More Malaysia!!

Yes, yes. The sunny sunny Cameron Highlands. That place was very nice. It was really good because it is quite chilly in the Cameron Highlands, so we had to wear cardigans. It was a welcome change from the heat of KL!!

We planned on staying just one night there, and then going to Penang the next day, but that didn't really go to plan. The tour we wanted to do finished at half past one in the afternoon and the bus for Penang left at two, so we probably wouldn't have made the bus. We had to stay for another night but we didn't mind. On the second day we went on the tour. There were two German ladies on the tour, and they didn't speak much English, so I was working my mad German skills all day, which I loved. :)

They grow lots of tea in the Cameron Highlands, and we learned a lot about it that day. The tour guide took us to look at a tea plantation and we looked at a nice view of all the tea. He told us about how they make tea, and it was surprisingly interesting. We took lots of photos because the view was pretty. Then we hopped back into the jeep and drove to the highest point in the Cameron Highlands. Golly, it was high. We climbed up this tower to get a nice view and it was super windy. We didn't really see much of the view to be honest, because I was a little distracted with trying not to be blown away. We also took a walk through the mossy forest, which was fun times. Afterwards we visited the tea plantation. They took us round and showed us the machines that grind up the tea and stuff, and it wasn't very exciting. We got to go to the cafe at the factory though, and that was enjoyable. I had some tea and lemon cake. The tea was tasty. The last stop on the tour was a stawberry farm. Again, it was not the most exciting place I have ever been to, but we got to eat strawberries. Good times.

In the afternoon time, we wrote our postcards and chatted to this random guy we met. We went to a place called the T Cafe for dinner, and afterwards the random guy invited us out for a drink with a Canadian couple we met in KL. We went round to their hostel and there was a campfire. We sat round and drank beer and chatted. There was this random Malay guy who started sprouting on about herbal medicine. He said that modern medicine is terrible, and anyone who receives modern treatment dies straight after. He also said that herbs can cure cancer. And he said that we should all drunk urine. Our own urine, and also the urine of camels. It was quite strange.

The next day we hopped on the bus to Penang. On the bus was a Canadian girl who we met on the Whitsundays. We got chatting, and it was very pleasant. We arrived in Penang and got a taxi with this Swedish boy to Gerogetown. This Swedish guy had been travelling with the Canadian girl and some of her friends, but they needed to go off and sort out Thai visas, so he came with us. When we arrived in Georgetown we checked into our hostel, and we expected that he might check into a hostel as well, but he didn't. I think he was waiting to here from his Canadian friends, but he stayed with us while he was waiting. Becky and I didn't really know what to do in Penang, so we had a walk to the shopping centre. We were quite tired after our coach journey so we went to the cinema. We really wanted to see Remember Me with Robert Pattionson, but Simon the Sweidsh guy didn't. He wanted to see a vampire film. I was like, no way. Becky and I got our way, but Simon didn't come with us. Oh my goodness, Remember Me is brilliant!! So sad though. We cried like babies. It was so funny, because the cinema was just full of girls, and when the lights came up at the end of the film, we looked round and saw that EVERYONE was crying. We bonded with these Malaysian girls who were in tears behind us. We just laughed at each other. It was so funny that we were all in a mess!!

In the evening time, we got some food from a happy stall on the street, and then we went back to our lovely hostel and stayed up chatting. Simon suggested that we watch a film, but we declined, as we had already discovered that we have different film tastes.

The next day, Becky was very poorly. She had a migrane and was sick and it was not very pleasant for her. I am a good friend and said that I would stay in with her, but she said that I should go out because she would just be in bed all day. I didn't really know what to do, but in the end I decided to leave her in peace. Before Becky had got sick, we had made plans to go to Penang Hill, where you can get a train to the top and then do a canopy walk. I decided to do that alone, but when I went to reception to ask how to get there, the reception lady told me that the train wasn't in service. I was a bit gutted and didn't know what to do, but the reception lady suggested that I go to the Kek Lok Si temple instead. I took her advice, and made my way to the bus station. When I got on the bus I was a little scared that I wouldn't know where to get off, so I asked the bus driver. Then I got worried again, so I asked a friendly Malaysian girl. Then an old Malaysian guy asked me where I was going, so I showed him my map, and he helped me out as well. They are all so friendly!! The old guy told me to look after my bag, and he even showed me where the police station was in case it got stolen or something. He was very kind.

I got to the temple and it was very nice. I took lots of photos and bought a postcard. I was very proud that I had managed to get there all on my own. :) I bought a sarong, and then made my way back to see Becky. She was still poorly when I got back, so I went out for dinner on my own, and we got an early night.

The hostel we stayed in in Penang was super. It was called Stardust Guesthouse, and it was recommended to us by Alison and Geoff, who had been there for breakfast when they were in Penang. It was lovely. The room was so nice, and the beds were huge with nice comfy mattresses. :) It was brill.

That is the end of my Malaysia story, because the next day we went to Thailand. I will not write baout that now, as I need to pack.

Xx.