Ipoh and Singapore

Dad and Jessie were incredibly hospitable with Los Dos Chamorros. Dad chauffered us around and took us to try all the local food that Ipoh is so proud of. This is where the eating marathon warms up for Singapore. Mike, the Minister of Security, has never been anywhere with such a heavy Muslim presence and got ready his stink eye in case he needed to use it. We got to see dad's orchid farm and lab where he crosses orchid species and replants hundreds and hundreds of plants. Both Val and Mike have orchids officially registered under their names with the Royal Orchid Society: Valerie Ang, aka RA0 (RA-Zero) and Michael Chamorro, or R14, are good money makers. :) Dad intends to cross the two...we shall see what that produces.

One day we visited an aboriginal tribe on the way to Cameron Highlands. Dad buys orchids from them sometimes because they get unusual species from the jungle. They were neither aboriginal nor tribal looking, everyone wore T-shirts. There were a ton of kids in the village when we arrived, all were somewhat suspicious of us. But after dad chatted everyone up and we started showing them the digital photos we were taking, all the kids wanted to do was pose for photos and then mob the camera to have a look at the picture. They were so curious of us, asking us how old we were, where Mike was from, if we spoke their language. Some were able to ask "what's your name?" but not much else in English.

We arrived in Malaysia to a string of Indian and Muslim public holidays, so lots of stuff was either closed or packed with people. It was also impossible to find bus tickets down to Singapore. Dad decided to drive instead.

We spend our entire last day in Ipoh at an internet cafe planning our upcoming trip to India, realizing that we've left too much to the last minute and worrying that the train tickets we want are long sold out. Like cramming for an exam, we tackle our Indian research in tandem on two computers, emailing accomodations, researching distances/hours/trains, calling India, speed reading Lonely Planet India. We didn't want to leave much to chance, it will not be a good place to wing anything. We are anticipating utter chaos, and for our patience and street smarts to be pushed to the limit.

On Wednesday (10.25.06) we woke at 4am to make the 6 hour drive from Ipoh to Singapore. The drive went relatively quickly and comfortably. We had anticipated traffic but there was none. We are staying at my grandfather's house in Singapore. Mom and stepdad are also here, everyone is flying into town for my grandfather's 91 birthday in Bali. We will miss it as we are leaving on Sunday for India.

The Eating Marathon ramps into high gear.


For photos of Malaysia, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/31967627@N00/sets/72157594348004516/

Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Tuk Tuks and Ferries

October 21, 2006

7:15am Pick up truck takes us from hotel to ferry.

8:00am Ferry to Ko Phi Phi. Transfer to ferry to Phuket island.

9:30am Ferry transfer in middle of ocean. Our bags are passed over the rails, we are hurried onto the waiting second ferry. Odd, but very efficent.

11:00am Arrive in Phuket, take a pre paid van into town where we were planning on killing some time before our 4pm flight to Malaysia. The van couldn't find where we wanted to go and so they dropped us off on the street (Val cursing and protesting), we walk aimlessly with our heavy packs in 90 degree heat in search on somewhere to have lunch.

11:05am Tuk Tuk driver stalks us, asking where we'd like to go. We blow him off.

11:09am Same tuk tuk driver, still stalking us, says he'll take us where we want to go and the airport afterwards for an agreeable price. We get in.

11:15am Uncle Stalky stops as at some random restaurant. Then tells us we should just take a cab to the airport because 1) he can't wait for us to eat lunch 2) a cab is better 3) the cab has a/c 4) the cab will cost more.

11:16am We feel the last week's bliss bleeding out of our pores.

11:18am We decide to just eat and find a way to the airport.

12:07pm Find out that there is an airport shuttle (for a fraction of the cab price) that leaves in 23 minutes at the Bus Terminal and that we will miss it.

12:15 Find out that all cabs are in cahoots and do not like to bargain.

12:30 Worn down, we take a cab to the airport. Wait for 3.5 hours.

4:15pm Fly to Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia

6:40pm (one hour time change) Arrive in KL, bags take forever to arrive. Meet Val's Dad and Jessie at airport. Happy to see familiar faces.

8:00pm Have great dinner at a hawker stand/rest stop at the side of the highway.

9:00pm Start the 2.5 hour drive to Ipoh where dad lives. Heavy heavy downpour most of the way.

11:30pm Arrive in Ipoh.


And just like that our fragile week of island yum was shattered by a gruelling 15 hour travel day.

Island Recap

What a luxury to have 7 whole days without moving. Our much needed vacation within the vacation. Not having to find accomodations or plan our next steps or having anything on the agenda was what we really needed. If we wanted to stay in and watch the All-Day-Movie-Ticket channel, we could, and we did. By the end of the week, we had our favorite hangouts and we had befriended a few of the townies. It's a good feeling, when you're a nomad, to have a small piece of familiarity even if it is only for a week. Island life is a slippery slope. Los dos Chamorros are a deeper shade of brown and our happy-place equilibrium was re-calibrated.



Highlites
* discovering places on the scooter.
* sleeping in.
* playing cards at the Nice Beach Resort for hours.
* Val's mysterious all day stomach cramps which led to movie marathon day.
* giant spider in bathroom one night (see photo in flickr) that valiant Mike drowned with a relentless water spraying.
* the chill beach platforms along the beach with Thai mats and pillows and shell curtains and vodka pineapples.
* the god aweful party at the Reggae House that was the butt of our jokes all week. It was a like a bad house party where you worry that no one is going to show up. The dj sucks because he's mixing tunes like a Greek plate thrower, the tempo-impaired host thinks he can play the drums. And all the dorky kids from school are the only ones showing up.
* waiting out the 3 hour island-wide black out on the porch with our emergency candle and cold Singhas.
* The Flip Flop Cafe, our favorite dinner spot. A Dive school/restaurant/wireless internet cafe run by a couple of Danish guys. They showed movies every night at 7:30. So we'd watch movies over meatballs and boiled potatoes and chicken breast and salad, a nice change from Thai food, and lots of wine (something we've really been missing.)

Lo-lights
* non-stop construction by the pool area.
* mosquitoes.
* having to leave.

For photos of Ko Lanta, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/31967627@N00/sets/72157594348005998/

For photos of Ko Phi Phi, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/31967627@N00/sets/72157594346939747/