01 Aug Arrived in Kuala Lumpur (KL) at a different airport than I had expected. It wasnt a problem except for the fact that i was running around like a headless chicken looking for the train station and there wasnt one. Eventually got a shuttle bus into town, that took an hour and I got chatting to a Malay woman that was travelling from Borneo to KL and was familiar with KL. She was very helpful and sorted me out at the train station (which was huge). Eventually got to my guesthouse and booked their last room (thank god).
I headed out that night and couldnt believe how advanced and cosmopolitan the city was. Fabulous buildings, monorails, subways, massive shopping centres and monuments. I visited the Petronas towers, the highest twin towers in the world. They are the HQ to 'Petronas' a massive Asian oil company and the broadcasting HQ of Aljazeera TV
02 Aug Decided to go and see a few more sights today. Its amazing how futuristic the city is but makes no provision for cyclists and little or none for pedestrians. After setting off on foot and walking on the hardshoulder of flyovers and dual carriageways I got to the old KL train station. It was refurbished about 10 years ago but has since been superceeded by a huge new station. The Old one, built by the British, is like something out of the movies with multiple platforms and half barrell roof and beautifully tiled with little cafes alongside.
After that I visited this huge big Mosque (Masjid Negram). I marched up the steps through the barrier and halfway up the stairs I thought I was under attack from the Mudjahadeen. Apparently I should have covered my legs and taken off my shoes. I was marched back down the stairs and wrapped in a purple robe (worn by flesh exposing non Muslims) and off I went in for a look. It was a fine place but I was gone in 10 minutes.
I went then to the National Planetarium which had been marketed well but was overrun with Kids and was shite. The National Museum after that, crap. I went to KL tower with the revolving restaurant. I tried to find my way in but for all the roads, I couldnt. At 35C ones determination runs thin very quickly. Went back to the air conditioned comfort of the Petronas towers and had dinner in Burger King and dessert in Dunkin Donuts (How Malay of me)
I took the subway back to the guesthouse and booked my 3 day trek to Jalaweng Jungle. I had a walk thru the night markets and went to bed.
Aug 03 Went to the KL tower today, the 4th tallest structure in the world. Its always a great way to see a city and to get one bearings. Back to bed for a few hours and boarded the night train for Dabong at 8.30pm. Aka the 'Jungle train' took 12 hours to get to Dabong. Its a remote outpost and we were the only ones that got off. There was no platform so we had to jump onto the ground from the train (Another first).
Aug 04
There were 4 of us in the group (Alex, Stuart & Laura) and we were met by Yeo. After breakfast at a local eatery (hot curry) we met 'Uncle' and went on a short cave trek (3 hours). It was amazing and saw huge caves, wierd spiders and other critters. We headed for lunch and after that hiked to our base camp in the mountains. After been shown our huts we went swimmimg and the guides brought us up the rock face and sent us sliding down on our bums into the water. Never been down a rock waterslide before and it was terrifying but exhilarating once it was done. The food on base camp was good but the accommodation was shocking and the worst ive stayed in. On the first night we had to change huts as it was over run by Ants and there was rat shit all over the bed. I thought they were bits of foilage and went to wipe them away but disintegrated in my hand s and the smell was desperate. We moved to another and the smell of rat piss (one can only assume) off the mattress was stifeling. There were no mossie nets and was open to any unwanted native visitors if they wished to pay you a visit during the night. I slept on the piss ridden matress and was very humbling to say the least. It lashed rain too.
Aug 05 Was going to get up for the sunrise over the waterfall but was pissing rain. It cleared up later in the morning and after breakfast we went on another trek. It was up to the top of the waterfall where we went swimming. I was bursting to go to the toilet so, rather than go into the Jungle and let the less savoury of its inhabitants bite me where the sun dont shine I decided that I should go where the fish go. I found a nice spot behind a boulder with fast moving water (very imporant) and removed my swimming togs to complete the job. After watching the evidence float by and quickly disappear on its waterworld adventure and a quick clean around I appeared into view of the group. I joined them for lunch & made sure I shook hands with them all. I took a snooze after lunch on the rocks and was woken by a massive crack of thunder. I jumped up and started packing everything into my bag. The heavens opened up and it torrentially rained on us as we walked back to base camp. We had to go quickly as the water levels rise fast and we needed to cross the river to the camp. After a few failed attempts we found a spot to cross. I was drowned wet. Slept in a tent tonight.
Aug 06 Our last day in the Jungle and we went to see the potholes, an unusual rock formation where the rock bed looks like a piece of cheese. We had great craic jumping into the potholes and dispearring underneath the water and sliding under the waterfall where it was dry and you could look at it falling. We were rained on again on our way back to base. It dryed up again and with a couple of hours break between base camp and the final descent to Dabong we manged to dry our clothes inthe sun. During the way down, i found myself slipping a lot as my shoes were fairly worn down on the soles. I gave them to our guide when we got down and he was delighted. He reckoned he would have to spend a months wages to buy that same pair. The worn soles didnt bother him.
My train was due to depart at 8.30pm and I reached the station at 2.30pm. After a long lunch Uncle invited me go on a boat trip up the river. Off we went and got soaked again, One could only laugh. He brought me back to his house to shower and change (very decent of him). We got on very well and he brought me arond to all these eateries and introduced me to the locals which was very enjoyable. I was treated to great food and coffee, the train arrived at 9.15pm and I slept most of the 12 hours to KL on the nicest bed i had in 3 days.
Aug 07 arrived in KL and checked into the same guesthouse for 1 more night. I booked my bus ticket to Singapore (SP) for tomorrow, leaving at 10 am and due in SP about 4pm. I checked out a few big shopping centres too as I wanted to buy new trekking shoes but they dont go for them much in these parts. The shopping centres were amazing though, fabulously finished and built on a mammoth scale, needs to be seen to be appreciated. Also went for a spin on the MRT a monorail that travels 30 foot above the city streets, which was cool.
I headed out that night and couldnt believe how advanced and cosmopolitan the city was. Fabulous buildings, monorails, subways, massive shopping centres and monuments. I visited the Petronas towers, the highest twin towers in the world. They are the HQ to 'Petronas' a massive Asian oil company and the broadcasting HQ of Aljazeera TV
02 Aug Decided to go and see a few more sights today. Its amazing how futuristic the city is but makes no provision for cyclists and little or none for pedestrians. After setting off on foot and walking on the hardshoulder of flyovers and dual carriageways I got to the old KL train station. It was refurbished about 10 years ago but has since been superceeded by a huge new station. The Old one, built by the British, is like something out of the movies with multiple platforms and half barrell roof and beautifully tiled with little cafes alongside.
After that I visited this huge big Mosque (Masjid Negram). I marched up the steps through the barrier and halfway up the stairs I thought I was under attack from the Mudjahadeen. Apparently I should have covered my legs and taken off my shoes. I was marched back down the stairs and wrapped in a purple robe (worn by flesh exposing non Muslims) and off I went in for a look. It was a fine place but I was gone in 10 minutes.
I went then to the National Planetarium which had been marketed well but was overrun with Kids and was shite. The National Museum after that, crap. I went to KL tower with the revolving restaurant. I tried to find my way in but for all the roads, I couldnt. At 35C ones determination runs thin very quickly. Went back to the air conditioned comfort of the Petronas towers and had dinner in Burger King and dessert in Dunkin Donuts (How Malay of me)
I took the subway back to the guesthouse and booked my 3 day trek to Jalaweng Jungle. I had a walk thru the night markets and went to bed.
Aug 03 Went to the KL tower today, the 4th tallest structure in the world. Its always a great way to see a city and to get one bearings. Back to bed for a few hours and boarded the night train for Dabong at 8.30pm. Aka the 'Jungle train' took 12 hours to get to Dabong. Its a remote outpost and we were the only ones that got off. There was no platform so we had to jump onto the ground from the train (Another first).
Aug 04
There were 4 of us in the group (Alex, Stuart & Laura) and we were met by Yeo. After breakfast at a local eatery (hot curry) we met 'Uncle' and went on a short cave trek (3 hours). It was amazing and saw huge caves, wierd spiders and other critters. We headed for lunch and after that hiked to our base camp in the mountains. After been shown our huts we went swimmimg and the guides brought us up the rock face and sent us sliding down on our bums into the water. Never been down a rock waterslide before and it was terrifying but exhilarating once it was done. The food on base camp was good but the accommodation was shocking and the worst ive stayed in. On the first night we had to change huts as it was over run by Ants and there was rat shit all over the bed. I thought they were bits of foilage and went to wipe them away but disintegrated in my hand s and the smell was desperate. We moved to another and the smell of rat piss (one can only assume) off the mattress was stifeling. There were no mossie nets and was open to any unwanted native visitors if they wished to pay you a visit during the night. I slept on the piss ridden matress and was very humbling to say the least. It lashed rain too.
Aug 05 Was going to get up for the sunrise over the waterfall but was pissing rain. It cleared up later in the morning and after breakfast we went on another trek. It was up to the top of the waterfall where we went swimming. I was bursting to go to the toilet so, rather than go into the Jungle and let the less savoury of its inhabitants bite me where the sun dont shine I decided that I should go where the fish go. I found a nice spot behind a boulder with fast moving water (very imporant) and removed my swimming togs to complete the job. After watching the evidence float by and quickly disappear on its waterworld adventure and a quick clean around I appeared into view of the group. I joined them for lunch & made sure I shook hands with them all. I took a snooze after lunch on the rocks and was woken by a massive crack of thunder. I jumped up and started packing everything into my bag. The heavens opened up and it torrentially rained on us as we walked back to base camp. We had to go quickly as the water levels rise fast and we needed to cross the river to the camp. After a few failed attempts we found a spot to cross. I was drowned wet. Slept in a tent tonight.
Aug 06 Our last day in the Jungle and we went to see the potholes, an unusual rock formation where the rock bed looks like a piece of cheese. We had great craic jumping into the potholes and dispearring underneath the water and sliding under the waterfall where it was dry and you could look at it falling. We were rained on again on our way back to base. It dryed up again and with a couple of hours break between base camp and the final descent to Dabong we manged to dry our clothes inthe sun. During the way down, i found myself slipping a lot as my shoes were fairly worn down on the soles. I gave them to our guide when we got down and he was delighted. He reckoned he would have to spend a months wages to buy that same pair. The worn soles didnt bother him.
My train was due to depart at 8.30pm and I reached the station at 2.30pm. After a long lunch Uncle invited me go on a boat trip up the river. Off we went and got soaked again, One could only laugh. He brought me back to his house to shower and change (very decent of him). We got on very well and he brought me arond to all these eateries and introduced me to the locals which was very enjoyable. I was treated to great food and coffee, the train arrived at 9.15pm and I slept most of the 12 hours to KL on the nicest bed i had in 3 days.
Aug 07 arrived in KL and checked into the same guesthouse for 1 more night. I booked my bus ticket to Singapore (SP) for tomorrow, leaving at 10 am and due in SP about 4pm. I checked out a few big shopping centres too as I wanted to buy new trekking shoes but they dont go for them much in these parts. The shopping centres were amazing though, fabulously finished and built on a mammoth scale, needs to be seen to be appreciated. Also went for a spin on the MRT a monorail that travels 30 foot above the city streets, which was cool.
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