Récits de voyages autour du monde

(OCTOBER 7 TO 24, 2019)

ITINERARY

Malacca (Melaka)

Kuala Lumpur (the capital)

Ipoh

Tanah Rata (Cameron Highlands) – Excursion

Penang

Pulau Langkawi

Photos of Malaysia (Click on the photo below and then, on the arrow on the right.)

MONDAY, OCTOBER 7

SINGAPORE – MALACCA (or MELAKA in Malay)

We left Singapore early this morning to get by bus to Malacca in Malaysia. The journey took five hours, including two stops at Malaysian customs. At the first stop, past the bridge that connects the two countries, we checked our passports and took our fingerprints. At the second stop, we stamped our passports and X-rayed our luggage. It all happened in record time, about five minutes! Wonderful!

On Malaysian soil, we enjoyed the lush green landscapes of the many palm groves and rubber plantations. It was refreshing and soothing to be in the countryside after visiting several megacities in recent weeks.

When we arrived at the Bus Station in Malacca, we purchased two SIM cards. Claude took the opportunity to buy a new cell phone, his being outdated and blocked. We also got our bus tickets to Kuala Lumpur, our next destination, before leaving by taxi to our accommodation. The Eco Tree Hotel is luxurious, clean, spacious. What a contrast compared to our Singapore hostel! You feel like you’re living in a palace! Our room is really comfortable, with luxurious bathroom. We quickly put on our swimsuits and went for a swim at the Skydeck pool on the9^th floor, enjoying the panoramic view of the city. After our swim, we relaxed on the sun loungers, enjoying this gentle moment of relaxation.

In the late afternoon, we set out to explore the historic area just a short walk from our hotel. We passed through St. Francis Institution Melaka, Proclamation of Independence Memorial, Kota A F Amosa, The Malay and Islamic Museum, People’s Museum, Umno Museum, St. Paul’s Church, Melaka Islamic Museum and Democratic Government Museum. A storm broke out and we took refuge under the roof of a restaurant-bar where we had a coffee while waiting for the storm to end. After a while, we were able to leave for our hotel. Passing through the Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall, we made some purchases and had dinner in a restaurant on the 2^nd floor. The food prices are very reasonable ($5/person) but I didn’t so much like my chicken noodle dish which turned out to be way too spicy!

We ended our evening in our « princely room » by dealing with our electronic gadgets.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8

MALACCA (34 degrees and felt time 38!)

We had lunch at our room. Long live peanut butter! Under a bright sun and barely bearable heat, we walked down Jalan Kota Street in the historic district and then climbed St. Paul Hill to see the historic church of the same name. The body of Francis Xavier, a pioneering Catholic missionary from Southeast Asia, rested there for 8 months in 1553.

We then discovered the Stadthuys. Built in 1650, it is the oldest Dutch building in Southeast Asia. It has been converted into a museum on the history of Melaka. It is located in Town Square, a popular spot for tourists. In addition to the Stadthuys, there is also Christ Church Melaka and the famous Jonker Walk, Chinatown’s most popular street.

We toured Chinatown, visiting the Kampung Kling Mosque and the magnificent Cheng Hoon Teng and Xiang Lin Si temples. We then dined in the outdoor cafeteria of the College of Science and Management near Tamil Methodist Church. We were served coconut rice with cooked spinach and sunflower seed sticks. As it was good and cheap ($2 per person)! We then passed the Kwan Yin Tang temple, which was unfortunately closed at lunchtime. We were still able to admire its beautiful façade.

Taking a break from the midday sun, we took a pleasant cruise on the Sungai Melaka River. What a joy to sail its tranquil waters and admire its beautifully laid-out shores! This 45-minute cruise offers new perspectives of the historic center and its beautiful St. Francis Xavier Church, Chinatown and the traditional Malay village Kampong Morten, among others. We also saw several small lizards under the mangroves.

After our cruise, we passed the imposing replica of the Portuguese boat Flora de Lamar, 34 meters high and then we shopped at Samudera Square. We went around the small souvenir and clothing shops but didn’t buy anything. This little break from the air conditioning made us feel good. When we left the bazaar, we were tempted by a little trishaw ride, a means of transport to say the least original!

I was given a message of my feet in a reflexology center in an attempt to relieve my plantar fasciitis (or Lenoir spine) that has been hurting me for over a year. I took advantage of their « Weekday Happy Hour », which entitled me to a one-hour massage for the price of half an hour (40 Malaysian ringgits, or $12.65 CAD). My Chinese masseuse did not spare me despite being made aware of my heel problem. When I grimaced in pain, she spoke to me in Chinese. I wish I could understand what she was telling me! This hour of relaxation made me feel good. As for my heel, I’ll see in the next few hours if his massage has been effective.

I joined Claude at the pool of our hotel. After a short refreshing swim, I relaxed on a sun lounger, enjoying the last rays of the day. »

We ate a Hawaiian pizza around the pool, glowing with the lights of the few surrounding buildings and the sound of Shakira’s songs. We felt privileged to be here in Malaysia and to experience all the good times that our World Tour brings us.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9

MALACCA (38 degrees with the wet factor!)

Under a beautiful cloudless blue sky, we went to visit the beautiful Sultanate Palace (10 RM or 3$CAD) and its green gardens. The palace is a replica of the original that was erected in the 15th century. The museum contains an incredible collection of jewellery, weapons, pottery, life-size mannequins dressed in traditional clothing and paintings depicting the mores of the time. What an interesting museum!

In front of the king’s gardens, we met three very friendly Algerians: a man and two women. Speaking in impeccable French, Kader warmly invited us to visit him in Oran, his hometown in Algeria. One of our next trips is already planned!

We toured the King’s beautiful gardens, enjoying the shade of the trees and the delicate smell of flowers.

We then went to visit the People’s Museum on Jalan Kota Pedestrian Street. I liked the Beauty Museum on the3^rd floor. The amazing beauty criteria of different peoples of the world are explained and illustrated. The 2nd floor is dedicated to traditional Malaysian sports. And finally, on the1^st floor, we can see a collection of small and large meteorites and fossils of dinosaur eggs.

Passing through Town Square, we went for a walk on the boardwalk along the Melaka River. We passed St. Francis Church to reach the Little India neighborhood. The colorful shops of saris, garlands of flowers and Buddha statues of all sizes have once again charmed us. India is definitely a country that has marked us and comes to pick us up whenever we come into contact with Indians and their culture. We dined in a small Indian restaurant ($3 CAD for a plate of rice accompanied by an egg, mini fish and peanuts as well as two masala tea).

Under the scorching midday sun, we left Little India and continued our walk looking for the Sam Po Keng Temple, Princess Hang Li Poh’s well and the memorial. Unfortunately, we were misdirected the path and we only found the memorial. Lost in a chic residential area, a Malaysian woman who was driving by offered to drive us to our hotel, discouraged to see us walking in the wrong direction under such a blazing sun. Comfortably seated in his air-conditioned car, we could see the temple we were desperately looking for a few minutes earlier.

We spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the hotel pool, happy to cool off and enjoy this precious relaxing moment.

We tried a Thai restaurant near our hotel. The very friendly owner suggested a dish of fried vegetable and noodles in a sweet-sour sauce. What a delight! Our dinner cost us only 16 ringgits ($5 for our two dishes). The man sat at our table and told us at length about Celine Dion, his idol. It was a great meeting.

Around 7 p.m., in 30-degree temperatures, we walked to Town Square to see this corner of the city under its night lighting. We were not disappointed! Our walk was interrupted by rain and we got back by taxi. We have tried, successfully, the GRAB application which is the equivalent of UBER at even more economical rates. This will be very useful for our next trips.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10

MALACCA – KUALA LUMPUR (Capital Population: 1.63 million)

I had a bad night, afraid to pass straight ahead and miss our bus. I had nightmares probably related to some atrocious mores seen in the museums visited during the day.

We took a taxi via the GRAB app to the bus station. In a luxurious coach, we drove 120 km to reach Kuala Lumpur, the capital. When we arrived at Central Station, we took the opportunity to buy our next bus tickets before leaving by taxi to the Lantern Hotel, in the heart of Chinatown. Our hotel is located on Jalan Petaling Pedestrian Street, Chinatown’s main street. The street is crowded with small, colorful and attractive shops where everything is sold. There are also small merchandise stalls in the adjacent streets. So, the market is very large.

Under a temperature approaching 40 degrees (Yes! What an oven!), we found a small budget restaurant ($3 each for a plate of rice, two vegetables and a meat of your choice). We had a great time.

We went to Pesar Seri station to take the metro to Dang Wangi. As we were misinformed, we had to take a taxi to Menara Kuala Lumpur. This tower is the4^th tallest telecommunications tower in the world. It measures 421 meters and offers the best panoramic view of the city of Kuala Lumpur and the Petronas Towers recognized as the tallest twin towers in the world. We took the ultra-fast elevator and in one minute, at a speed of 22 km/h, we were at 276 meters above sea level. The view of the « Observation Deck » is truly sensational. We took the time to spot different parts of the city, familiarizing ourselves with its geography, map in hand.

The tower is located in the heart of the KL Forest Eco Park. This park is home to Malaysia’s oldest protected jungle. We took the Canopy Walkway, walking on the suspension bridges between the observation towers. Seeing the abundant and lush vegetation several meters from the ground made our walk in the forest unremarkable!

As we left the trail, we visited the park’s small museum, which includes, among other things, an interesting collection of butterflies and insects. A tropical storm then erupted. We took cover and chatted with a lovely couple made up of a Texan and an Indonesian from Médan. We finally left together by taxi, their hotel being located very close to ours. We walked for a while with them in Chinatown before saying goodbye.

We rested in the room, went to dinner on the street and went around the night market in the busy streets around our hotel. We made some purchases: light pants for me and a small backpack for Claude.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11

KUALA LUMPUR (38 degrees with the humidex factor!)

We had an excellent continental breakfast at the hotel. We then set out on a walking tour of Chinatown, following an itinerary proposed by a blogger on the internet. Here’s what we saw in order:

1. Chan See Shue Yuen Clan Association Temple (Magnificent temple painted in green of the clan of people bearing as surname: Chan, Tan and Chen. These three surnames are written with the same Chinese characters. So, this clan is very big! The association helped immigrants settle and find work. The temple was built between 1897 and 1906.)
2. KL and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (1923)
3. Guan Yin Temple (Pink Buddhist Temple dedicated to the Goddess of Compassion. 1880
4. Guan Di Temple with his high statue of the Taoist God of war with special powers (Believers make a vow and touch the statue to receive his protection and see their vows come true, provided their spirit is pure!)
5. Sri Maha Mariamman Temple (It is the oldest Hindu temple according to Malaysia. It dates from 1873 and was renovated in 1968.  We attended the recitation of the prayers. The temple is highly decorated, colorful and attractive.)
6. Kasturi Walk (Pedestrian street filled with small kiosks where everything is sold, to the delights of tourists. This street is right next to the Central Market.)
7. Central Market or Wet Market (Best place in Kuala Lumpur to buy handicrafts and souvenirs.)
8. Art House Gallery Museum of Ethnic Arts at the Central Market Annex on the 2nd floor (superb collection of paintings, masks, statues, etc. from Southeast Asia)

We returned to our room for a cool shower before continuing with the second walking tour proposed by the same blogger: the tour of the historic part of the city around Merdeka Square:

1. Old Market Square or Lebuh Pasar Besar (This square was the commercial heart of Kuala Lumpur at the time.)
2. Clock Tower (This tower was built in 1937 to commemorate the coronation of King George VI.)
3. HSBC Tower (modern tower that replaced the old building in 1970.)
4.  OCBC Building (Art deco building dating from 1938.)
5. Masjid Jamek (Magnificent Mogol-style mosque, dating from 1907, located at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers.)
6. Sessions and Magistrates Court (also known as the Federated Malay States Survey Office, dates from 1910 and contains onion-shaped domes.)
7. Old City Hall became the City Theatre or Panggung Bandaraya (1896)
8. High Court Building (1909. This building is used today by the Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture.)
9. Sultan Abdul Samad Building (Superb and majestic building, emblem of Malaysia. One of the most photographed buildings in the country. Built between 1894 and 1897 in the Mogol architectural style, its domes are clad in copper and its clock tower is 40 meters high.

The building  is located  opposite Independence Square and  the Royal Selangor Club. Its name comes from Abdul Samad, sultan who ruled the  Selangor  at the time of its construction. It houses the offices of Malaysia’s Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture. It was previously the seat of the Malaysian Federal Court, the Court of Appeal and the High Court.)

1. Sessions and Magistrates Court (the first in a series of government buildings in Merdeka Square. It dates from 1910.)
2. Old General Post Office (Built in 1896 in the same style as the Sultan’s Building.)
3. National Textile Museum (elegant historic building built in 1896 in the Mogul style. It used to serve as offices for the Federated Malay States Railways and later for various government departments.)
4. Chartered Bank (this building housed the National History Museum, then a restaurant and now the Music Museum.)
5. Royal Selanger Club (Located opposite the Sultan building; Prestigious club founded in 1884)
6. Cathedral of St. Mary The Virgin (Built in 1894 in English Gothic style)
7. KL City Gallery (This interesting museum contains a giant model of the city, a short documentary about Kuala Lumpur, other models, photos on the history of the city, etc.)

On the way back, we stopped by the optometrist and Claude had his reading glasses frame replaced ($60 CAD). We just had time to get back to the hotel before a tropical storm hit the city. We took the opportunity to rest, enjoying the air conditioning in our room.

In a light rain, we went to dinner at a small Bangladeshi restaurant. My chapatis with different spicy accompaniments were succulent. We ended the evening strolling around the Petaling Street Night Market. I bought a small magnifying glass that I haggled hard bringing down the price from 65 to 13 RM ($4 CAD)!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12

KUALA LUMPUR

This morning we went to the Batu Caves. We got there by cheap taxi with the GRAB app (30 minutes; 28RM). The site of a Hindu temple and shrine, the Batu Caves attract thousands of worshippers and tourists, especially during the annual Hindu festival, Thaipusam. Limestone outcrop located just north of Kuala Lumpur, the Batu Caves consist of three main caves housing Hindu temples and shrines. A major monument to the site, the huge statue of the Hindu god Murugan welcomes visitors and worshippers at the bottom of the 272-step grand staircase that must be climbed to finally see the stunning panorama of the city center.  Watch out for long-tailed macaques! They walk freely through the crowd, trying to steal food or our personal items.

A second taxi took us to the famous Museum of Islamic Arts of Malaysia (IAMM). Opened on December 12, 1998, it is the largest museum of Islamic art in Southeast Asia. It’s a four-floor building and it is located in Jalan Lembah Perdana, in the center of Kuala. Decorated by craftsmen from Iran  and Uzbekistan,it houses12 galleries and has 5 domes representing the 5 pillars of Islam. It contains 6,000 art objects, including 200 Islamic manuscripts  and the world’s largest model of the  al-Haram Mosque in Mecca. The gallery I preferred is the one exhibiting the models of the most beautiful mosques in the world. Wow! Impressive! We had a bite to eat at the 2nd floor restaurant before leaving the museum.

Our third taxi of the day took us to the entrance to KL Bird Park. Kuala Lumpur Ornithological Park is located in the Perdana Botanical Gardens, a place appreciated for its character and tranquility. Home to more than 3,000 birds of 200 local and foreign species, it distinguishes itself from other parks of this genus by its concept of free flight. During our walk the park, we have had the chance to observe mandarin ducks, flamingos, peacocks, fancy eagles, hornbills and ostriches, among others. We met four Indians visiting Malaysia for three days: Vinod, Sreejith, Faisu and Anoop. With enthusiasm, we spoke with them about our remarkable trip to India. They warmly invited us to visit them in Kerala. We won’t miss it on one of our next trips as they are really friendly, and it would be great to see them back in their corner of the country!

The sky getting cloudy, we returned to the hotel with a fourth taxi before the late-day storm broke out. After a couple of hours relaxing, we took a fifth taxi to Jalan Alor, recognized as one of the top five food streets in the capital. We opted for seafood dishes at a Thai restaurant. We enjoyed it! We then went to see the popular Street Art Street, parallel to Jalan Alor, before heading to the boarding point of the shuttle going to KLCC (Kuala Lumpur Convention Center). As the bus was crowded, we decided to walk to get there. We discovered the very long corridor that passes over the roads and leads directly to the Suria KLCC. It is a huge shopping center located at the foot of the Petronas Twin Towers. From there, we went outside to admire the illuminated towers. Wow! We chatted with a young Indian family from Kerala who was very interested in Canada. What a nice exchange we had!

We crossed the mall and took the opposite exit, discovering the famous KLCC Park with its lake, its colorful water jets and its stunning view of the skyscrapers of the city center. We went around the lake to enjoy the best view of the Petronas Towers. Exhausted, we came home with our fifth taxi of the day. Luckily the trips with GRAB are very economical!

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13

KUALA LUMPUR TO IPOH

After our excellent breakfast at the hostel, we left by taxi to the bus station. In two hours, we were in Ipoh. The last hour seemed to me to last forever; I wanted so much that I almost peed in my panties! The driver didn’t want to make a stop for me, and I fixed his trash can until we arrived, almost ready to use it as a last resort! How happy I was when we finally arrived at the resort! …

We bought our next bus tickets and took a taxi to our hostel, the Chor Lodging. The place is quiet, our room is big but, it’s not the great luxury. The hostel is a 15-minute walk from the historic center. After dining at a small restaurant nearby, we headed to the Old Town to follow the Ipoh Heritage Walk. We followed the giant foot tracks telling us the way to take but, the tracks suddenly stopped. Coincidentally, the bus offering a guided tour of the city stopped in front of us and the guide offered to board. Super! No more puzzles trying to discover everything for ourselves! The tour was interesting, giving us a good idea of the old and the new city. We have seen buildings, streets, mosques, important temples, etc. Unfortunately, the rain started to fall, and we finished the ride inside the bus, preventing me from continuing my photo shoot! The city of Ipoh didn’t charm us too much. After seeing the impressive city of Kuala Lumpur, we can say that Ipoh is the shadow of the other.

We came out in the evening. We had dinner in an Indian cafeteria with chapatis on the menu. We then strolled to the Gerbang Malam Night Bazaar discovering a popular street on Food Street. And finally, we went to take a look at the products and prices of the supermarket on the street next to our hostel. The mountains of big pockets of rice as well as the monster displays of noodles and spicy sauces really impressed me, reminding me that I’m in Asia!

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14

Ipoh

Under a temperature approaching 40 degrees with the humidx factor, we left the city by taxi to visit the surprising Chinese Buddhist temple Kek Look Tong. Located in a beautiful natural cave in Taman Happy, it contains several golden statues in all its nooks and superb stalactites. Behind the cave, we discover with astonishment a beautiful Zen garden with a lake filled with fish and turtles as well as a large pond overflowing with water lilies. The mountains above the garden are steep and imposing. This beautiful site is a haven of peace imbued with serenity and where time seems to have stood still.

We then took another taxi to the Sam Poh Tong temple. The taxi driver left us in front of the first of three temples located at the foot of a limestone hill of Ipoh, the Gunung Rapat.

The first temple, the very colorful Taoist temple Ling Sen Tong, was built in a beautiful cave. Its name is literally translated by the Rock of the Celestial Spirits. The main complex of the temple is adorned with many statues of different designs – there are various animals, deities and other characters of Chinese folklore. The front garden is decorated with colorful statues of characters from Chinese mythology such as the King of the Apes from the classic tale Journey to the West. A huge statue of Buddha in an elongated position occupies the roof of the temple in an imposing manner. The long-tailed macaques walk happily around the site, stealing at the slightest opportunity the food left as an offering to the Gods.

The second temple is the Nam Thean Tong Cave Temple. It is not as impressive as its neighbors but is still worth a visit. Its cave is deep and dark and houses statuettes of deities. The heat discouraged us from climbing the many steps giving access to the continuity of the cave.

The third temperature is the Sam Poh Tong. This wonderful Chinese temple is also built in a limestone cave. It is the oldest and most temple of the cave in Ipoh. It follows the Buddhist branch of Mahayana Buddhism. The cave-turned-temple was founded by a monk from China in 1890 who crossed the area from Ipoh. Its Zen garden is simply beautiful. Large rocks rise vertically in a body of water surrounded by tropical vegetation. Small Buddha statues can be seen all over the rocks.

Behind the temple built on the cave stands a pavilion closed to visitors but of unparalleled splendor. And just in front, a pond is home to a multitude of turtles of different sizes moving slowly and silently. 

Hungry and harassed by the ambient heat, we went to dinner at Pizza Hut. What a joy to find North American flavors and to be air-conditioned!

We drove back to Kellie’s Castle. Kellie Castle  (sometimes also called  Kellie’s Madness)  is a castle located in Batu Gajah,  in the  Kinta district,  in the state of  Perak. The unfinished and ruined mansion was built by a  Scottish planter named  William Kellie-Smith.   According to various accounts, it would be either a gift for his wife or a rent for his son. The castle is located next to the Raya River (Sungai Raya), which is a small cove at the  Kinta River. We enjoyed the visit apart from the sweltering and exhausting heat that prevailed there in the middle of the afternoon.

We returned to our hostel just before the rain. A good cold shower made us the greatest good before relaxing at our room. In the early evening, we went out in the rain and opted for dinner at the Chinese restaurant near our hostel. My bowl of seafood noodle soup was very good. The Chinese looked at us, proud to see that we enjoyed their cooking and amused to see us eating with chopsticks. What they didn’t know was that we had just come from a month-long stay in China…

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15

IPOH – CAMERON HIGHLANDS – TANAH RATA

Today, we went on a guided tour of Cameron Highlands. Jeffery, our private guide and driver, picked us up at 8am with his son and assistant Zahim. Outside the city of Ipoh, we had breakfast consisting of spicy rice wrapped in a banana leaf and a latte.

Halfway to Cameron Highlands, we stopped at the « Before Chocolate and Ice Cream Manufactury » chocolate factory. The factory was closed to visitors, but we were able to go around the shop to see all their local products made from chocolate (e.g., Oolong lavender tea and durian chocolate). We also took a look at the Green View Garden section where flowers, strawberries and vegetables are grown.

We continued on our way, amazed by nature. Malaysia’s primary or pristine jungle is the oldest in the world. It covers 75% of Malay territory. The mountains in the Highlands are high, majestic and there is a lot of farmland and greenhouses. The road is roller coaster, narrow and rather dangerous but the scenery is breathtaking!

We visited the Cameron Lavender Garden. Surrounded by lavender and several other kinds of flowers, we were charmed by the natural beauty of the flower gardens. The place is furnished under the theme of Disney Castle painted in the bluish and purple hues of lavender. Upstairs, the view of the surrounding mountains is worth a look.

The next stop was at Butterfly Farm. In addition to butterflies, we observed tarantulas, snakes, scorpions, lizards, beetles, guinea pigs, turkeys, rabbits, sheep, a small kangaroo busy grooming and geese. The farm also includes a section of flowers and cacti.

A little further on, the Rose Centre Kea Farm impressed us. The flower plantations are spread over several floors in the mountains, accessible by stone staircases. The decorative elements are childish but very colorful (plaster statues of Snow White and the seven dwarfs, shoe-shaped house, windmill, etc.), making the places attractive in addition to the superb panoramic view at the top of the hill. A Buddha statue stands proudly in the center of one of the gardens. We had a crush on this beautiful plantation.

Small bonus from our guide Jeffery: He stopped at a colonial period house so we could take some pictures of the property and its beautifully landscaped garden. This house has become a luxury restaurant hotel.

We had dinner on the main street of Tanah Rata. (The Cameron Highlands district has eight localities with Tanah Rata’s administrative center.) We enjoyed our Indian food.

Our afternoon began with a short walk through the jungle to see Robinson Falls. These were really small and uninteresting. We could easily have done without this stop!

The following stop didn’t impress us either: Healthy Strawberry Farm. As we had no interest in picking our own strawberries, we quickly went around the plants. These are not on the ground but on shelves, making the appeal even less great for this type of picking. The price of strawberries at the counter was higher than in Quebec, which discouraged us from buying strawberries. Plus, the strawberries were sour!

In front of the entrance to the Kea Garden, a large open-air market stretches across the street. Colorful fruit and vegetable displays are inviting to the consumer. It was in this market that we bought two sweet and tasty strawberry casings and a small variety of dried exotic fruits while our guide bought vegetables for his wife.

Our last stop, and not the least, took us to the BOH Tea Centre. The road in the mountains to get there is very winding but the landscape that reveals itself to us is simply extraordinary! You can see the green and beautiful tea plantations as far as the eye can see in the valleys. How beautiful! This place was our big favorite of the day. We climbed the long staircase to the glass observation gallery at the top of one of the mountains. We enjoyed a Boh tea (popular local tea brand) with Jeffery and his son, enjoying the incredible décor that was available to us.

We arrived at 6pm at our hostel, very satisfied throughout our tour in the Highlands. We dined at the restaurant on the1^st floor of our building before bringing a taxi to take us to Little India to enjoy its Night Market and feel the pulse of the neighborhood decorated and illuminated for their religious festival, happy Deepavali. Despite the rain, we had fun walking from one kiosk to another, soaking us up once again with the rich Indian culture.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16

IPOH – PENANG (BATU FERRINGHI) Time felt: 38 degrees C!

We took a bite to our room and left by taxi to the Bus Station in Ipoh. From there, we boarded a bus bound for Penang. The two-hour trip seemed very short as we slept a good part of the trip. Upon arrival in Penang, the ferry transfer was very easy. Twenty minutes later, we were in George Town on Penang Island.

Here is some information about Penang, from Wikipedia:

« Penang  is one of the states of  Malaysia  located on the northwest coast of the  Malay Peninsula. The state of Penang is made up of two parts separated by the  Penang Strait:  

1. An island part formed by theisland of Penang  (in  Malay  Pulau Pinang¹), which issurrounded by a number of smaller islands (the largest of which is that of  Pulau Jerejak)
2. a mainland, located at the southern end of the Kedah, constituting the  Seberang Perai  (meaning « on the other side of  Perai »,  the latter name that refers to the city opposite George Town, the capital, is home to the main industrial area of the state).

The main cities are George Town, Butterworth  and  Bukit Mertajam.

The continued immigration of Chinese from Fujian (Hokkien) from the  19th century  to the 1930s   explains the majority of Chinese origin. Today, Penang is the only Malaysian state without a Malay majority. »

Upon disembarking from the ferry, we took a taxi to our accommodation, the Tropicana Homestay, located in Batu Ferringhi. This  suburb of George Town  is  located along the north coast  of  Penang Island and about 11 km northwest of downtown. It is Penang’s main beach destination    among locals and tourists. To cope with the influx of tourists, several large high-rise hotels have been established along the 4 km of beaches.

The area where we live is upscale and really safe although the houses are surrounded by high fences. The house of our young and friendly host is beautiful, spacious and on three floors. It’s the luxury for us! We have access to the kitchen, the huge dining room and the living room. The only problem is that it is a residential area, and we are walking. At first, I was a little disappointed with the location but finally it’s not that bad: the restaurants and the beach are a fifteen-minute walk and George Town a 30-minute taxi ride.

We went to dinner on the « Street Food » and took advantage of the beach, clean and popular for all its water activities. Apparently, the quality of the water is of dubious quality, but you can still bathe. As the sun was relentless, we stayed for a long time in the shade of a large tree, barefoot in the sand, enjoying the wonderful coastal landscape. Claude bathed and we walked on the beach while exploring the surroundings.

In the evening, we went out for dinner on the main street parallel to the beach. We discovered another « Street Food » with a wide selection of menus from various Asian countries. We had a great time. (Penang is known for street food, street art, white coffee and chocolate.)

Enjoying a warm evening (29 degrees C), we toured the many kiosks of the night market. Claude found two beautiful pairs of light cotton pants. We also witnessed a show of Malay dances taking place in a chic beach restaurant. We were allowed to attend without paying. I was thrilled!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17

PENANG (GEORGE TOWN)

I got up late, waiting for my migraine to pass. Around 10am, we prepared for lunch in the kitchen available to us. What a joy to eat a good continental lunch! We then left for the day with an itinerary to follow for the visit to George Town. But, for starters, we went to the Air Asia office to buy a plane ticket to Kuala Lumpur and then to the ferry service office to buy our ferry tickets to Pulau Langkawi. Once these commissions were made, we began our tour of the Old Town on foot.

We started with the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Memorial Clock Tower. We then headed for Fort Cornwallis. We bypassed it, heading for the seaside promenade: The Esplanade. The view of the Penang Strait is very beautiful. City Hall and Town Hall, two magnificent colonial-era buildings, dominate the huge park facing them. Several people were busy preparing for the big party planned for the evening: The Potpourri Penang Carnival (show) and the Food Carnival. We saw several other beautiful colonial buildings in the surrounding streets.

We dined in Little India in a small Indian restaurant. I ordered a salad, fries and a mango lassi (typically Indian yogurt-based beverage). Yummy, yum!

We really enjoyed visiting Pinang Peranakan Manor. This exceptional museum is dedicated to the heritage of  Peranakan  in  Penang.  It is housed in a green-hued mansion on Church Street and was once used as the residence and office of 19th-century Chinese tycoon  Chung Keng Quee. The mansion contains thousands of artifacts, antiques and  Peranakan collectibles, as well as interior decoration objects and customs, such as the typical large long dining table  (Malay:   tok panjang).   Son architecture  is  unique and its interior design reflects the lifestyle of the  Peranakans  in  Penang. A Chinese temple is attached to the mansion and is part of the whole to visit.

We passed through the heart of Little India to leoh Ah Quee Street, renowned for its street art with the « Boy on Motorcycle ». Afterwards, we were lucky enough to see several more murals on our way. There are about 30 in George Town. Lebuh Armenian Street contains almost a dozen of them alone.

On Cannon Square, we could see the traditional houses of the Kongsi clans and on Jalan Buckingham, the beautiful Kapitan Keling Mosque.

We discovered the Chocolate and Coffee Museum. We were treated to a short-guided tour and a small coffee and chocolate tasting. We didn’t buy anything at the shop, much to the disappointment of the vendors!

We went to the Blue Mansion. Built in the 1880s, this famous indigo-blue Chinese courtyard house in Georgetown was the residence of Cheong Fatt Tze, an influential figure in the newly established 19th century Chinese colony of the Penang Strait. The mansion was built by talented master craftsmen brought especially from China. It    includes no less than 38 bedrooms, 5 granite patios, 7 staircases and 220 windows. Unfortunately, we were not able to visit the interior of the mansion as the last guided tour was already over. However, we were able to take some pictures outside and in the lobby.

In the evening, back in Batu Ferringhi, we went to dinner on the main street. We went to bed on our big day of walking.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18

Penang

We had a good breakfast prepared by Claude before heading by taxi to Penang Hill. The steep funicular climb takes 10 minutes (30 RM or $10 CAD per person round trip). The view of George Town is superb!

I unfortunately missed my CANON G15 camera. damn! It is now out of use. I will have to get used to taking and managing my photos from my LG-G6 cell phone. In the end, it may not be a bad thing; the quality of the photos on my cell phone looks as good, if not more so.

Stairs led us to a magnificent Hindu temple, highly colored and decorated with finely carved statuettes. And at the very top of the mountain, stands a mosque. Here in Malaysia, different religions rub shoulders in amazing harmony. Quebec should be inspired by this!

After our funicular descent, we took a taxi to the famous Kek Lok Si temple. Wow! This extraordinary temple, perched on a high mountain, consists of several pavilions, a pagoda containing 10,000 Buddhas and a huge Buddha statue on its top (6 RM or $2 CAD each round trip). To access the impressive statue, we took the funicular. At the top of the mountain, the view of the city is superb and the statue so imposing! As it was close to 40 degrees C, we took advantage of the shuttle service during our descent (2 RM each).

We returned in the early afternoon to Batu Ferringhi for a light dinner on the beach. On the menu: imperial rolls and the tarik. (This sweet black tea with condensed milk was created by Muslim Indians living in Malaysia). We returned to our guesthouse in a light rain and didn’t come out, happy to arrive early to take a break and enjoy the comfort of our current accommodation. We were content with an omelet for supper, a heavy rain raging the moment we would have made a round trip to eat.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19

PENANG TO PULAU LANGKAWI

At 7am we left our accommodation and took a taxi to the Ferry Terminal in Penang. On board the ferry full of tourists, we sailed for three hours to reach our destination: Pulau Langkawi.

Langkawi (Malaysia:   Langkawi Permata Kedah)is a Malaysian archipelago  of 99 islands (and five temporary at low tide)located in the northern part of the Strait of Malacca,24  km southwest of the western shores of  Thailand  and 27.5  km from those of  Malaysia. The archipelago is under the state of  Kedah. The district capital is Kuah and is located in the main island (Langkawi). It is home to 30,000 people.

Langkawi Island contains lush flora and several soft, white sandy beaches. The waters surrounding the island are turquoise and crystal clear. What a dream setting! Here, you really feel like you’re on vacation!

We took a taxi with Krystel, our French companion we met on the ferry. We separated when Claude and I arrived at our accommodation: Ku’s Roomstay, located about 15 kilometers from the wharf, near Temoyong village. We were greeted by Ku, the nice Muslim owner. We liked the place right away. Our room is spacious, clean and clear. We have a small gallery that overlooks the back yard. The family estate includes three houses as well as the four-bedroom building where we are located.

Ku offered to rent a scooter for three days for the modest sum of 100 RM ($33 CAD). We dropped off our luggage and quickly set off on a scooter to Cenang Beach, the nearest and most popular beach on the island. I had a strong sense of freedom to move with Claude to a paradise island in Malaysia. I felt fulfilled to be able to have such an experience. I relished the moment, enjoying the landscapes and the fresh air of the countryside.

We dined at a Thai restaurant on the main street of Cenang beach. I ordered a plate of fried vegetables and koshers served with rice. I enjoyed it! I really like Thai food. (Chinese and Malay dishes of the past few weeks often lacked variety in vegetables and vegetable portions were often small.)

After dinner, we went to the beach. Wow! What a dream beach! We rented two chairs and an umbrella (15 RM or $5 CAD) and stayed there all afternoon. We bathed several times, happy to be able to cool off in a temperature approaching 40 degrees in full sun. The water was lukewarm and good. It was total happiness!

In the late afternoon, we walked on the main street. We took money out at the ATM and made provisions for our next lunches. I bought myself a good charger for my cell phone and a stick to take selfies. (I’m made a real Chinese!) Finally, in anticipation of dinner at our accommodation, we bought kebabs from two friendly Algerians.

Cellular in hand, we returned « home » by scooter before the darkness, leaving us guided by Google Map. We ate our kebabs on our small gallery, while the air conditioner did its work in our room. We went to bed early, the fatigue of the last days being felt.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20

PULAU LANGKAWI

We had breakfast at our room while talking to our parents via Skype. It is precious for us to be able to communicate easily with our loved ones and to be able to hear from us.

How technology makes life easier for travelers! It’s amazing how you don’t travel the same way you did 30 years ago; it’s much easier. However, human relationships have changed; when we need information, we rely more on our cell phone than on the people around us!

We set off on a scooter to discover other parts of the island. We first went to the Langkawi Cable Car. We went around the « village » of beautifully appointed shops. As the price of the funicular was high, we decided to skip this activity that would have taken us to the top of the mountain to get a panoramic view of the whole Langkawi Island. We’ll settle for images on the internet! (Ten months of travel requires us to make choices in order to fit our budget.)

We continued on to The Danna Beach. This beach is beautiful and quiet. We took some pictures and chatted for a while with four friendly Ukrainians.

Before the sun was too hot, we went further north to Pasir Tengkorak Beach. We bathed several times, taking turns as usual to monitor our belongings despite the that there were only a dozen people on the beach. (I’m pretty manic about this; I never leave my purse with credit cards, money, cellphones and passports, unattended.) How good the water was! On the surface, the temperature was hot as in a bath!

We went 2 km further to see Temurun Falls. We were greeted by a bunch of greedy monkeys that a Malaysian woman was busy to scare away with pebbles. She advised us to stop at them in the path leading to the fall. Following his example, we armed ourselves with rocks in case they had the idea to attack us. In the end, we came across a few of them, but we didn’t need our pebbles; they kept quiet. Some tourists were already swimming in the basin of the waterfall when we arrived. Claude joined them, happy to cool off in fresh water in such a beautiful natural setting.

We then went to eat at the Crocodile Adventure Land restaurant. I ordered spicy chicken wings and gratinated fried bananas with tarik tea. It was delicious and very affordable.

We went to the north-central part of the island, to Black Sand Beach. This soft black sand beach charmed us with its tranquillity, and décor made up of small fishing boats, mountains and islands in the distance. We bathed in its warm waters, letting us float and toss by its gentle waves. What a joy!

We then set out on our way back. We took a short detour to see the Seven Wells Waterfall (Telaga Tujuh Air Terjun). Claude was discouraged from climbing the many steps of the path leading to the fall. He opted to relax by going for a nice little tarik tea away from the sun. So, I left alone. I met a few tourists but at times I was alone in the jungle trail and I was a little afraid to meet aggressive monkeys. The beauty of the high fall was worth the trip. I would have bathed gladly but as Claude was waiting for me at the bottom of the mountain, I did not linger too long.

The sky suddenly darkened, and I just had time to reach Claude before a heavy rain started. I had a cup of tea, waiting for the rain to stop. After half an hour, seeing that the rain had calmed down, we left on a scooter. We were not lucky; the rain has resumed more beautiful, turning our pleasant ride in scooter into a detestable ride under the fleet, soaked to the bone. I was frozen. I was really looking forward to arriving at our accommodation to take a nice hot shower and get dry.

In the early evening, Claude had the good idea to pick us up for dinner at the restaurant located close to our guest room. The rain had finally stopped, and we were able to eat on our small gallery, enjoying the last rays of sunshine of the day. We expected to see the monkey who had visited us this morning in our yard but, he did not show up. Maybe we’ll see him again tomorrow?

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21

PULAU LANGKAWI

We had breakfast on our gallery before departing with the shuttle service included in our Island-Hopping tour. This popular half-day tour is economical and well worth it.

When we arrived at the wharf, we boarded a small boat with five other passengers. Powered by a 200-force engine, our boat was speeding through the crystal-clear waters, revealing incredibly beautiful landscapes reminiscent of our cruise in Halong Bay in Vietnam or at the Three Gorges in China.

The captain slowed down to give us the chance to distinguish the pregnant woman lying on the mountain silhouette.

We made an hour-old stop at the Lake of Pregnant Maiden. We were expected by the monkeys, ready to snatch any food we would have with us. We took the steep forest trail to the beautiful lake. Three young Muslim women were in front of us when one of them was suddenly approached by a monkey. Afraid, she turned around and ran away and screamed, redoing all her way at a crazy speed. This scene was rather funny for us spectators!

The lake is not very big, but the natural scenery is sublime. High green mountains completely surround the lake. Unfortunately, the horde of tourists broke the charm of the place. Of all the paid activities that were offered (kayak, pedal boat and swimming), Claude and I opted instead to sit back at the end of one of the docks, barefoot in the water, to observe the natural beauty of the place.

We took the trail back to the boat. This time, the Malay in front of me had her beautiful water bottle ripped off by a monkey. Afraid of being robbed too, I held my little purse tight against me!

Our small group of seven left by boat. Our captain stopped his engine while feeding the eagles in front of Singa Besar Island.

We then sailed to Beras Basah Island where we had an hour stopover to enjoy the beach. We bathed in the warm turquoise waters. We also witnessed other scenes involving rogue monkeys.

Claude found it very funny to see me make a big jump when a monkey came to sit right next to me on our bench. I was eating my chicken burger. I screamed in panic and rushed away before the monkey had time to steal my dinner.

We left once again by boat and returned to the dock. What a beautiful cruise we made! The shuttle service brought us back to Ku’s Roomstay just in time; heavy rain began as we disembarked from the van. We fled to our room while the storm passed.

The sun returned in the late afternoon. We decided to go to the beautiful Pantai Cenang beach by scooter. We walked on the boardwalk, had soup in a beachfront restaurant and shopped in the attractive shops on the main street. The sky then darkened, and the rain began to fall again, prompting us to take shelter. We took the opportunity for supper. We chose an Indian restaurant (delicious tandoori chicken, naan bread and rice bowl). The rain finally calmed down and we were able to go home on a scooter. I put on the raincoat that was in the scooter’s bench to protect me from the light rain and the « cold ». (Yes! Two raincoats could have protected us from the heavy rain yesterday. They were in the scooter bench and we didn’t know it!)

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22

PULAU LANGKAWI

Under a bright sun and a warm and humid temperature, we set off on a scooter to the east-central part of the island. We passed through several small country villages, enjoying their tranquility, their traditional wooden houses and the mountainous landscapes that surround them. We met several families of long-tailed macaques along our route. Decidedly, they are present all over the island!

After about twenty kilometers, buttocks in compote, we arrived at Langkawi Wildlife Park. We were entitled to a discount for seniors aged 55 and over! This is the first time that you can take advantage of such a discount; It doesn’t make us any younger! So, we have to get used to the idea that we are « old » globetrotters!

We enjoyed our visit to this wildlife park which includes several species of birds and some mammals and reptiles. It is possible to approach and feed several animal species: parrots, parakeets, raccoons, ostriches, deer, pink flamingos, fish, rabbits, etc.

We had an « ayam goreng » (fried chicken) in a small roadside restaurant before driving a few more miles to Kilim Karst Geoforest Park. The high price of taking a boat ride through the mangrove canals discouraged us from doing this activity. Instead, we decided to go for a swim at Cenang Beach to cool off and enjoy this beautiful beach one last time.

After our pleasant swim in the sea, we went for a tarik tea in a restaurant with a dream décor. Comfortably seated on cushions in a small shelter in the middle of a rice paddy, we enjoyed our Malaysian tea while enjoying this exceptional environment.

Before returning the scooter to its owner, we bought supplies for our supper and for our last lunch on Langkawi Island.

At 4 p.m., as every afternoon in the rainy season, the sky suddenly darkened, and a severe thunderstorm broke out. The wind started. An impressive amount of rain fell in a short time. Luckily, we were safe! It looked like it was a hurricane!

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23

PULAU LANGKAWI – KUALA LUMPUR (SEPANG)

Under a beautiful blue sky, we had lunch on our gallery. I packed my bags and went for a walk around. I barely had time to photograph bulls in a field when the rain started. Fortunately, I had my umbrella. I came back to our room and a few minutes later the sun came back. Claude and I climbed the mountain behind our accommodation and discovered a beautiful view of the surrounding area.

We then greeted our friendly host and took a taxi to Langkawi Island International Airport.

We had time to dine before boarding. The aircraft departed at 1:30 p.m. for an hour and a half flight. I was sitting next to a charming young couple consisting of a German and an Indonesian woman and their one-year-old baby. We chatted throughout the flight. This one seemed very short! Upon arrival at the gigantic and luxurious Kuala Lumpur airport, Claude and I took a taxi to Hotel 99 in the Sepang district. Recently opened, this state-of-the-art hotel offers very good comfort at a low price. It is quite close to the airport and several restaurants and a shopping center are within walking distance. We dropped off our luggage and went to walk around to get some money out, do some shopping and dinner. We enjoyed our beautiful large room in the evening after chatting with the receptionist, a native Javanese.

Our journey in Malaysia will end tomorrow morning. We will keep an indelible memory consisting of beautiful encounters, good food, beautiful colonial and modern buildings and beautiful landscapes. Our great adventure will continue with Indonesia. Yes, already! How fast time has passed since we left Canada on September 4th!