Nakhon Si Thammarat - Home of the shadow puppets

We crossed the border into Thailand and after a 7 hour journey, made it to the town of Nakhon Si Thammarat. They don't get a lot of foreign visitors in Nakhon Si Thammarat so as we went past, the locals came out of shops to look and wave at us.

Nakhon Si Thammarat is famous for being one of the last places left in Thailand where the ancient art of producing shadow puppets continues, they're produced by hand from cow hide. The shadow puppet master is quite famous and performed for the king of Thailand, we got to watch a short show.
Thailand's quite a culture shock compared to Malaysia where most people spoke English and the Malaysian language used the normal alphabet. Getting dinner at the night market involved a lot of hand gestures. Getting around is also a bit strange as they use săwngthăew, which are trucks with benches in the back and work like a cross between a bus and a taxi.

Penang - Last stop in Malaysia

Our last stop in Malaysia before crossing the border into Thailand was the small state of Penang, an island off the west coast where the majority of the population is Chinese not Malay and where the British invaded (is there anywhere we didn't invade round here?). We got to the Island by ferry but there is also a bridge, the second longest in South East Asia.

We got there in the afternoon and had a chance to wander around, there are hundreds (maybe a bit of an exaggeration) of temples and mosques dotted around the streets. I also went to the top of the Komtar tower to their viewing deck, but it started raining when I got to the top so the pictures weren't great.


The next day we had a tour round Penang starting with the old British fort. Next we headed to the Chinese Wharfs, there are seven along a stretch of the front and is where the Chinese immigrants arrived. Each is named after a popular Chinese family name so only those with that name could stay on that wharf, if you look inside you couldn't tell that they are a shack built above water as they all have electricity and TVs etc.


We headed to the Wat Chayamangkalaram temple, home to the reclining Buddh, then after a stop off at another chocolate factory we finished at Kek Lok Si Temple, the largest Buddist temple in Malaysia.

Sukasuka retreat - Day 2

Day two and we headed to the local village to see traditional Malay houses and to trek to a waterfall.


After trekking uphill for what seemed like miles, the pool was so good to swim in.



It rained very heavily that afternoon, before it started Joan (one of the group) had gone out in a kayak and had to be rescued by a passing boat when the storm struck. In the evening we had a traditional Malay meal, sat on the floor, only eating with the right hand and no knives and forks. We even wore traditional Malay sarongs.



The next morning we were catching the coach from Kuala Kengsar, the royal town in the state of Perak. Before we left we saw a few of the sights including the Royal Palace and the Royal Mosque (below).

Goodbye city, hello country

We left KL the next morning and got a coach to the state of Perak, then got a rickety minibus and a boat to our next stop, the island of Sukasuka in a man made lake created by damming a river to stop the royal town flooding further down. We stayed in cabins with a family who own the Island.

After being in KL for a couple of days and Singapore for quite a few days, it was really really quiet here and felt very remote. There were lots of mozzies around as well so we had to load up on the insect repellent and sleep with mosquito nets, which I was sure I would end up with my head sticking out of in the morning and bitten to pieces.



The huts did have electicity and toilet so it wasn't too basic though hot water and air conditioning was notably missing and it was a very sticky first night. Plus there were lots of bumps in the night including the Ghekos, which make noises like someone is knocking on the door and a very noisy bullfrog. We also had the the guest below in our cabin the first night.

KL - Day 2

On day 2 we had a guided tour round the sights of KL. We started off at the Batu caves, which is a Hindu temple in the side of a rocky hill with a lot of steps to the top. The caves are home to a hoard of monkeys, who are highly adept to getting food and drinks from the tourists. When we were climbing the steps up, they all came bounding down like something from Indiana Jones.



The caves are huge inside.


After visiting the world famous (apparently) Royal Selangor Pewter Factory, where they make all sorts of things including the F1 trophies and the worlds largest tankard.



We also visited the National Monument, a chocolate factory that had lots of free samples and the National Mosque.

Hello KL

A short three hour coach ride brought us from Melaka to Kuala Lumpur or KL as the locals call it, the capital of Malaysia. We had to walk from the bus station to our hotel in the midday heat (around 30 degrees) with backpacks on, which seemed to take forever.


KL is home to the worlds tallest flagpoll (above) which is where the British handed power over to Malaysia, next to the flagpole is also a cricket pitch and pavilions.



In the afternoon we walked to the KL Menara tower, the third tallest communications tower in the world (BT tower didn't make chart). After walking the long way round we went up to the viewing levels at the top, which had spectacular views across the city (see below).



In true Malaysian style, it started to rain just as we left so we had to get a taxi back, the taxi driver even managed to provide some entertainment and a bit of singing as we headed back. In the evening we went to KLCC, where the Petronas towers are located and had dinner before getting a few pictures of the towers lit up at night.

Start of the tour - Melaka

After crossing the Malaysian border, the first stop was at Melaka, which used to be the main port in South East Asia before Singapore took the crown. The red buildings are from when the Dutch invaded, before the British invaded.

London is a very long way away!


We had a trishaw ride round the town to see the sights including Chinatown and some beautiful temples, including the one below, which was build entirely from wood without any nails holding it together.

Sensota

Weather was good on Saturday so I headed to Sensota Island, Singapore's own holiday resort. You get to it by monorail or cablecar, I took the cablecar that goes from the top of a skyscraper across to the Island. The Island is completely artificial, full of imported sand beaches that overlook tanker ships heading to harbours and cheesey attractions like a 4D theatre (the extra D is where they shake you about).



It was the last night I was staying with Ed and Rachel in their luxury apartment complex complete with a choice of swiming pools. Had dinner at the Newton Hawker centre, the noodles were good bit the Singapore carrott cake is definately to be missed, there is no carrott in it, just raddish cocked with lard and something else.

Singapore at night

On Friday evening I headed back to central Singapore to check out what it looks like lit up. The Fullerton hotel above is pretty spectacular but downtown Singapore isn't as pretty or interesting as Hong Kong at night.

Friday Afternoon - Arab Quarter and Little India

Like the Chinese Quarter, Singapore also had an area designated for Arabs and Indians. The Sultan Mosque above is on Arab street, the focal point of the Arab Quarter.


The mineret on this mosque is wonky by 7%.



In Little Inida there are a range of different temples including this buddhist one with a massive gold Buddha and has an ornate giant footprint called the foot of buddha.

I'm in Kuala Lumpur at the moment but have a backlog of photos to upload and we're off to a homestay in a remote Malay village on an island in the middle of a lake so Internet access may be a little limited.

Friday Morning - Surprise sunshine

I woke up on Friday and discovered the sun was shining and it didn't look like it was about to rain - the perfect opportunity to get a boat tour up the Sinapore river.


They use Bumboat, that used to be used to transport goods from the ships to the warehouses on the Singapore river, the warehouses at Boat Quay and Clarkes Quay have all been converted into restaurants and bars. The boats have eyes on two eyes on them at the front as the boatmen used to believe it would help them navigate and stop them crashing.


Singapore looks much better in the sunshine.

Day Three - Going Colonial

I spend today wandering round the colonial district of Singapore (until it started raining again). I got a picture of me in front of the famous Singapore merlion, not quite the statue of liberty but I guess it serves it purpose. Lots of English influence on the buildings round these parts like the old Government building, in front of a Singapore Cricket Club ground.

There's plenty of new buildings around as well like Esplanade, which definately has more spikes than the Sydney Opera House

Finally, here's a picture of the man who founded Singapore, Sir Stamford Raffles, they built this statue where he first set foot on the Island.

Day Two - Going down to Chinatown

Sinapore has quite a big Chinatown, from when the city was first planned out and divided up into areas for each of the ethnic groups to live. The streets are filled with market stalls selling loads of tat for tourists. But there are quite a few rather ornate temples.




As it rained very heavily, I headed off to the Asian Civilisations Museum in the afternoon, which was full of eye candy if that sort of thing interests you, it made my feet hurt but it was dry.