Accomodation rearrangements

Yesterday, took a snorkeling trip. Left before 11 am and headed by boat to Turtle Bay, across on the other island. The bay lived up to its name. Gigantic sea turtles, two of them. They weren't bothered by us very much, but slided away if we go too close. Way cool.




The trip would've continued to Shark Point and other places, but there was some smoke coming up from our beach, and we decided to check out if it's anything serious. I thought it was someone burning garbage on the beach or some early lunch BBQ with bigger-than-usual catch. However, headed back to the beach and indeed there was something going on.


Serious, yes. This is the picture of the chalets as we found them. Ours is the second from right.
So all we could do was to grab a bucket and get in line passing water from the sea to the huts, trying to constrain the fire. And we succeeded in that, the main building (restaurant; other of the two places selling beer on this beach [conservative islamic region, remember?]).

The fire had started in chalet 11, we were staying in 9. But still the staff had managed to pull almost all of our gear from the hut, save for some items of clothing and electronic gadgets, couple of books, and my cellphone. So don't bother calling me, this time the ignorance of your calls and messages is not intentional.

So we had to find another place to stay in, which wasn't as straightforward as one might think, since nearly all the places had already shut down for the monsoon season.
Later that night we did a survivor / fire rescue workers party at the best restaurant of the beach. The restaurant was open for the last night, and they only had one beer left. I drank it and took some decisive action. After going combing down all the beach, I managed to purchase 2 cases of beer from the burned-down restaurant (guess who was the hero of the moment!) and I'm proud to tell you, none was left this morning.

The survivors here, at the end of the evening, some already missing: Victoria (sweet and utterly charming lass from UK), Simon (great bloke, see his around-the-world adventures on Hallidays Adventures), Hannah (beautiful and fun redhead with a stunning smile from UK), Philip (a good man, originating from Texas), Tea and me.




Today, we wanted to continue the snorkeling trip that was cut short yesterday. And I'm very happy that we did. Saw amazing-coloured bays, loads of various-shaped and coloured fish, the giant turtles again, and then the sharks. We were joined on this trip by Victoria and two guys, from UK and Sweden. If any of you should ever be in need of pictures of black-tip sharks on coral reef, just let me know, I'm sure one of my 300-or so pics will suite your needs just perfect.

Tomorrow we are leaving this exceptional island (with a promise to the burned-down place's owner to return some day) and try to get to Langkawi, an island on the other side of Malaysia. Since my cellphone thingy is no more (they're just so last season!), the location map probably wont be updated anymore.

So that is our last two days. How was yours, my hearties?

Pulau Perhentian Kecil, Malaysia

This is it. We found it. It took a while, 2 major cities, hop to a Vietnamese island, and a 1000 km train trip thru jungle, followed by a good hour's worth of sitting in a "taxi" and finally a 30-minute speed boat trip.

The Jungle Railway is a less-used train route thru some of the oldest rainforest in the world. Would be really interesting to see it some day. But we boarded the train in Singapore, and shortly thereafter (7pm) the tropical darkness fell upon us, after which it took approx. 12 hrs before there was enough light to see anything outside the train again.

But to the point; we have arrived to our destination. We didnt know it until we arrived, but now we're there.
The remote island with with sand, lush forest and no bars by Sedu.
We arrived in the nick of time, the dozen-or-so places on the island are closing down for the monsoon season. This means several things; there really is heavy rain coming our way, again. Maybe half of the places have already closed, opening again in March-April or so. And the seas will get rough, which will make the boats here more infrequent.
But it also means that there are not many people on the island anymore, and the prices on rooms are low. We paid something in the order of 40€ for the first 3 nights. After those we'll see about the weather again. Also the general feeling amongst the habitants is be extremely relaxed, but I don't know it that is due to the general mentality or ending of the season.

But currently the weather is overcast, temperature 30+ and no winds to speak of. The waters are clear and the restaurant-huts on the beach are firing up their barbecues.

This region is basically conservative muslim country, which means drinking is not really couraged but on the beach there are also signs on the contrary...

Also had chance to test the souvenir from Singapore; marine case for the camera. Quite dear, but worth the money. Went snorkeling off the beach and saw the usual parrot fish, jellyfish etc but also a sea turtle!

Sights of Singapore

Decided to stay in Singapore one more day, to see at least something of the city.
Shopping malls are aplenty and huge, and I honestly didn't know there is a consumer need for a mall that deals exclusively action figures. You know, Star Wars and Transformers etc. But now I know and there is.
Also went to the entertainment-hell of an island of Sentosa, to visit Underwater World, an aquarium. Hand-fed rays there, which was an experience. And served also as a sign of gratitude for what some relative of these fresh-water rays did to that Steve Irwin -character.

Moved out of the Carlton for more budget lodging, and now we're staying near Little India. The room is a small, windowless ashtray (wonder what the smoking-rooms are like, this is a non-smoker!), but price is cheap under Singaporean standards, and all we really need now is a bed and a shower. And being served by 3 different servants on the way from hotel elevator to hotel door (as is the way in Carlton), is not something i'm comfortable with anyway.

Little India is an area of Singapore where the hard-working men who build this city live in. They're all Indian. And seemingly Sunday night is their only night off, and then they put on their best shirts and gather in street corners in amazing masses to shake hands with one another and compare mobile phones.

Next destination is also decided on, we're heading to North-East coast of Malaysia with a train. Off that coast there are a couple of islands (Pulau Perinthian) that should be good for snorkeling and relaxing. And popular with the younger backpacker crowd, so things should be lively at nights as well.
The trip from here to the coast will be made by train, leaving tomorrow evening, and lasting some 13 hrs. This train route is called the Jungle Line, and it passes thru some of the oldest rain forest in the world.

Suddenly, Singapore

Took the morning flight out of Con Son Island to Saigon (as if there were any other flights) and grabbed the first flight from there to Singapore.
Idea was to stay in some budget backpacker place, but by instead ended up in Carlton hotel, a joint well summarized by the word "grand".

We were looking very out of place in the lobby, with our fresh-out-of-jungle clothes and appearance, whereas the rest of the clientele was of the upper management type from India and Europe, getting ready for an evening of fine dining.
So now we find ourselves 18 well air-conditioned floors above the heat of the tidy and well-organized streets of Singapore.

Singapore is the shopping capitol of South East Asia. Taxation on goods is low (5% Government Tax), except for alcohol, which costs dearly. Fortunately yours truly is a member of a very exclusive MC Club Murskeat Lokit, members of which have spent many years and loads of money to be trained in the fine art of finding the best dos-por-uno -deals in a new city.
But the sneakers with the motif of Edouard Munch's famous "Scream" were a bargain.

It's good to be back in a city. The island served it's purpose of relaxing, but tonight we'll go see nightlife, come hell or high water.

Con Son Island or Happiness is a Waste Basket

This island has a gruesome past; from the 19th century, it has been a place where the powers that be, have put their political prisoners. The first 9 decades it was the French, and in the 50's, the South Vietnamese government took over and saw to it that the habits of torture and killings continued. A while later, the US started bringing the Viet Cong and other suspects here. They suffered horrible things and were liberated when the Saigon regime surrendered in 1975.
Where the liberators (now Socialist Republic of Vietnam) holds its political prisoners, I do not know. Probably someplace where less tourism is planned by the government.

It is now our 3rd day here. First one was sunny and hot. On second day, a powerful thunderstorm swept the island, just as we had rented a motorbike. Same today, but with the exception of no pauses to the rain. Still, we toured the island, got soaking wet, went to see the national park, got more wet, and saw a thunderous waterfall (at which point we were already saturated, so didnt get any more wet).
The island has tourists, but not that many of them. So the locals treat us as people, not as source of income. Everyone waves hellos and views us with curiosity.

This is also our last day here. We're flying back to Ho Chi Minh tomorrow morning, and have no further plans as of yet. So now we need to decide whether we continue by plane to Singapore or Kuala Lumpur or by bus or riverboat to Cambodia.

Anyhow, I know we're close to happiness now. Now if I could just understand this message presented by our waste bin...

Going there

Needed a relaxing vacation, far away from various things, and so we booked a three-week trip to South-East Asia.
First stop after Finland was Guanzhou, China. Stopped there for a better part of the day, and found out that there is not really much to do on Canton airport, except to be mildly interested about the whereabouts of the man who greeted us after passport check, and claimed to be there to help us transfer to our connecting flight. Then he took our passports and tickets and vanished.
Several hours after that, we were able to get someone get hold of him, and to our surprise, there had been serious stamping activity during those hours, and our documents were in order.
Next thing was a flight to Ho Chi Minh City, previously known as Saigon.

Now downtown Saigon is not THE place to relax, at least not in the hotel class we traveled in.
There are about 4 million motorbikes in Saigon. The traffic is right-hand side, unless there is room on the left-hand side. And on the right hand side there may also be some other motorbikers, not quite realizing your need to be somewhere very soon, so it is better to take the left hand side. Unless there is an opening on the right hand side. But if you see it, you're already late in trying to claim it. You must feel it. And take it by surprise. But whatever you do, remember to honk the horn. That way others know you exist. And the more you honk, the more you exist. And no-one wants to be a non-existant nobody.

In Vietnam, the people around you are very nice, and food is good.
But that is also the case when I'm alone.
That is why relaxing part of the trip is now trying to start on Con Dao Islands, 40 minutes by plane from Saigon.
Used for decades as an prisoner island for all the wars, now trying to establish itself as eco-touristic tropical paradise destination.

So far, looks promising.