Towards Open Water! Getting to Langkawi by Boat

Langkawi is a tropical paradise located on the Thai-Malaysia boarder. It's an island known for pristine coral reefs, flawless white beaches, and untouched jungle. It's also known for its crocodiles and for not being particularly developed. 

Monkey Buisness: Jungle Trekking to a Monkey-Infested Beach

I had met a Japanese man and an Italian woman in my hostel. They had expressed an interest in going to a place called 'Monkey Beach'. And I asked to come along. From the name alone, this beach sounds like the setting of a movie. Plus, adding to the mystique was the fact that rumor indicated that the beach was actually not just named monkey beach, but was under the strict governance of monkeys. 

A Note on Durian

In Southeast Asia there is no middle ground. You either hate or love the large, spiked, ball-like fruits.

The flesh of the durian has a very distinctive odor - and nobody can agree on whether it's good or bad. Some people seem to regard the durian as having a pleasant fruity fragrance akin to pineapple. Others, however, find the durian's aroma revolting and describe it's smell closer to that of rotten garbage.

Penang's Night Markets

After two days of relaxing in the cool highlands, it's back on the road and to the humidity. I jumped on an early bus to Georgetown, Penang for 30rm ($9.25). Georgetown is a UNESCO World Heritage City because of it's delicious food, so I planned to make this my longest stop in Malaysia. It's also conveniently located about three hours away from the Thai boarder.   However, given the recent military coup and exodus of Thai intellectuals to places like Cambodia and Laos, I might spend longer than expected in Malaysia waiting and watching what happens. If anyone has any thoughts, please email me.

Drinking Malay Style: The 'Super' Beers

Yesterday, I left Kuala Lumpur for a much needed break in the Malaysian highlands. Hopping on a bus, I took a pleasant three-hour ride north to the small town of Tanah Rata. It's a cozy little place nestled high in the mountains amongst giant tea plantations and stunning orchid gardens. The dry weather is the perfect escape from the humid weather and crowded metropolitan hubbub of peninsular Malaysia. And with single rooms starting at 10rm ($3.15) a night, it's a steal. 

An Afternoon in Bliss: Tanah Rata's Tea Plantation

It really is cooler in the highlands. And the scenery is absolutely stunning.

Nestled above the dense jungle that covers most of peninsular Malaysia is an area the locals know as 'the highlands'. At an altitude of 1,440m, a mixture of mountains and jungles, it has some of the most spectacular scenery that Malaysia can offer.

Dinner with a Stranger: Kuala Lumpur

'Muddy confluence' said the fat man sitting across from me, 'that's what Kuala Lumpur means'. Leaning back in the rusty chair, I reflected on his translation. Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur is, in some sense, a city of muddied boundaries. It's caught in a metropolitan dilemma; it aspires to be Singapore, but at times feels more like Bangkok. Much of city has the appearance of its clean and clinically efficient brother in the south. But on the edges, it's all the raffish ins-and-outs of its wilder sister in the north.