Time passed real fast and it has been almost two months since Catherine and I had our backpacking trip in West Malaysia. It took me a long while to actually post this up. Indeed we both had a great time, with all the no-plan plans, traveling around West Malaysia and had last minute change of plans to Philippines due to the H1N1 virus.
Date: 22nd June - 8th July 2009
We started our journey from Miri to KL. All we had with us was our backpacks; one big and one small, and of course our cameras. We had a budget of RM1500 for this trip.
There's just too much to tell and too much picture to show...
...Catherine and her backpacks...
...Karen and her backpacks...
Day 1 - 22nd June 2009 (Kuala Lumpur)
We boarded Malaysia Airlines flight from Miri to KL that morning and checked into The Original Backpack Inn in Petaling Street. We were tempted to stay in the airconditioning room since it was only couple of ringgit difference. We wasted no time and went down to Pavillion to meet Catherine's friend and to pass my laptop to Choulyee. To save cost, we walked from Bukit Bintang back to Petaling Street that night and had a good night sleep.
...taken in Pavillion...
Day 2 - 23rd June 2009 (KL - Cameron Highlands)
We woke up early the next morning to catch a ride to Cameron Highlands. It was a long ride up the hill with the small winding road. We checked into Kang's Travelers Lodge, Tanah Rata and it was a very nice and cozy place to stay. Love the weather in Cameron Highlands~ The mode of transportation: Antique Public Bus.
...Puduraya Bus Station...
...Brinchang...
...taken in Jungle Bar, Kang's Travelers Lodge...
Day 3 - 24th June 2009 (Cameron Highlands)
A whole day in Cameron Highlands. We traveled up and down and wherever we can find interesting places around. We had the longest walk ever into Boh Tea Plantation and it was damn tiring. Had no choice but to hitchhike an old school bus out to the main road...
...the Antique Public Bus we used in Cameron...
...Cameronian Valley Tea Plantation...
...taken on my bag on top of a chair...
...Boh Tea Plantation...
...the must-come-must-see place in the plantation...
...the old school bus we hitchhike on...
Day 4 - 25th June 2009 (Cameron Highland to Penang)
We left early morning by van to Penang. Guess what, our Tune Hotel bookings was only RM13 per night! hehehehe... that's coz we booked way ahead of time~ Penang is another beautiful place to visit. Thanks to the efficient public bus (Rapid Penang - which is very similar to Rapid KL), we saved a lot of costs in transportation and we were able to get to anywhere we want in Penang! Love the food too!!!
...taken outside Kang's Travelers Lodge...
...overview of Penang Island taken in Penang Hill...
(click to enlarge the picture)
...our 'beca' ride at 12am from Gurney Drive to Tune Hotel...
Day 5 - 26th June 2009 (Penang)
Spent the whole day in Penang, exploring many places and trying out delicious food. Me met up with our friends for dinner and soon after further debate on Gurney Drive, it is now officially 'grey' to us coz there's more places for delicious food in Penang other than Gurney Drive!!!
...Kek Lok Si temple...
...Catherine's favourite bubble shot...
Day 6 - 27th June 2009 (Penang to Langkawi)
This was supposed to be the day we left back to KL for Philippines but our plans had to be cancelled. So, from this point onwards, our trip was on the no-plan plans! Got into the Penang Ferry to ferry us over to Georgetown that morning. We then took a RM10 express bus ride to Pekan Rabu, Kedah. We interchanged with another antique bus ride to Kuala Kedah jetty for a 2 hours ferry to Langkawi. It was one of the most tiring journey we made. We got a place to stay in Palm Guesthouse which is operated by an ang moh. We rented a car to get us around the island. What tempted me the most was the 'DUTY FREE SHOPS'! ...but... nah~
...ferry from Penang Island to Georgetown...
...in the antique public bus in Pekan Rabu. not sure what Catherine was doing back there...
...Langkawi's icon...
...we stayed just couple of blocks away, but the entry was rather expensive...
Day 7 - 28th June 2009 (Langkawi)
One long day in Langkawi and we basically traveled all the roads on the island. Our first stop was the Langkawi Cable Car and it was no doubt the most magnificent choice to go. The view was just breathtaking. And it was off for island hopping that afternoon. We paid RM45 each for a 3 island tours - Pulau Dayang Bunting, Eagle feeding, Pulau Beras Basah.
...Catherine feeding those lovely rabbits...
...taken at Langkawi Cable Car 1st stop...
...Pulau Dayang Bunting...
(saltwater lake on the island)
...eagle feeding...
...after a swim in Pulau Beras Basah...
Day 8 - 29th June 2009 (Langkawi - Terengganu)
We enjoyed so much in Langkawi but it was time to leave to another place. We spent the whole morning exploring again and made our way to Makam Mahsuri and more beautiful beaches and paddy fields. We left Langkawi to Kuala Perlis and there we spent unending hours waiting in the one and only KFC for our 8pm bus to Terengganu. It was an 8 hours bus ride that night...
...the paddy fields taken in Makam Mahsuri...
...taken in one of the beaches in Langkawi...
love this shot!
...the 1 1/2 hours ferry ride to Kuala Perlis...
...the hawker stall where we had dinner before boarding the bus...
Day 9 - 30th June 2009 (Jertih - Pulau Perhentian)
We reached a place called Jertih, Terengganu at 5am that morning. We were wondering around for bus/taxi to bring us to Kuala Besut (the jetty to Pulau Perhentian). In the end, we took a RM10 ride to the jetty and waited for our boat to bring us to our resort. We had boat ride around some places in Perhentian Island coz there were a few people who were dropping off at different parts of the island and we were the last to reach our destination. Our boat stopped at a distance from our resort and another smaller boat came and brought us in. We checked into D'Lagoon and although it was a really quiet resort, it was beautiful~ We took a hike into the jungle to find our way to the other side. We ended up in Adam's Beach for a snorkel and the view was just beautiful...
...taken at Kuala Besut jetty...
...sunset at D'Lagoon...
...we climbed through the rocks to watch sunset...
Day 10 - 1st July 2009 (Pulau Perhentian)
We had a full day in Pulau Perhentian and we got ourselves into a snorkeling package - Swimming with the turtles - for RM35. Together with another 5 people, we were brought to Pulau Perhentian Resort area to wait for the turtles to surface and jumped into the water and swim with them. It was beautiful~ We saw 3 turtles and a shark! It was worth snorkeling there. We spent the afternoon snorkeling in D'Lagoon's area and...the sun burn got worse...
...D'Lagoon...
...the dining area, the activities area, the reception area...
Day 11 - 2nd July 2009 (Pulau Perhentian - KL)
It was time to leave the island. We spent the whole day relaxing on the hammock reading books. Then it was another boat ride back to the mainland and another 8 hours bus ride down to KL.
...our lunch in D'Lagoon before we checked out...
...Kuala Besut jetty...
Day 12 - 3rd July 2009 (KL - Ipoh)
We reached KL at 5am and was to find out that there were no more rooms available in all the backpack inns and hotels in KL. We made calls here and there the whole morning and made the decision to head to Ipoh for a night. We took the train (as recommended by Ms. Serina) to Ipoh. Only after we checked into Merloon Hotel, Catherine found out that she lost her phone. So we went in search for the taxi that brought us to the hotel and called Dhiren for help. We found the taxi but not the phone... Dhiren brought us around Ipoh that afternoon and to Royal Ipoh Club for dinner before meeting Tony, Chee Meng and another friend (aiks...forgot her name lah~) for a drink.
...taken in the KTM train...
...this was the only time we dressed up throughout the trip...
Day 13 - 4th July 2009 (Ipoh - KL)
We had the whole morning to eat Ipoh food and to walk Ipoh town. Ipoh White Coffee was the first thing in mind in all the meals we had in Ipoh... Catherine and I decided to spend a night in KL Sentral (since it was hard to find accommodation in KL that time), so we took the last train back to KL that night. An advice: Do not stay in KL Sentral. No aircond and the radio in McDonalds is so loud that you can't even sleep!
...my breakfast - Char Kueh Teow and Ipoh White Coffee...
...at St. Michael's Church...
...Ipoh Train Station...
Day 14 - 5th July 2009 (KL)
We were so tired the whole day coz we didn't sleep the night before. We left our bags in the left luggage in KL Sentral and we took the train to Wangsa Maju. I showed Catherine around the place I was back in college. Then we went down to PWTC for a Dive Expo before heading to Mid Valley for Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaur in 3D! Got my laptop from Choulyee that evening and we took the bus to KLIA for a nice sleep...
...taken at PWTC train station...
Day 15 - 6th July 2009 (KL - Kuching)
It was a comfortable sleep in KLIA except for the fact that we didn't know that there were 2 sets of airconditioning blasting at us... We had Burger King for breakfast before checking in and boarding the plane to Kuching. Mum picked us up in the airport and brought us home-cook food where we enjoyed to every last drop in Tune Hotel, Kuching. Then, it was off to bed.............
...me and my Whopper...
Day 16 - 7th July 2009 (Kuching)
We had laksa that morning and went off with my brother, Aaron for a bowling game in Crystal Bowl. Then, we had a round of arcade in Hock Lee Plaza and met up with Pei Wen for dinner at After 3, Padungan.
...me love this photo...
...Catherine and Aaron on the game...
Day 17 - 8th July 2009 (Kuching)
It was the last day for our backpacking trip. We were scheduled to go to Santubong Resort for our Rainforest World Music Festival volunteering the next day. It was a day to rest before the 3 tiring days in RWMF. We managed to get ourselves movie tickets - Blood: The Last Vampire - and had dinner with Adrienne that night.
...that's the 'blue-one-eyed-monster' who traveled with us throughout the trip and the mini Jack Daniels Catherine got me in Langkawi...
The 17 days backpacking was the greatest holiday I ever had and the greatest graduation gift I had. We had a great time, fun and laughter, silliness, tiredness, but it was worth every ounce of energy and cents we put into.
One thing's for sure, we spent less than the budget we had!
Many thanks to my backpacking partner, Catherine!
No one I knew off would actually travel the way we did!
-Catherine and Karen's Backpacking 2009-
Looking forward to more backpacking trips, this time...outside of Malaysia~!
more photos can be found:
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