Hi all:
Just finished a surprisingly good dinner of brick oven pizza here beachside on Besar Island...it's 8:25pm and the South China Sea behind me is serenely calm...young Malaysian waiters and waitresses scurry around me delivering plates of food to mostly European customers sitting at tables just feet from the waters edge. Today (7/18/08) was yet another gem...after a good breakfast, I boarded a speedboat a few resorts to the north of our chalet and spent a few hours snorkeling, along with a few other tourists, at pre-selected locations around this island. On our last stop, which was only about 1/2 mile or so from the shore, there was some excitement as we all saw two huge sea turtles lazily moving along on the sea floor some 10 feet or so below us...it was really a cool sight.
The experience to date has been really amazing...Singapore assaulted us with varied smells, tastes, sounds and different languages from all over the world. Tioman Island, situated off the south east coast of Malaysia was stunning...and now we're a few hundred miles north...off the same easter shore of Malaysia and we continue to be spellbound by the beauty of this corner of the world. The colors are stark...rich greens cover the hillsides...then give way to deep hues of blue as the South China sea touches the powdery white beaches.
Tomorrow, we take our ferry from the front of our resort for the approximately one hour journey back to mainland Malaysia where we will catch a flight back to Kuala Lumpur. We have two nights in that city to soak up its many wonders...including Little India, the Bhatu Caves and the many neighborhoods. Next Monday, I fly off to Ho Chi Mihn City, Vietnam where I'll spend one week exploring that teaming city where I'm told crossing the street is a collosal adventures...(I'll be careful...).
A few random notes on Malaysia: it's a major triumph if you find a bathroom that actually flushes...almost reason to celebrate...also, you have to have patience as the locals move to their own unique timetable. Fast service, for example, at dinner, is virtually non-existent...and if you think you'll be served your meals at the same time...think again...we have yet get our meals together.
As for creature sightings, there are lots of bats on this island that seem to come to life at dusk...darting around in a frenzied state for an hour or so before retiring to wherever they spend the night. There are also several groups of roosters and their shrill cackle can be heard in the morning over the hum of our AC unit. No sightings of monitor lizards or monkeys on this island, but they were in abundance on Tioman.
No pics until at least mid next week as our camera isn't jiving with this computer...I have lots more stories to share...miss you guys!
Cheers,
Keith
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1 comment:
Keith! Glad you are having a great time. Can't believe all that you are doing in such a short period of time. Your blogs are like literary novels-remember there are some gym teachers reading this, so make it a little easier (words like to, the, and me work well). The gulf stream is pumping hot moist air towards us for about two weeks now, and we need some radiational cooling, or a back door cold front (ah ha). Can't wait to see you bud, so we can hang out, grab a cold one, and talk about the trip. Be safe my friend.
Talk to you soon (2013)
John :o)
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