to stay, so she stayed one year with me, and this is a 7 week trip we did together through South East Asia. We were starting in Bali, Indonesia; we spent 5 days in Bali. We then flew to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for 2 days, then we got a bus to Butterworth a ferry to George Town, Penang, just for the night. The next day we got another bus to Kuala Perlis, to get another ferry over to Langkawi Island, Malaysia, spending a beautiful 5 day just having fun.
We left Langkawi Island and we got the train into Thailand to Bangkok, for 5 days taking in the sights, food and crazy drivers on those Tuk Tuks. After Bangkok we got the train down the east coast to Hua Hin, Thailand, it is a very quiet fishing village, so peaceful, we didn’t do much there just relaxed for 3 days, we went horse riding on the beach, and eat the local food. We decided to get the local bus down to Surat Thani, to get yet another ferry over to Koh Samui, for another relaxing 5 days on the beaches.
It was time to leave that beautiful Island and go back to Malaysia; we got the train down the east coast, stopping at Kuala Terengganu, just for the night. It was a long train ride. We got up early next morning and continued our train ride to Cherating Bay, Malaysia, we spent 1 week there, and it was a nice place to stay, the owner Rozan and his friends were great people.
We were running out of time, so we got the bus down the coast to Mersing to get a ferry to Tioman Island, spending our last 3 days there before we went back to Kuala Lumpur to fly home.
We stayed 5 days in Bali, relaxing and looking around; we went on a bike ride around parts of the Island to Nusa Dua, Uluwatu and Ubud.
We just arrived at the Kuta Villa Bungalows.
We went down to Kuta beach, I got a nice massage.
We hired a bike and rode to the southwest part to Uluwatu for a swim.
The top of Uluwatu, it’s a bit of a trek down to the bottom.
There were so many stairs; Denise took a break half way down.
We got to the bottom, then a climb down a bamboo ladder, through a cave and onto the beach.
Denise decided to soak up the Bali sun.
The next day we decided to ride north to Denpasar, what a trip that was.
One of the main roads on the way to Denpasar City.
We walked around Denpasar for a bit to look around. The water doesn’t look too clean.
It’s always busy around the market area.
We then rode further north out to Ubud, a very quiet town; Ubud is where most of the artwork is done.
Alongside of the road we stopped for a rest, there are many rice paddies along the road.
Once we got to Ubud, we went to see a Balinese dance.
We got back to the Kuta Villa Inn.
The next day we rode down to the southeast part to Nusa Dua, where all the 3-4 star hotels are and spent the day eating, swimming and relaxing.
Denise enjoys the prawn cocktails and cocktails drinks.
Down on the water were a few fishing boats, looks like they are ready to go out fishing.
I’m just relaxing, taking it all in.
We both walked around the rocks to get some pictures, I think I got the best picture.
On the way back we stopped at these huts, asking some locals, what they are, they told us they are salt huts to dry the salt.
Time to leave Bali and head to Malaysia, Denise doesn’t look to happy.
After five days in Bali, we flew up to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Had a couple of days in KL, then we got the bus to Butterworth, then a ferry over to George Town, Penang, not much happening in Penang, so we got another bus to the Thai, Malaysia Boarder and got a ferry over to Langkawi Island for five days.
Langkawi Island is the largest of 99 tiny islands, upon arrival we got a lot of funny looks from the locals, later we found that the island had a curse for a period of seven generations, by Princess Mahsuri Binti, the curse read,
THERE SHALL BE NO PEACE AND PROSPERITY ON THIS ISLAND FOR A PERIOD OF SEVEN GENERATIONS.
Who cares, we had a great time on the island.
We just arrived in Kuala Lumpur, not knowing where to go or what to do.
Denise looks out for a taxi, we need to find the KL Train Station Hotel.
We found the KL train station Hotel, so we stayed the night here for a quick getaway to get a train to Penang. We walked around that afternoon to have a look around; we weren’t too bothered as we have to fly out of KL to get back home so we decided to stay a few days here before we go home.
Kuala Lumpur Train Station Hotel.
We got the train to Butterworth, Malaysia, then a ferry over to George Town, Penang, one of the main streets in George Town, Penang.
Denise is taking a rest while I find out about some accommodation.
We got a room, so we freshened up to see the town.
First, I had to have a late breakfast, before heading out; you can see I made a new friend.
Denise got a picture with a security guy in a gold shop, I’m sure he would use the gun if he had to
We got the Lonely Planet book out to see how to get to the Fu Xing Gong (Snake Temple).
We went inside, where you can handle the snakes for good luck and good health. (That’s if the snake doesn’t bite you).
So we got as many snakes on us for more luck.
Leaving the Snake temple, we walked to the Penang Botanical Gardens.
Denise is feeding the monkey at the Botanical Gardens.
Now she is making them beg for the nuts.
There are hundreds of monkeys in the Botanical Gardens, all waiting for the tourist to feed them.
It was time to head up north, we got a bus to Kuala Perlis then a ferry over to Langkawi Island, we found out about Charlie’s Bungalows on Kedawang beach; we hired a bike for a few days in town to find the place. They had only three bungalows, in one there were two English girls; we shared the beach, but kept our distance for privacy, as you can see in later pictures we were nude most of the time on the beach.
Kedawang Beach Langkawi Island.
This waterfall is near the Telaga Harbour and is considered by many to be the most beautiful waterfall on Langkawi.
You walk up the 638 steps through the rainforest to the top of the waterfall and you have this beautiful view across to Burau Bay and Pantai Kok. A jungle path 990m further up the hillside, then use the natural rock slides into the rock pool to get to the bottom, there are seven, that’s how it gets its name.
The view from the top, looking over Burau bay.
We were going to Seven Wells Waterfall, and got a flat tyre.
Seven Wells waterfall.
Denise is sliding down one of the slides into the rock pool.
My turn to slide down into the rock pool.
The very bottom rock pool, we made a friend there.
Denise, playing around on Kedawang Beach in the tyre tube.
I’m just having a bit of fun on the beach; it was so good we had the beach all to ourselves, so we didn’t have to wear anything.
My turn to play with the tube.
This is what happens when you hit the water at full speed.
Denise and I decided to build a sand castle.
Charlie’s Bungalows, and the restaurant on the side at Kedawang Beach.
I just took a picture of a nice Malaysian house.
The tomb of Princess Mahsuri Binti.
Apparently the Princess married an outsider, someone on the mainland; this is why there was a curse put on the Island.
One of many beautiful sunsets on Kedawang beach, Langkawi Island.
After spending five beautiful days on Langkawi Island, it was time to head up north to Bangkok, Thailand, to spend a couple of days back in a big city.
We had a four hour wait at Kuala Perils, the border town, not a nice place, as you can see by the picture below; yes that’s the train station. We saw all these guards from the Thai side, stopping all the people who were trying to smuggle goods into Thailand without paying tax, what a funny sight, especially the old ladies, guns pointed at them, but still, they hit the guards, yell out at the top of their voice. I think that was to embarrassed the guards, but hey, it didn’t work the guards were there to do a job and that’s what they did, old or not.
From Pedang Besar on the Thai, Malay border, we finally got a train straight up to Bangkok, it took 17 hours! They have nice overnight trains, we had only three days in Bangkok, which suited us fine, and we actually couldn’t wait to get back to a beach.
The border train station.
We did all the things you could do, floating markets, snake farm, elephant and crocodile show, of course the temples, which were amazing. You can go to the rose gardens just outside of Bangkok; there you can see all the Thai cultures in a day. We watched the traditional Thai dancing, Thai boxing, a self-defense exhibition, a Thai wedding, cock fights, and how the silk is made, you name it, all of Thailand in a day, highly recommend place to visit. THE ROSE GARDENS.
Samphran Elephant, Crocodile and Snake Show.
Denise on the back of a small elephant at the show.
Denise and I with a baby elephant.
This is the crazy guy who wrestles crocodiles for money.
Denise is getting a close up of the crocodile.
More snakes, this is a big python.
We went to the snake show, theses snakes have still got venom in them.
This guy caught two of the snakes then there was one left, so he caught the last snake in his mouth.
After the show they milk all the snakes that were on show.
We packed in a full day, thanks to our taxi driver Charlie, he took us everywhere, this stop is the Rose gardens, and you can see all the Thai cultures in a day. We watched the traditional Thai dancing, Thai boxing, a self-defence exhibition, a Thai wedding, cock fights, and how the silk is made.
Here you can see a cock fight, without the blades tied to their feet.
An exhibition of Traditional Thai bamboo dancing.
We got a long tail boat down on the Chao Phraya River over to the Wat Arun temple (morning temple).
The dock at the Wat Arun temple.
Wat Arun Temple.
Denise and I got a photo with some Thai ladies at the temple.
Denise is trying to climb a steep part of the Temple.
We can’t go any further, it’s too steep.
One of the many ways to get around Bangkok, Thailand, the Tuk Tuk.
The night life was the best, (for me it was), headed down the famous Patpong road, most people know what happens down Patpong, use your imagination, down a street, they have a mixture of markets, Turkish baths and of course the girly bars, lots of things can happen down Patpong Rd, as I said, use your imagination for the rest, Charlie got us into an underground sex show, now that was an eye opener.
On the last day we went to the Jadujak market, north of Bangkok, this weekend market in Bangkok is the largest weekend market in Thailand.
Leaving Bangkok we got a train down south, here come the beaches! We stopped at Hua Hin, just a quiet little fishing village on the east coast of the Thai Gulf, spending four days, it’s a great place to relax for a few days, and that we did.
Denise horse riding on Hua Hin beach, as you can see beautiful big beaches with no-one around.
Leaving Hua Hin and got a train to Surat Thani, then on a ferry over to Koh Samui Island, it was around 2 hours by ferry, finally got to Lamai beach where we stayed for about 6 days, what a great place it was in the late 80’s, there was a lot of lost hippies everywhere in Kho Samui. Great friendly people, peace, free love and always helped each other. We also had plenty of those healthy mushrooms they have on the Island. If you know what I mean.
Some of the hippies make jewelry to sell on the beach for a small amount of cash.
Another one of those beautiful sunsets we had on Lamai Beach.
Our bungalow we had for the 6 days, right on the beach.
We took a bike ride to the Namuang waterfall near Ban Thurian, it is the largest and most impressive falls, with a 20m drop and a good pool for swimming.
Time to head back down the east coast of Malaysia.
After 6 days of the mushroom diet, went back to mainland Thailand, we got a train down south to the boarder to Kota Bharu, Malaysia for a night, we had 3rd class tickets, but decide to move up to a sleeper without paying, boy did we cop shit from the train guard the next morning, acting as innocent travellers with no money, and Denise’s charm, we got away after a half hour argument with the guard.
We hitchhiked down to Manang to Kuala Terrengganu for a night we decided to hitchhike onto Cherating Bay the next morning (very easy), we stayed at the Indah Bungalows, the owner Rozan was a great bloke, very entertaining. He took us out to the great bars, with great music, it was a shame we had only 3 days there.
The Bay of Marang.
The bungalow we stayed in for the 3 days, Indah Bungalows, Cherating bay, Malaysia.
Rozan, the manager of Indah Bungalows, with his girlfriend.
One of the bars Rozan took us to.
Rozan got up to sing a song with his friends.
Still hitching down the coast to Kuantan, stopping at Mersing to get a fishing boat to Tioman Island, spending 5 days on Tioman and a day trip to Coral Island, it was beautiful white sand and crystal clear water, the only problem was the sand fleas, they really piss us off.
The fishing boat we got to Tioman Island.
We stayed at the Nazara Bungalows for the 5 days, the owners were great people.
Nazara Bungalows Tioman Island.
I went for a walk to the highest point to get a picture of Tioman Island.
Thestart of another beautiful sunset on tioman Island
On a boat for a day trip to Coral Island.
Coral Island, just off Tioman Island Malaysia.
Spending the day on Coral Island, look how clear the water is?
Denise with the pet monkey at Nazara Bungalows.
After leaving Tioman Island we hitchhiked across Malaysia through Kluang, Seaamat, and Tampin onto Kuala Lumpur for the last 2 days before heading home.
This is the end of this trip, it opened my eyes on how other people live, they don’t have much, but still get by with what they have got, and with a great big smile on their faces, they look after each other, and most of all they RESPECT the older people. I think the western world can learn a lot from some 3rd world countries.
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