My first trip as a 30-year old, backpacking through Malaysia. I only booked about a week before I left, a day after my birthday. I don't know why I waited this long, I just didn't feel like doing it sooner. Anyway, Dusseldorf to Bangkok, then Malaysia and fly back from Kuala Lumpur (KL). Didn't book anything in between. Like mentioned in a previous post, I wondered if it was going to be a different trip now that I was older, but other than this being a well needed trip, age had nothing to do with it. But I'll come back to that the upcoming blogs!
After an amazing flight (2) with Emirates, I landed in Bangkok (Bkk) for, what I believe to be, my 5th time. I flew here because I had still wanted to do a bikeride through Bkk and because if the weather in Malaysia was bad, I could easily fly elsewhere from here. My Dutch friend who works at an airline was also here the night I arrived and returned the moring after. So to make it easy to meet, and since I was arriving late in the evening, I stayed close to his hotel. We had some beers, the only ones I've had so far and said our goodbyes again.
I set my alarm for the next morning and after a short night, I was off Co van Kessel. I didn't want to do the bikeride there, since it was a Dutch company but it was a 3min walk from my hotel, so I decided to go anyway. Upon signing in, I noticed that the 10 or so people before me all wrote down 'Dutch' under nationality. I rolled my eyes and sighed quietly...this is exactly why I didn't want to go here haha. Anyways, we had little contact during the bike ride and mostly listened to the local guide and enjoyed the views, narrow alleys, local foods, etc. After that I went in for a nap, bought some water and fried chicken on the street and made my way to the local expressboat. I went till the last stop and back, took about 2hours, 30THB (less than €1). And I saw the city by day and night. After that I had a footmassage and headed to bed to again set my alarm.
A buddhist taxi took me to the airport, you probably wonder why I explicitely mention he was buddhist? The reason is that they believe in karma and doing good to receive good. I hailed down a few taxis before him and none of the wanted to drive me to the airport on the meter, because they could make more without it.
I decided to start in Sarawak, Borneo and fly to Kuching. I flew to KL in 60minutes and got foood (included in the price), nom nom. Unfortunately the flight was delayed and so I only had a 30min layover. I thought it would be a mirae if I'd make it to the next flight in time, and was also thinking about my luggage...would my bag make it? I ran, and luckily it wasn't too busy plus the lady at the passport check noticed my boarding time and quickly stamped my passport. I made it!! There was only one other couple, the rest was all Asian, from the back this meant all black hair. They non stop played a kind of 'waiting tune or elevator tune' on the plane, instrumental version of 'Stand By Me' and 'Beauty and the Beast' (on both flights). Because I already had a meal on my first flight, I had decided to skip this meal and just take the bread and other small things on the tray. As they got closer, I thought I heard the steward say Satay or ..? I tried to listen and I heard Satay again. And surely as he got to me, "Satay or fish madam?" SATAY!!! My favorite! Holy crap, I hadn't even set foot in Malaysia and I had already had my first satay and boy did I enjoy it!! My bag did not make it btw...but they would drop it off at the hostel a few hours later (around midnight) and they did.
The hostel I stayed in had super comfortable beds and besides one other guy, there was nobody else...the owner, who also picked me up from the airport was very friendly and told me I had to go see the orangutans the next morning, "take the bus at 7am, I show you" as we drove to the hostel. He then went to his restaurant behind the hostel and told me I could find him there if I needed him. A few hours passed and I tried to decide where to go next and what to do in Kuching. The owner, John is his name, came in around midnight to bring me my bag they had just dropped off. I could finally go to sleep after that.
I again set an alarm to take the bus at 7am. It was about an hour to get there and then about a 15min walk through the park. The wildlife park was only open for a few hours in the morning and a few in the afternoon, the 'feeding' times. But only if the orangutans wanted to eat. It was connected to the rest of the forest so if there was enough fruit in the forest, there was no need for them to come. And they also said we were lucky if we saw one, as it is not a zoo and they don't wear watches. But lucky we were, I think I saw about ten (including young ones). There were two areas where the rangers lay down fruit and would tell the visitors if there were any in the other area so a few times in between I ran back and forth. The first time I did, a big orangutan was going over the trees I was walking under, the ranger hurried me to go quicker, that was exciting! It was very cool to see them! We then had to leave so they could be and eat in peace.
I returned by bus and decided to go to Bako National park the next morning and so I booked a room with 4single beds (the only one available for about €20). John told me I could leave my stuff there and pick it up when I returned. I went out into Kuching to explore that afternoon/night. I walked mostly by the water front and took a river 'cruise' in a traditional boat, there was lots to do and see. I tried a popular local snack, Keropok lekor. I asked what it was upon buying it and she said fish. Now most people know I don't like fish, but I said ah ok and bought it anyway, wondering after why I did. But it was kind of tasty! I saw a lot of signs after having tried it in Borneo and the east of Malaysia.
Of course, I had to set yet another alarm to take the bus to the jetty (where I would take a small local boat to Bako). As I walked in the bus that was kind of full, looking for a place to sit, one guy had put his hand on the seat next to him and did not look at me, as a sign for me not to sit there. So I walked all the way to the back of the bus and sat with the other 3 western people. I quickly recognized the accents as they were talking to eachother, Dutch and German. My sign to put my headphones on and listen to music ^_^.
Bako was basic and nice. I still felt like I was in a zoo, people taking pictures (as did I of course) and it felt very touristy. I went on one of the shorter hikes to spot some monkeys and holy crap, what a hike that was. The path was pretty cool when I think about it, made out of rocks, tree roots and an occassionally handmade wooden bridge, but with 30°c+ temperatures and 99% humidity, I was dying! It said it took an hour and after sweating non stop and of course drinking a lot but also not stopping to get it over with, I noticed I was walking for half an hour. At that point I almost called it quits, but as mind over body won, I went on because I had to finish at least one hike. Turned out, I was there a few minutes later haha. Thank you!!!
I ended up at the beach and macaque monkeys were just doing their thing. I sat on a big rock and one of the monkeys walked and stopped in front of me to wash his fruit, eat it and be on his way again. It was nice, peaceful and a piece of the borneo I had pictured. On the way back I was more at ease, still very hot, but knowing it wouldn't take very long to get back. I was able to enjoy the path and the surroundings. And I also noticed the trash in the jungle and on the beach, always hard to understand why people would delibirately ruin such a beautiful sight and possible hurt the animals.
I went to my room to lay down and read for a bit. After a bit, I kept hearing people outside and after 15minutes or so, I decided to see what the fuss was about. And there they were, a few meters from 'my front door' in the trees above, silver leave langurs! So cool, I watched them for a bit and went to the head building to get food, just to learn they didn't start serving until 6:45pm. So I bought a popsicle, sweet corn as recommended by the people that were on my bus earlier. I didn't like it very much and walked over to the beach to finish it on my way back to my room and that's when it happened...two macaque monkeys jumped out of the bushes next to me ready to attack and steal my ice cream. I saw that they were ready to jump and so I threw it a bit further, they both fought over it. As I then wanted to take a picture, they thought I had more food, so I quickly put my hands in my pockets and walked back to the path. Lesson learned.
After dinner, almost everyone went on the night tour. We didn't see any big animals (like wild cats) but we did see a venomous green sniper, giant centerpeeds, spiders and walking sticks and small frogs. It was nice. And when I walked back to the room, I looked up at the stars. They were magnificient and in my mind, I went back to all the places, I'd seen stars before.
And yup, I again set an alarm for sunrise the next morning because I read in a blog that's when you could spot monkeys along the beach. I didn't see any, just more of the bearded pigs that were everywhere (which sounds not interesting but they were!!). Big fat fail. I then went back to the room, laid down for a bit, packed my stuff and took the boat and then bus back to Kuching where I had another night and set yet another alarm for my flight the next morning.
Cheers,
T.
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