Alright we have to come to grips with reality. We are never going to be able to catch up to the present and keep it as detailed as we have. There is too much fun to be had and we both lack the desire to get on the internet. There is something nice about not having TV, phone, or instant access to the world wide web.
This might also be a good time to mention that Al, Ash, and I we are flying to Bali, Indonesia on the 1st of March for a month. Garrett's aunt Jill (a dentist in Alaska and literal world traveler) will meet us there on the 9th for a month of scuba diving and surfing.
Last time we checked in we were in Sinhanoukville and headed for a town called Ko Kong, just this side of the Thai border. The main goal was to go take a trip to an island called Krong Ko Kong (confusing I know). The book said the island boasted some of the most clear water and pristine beaches in Cambodia. Why we all enjoyed the trip the beach was covered in trash and the water was not so clear. It was really interesting to get to see the fishing villages on our way to the island. It looks like for the most part they are bottom trawlers, which is a bummer as its a devastating form of commercial fishing that destroys the bottom. Many of them look completely un-seaworthy. On our way back from the island we traveled through a massive mangrove forest which was pretty neat. Apparently this mangrove forest is one of the largest ones still intact in Southeast Asia.
From Ko Kang we headed back to Bangkok. We had to be in Singapore in two weeks so we needed to get with the program. Often times when you travel you can take the easy route, or the cheap route. Usually the easy route is a prebooked deal through a guesthouse. The cheap option, which we take more often than not, is a do-it-yourself solution where you book all your own tickets and find your own way. It leads to some really interesting bus rides, but often times gives you a better look at the culture as you are traveling the way most of the the locals do.
Bangkok was easy peazy the second time around. We had a day to burn so we decided to try to go see a movie at the theater. In Bangkok the Tuk-Tuk drivers will take you places for super cheap, but the catch is you have to stop at a few commission places along the way to make up for the cheap fare. For each commission stop they make they get a ticket for 5 liters of fuel. We did two stops on the way to the theater, one at a tourist office, and the second at a giant jewelry shop. The theater was about half an hour away and cost us each 75 cents.
The next stop was Krabi, Thailand. This place is famous for its beautiful limestone cliffs, beaches, and rock climbing. Unfortunately the bus ride to get there is 14 hours starting at 6 in the evening and going through the night. The lady who booked the tickets for us warned us that people have complained about things dissapearing out of there backpacks while they are stowed under the bus, so we all took everything important out of our backpacks and put in our smaller day bags that we carried on the bus with us. Ashley and I both tied our bag straps a certain way to see if someone really does look in the bags, and sure enough both our main backpacks were gone through under the bus while everyone is asleep. Nothing important was taken from those, but during the night they someone managed to get inside my small drawsting bag that I had at my feet and steal my credit card and my american cash I had saved for emergencies. At first we didn't believe that they could have pulled that off on a bus, but a day later I got an email from my CC company saying someone charged $1600 dollars on it in one charge. The card has been cancelled and I wasn't charged at all but, wow. Just wow. We all watched each others stuff like hawks. From Krabi we took a small skiff to a really nice beach town called Railey that was far more ritzy than anything we have come across yet. We struggled to find a room for $30 a night, which is a lot for us as we usually pay $12-15. Alex got a terrible headache the next day so Ashley and I explored on our own. We did a wicked steep climb into a lagoon in the middle of this limestone mountain. I will have to post some pictures of this later. The beach is absolutely beautiful. Just google Krabi Thailand and look at the pictures. Its no wonder the area is covered in high end resorts.
The next day Al wasn't doing any better and we feared that he had Malaria, so we opted to take a boat back to Krabi and see what the folks at the hospital had to say. He had his blood drawn and tested, as well as a talk with a really smart young doctor - all for $8. Tests came back negative and the cause of the headaches and fatigue was never really figured out. He's all fine now though.
At this point we felt like time was running short, so we decided to move on and head for the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. The expensive and most direct route was going to cost about $40 a person and take the day. We figured we could do it on our own for cheaper and still take a day. It was cheaper, but it took us two whole days of buses, tuk-tuks, and taxis haha.
Moving between Cambodia, Thailand, and now Malaysia in only a few days has really given us a unique perspective on the similarities and differences between the three cultures and countries. Thailand and Malaysia are far more developed than Cambodia, which is even more developed than Laos. Malaysia and Thailand have great road systems. They also seem to have things like fire stations, police stations, and hospitals, which Cambodia and Laos lack for the most part. A lot of people live in decent house and in Malaysia an increasing number have people have cars. The number of cars far outweighs the number of mopeds here in Malaysia.
The Cameron Highlands is an area of the mountains in central peninsular Malaysia that serves as an agricultural center for a lot of the country. Massive amounts of tea, strawberries, and other vegetables are grown here in the more mild climate. Where lowland Malaysia is absolutely sweltering, it is a pleasant and steady temp here in the higher elevations. Today we took a hike through the jungle and visited a huge tea farm and took a tour of the factory that prepares the leaves. The factory was loud, and the guide's English was difficult to understand so we really only learned that they dump the leaves into one side of the factory, and they come out the other side dried, separated, and crushed up. The farm is about 3000 acres covers an area that used to be incredible, pristine jungle. Its a little sad to see how they completely clear the jungle just to grow a few strawberries. Apparently the world largest flower is in bloom right now near here, but we just don't have the time to do the hike it takes to see it.
The last thing I have to say is the food here is on a new level. Malaysia is a mix of native Malays, Chinese, and Indians, which makes for some spectacular food. And it's cheap! Most meals are only $2.50 all said and done. We have all taken a liking to Indian food, which is interesting as its something that none of us have ever really eaten.
Adios for now guys.
Garrett
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