My first week in Malaysia has been a whirlwind, but I'm absolutely loving it here! I really wish I had more time to explore. I was totally uneducated before arriving, really knowing very little about the country or what to expect. So I'm extra thrilled by how lovely it is! It's been a lot of moving and travel time, but I actually planned out a pretty solid itinerary so I'm happy with it. I don't really have the luxury of getting stuck in places anymore or I'll run out of time, but I can't complain!
First stop was Penang, after approximately 21 hours of travel from Thailand. I enjoyed wandering around the many Indian, Chinese, and Malay foods/sites/smells/buildings on small winding roads. It's been cool to see new things, switching from Buddhist Wats to mosques, Chinese temples, and churches. Women walk in hijabs or saris, incense burn from the small shops--it's just a really interesting and beautiful blend of cultures. I loved the energy in Penang, with consistently busy streets, running children, markets, and smiling faces. People have been super friendly as well. As a bonus, Penang is known for its street food, so it was (mostly Indian and Chinese) food galore.
Next stop, Perhentian islands, because clearly I hadn't had enough beach time. After a bumpy and uncomfortable overnight bus journey where I didn't really sleep at all, I saw my 3rd sunrise in 4 days. I slept on the beach all afternoon and recovered nicely, not to worry. I was also able to do another dive, and I saw so many huge fish, a manta ray, and a shark!
Next up was Taman Negara, Malaysia's largest national park, and by some accounts the oldest rainforest in the world. I did a night jungle walk and saw some creepy crawlies, plus a really big tapir and a porcupine. Sadly, no larger animals, which was to be expected. But deeper in the jungle live elephants, tigers, and panthers. Would have loved to see them! Ah well. I spent a day trekking in the jungle, including a canopy walk and some pretty views. We also successfully found a "swimming hole," but it looked really muddy and dirty so our dreams of cooling off in the water were dashed. The day reminded me a bit of Costa Rica; it was a beautiful area.
Now I'm in the Cameron highlands, where I spent yesterday trekking up and through muddy paths--I think in total we walked something like 20k. The area is known for beautiful nature and a cooler climate (I actually wore long sleeves and my fleece for a bit!!), and as a result, it's perfect for lots of plantations: tea, butterflies, bees, and strawberries. So we stopped at strawberry and tea plantations for respite, and I enjoyed a strawberry ice pop and then a strawberry pastry and tea while overlooking the sprawling green fields/hills. Parts of the hike were pretty steep, muddy, and treacherous, but the treats made it all worth it.
Today is a relaxed day, with a short walk to get my nature fix, then eating strawberry goodies and tea all day. I walked around the small town a lot as well--my legs are aching now! The cooler climate has also been such a nice change of pace.
So one week down, one week to go in Malaysia! I still have Kuala Lumpur and Borneo to hit, so I bus to KL tomorrow morning to start that. The countdown to home is definitely on, but there's still lots left on my wish list before that time comes!
