Penang, Malaysia July 23, 2017 Once upon a time, there lived a Buddhist monk called Chor Soo Kong who had moved to Penang. He was widely revered and known for his compassion to all living creatures, including snakes. When a temple dedicated to him was built in Penang in 1850, legends say that some pit … More Great Snakes!
Georgetown, Malaysia July 21, 2017 With its old temples and clan houses, colonial buildings and quirky street art, Georgetown seduces easily. The thriving night market and buzzing bars lend their weight to busloads and boatloads of travelers and a couple of days stretch into multiple ones. This is one of those cities where history blends … More Penang in Pictures
Cameron Highlands, Malaysia July 17, 2017 The cool climate of the Cameron Highlands of Malaysia is a welcome relief from the all-pervading sauna that is the rest of the country and not surprisingly, this is a wildly popular destination for both domestic and foreign tourists. The winding road goes past tea gardens, their meticulously pruned … More A Blooming Stink
Melaka, Malaysia July 10, 2017 The annals of Malay history say that Melaka, also called Malacca was founded in the fourteenth century by Paramesvara, a fleeing Sumatran prince. Situated on the straits of Malacca, it prospered through trade with the neighboring countries. The sultanate of Malacca soon established itself the leader in this area in … More Melaka Mosaic
Machan, Sarawak July 3, 2017 Vanessa was in Miri, on a school-sponsored field trip, when we met. While we chatted, she told me of their ancestral longhouse deep in the forest, built of bamboo and wood. Little did I know that as I listened entranced, she was hatching plans. The next day she informed me … More Lounging in a Longhouse
Miri, Malaysia June 23, 2017 The usual slick malls in between older buildings seem to make up most of Miri with new buildings under construction just about everywhere. There are pavement eateries and cafes aplenty but there is a faintly flat feel to this town. The various markets are probably the most happening in town. … More Meanderings Around Miri
Sukau, Malaysia June 16, 2017 The first couple of days in Sukau, were spent diligently looking for a boat, and in the process I met a number of people in this village. Yesterday, I heard from a young man who has a friend, whose cousin has a brother who works with the conservation department. There … More Chasing Pygmy Elephants
Sukau, Malaysia June 13, 2017 The Kinabatangan river is supposedly one of the best places in Borneo to see wildlife, the cast ranging from orangutans, proboscis moneys, long-tailed macaques to birds like herons, kingfishers and various kinds of hornbills. The star though is the pygmy elephant, found only in Borneo and it was this, that … More Floundering in Package-Central Kinabatangan
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia June 7, 2017 I am not quite sure what I expected, but it was certainly not this! Kota Kinabalu, or KK as it is called maybe located near the northern edge of Borneo, but it is far from a collection of huts with the jungle murmuring behind. This is a sprawling … More Buzzing Kota Kinabalu
ITCHY FEET TRAVELS 