Things that caught my eye during our stay. Some humorous some not others informative. Hope you like them
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Monday, 5 March 2018
Thursday, 1 March 2018
Malacca
Took the bus from KL Sentral to Malacca; journey took 2hours 15mins and cost 14RM (less than £3). Malacca was colonised by the Portuguese in 1511 and became an important trading port. The Dutch took over until 1795 when it was swapped with Jakarta to the British. The port had already gone into decline by this point due to high trading levies (sounds familiar?) and silting of the harbour. This continued as the British favoured developing Penang and Singapore. The town gave its name to the body of water between Malaysia and Sumatra
It became a UNESCO heritage site in 2008 but unfortunately we coudn’t see where money has been spent other than developing the Malacca river, which is pretty with many murals on the buildings depicting former life of the place. We stopped in a beautiful Chinese building overlooking the river (see inside photos).
Jonker Street is the lifeblood of the town - name from its Dutch roots. Originally a street of antique shops it is now primarily a mish mash of everything from souvenir shops to restaurants, to temples to .......
It is worth going to see for the day, there is not much more to hold your attention despite the heritage sites, many of which are now either museums or a pile of stones.
Went for a walk along the river the next morning, the place was dead apart from the 5’ monitor lizard we disturbed and the rat that swam from one side of the river to the other (it might have been escaping from the lizard!)
Please click here for PHOTOS
It became a UNESCO heritage site in 2008 but unfortunately we coudn’t see where money has been spent other than developing the Malacca river, which is pretty with many murals on the buildings depicting former life of the place. We stopped in a beautiful Chinese building overlooking the river (see inside photos).
Jonker Street is the lifeblood of the town - name from its Dutch roots. Originally a street of antique shops it is now primarily a mish mash of everything from souvenir shops to restaurants, to temples to .......
It is worth going to see for the day, there is not much more to hold your attention despite the heritage sites, many of which are now either museums or a pile of stones.
Went for a walk along the river the next morning, the place was dead apart from the 5’ monitor lizard we disturbed and the rat that swam from one side of the river to the other (it might have been escaping from the lizard!)
Please click here for PHOTOS
Monday, 26 February 2018
Putrajaya
Putrajaya has only been in existence for 20 years, built on nearly 50 km2 by the Govermnent of Malaysia to govern the country. It has all the Govermnent Departments and offices, houses for the workers, Mosque, leisure facilities, man made lake (650 hectares and designed as a cooling system and for recreation) and wetland area for recreation. The Prime Minister’s office (green domed building) and the Mosque were the first to be finished in 1999 and then the rest was started. They are still building today as the country has grown so much economically and is still growing. There are some amazing structures and everywhere is clean and well groomed. The roundabout close to the Prime Minister’s office is reputedly the largest in the world at 2.7 miles (you wouldn’t want to miss your turning!!)
All the workers have a house provided and enter a scheme during their working lives which provides for a house elsewhere when they retire - unless there is a member of their family working for the government, then they can stay where they are. No-one is left homeless after their service for the State.
The Mosque is beautiful and a unification of influences from all over the world, even the stained glass is from the UK. Where the marble has been cut out and inlaid, the original graining has grown back in the new inlay. Please take time to read the last sermon from the Prophet Muhammad, it might give you a different insight into the Muslim faith and its similarities with the Christian faith.
Please click here for PHOTOS
All the workers have a house provided and enter a scheme during their working lives which provides for a house elsewhere when they retire - unless there is a member of their family working for the government, then they can stay where they are. No-one is left homeless after their service for the State.
The Mosque is beautiful and a unification of influences from all over the world, even the stained glass is from the UK. Where the marble has been cut out and inlaid, the original graining has grown back in the new inlay. Please take time to read the last sermon from the Prophet Muhammad, it might give you a different insight into the Muslim faith and its similarities with the Christian faith.
Please click here for PHOTOS
Sunday, 25 February 2018
Wake up everyone !!
Took a cab this evening. It was driven by a Production Director at a manufacturing enterprise whose wife was an Auditor. He said their commitments, primarily their children’s education meant they were short of money. He drove for ‘Grab’ as a way to get extra money after the stress of his daily life.
He complained there were now so many further education facilities, many of them outreaches from British Universities, the city was full of graduates who couldn’t get a job. Immigrants were entering the country and taking jobs for lower pay. The Chinese are pouring money into Malaysia and Singapore, developing industry and residences but primarily for the benefit of the Chinese. Many of the apartments being built are not available to people living in those countries, rather they are only for the wealthy Chinese, sometimes as a buy one in China and get one free in Malaysia / Singapore
The problems the UK thinks are UK specific and due to the EU are not, the problems are world wide.
He complained there were now so many further education facilities, many of them outreaches from British Universities, the city was full of graduates who couldn’t get a job. Immigrants were entering the country and taking jobs for lower pay. The Chinese are pouring money into Malaysia and Singapore, developing industry and residences but primarily for the benefit of the Chinese. Many of the apartments being built are not available to people living in those countries, rather they are only for the wealthy Chinese, sometimes as a buy one in China and get one free in Malaysia / Singapore
The problems the UK thinks are UK specific and due to the EU are not, the problems are world wide.
Wednesday, 21 February 2018
Cambodia - Temple Tour
The main reason Siem Reap is as popular as it is, is the presence of lots and lots of Temples. The most famous being Angkor Wat, the oldest and largest religious complex in the world covering 162.6 hectares, regarded as one of the 7 wonders of the world. It is certainly impressive, the staircases up the temple as incredibly steep with only tiny tread. They must have had very small feet or gone up sideways :-)
Angkor Wat started off as a Hindu temple then later kings changed it to Buddhist (which is when the statues arrived). It later went back to Hindu and some statues removed. The windows were stone and filled with stone decorated circular pillars. Most of the statues of Buddha have lost their heads. They survived for 1000 years until the 1990s when they were removed by the Khmer Rouge during and following the war between Cambodia and Vietnam. The primary reason for the decapitation was not religious but fiscal - the heads were worth a lot of money !!!
The grounds are filled with so many smaller temples and libraries holding the teachings of the faith(s). Kings started new temples, then when they died, building stopped and the next ruler started a new one.
The holes in the stones are where sticks were inserted to facilitate moving them, some of them being several metres long. The stones were laid and the temples built before the stones were carved and decorated !!!
Angor Thom, I preferred as the carvings were depictions of life as opposed to religious belief at Angkor Wat. Everywhere on all temples were carvings of the Aspara, Hindu seductive, dancing girls - over 1800 at Angkor Wat alone. Angkor Thom’s All had (original) four Buddha heads in various states of happiness ie some were smiling.
The last Temple we visited was Ta Prohm a Buddhist temple built in the late 12th, early 13th Century. Like all the temples in the area, they stopped being used a long time ago and became overgrown and lost to sight. Angkor Wat survived relatively intact due to it’s incredibly strong foundations. This temple is famous for the Banyan and Kapok trees which have taken root and grown in the very structure of the building. It was famously used in the film ‘Lara Croft - Tomb Raider’ as were the other Temples visited. The most photographed bit being the Lara Croft scene where the tree roots cover the entrance door.
Please click here for PHOTOS
Angkor Wat started off as a Hindu temple then later kings changed it to Buddhist (which is when the statues arrived). It later went back to Hindu and some statues removed. The windows were stone and filled with stone decorated circular pillars. Most of the statues of Buddha have lost their heads. They survived for 1000 years until the 1990s when they were removed by the Khmer Rouge during and following the war between Cambodia and Vietnam. The primary reason for the decapitation was not religious but fiscal - the heads were worth a lot of money !!!
The grounds are filled with so many smaller temples and libraries holding the teachings of the faith(s). Kings started new temples, then when they died, building stopped and the next ruler started a new one.
The holes in the stones are where sticks were inserted to facilitate moving them, some of them being several metres long. The stones were laid and the temples built before the stones were carved and decorated !!!
Angor Thom, I preferred as the carvings were depictions of life as opposed to religious belief at Angkor Wat. Everywhere on all temples were carvings of the Aspara, Hindu seductive, dancing girls - over 1800 at Angkor Wat alone. Angkor Thom’s All had (original) four Buddha heads in various states of happiness ie some were smiling.
The last Temple we visited was Ta Prohm a Buddhist temple built in the late 12th, early 13th Century. Like all the temples in the area, they stopped being used a long time ago and became overgrown and lost to sight. Angkor Wat survived relatively intact due to it’s incredibly strong foundations. This temple is famous for the Banyan and Kapok trees which have taken root and grown in the very structure of the building. It was famously used in the film ‘Lara Croft - Tomb Raider’ as were the other Temples visited. The most photographed bit being the Lara Croft scene where the tree roots cover the entrance door.
Please click here for PHOTOS
Tuesday, 20 February 2018
Cambodia - Floating Village
First stop was to a Lotus (the flower) farm. Here ladies sat all day cutting lotus stems into about 10cm lengths and pulling out fibre from the centre of the stems. These fibres were then amalgamated, spun and turned into a very fine fabric for making clothing. End result was something akin to silk and so high end. The wooden structures on the shores of the lotus lake were weekend holiday cottages.
Onto Tonil Sap lake and aboard a boat from the jetty along a tributary to the main lake. At this time of year approaching the driest month of April, the lake is around 2500 km2. During the wet season is grows to around 16000 km2. Even now you couldn’t see the far side. The tall post with the arrows on top in the photo shows the height at full capacity. At this time of year rice and other crops are grown on land that will later be totally submerged, so all the houses at the edge are on stilts in readiness.
Around 170 villages sit around the lake with anything from 2000 to 6000 inhabitants. So a huge proportion of the population depend on the lake for their livelihood. There are schools, churches, Police stations, mosques, everything all floating. From time to time the village will up anchor and move to another part of the lake. The large mass of tied sticks are tethering points. You see lines and lines of what appears to be a few floating sticks; these are shrimp traps which are harvested bu women with big nets. They scoop out the twigs, shake off the shrimps and put the twigs back for next time. The crocodiles are all alive and are farmed by the villagers to produce fresh meat, jerky and produce leatherware for sale.
Please click here for PHOTOS
Onto Tonil Sap lake and aboard a boat from the jetty along a tributary to the main lake. At this time of year approaching the driest month of April, the lake is around 2500 km2. During the wet season is grows to around 16000 km2. Even now you couldn’t see the far side. The tall post with the arrows on top in the photo shows the height at full capacity. At this time of year rice and other crops are grown on land that will later be totally submerged, so all the houses at the edge are on stilts in readiness.
Around 170 villages sit around the lake with anything from 2000 to 6000 inhabitants. So a huge proportion of the population depend on the lake for their livelihood. There are schools, churches, Police stations, mosques, everything all floating. From time to time the village will up anchor and move to another part of the lake. The large mass of tied sticks are tethering points. You see lines and lines of what appears to be a few floating sticks; these are shrimp traps which are harvested bu women with big nets. They scoop out the twigs, shake off the shrimps and put the twigs back for next time. The crocodiles are all alive and are farmed by the villagers to produce fresh meat, jerky and produce leatherware for sale.
Please click here for PHOTOS
Monday, 19 February 2018
Cambodia Day 1
First thoughts touching down a bit like Wales :-) - how green was my valley. Flat and lots of paddy fields. The airport at Siem Reap is new and low rise looking like traditional long wooden houses. You need a Visa to enter Cambodia, we had applied on-line whilst in Penang and had two copied printed. One inside the passport for arrival and one for departure. What we didn’t know was there was a setup inside the airport or processing applications for those without. At this time of year the queue didn’t appear too long, but still glad we had ours.
Everywhere we have been people have driven on the left due to the British influence, Cambodia however drove on the left due to being a one-time French Colony. The main road into Siem Reap was dual dual carriageway. There was a separate lane in both directions for bikes and Tuc Tucs - that save a lot of traffic problems.
The river running through the town/city appeared to be non flowing. I asked and was told it was because it had been dammed to develop into a beauty spot for the tourists. Didn’t do a lot for health, though with stagnant water in a hot climate. Amazed to see tree branches used as Acro props - not too amazed at the electrics (seen something similar in France albeit not so tangled, perhaps its a throwback ;-))
First night we went to the Phare Circus. Originating in France but using Cambodians, this is a sort of Cirque du Soleil performance of acrobatics and humour. Only lasting a hour but was one of the highlights of the trip
Please click here for PHOTOS
Everywhere we have been people have driven on the left due to the British influence, Cambodia however drove on the left due to being a one-time French Colony. The main road into Siem Reap was dual dual carriageway. There was a separate lane in both directions for bikes and Tuc Tucs - that save a lot of traffic problems.
The river running through the town/city appeared to be non flowing. I asked and was told it was because it had been dammed to develop into a beauty spot for the tourists. Didn’t do a lot for health, though with stagnant water in a hot climate. Amazed to see tree branches used as Acro props - not too amazed at the electrics (seen something similar in France albeit not so tangled, perhaps its a throwback ;-))
First night we went to the Phare Circus. Originating in France but using Cambodians, this is a sort of Cirque du Soleil performance of acrobatics and humour. Only lasting a hour but was one of the highlights of the trip
Please click here for PHOTOS
Saturday, 17 February 2018
Singapore Day 3
Day started meeting Jamie Dunn who I had not seen in 7 years since leaving work, it was as though it were last week. We arranged to meet in the lobby of Tower 3 on the Marina Bay Sands hotel. The mega hotel featured on UK TV - 3x 55-story towers with shopping malls on the ground (1 photo of the inside) so many hotel rooms and a huge boat like roof terrace across the top with a surface area of 1 hectare!!! Having a bar area and infinity pool (guests only). Jamie took us to the top where we spent a couple of hours chatting and admiring the view - spectacular. (Photos of the ‘Gardens by the Bay’ and the Pit Lane for the Singapore Grand Prix).
We had pre-bought tickets for the gardens, so after lunch in the food hall in the hotel, we walked to find them. I keep using the word spectacular but this area was so - mind blowing in fact. The two domed structures were the ‘Cloud Dome’ (the larger structure) and the ‘Flower Dome’. Photos are of the former (note the real pitcher plants alongside Lego creations :-) ). The flower dome was nowhere as dramatic as it was filled with so many plants we are familiar with.
On to ‘Supertree Grove’ These structures are between 25 and 50 metres tall with several of them linked with an aerial walkway. Due to numbers of visitors, you are only allowed 15 mins up there - but what a view. The central tree is the largest and has a bar and restaurant on top; once again a must do, so we did and watched the lights come on as it went dark - magical!!
Please click here for PHOTOS
We had pre-bought tickets for the gardens, so after lunch in the food hall in the hotel, we walked to find them. I keep using the word spectacular but this area was so - mind blowing in fact. The two domed structures were the ‘Cloud Dome’ (the larger structure) and the ‘Flower Dome’. Photos are of the former (note the real pitcher plants alongside Lego creations :-) ). The flower dome was nowhere as dramatic as it was filled with so many plants we are familiar with.
On to ‘Supertree Grove’ These structures are between 25 and 50 metres tall with several of them linked with an aerial walkway. Due to numbers of visitors, you are only allowed 15 mins up there - but what a view. The central tree is the largest and has a bar and restaurant on top; once again a must do, so we did and watched the lights come on as it went dark - magical!!
Please click here for PHOTOS
Friday, 16 February 2018
Singapore Day 2
New Year’s Day, the year of the dog - so we walk to Little India, obviously. To me this was a more defined Indian community than that at Penang. We avoided obvious eateries where lots so weterners were eating and ate at a place with a long queue on Indians and a recommendation from several of them. It was yummy and plentiful, even though they were constantly piling more rice on other diners’ banana leaves, we couln’t manage more!. I took the photo of ‘Bavaria’ because it was a German place with Chinese writing in Little India in Singapore :-D
We walked to take a look at Raffles knowing it was shut for renovations for 6 months but you just have to do these things.
Followed that with a City Tour bus ride round the Waterfront t section of the city - some amazing architecture.
We had booked into ‘Smoke and Mirrors for the evening as it is now the place to go for a Singapore Sling (once again, you have too do these things). The view was phenomenal. I thought KL was great but this blew us away. Fireworks at 9pm and light show at 9 and 10pm. Felt blessed to be there.
Please click here for PHOTOS
We walked to take a look at Raffles knowing it was shut for renovations for 6 months but you just have to do these things.
Followed that with a City Tour bus ride round the Waterfront t section of the city - some amazing architecture.
We had booked into ‘Smoke and Mirrors for the evening as it is now the place to go for a Singapore Sling (once again, you have too do these things). The view was phenomenal. I thought KL was great but this blew us away. Fireworks at 9pm and light show at 9 and 10pm. Felt blessed to be there.
Please click here for PHOTOS
Singapore - Day 1
Arrived gone 8pm on 15th Feb, Chinese New Year’s Eve, dumped our bags at the hotel and found our way to Chinatown on the MRT. Once again friendlies helped, guided and waited for us to buy tickets. Chinatown was crammed, totally. Found our way, very slowly to the street that counted down to midnight and let off some fireworks. Fireworks are banned for the public in Singapore, only allowed for Government and official events. This year is the Year of the Dog, hence the effigies.
Please click here for PHOTOS
Please click here for PHOTOS
Wednesday, 14 February 2018
Langkawi
Everyone we talked to when we said we were going to Langkawi said how beautiful it was. We were quite sad to leave Penang after four weeks there, it felt like home. Quite sad that was until we got to the place we had booked in Langkawi. A haven by the water’s edge. No beach but it wasn’t necessary as it had a glorious infinity pool metres from the water’s edge which was drastically reduced at high tide!!
We were there for 4 nights then moved to a small place in the hills for a further 4 nights, so we hired a car as there was no transport to get in and out of the place. Whilst there we went to two night markets with as much food as there were commercial stalls. The roads other than the main roads were very narrow and driving at night made trickier by the odd cow standing in the road. Back to the Ocean Residence for a further two nights, where we got the same room and the staff were so happy to see us back they put fruit in the room and a bag of crisps I had left behind was still in the cupboard. Could believe they were cutting fresh coconuts beside to pool so of course we had to partake. The water is allegedly better for you in the warm climate that fresh water.
Please click here for PHOTOS
We were there for 4 nights then moved to a small place in the hills for a further 4 nights, so we hired a car as there was no transport to get in and out of the place. Whilst there we went to two night markets with as much food as there were commercial stalls. The roads other than the main roads were very narrow and driving at night made trickier by the odd cow standing in the road. Back to the Ocean Residence for a further two nights, where we got the same room and the staff were so happy to see us back they put fruit in the room and a bag of crisps I had left behind was still in the cupboard. Could believe they were cutting fresh coconuts beside to pool so of course we had to partake. The water is allegedly better for you in the warm climate that fresh water.
Please click here for PHOTOS
Saturday, 10 February 2018
Langkawi Sky Walk
Continuing our tour of high walkways we had wanted to visit this walk from the offset. The cable car up to the walk is the steepest in the world at 42% steepocity :-)
Stunning views from up there that can’t really be reproduced by a camera. There was a funicular from the very top to the start of the walk but we reneged on that and took the steep walkway to it. A walkway that consisted of a twisty turny set of stairs with uneven treads.
Please click here for PHOTOS
Stunning views from up there that can’t really be reproduced by a camera. There was a funicular from the very top to the start of the walk but we reneged on that and took the steep walkway to it. A walkway that consisted of a twisty turny set of stairs with uneven treads.
Please click here for PHOTOS
Wednesday, 7 February 2018
Langkawi - Mangrove tour
We saw this tour advertised in the place we were staying , they said they would organise it so we said we’d go.
Car turned up at 08:30 to take us to the area at the north east of the island - beautiful long empty beach, a silver leaf monkey (the young of these are orange in colour) and a lot of tour organisers. It got near to the time to leave and the phone rings - ‘where are you? You’ve gone in the wrong car and are now at the wrong place!!’ Panic set in until we learned the place we were supposed to be was about 500m away. Somehow a rival tour company arrived at the Hotel and we (and they) put two and two together and hey presto....... Anyway at the new location were all the tour boats and everything was sorted and got aboard. About 15 people and 7 nationalities and an English speaking guide.
First stop was a little cove where the guide threw a few bits of something over the side and the water started boiling with hundreds of beautiful coloured fish. On to the next area to be met with upwards of 15 eagles flying around. Apparently this are was a breeding area for the fish and the eagles new this, so it was a meal time.
Next we encountered a family of macaques near and IN the water. These we learned were a newly designated sub-species as they had a penchant for crabs. Normally monkeys don’t go in the water but these had learned that crabs were a source of fresh water when broken open. So they has taken to swimming and diving for crabs - amazing.
On to a floating fish farm where we chose a fish to be prepared for our lunch later. Last stop was a bat cave with no evidence of the man himself ;-). Back to the farm for lunch, a ride back and 30 mins on the glorious beach before the car ride (in the right car) back to the Hotel. A full and interesting day out was had by one and all.
Our guide reckoned the mangroves helped protect Langkawi from the full effects of the 2004 tsunami. Not sure that was so, more the fact there are 100 or more small islands surrounding it that took the sting out of it. Apparently only 1 person on Langkawi died at that time and that was from a heart attack !!
Please click here for PHOTOS
Car turned up at 08:30 to take us to the area at the north east of the island - beautiful long empty beach, a silver leaf monkey (the young of these are orange in colour) and a lot of tour organisers. It got near to the time to leave and the phone rings - ‘where are you? You’ve gone in the wrong car and are now at the wrong place!!’ Panic set in until we learned the place we were supposed to be was about 500m away. Somehow a rival tour company arrived at the Hotel and we (and they) put two and two together and hey presto....... Anyway at the new location were all the tour boats and everything was sorted and got aboard. About 15 people and 7 nationalities and an English speaking guide.
First stop was a little cove where the guide threw a few bits of something over the side and the water started boiling with hundreds of beautiful coloured fish. On to the next area to be met with upwards of 15 eagles flying around. Apparently this are was a breeding area for the fish and the eagles new this, so it was a meal time.
Next we encountered a family of macaques near and IN the water. These we learned were a newly designated sub-species as they had a penchant for crabs. Normally monkeys don’t go in the water but these had learned that crabs were a source of fresh water when broken open. So they has taken to swimming and diving for crabs - amazing.
On to a floating fish farm where we chose a fish to be prepared for our lunch later. Last stop was a bat cave with no evidence of the man himself ;-). Back to the farm for lunch, a ride back and 30 mins on the glorious beach before the car ride (in the right car) back to the Hotel. A full and interesting day out was had by one and all.
Our guide reckoned the mangroves helped protect Langkawi from the full effects of the 2004 tsunami. Not sure that was so, more the fact there are 100 or more small islands surrounding it that took the sting out of it. Apparently only 1 person on Langkawi died at that time and that was from a heart attack !!
Please click here for PHOTOS
Wednesday, 31 January 2018
Thaipusam Day 2
We joined everyone at the start of Jalan Utama where both sides of the road were filled with stands either playing music, giving away cold flavoured drinks, bottles of water, vegetarian food (no meat during the festival), rest points, piercing stations, pop-up temples, decorative areas, toilets (far better ones than experienced at outdoor concerts) and a few commercial stands selling snacks and clothes. Lots of music and dancing, dancing not only from the devotees but also their supporters along the way
The noise was intense and the day was extremely hot - we reckon the hottest day experienced so far. We watched in awe and incredulity at the piercings and wondered what kind of trance they may be in. Many of them were dancing and whirling, though as though they had nothing on their head and had no piercings - such was their devotion. These devotees wear the kavadi which can be attached to the body by up to 108 hooks, weigh 30Kg and have containers of milk attached to pour into one container at the temple. This is then distributed to anyone and everyone outside. It is worn to ask Murugan to help a sick relative or resolve personal conflict.
Many times we saw devotees resting and having their feet and legs massaged - they walk barefoot on the roads - probably to help cramp. You would think, though, if they feel cramp they would feel the piercings.
We had to partake of the food on the way up to the temple, it was plenty and delicious. So much so at the end of our time there we got some more to bring home, as were most people. all the food and drink is provided by charitable organisations and the community.
Please click here for PHOTOS
The noise was intense and the day was extremely hot - we reckon the hottest day experienced so far. We watched in awe and incredulity at the piercings and wondered what kind of trance they may be in. Many of them were dancing and whirling, though as though they had nothing on their head and had no piercings - such was their devotion. These devotees wear the kavadi which can be attached to the body by up to 108 hooks, weigh 30Kg and have containers of milk attached to pour into one container at the temple. This is then distributed to anyone and everyone outside. It is worn to ask Murugan to help a sick relative or resolve personal conflict.
Many times we saw devotees resting and having their feet and legs massaged - they walk barefoot on the roads - probably to help cramp. You would think, though, if they feel cramp they would feel the piercings.
We had to partake of the food on the way up to the temple, it was plenty and delicious. So much so at the end of our time there we got some more to bring home, as were most people. all the food and drink is provided by charitable organisations and the community.
Please click here for PHOTOS
Tuesday, 30 January 2018
Thaipusam Day 1
Thaipusam is a Hindu festival which honours the victory of deity Lord Murugan over demon hordes. It’s a compound word built from ‘Thai’the month and ‘pusam’ a star that reaches its height at this time. This year saw a rare ‘red moon’ a lunar eclipse not seen since 1866 on day 2 of the festival.
Devotees seek blessings and fulfil their vows by carrying ‘kavadis’ intricate structures of steel and wood which incorporate sharp body piercings - and milk pots as offerings. This however is reserved for day 2. The first day sees a pilgrimage procession of 2 chariots, one gold and one silver travelling separate routes from the Kovil Veedu on Lebuh Penang to the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani temple. The chariots are pulled by 2 decorated bulls and coconuts are smashed in front of them to cleanse the road.
We went to Times Square to see the silver chariot and went into the Nagarathur Murugan temple to seethe offerings that were brought in, how they were treated and see all the peacock feathered kavadis which were collected and carried the rest of the way. The white haired, bare chested chap at the entrance had a chat with us once inside, telling us about the day. Once he found out we were from the UK he went into eulogies about cricket and Ian Botham and also how respected and welcomed the British are all over the world for the educational standards they started on colonisation.
The State Department for cleansing were incredible in the cleaning of the roads. Within 30 mins of the chariot passing, everywhere was swept and coconuts,sugar cane and banana leaves collected and sent away on lorries.
Hazel was asked by one of the ladies if she would like to be blessed and receive the powder dot and gratefully accepted. It was great to be accepted by them - everyone is welcomed and treated equally. As an outward sign of harmony, I took the photo showing the Indian community celebrating tradition, sitting on the steps of Times Square, decorated ready for Chinese New Year and guarded by 2 transformers - perfect!
Please click here for PHOTOS
Devotees seek blessings and fulfil their vows by carrying ‘kavadis’ intricate structures of steel and wood which incorporate sharp body piercings - and milk pots as offerings. This however is reserved for day 2. The first day sees a pilgrimage procession of 2 chariots, one gold and one silver travelling separate routes from the Kovil Veedu on Lebuh Penang to the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani temple. The chariots are pulled by 2 decorated bulls and coconuts are smashed in front of them to cleanse the road.
We went to Times Square to see the silver chariot and went into the Nagarathur Murugan temple to seethe offerings that were brought in, how they were treated and see all the peacock feathered kavadis which were collected and carried the rest of the way. The white haired, bare chested chap at the entrance had a chat with us once inside, telling us about the day. Once he found out we were from the UK he went into eulogies about cricket and Ian Botham and also how respected and welcomed the British are all over the world for the educational standards they started on colonisation.
The State Department for cleansing were incredible in the cleaning of the roads. Within 30 mins of the chariot passing, everywhere was swept and coconuts,sugar cane and banana leaves collected and sent away on lorries.
Hazel was asked by one of the ladies if she would like to be blessed and receive the powder dot and gratefully accepted. It was great to be accepted by them - everyone is welcomed and treated equally. As an outward sign of harmony, I took the photo showing the Indian community celebrating tradition, sitting on the steps of Times Square, decorated ready for Chinese New Year and guarded by 2 transformers - perfect!
Please click here for PHOTOS
Friday, 26 January 2018
KOMTAR Tower
Penang’s tallest tower since 1985. The name is an acronym for ‘Komplex Tun Abdul Razak’ the second PM of Malaysia. Everywhere seems to have something named after him :-)
The Observation deck (totally enclosed) is on the 65th floor and the Skywalk on the 68th. The observation desk has the opportunity for the brave of heart to attach themselves to a cable and walk on a platform OUTSIDE the building with NO RAIL. Needless to say, with my luck, I declined the offer.
Great views from both decks. As you can tell from the photos, Hazel was a little reluctant to let go of the rail on the Skywalk, but managed it as her confidence grew. Really proud of her as she has a real fear or situations like that (she couln’t make it up the inside of the ‘leaning tower or Pisa’).
There’s a restaurant at the top, so we’ve decided to go next week as a farewell to Penang - should be spectacular at night.
Please click here for the PHOTOS
The Observation deck (totally enclosed) is on the 65th floor and the Skywalk on the 68th. The observation desk has the opportunity for the brave of heart to attach themselves to a cable and walk on a platform OUTSIDE the building with NO RAIL. Needless to say, with my luck, I declined the offer.
Great views from both decks. As you can tell from the photos, Hazel was a little reluctant to let go of the rail on the Skywalk, but managed it as her confidence grew. Really proud of her as she has a real fear or situations like that (she couln’t make it up the inside of the ‘leaning tower or Pisa’).
There’s a restaurant at the top, so we’ve decided to go next week as a farewell to Penang - should be spectacular at night.
Please click here for the PHOTOS
Thursday, 25 January 2018
Penang Hill
The British cleared the jungle around here and built homes, walkways and a convalescence home from Malaria for plantation owners both here and from Singapore. Recently opened are the aerial walkways and the Skywalk (a different one). The top of the hill can be reached by a funicular railway, which is how we got there. (Once again using the plastic reusable card). One can walk down using a 5Km, 1 in 3 hill in a couple of hours - once again we declined and used the railway to get down. The funicular was only reopened the other day for repairs following floods and mudslides after a typhoon last November. Plenty of work is still being done to repair walkways and shore back banks using hessian and planting.
The red flower growing on the ground surface is part of the ginger plant and the spider on the info panel was real. The hole is a tarantula nest (there were quite a few of them). The grey bit in the middle is a bit of leg !!!!
Please click here for PHOTOS
The red flower growing on the ground surface is part of the ginger plant and the spider on the info panel was real. The hole is a tarantula nest (there were quite a few of them). The grey bit in the middle is a bit of leg !!!!
Please click here for PHOTOS
Wednesday, 24 January 2018
If you haven’t taken a look for a while .......
There may be posts you haven’t seen from earlier to your last visit.
I am adding missed posts due to lack of WiFi, illness or sheer lack of time -and adding them chronologically the date they actually happened.
Hope everything is good with you all.
I am adding missed posts due to lack of WiFi, illness or sheer lack of time -and adding them chronologically the date they actually happened.
Hope everything is good with you all.
Thai Buddhist Temple
The other side of the road to the Burmese Temple. Equally as decorative and serene. The walls of the various buildings were either covered with commemorative plaques or boxes, glass covered showing urns and inscribed with dedications.
You can see in one of the photos that sticking gold leaf on some of the statues is allowed. (When I first saw the saw the sign, I thought ‘why would anyone want to do that? They sell squares of gold leaf for 1RM - 20p. It is obviously part of their ritual.
I didn’t know but Buddha statues have very many hand positions and they all mean something different. The line of statues here are one for each Chinese Year, you can see they have different hand positions.
Please click here for PHOTOS
You can see in one of the photos that sticking gold leaf on some of the statues is allowed. (When I first saw the saw the sign, I thought ‘why would anyone want to do that? They sell squares of gold leaf for 1RM - 20p. It is obviously part of their ritual.
I didn’t know but Buddha statues have very many hand positions and they all mean something different. The line of statues here are one for each Chinese Year, you can see they have different hand positions.
Please click here for PHOTOS
Tuesday, 23 January 2018
No racism intended or implied
There must be a reason other than following the trend, but unbelievably we have seen several women wearing the niqab (the headgear that only leaves the eyes visible in a narrow slit) taking selfies!!!!!
Monday, 22 January 2018
Friday, 19 January 2018
Burmese Buddhist Temple
Chose a different way to walk today and came a cross an interesting looking side street. On one side was a Burmese Buddhist Temple and the other side, a Thai Buddhist Temple. As we were on our way to get some food (as ever) only had time to look round one of them. As you might expect, it was a really tranquil haven, minutes away from a busy road. Around one of the small temples within, was a moat with a sign asking people not to throw in turtles!! Presumably as there were some large coy carp and I can only presume turtles are bad for carp.
Please click here for PHOTOS
Please click here for PHOTOS
Sunday, 14 January 2018
Clan Jetties
Originally wooden landing stages to off load goods from sampans, thes were developed into homes by the various clans of Chinese who worked them. Seven different clans still occupy the jetties and bitter rivalry still exists. From their inception in the 1880s until the Government stepped in in 1957, the homes had to bring water in kerosene cans from the main road. None of the families pay tax as they are not living on land.
The most populous jetty is Chew Jetty and is predominantly tourists shops selling food, drink clothes and trinkets. The end of the pier, though can offer some good photo moments. When we were there it was taken over by a company shooting promotional shots of wedding dresses.
Note the interesting construction techniques :-)
Please click here for PHOTOS
The most populous jetty is Chew Jetty and is predominantly tourists shops selling food, drink clothes and trinkets. The end of the pier, though can offer some good photo moments. When we were there it was taken over by a company shooting promotional shots of wedding dresses.
Note the interesting construction techniques :-)
Please click here for PHOTOS
Indian New Year
A chance Uber back to the apartment last night led us to learn that today was Indian New Year and there would be celebrations in ‘Little India’. Having celebrated Christian (and probably others) New Year in Kuching, we were keen to witness a second New Year’s celebrations of a different kind.
The streets were thronged and we headed to the Mahamariamman Hindu Temple. We needed to remove shoes and socks to go inside, where they were preparing pots of celebratory rice cooked in ghee with added fruit and nuts, over open fires. We were told the following day the same preparations would be made in the paddy fields where the rice was grown.
‘There was an ornate carriage pulled by two cows, working its way to the Temple. People on the carriage were anointing people who offered fruit to the carriage, with a white powder. Smeared on temple, neck and hands.
Outside many shops were structures of cut sugar cane to protect the entrance from harm. Pots of ghee rice were more often than not being prepared within the structure. Music was everywhere, everyone was happy and no-one but no-one was pushing to get to the carriage or move along the street. Everything comes to he who waits.
Of course we had to have lunch - chicken biriani served on banana leaf - yummy
Please click here for PHOTOS
The streets were thronged and we headed to the Mahamariamman Hindu Temple. We needed to remove shoes and socks to go inside, where they were preparing pots of celebratory rice cooked in ghee with added fruit and nuts, over open fires. We were told the following day the same preparations would be made in the paddy fields where the rice was grown.
‘There was an ornate carriage pulled by two cows, working its way to the Temple. People on the carriage were anointing people who offered fruit to the carriage, with a white powder. Smeared on temple, neck and hands.
Outside many shops were structures of cut sugar cane to protect the entrance from harm. Pots of ghee rice were more often than not being prepared within the structure. Music was everywhere, everyone was happy and no-one but no-one was pushing to get to the carriage or move along the street. Everything comes to he who waits.
Of course we had to have lunch - chicken biriani served on banana leaf - yummy
Please click here for PHOTOS
Saturday, 13 January 2018
Entopia
Just outside Georgetown (Penang) about a 25 min taxi ride, lies Entopia the butterfly farm. Like the KL bird park, the butterflies fly freely and you walk about them. A great experience - just in case you are wondering from the photos, there ar4e reptiles and large insects here too. These however DON’T run freely. As well as a park, this place breeds and supplies butterflies, moths, fireflies and others to supply all over the world
Please click here for Photos
Please click here for Photos
Friday, 12 January 2018
PHOTOS
Due to the large size of the photos and the limitation of Blogger, I am inserting a link at the end of post to point to photos relevant to the post. Hope this doesn’t spoil the look of the thing. Better a link than no photos, I think
1 month in - reflections
It’s HOT!!
The train system in KL is pretty special. 4 lines (one of which is a monorail) interlink the city. The thing that I remember most is the clever ticketing system. Tickets for the end station ar bought in the usual way and are delivered as plastic tokens. These are swiped to gain entrance and deposited at the end station. The tokens are then electronically cleaned down and reused. ~Similarly entrance tickets for many of the attractions are delivered as plastic cards and once again reused at the end.
Room keys at Hotels, many of them are used to go to your floor in the lift. They need to be swiped and your floor number entered. You can’t enter another floor. Where there are general facilities on other floors like resaurant or pool, those have open acces so don’t need a swipe
It’s HOT!!
Everyone you encounter is happy to make your acquaintance without wanting something. Often they will offer assistance if you’re appear to be lost.
Medication, when needed you get the dose required as deemed by the Doctor / Pharmacist and NOT whole boxes full of tablets. Much cheaper for the Patient and a valuable means of waste saving
It’s HOT
Both Malaysia and Indonesia are not places for pedestrians. Getting around is difficult without va car or motorbike. There are very few walkways and those that exist are very poorly maintained.
Never underestimate the importance or regular intake of water.
The train system in KL is pretty special. 4 lines (one of which is a monorail) interlink the city. The thing that I remember most is the clever ticketing system. Tickets for the end station ar bought in the usual way and are delivered as plastic tokens. These are swiped to gain entrance and deposited at the end station. The tokens are then electronically cleaned down and reused. ~Similarly entrance tickets for many of the attractions are delivered as plastic cards and once again reused at the end.
Room keys at Hotels, many of them are used to go to your floor in the lift. They need to be swiped and your floor number entered. You can’t enter another floor. Where there are general facilities on other floors like resaurant or pool, those have open acces so don’t need a swipe
It’s HOT!!
Everyone you encounter is happy to make your acquaintance without wanting something. Often they will offer assistance if you’re appear to be lost.
Medication, when needed you get the dose required as deemed by the Doctor / Pharmacist and NOT whole boxes full of tablets. Much cheaper for the Patient and a valuable means of waste saving
It’s HOT
Both Malaysia and Indonesia are not places for pedestrians. Getting around is difficult without va car or motorbike. There are very few walkways and those that exist are very poorly maintained.
Never underestimate the importance or regular intake of water.
Saturday, 6 January 2018
Indonesian ballet
Another of our organised tours was to a meal followed by an Indonesian ballet performed by the Ramayana Ballet at Prambanan. still feeling the effects of repeated bowel movements but managed the performance ok. Spectacular performance telling the classic Hindu love story of Rama and Shinta
Pleases click here for photos
Pleases click here for photos
Friday, 5 January 2018
Borobudur
This is the World’s largest Buddhist temple and the trip was to watch the sunrise from the top of the Temple. We were therefore collected from the Hotel lobby before 03:30. We made our way using torches and climbed the various levels to the top of the temple. Unfortunately rain was in the air so the sunrise wasn’t as spectacular as it could have been. Nevertheless it was a treat and glad it was this time of the year visiting as w heard, in the summer, it is impossible to get a shot without people in view
Please click here for Photos
Please click here for Photos
Thursday, 4 January 2018
Wipeout!!!
So we arrived in Yogyakarta, yesterday and went for a walk down the famed (infamous) Malioboro Street . This guy told us it was a lucky day as the University students in Batik making were holding exhibitions around the place. Off we went and truth to tell they were magnificent. Of course the time came when we were asked if we wanted to buy as they were on Promotion, being sponsored by the University. During this time we were given a cup of hospitali-TEA (ha!). In true Newspaper reporters fashion we made our excuses and left.
However, today, we have both been sick as dogs and spent the whole day in bed - ASLEEP. Which I suppose is just as well, as we are being collected from the lobby at 03:30 tomorrow morning. Yes you read it right, 03:30, to travel to see the sunrise over the temple at Borubdor. Let’s see how we get on. Can only think the tea was made from non-boiled water at spiked ! As it was the only thing we have had I common.
However, today, we have both been sick as dogs and spent the whole day in bed - ASLEEP. Which I suppose is just as well, as we are being collected from the lobby at 03:30 tomorrow morning. Yes you read it right, 03:30, to travel to see the sunrise over the temple at Borubdor. Let’s see how we get on. Can only think the tea was made from non-boiled water at spiked ! As it was the only thing we have had I common.
Tuesday, 2 January 2018
One of these days, Rodney .......
Well today we are. Landed in Pontiniak, Indonesia and went for some cash at the ATM in the airport. For £104 ( 117€ ) got 2,000,000 Indonesian Rupiah
Monday, 1 January 2018
Sarawak Cultural Village
Not the normal activity for the morning of January 1st, but we were picked up this morning for a visit here. We were treated royally when they learned we were British as Charles and Camilla visited in November 2017.
There are are 6 indigenous races in Borneo and facsimiles of their home have been created here so you don’t have to travel all over the country to see how they lived. The tour lasted a few hours and was finished with some dancing from several of the peoples. A hurried lunch then bac to the Hotel for a bit of a rest.
Click here for the Photos
There are are 6 indigenous races in Borneo and facsimiles of their home have been created here so you don’t have to travel all over the country to see how they lived. The tour lasted a few hours and was finished with some dancing from several of the peoples. A hurried lunch then bac to the Hotel for a bit of a rest.
Click here for the Photos
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