Malaysia

Two city buses - one hour.  One coach bus - 4 hours. One ferry - two hours.  One car taxi - 30 minutes.  It was a long trip, but a trip filled with scenery and new images to the likes that I have never before seen.  Malaysia - it is an up and down country with hills and heights abounding, and I was amazed to note that the land was seemingly covered from one end to the other with palm trees (palm oil is their chief export).  There is a certain randomness to the country.  Buildings, shacks, and roads at time seem randomly placed and organization seems in places wanting.  The paint-chipped or paintless cement laden buildings stand next to dirt roads, or haphazard entries.  What the stores contained in these buildings cannot always be discerned, but they all seem very local.  Tin sheets covered most roofs and waterways seldom had walled banks to which I am so accustomed. 

Roads or highways - they seemed one in the same.  At times we were moving well, other times at mere crawls.  Mopeds, bikes, cars, and trucks alike shared the roadways, each at its own speed.  Nor was it uncommon to see dogs, cats, cocks, and monkeys also walking along the roadways as we wound through the fields and fields of palms. 

The ferry ride into Tioman Island (and back for that matter) was not one for the sea weary.  Fifteen foot swells made it impossible to stand.  It was a real roller coaster at times.  Once arrived at the island, we then had to take a car over the mountains on a road with a grade steeper than any I have ever seen.  It was a single lane cement-blocked route - with two 4" x 4" foot blocks placed side-by-side most of the way. But like the ferry, it was a truly beautiful ride.  This especially going through rainforest jungle.  "Did you see the size of that leaf," I would say to myself.  I never have seen at 30 foot palm leaf.

We made it to the tiny village on the island's isolated east side.  It truly was the first time I was on an isolated beach.  A few huts and homes of those who ran the places stood, but the population couldn't have surpassed 100.  It was a lovely time of soaking up the sun on the beach, in the aqua-colored ocean, in hammocks, and under palm trees.  The family that owns the bungalows where we stayed served food as well.  Dining experiences included pineapple curry, coconut sambal and chicken sambal (a Malaysian specialty that was as spicy as I could handle, my breath was fiery), coconuts, fruits, and yes, a few beers. 

I cannot tell you how many hours I spent in the ocean, too many to count.  The water never got too cold and remain a constant aqua-green-clear.  Behind us the view of jungle mountains was mystic with clouds floating out of hills side.  Mysterious vegetation sprang out of every angle from everywhere.   Frisbee was our game of choice.  Body surfing was a favorite of mine too.  One night we went to a treehouse-like bar, in which the owner had a monkey, cats, and birds hanging out.  He played music, dawned lights, and later into the night  spun fire on the beach.

It was a great adventure, a relaxing pace, a new experience of scenery, imagery and life for me, and all of it was wonderful to intake.