That time I was abroad for a month (3/3)

Kuala Lumpur - Penang - Kuala Lumpur

I figured I'd split this post into at least three parts not only to keep each post short but also to segment it according to each event. This part narrates my solo adventures in Penang and departure back to Manila.

13 February - 13 March 2015

Day 12: KL - Teluk Bahang

My days of travelling with company were done and I am finally heading out to start my solo adventure and to realize the real reason I went to Malaysia. After a torturous walk down to Puduraya bus terminal, an hour wait at the chaotic bus bays, and 4 hours at the expressway, I finally arrived at the Sungai Nibong (Sg. Nibong) Express Bus Terminal in Penang Island. I took some time to take in the new surroundings, eat a late lunch and then boarded the Rapid Penang bus specified on my directions.

I had no idea where I was exactly but I remained calm and resolved to watching Penang become a real place from the bus windows.

Half an hour later, a Caucasian lady boarded and started (or rather continued) talking to her male companion about cats. I intently listened and hypothesized she could be the cat lady I was looking for. When they got off the bus, I immediately followed and approached them. Fortunately, they were the folks from Pantay Kuching (Cat Beach) and they immediately introduced me to the rest of the team: a boy from Finland playing with some local kids, a girl from Germany petting a kitten while looking out at the sea, a girl from the USA who just walked in, another girl I didn't have a chance to know feeding medicine to another kitten, and a guy from Germany who just came in from the kitchen. By the evening, another girl from the USA arrived and joined our group.

Our small wooden house looks out to the sea and is granted first-row seats of the sunset and the salty breeze every day.

Day 13-22: Teluk Bahang

The following days consisted mostly of cleaning chores, feeding abandoned kittens, fighting for couch space with the cats, and staring at the sea, all while getting to know my fellow volunteers.

Cat Beach shelters, feeds, and cares for over 100 stray cats. The cats are completely up for adoption.

On my first day out, I went with the Finland guy and Germany girl to the nearby Forest Park (Taman Rimba) where we swam in the natural pond. Afterwards, we went up to the Water Reservoir and watched the sunset amidst philosophical wanderings.

On a another day, I spent a few hours with the German girl to look at the butterflies, insects, and reptiles in the Butterfly Farm and then at textiles and clothing at the Batik Factory.

The following day, I took off on my own and explored adjacent Batu Ferringhi. I exchanged for some Malaysian Ringgit at the money changer and then watched some vacationers enjoy their time at the beach.

On the last day of Chinese New Year, our host's friend took us to Kek Lok Si Temple and waited to watch the Chinese lanterns alight for the last time that year

The following night, we watched some local Indians put out floating candles into the sea and then perform dances as part of a festivity.

On my last day in Teluk Bahang, I went out again with the Finland guy and the German girl to the National Park (Teman Negara) where we hiked to the deserted Turtle Beach (Pantai Kerachut) and then went off-trail to swim at a small river.

Day 23-27: Georgetown

After spending 10 days in Teluk Bahang, caring for the cats and the cat house as best as I could, I travelled back to Georgetown to explore the touristy side of Penang. On days when I needed to do some work, I would work on my laptop in one of the quaint coffee shops in the morning and then walk around the city in the afternoon. It was a city characterized by street art and street food, by heritage and modern buildings, and by nature and concrete.

Heritage buildings converted into shophouses at the front and a modern glass building jutting out at the back.

A cluster of buildings beside a clean shoreline and esplanade

Remnant of a street art with a backdrop of condominium buildings and a small hill

Day 28: Georgetown - KL

Just before noon, I started my journey back to KL (and back to the Manila). I arrived in the city just in time for a Korean dinner with my friend in KL and her officemates.

My last photo in Malaysia is with the forever glorious and adamant Petronas Twin Towers

Day 29: Kuala Lumpur - Manila

After bidding another round of goodbyes with my friend and her officemates, I packed all of my belongings, hailed a taxi to KL Central, took the KLIA Express to KLIA2, and spent my last remaining RM on a McDonald's lunch. By midnight, I was back in Manila and it was the end of my Singapore-Malaysia adventure. But then again, that was just the end of the beginning and a start for another adventure.

Part 1: That time I was abroad for a month (1/3)
Part 2: That time I was abroad for a month (2/3)

That time I was abroad for a month (2/3)

Kuala Lumpur - Ipoh - Cameron Highlands - Kuala Lumpur

I figured I'd split this post into at least three parts not only to keep each post short but also to segment it according to each event. This part narrates my buddy travels around Malaysia with a friend from high school.

13 February - 13 March 2015

Day 7: Kuala Lumpur - Ipoh

It was the last day of the Chinese New Year celebrations and people were on a travel exodus. We spent most of the morning catching up on sleep and chores in KL before navigating our way through scalpers for a ticket to Ipoh. It was past 2pm when we were finally ushered to a Penang-bound bus but it wasn't until 9pm when the bus dropped us off at Ipoh Amanjaya bus terminal. The trip that would normally take 3 hours stretched to 7 hours because of intense barely moving traffic at the Expressway.

Despite arriving really late at Ipoh, we still managed to find open establishments such as this Halal reggae "bar" that caters to Muslims looking for a night out and serves juice cocktails instead of alcoholic ones.

Day 8: Ipoh - Cameron Highlands

Ipoh is divided by the Kinta River into the Old Town, where the heritage sites are, and the New Town, where similarly old but not particularly significant buildings are. We have walked around the New Town the previous night/midnight so we ventured out to the Old Town the following morning. It was definitely the more interesting part of the city for a visitor. We had both popular and non-popular white coffee, stumbled upon quirky shops and displays, took pictures with well-maintained heritage buildings, gazed at iconic street art, and wandered through narrow pavements between both abandoned and restored houses.

The Old Uncle with White Coffee is one of the most iconic murals around Old Town, Ipoh. It depicts white coffee as part of the town's culture and heritage.

By mid-day, we were on our way to Cameron Highlands through lush rain forests, winding roads and fickle rains. The way up the mountain was smooth and fast but as soon as we passed the first town, tourist traffic again stalled us. We arrived around 7pm, after 4 hours on the road. Feeling a bit frustrated about the traffic and seeing all the street food, I suggested that we pool money and have a food trip. We had 5 sets of shared meals and spent a total of RM 20.30

For our first meal of the night, we ordered Lamb and Chicken satays from the first barbecue stall that I spotted. The guy already noticed us the first time we passed by because of my slight limp.

Day 9: Cameron Highlands - KL

Instead of joining a tour group and exploring faraway tea plantations and mossy forests, we walked out to the nearest jungle trail from Tanah Rata and did our own hike. Trail No. 10 is a well-marked jungle trail that tackles protruding tree roots and soft moss beds, peaks at a cell site, goes around Tanah Rata, and ends at adjacent Brinchang town. Arriving at Brinchang after 3 hours inside the jungle, we ate at the first hawker center we saw. Afterwards, we walked on and tortured ourselves at the weekend food market with all the local delicacies we cannot afford but was lucky enough to find one stall selling chocolate-dipped strawberries for RM 2.50 which was normally RM 4.00. Satisfied, we started walking back, considering to hitch a ride to skip the 4km walk, and fortunately caught the rare bus shuttle back to Tanah Rata. By 5:30 pm, after freshening up and taking advantage of free snacks at the hostel, we were on a bus going back to KL.

Jungle Trail No. 10 has visible trail markings every few hundred meters and on closed/dangerous trails to keep even inexperienced hikers safely on the path

Day 10: Putrajaya

After a few hours of restful sleep, we were on the move again and on the way to Putrajaya with my friend's officemates. It was a Sunday and they planned on culminating their long weekend with a visit to the pink mosque and an attempt to roller-blade. Putrajaya looked very ideal and new with its un-littered streets, parallel row houses, blooming flowers, and organized transportation. It was new indeed as most houses were still unoccuppied and there were relatively very few people around. We ended the day hunting for fastfood at the train station but still ended up at their favorite Malaysian restaurant, Venny's.

Roller blades, bikes, kick scooters, and giant bubble makers for rent around the skate park which is a great venue for quality time with family and friends

Day 11: KL

Instead of hopping on another train for a day tour to the nearby Batu caves, I decided to use the day to allow me to take a breather from my day-to-day city-hopping. I was actually falling sick and my left leg needed rest but I couldn't afford to stay in bed the whole day because I needed to prepare for my Penang departure the following day. I retraced our previous path back to Puduraya bus terminal to secure a bus ticket to Georgetown and then managed to find my way to Low Yat Plaza where I went back and forth several shops until I decided to just purchase a new smartphone to be able to insert a Malaysian sim card and have access to mobile internet. My Star Mobile phone unit was unheard of in Malaysia so they cannot "open line" it and Digi USB Internet dongles were out-of-stock everywhere. I met with my friend and her officemates afterwards and after an unsuccessful "lugaw" attempt, we again ended up at Venny's.

My chores-day OOTD: sneakers, pants, tank top, cardigan, knapsack, cap

Part 1: That time I was abroad for a month (1/3)
Part 3: That time I was abroad for a month (3/3)