Don’t eat egg curry for breakfast

The Albatross

Tuesday 28 May 2024

The one great advantage of staying in a resort is the breakfast, as you can have a huge range of everything and barely need to eat for the rest of the day. Every country also seems to have the special thing. In Sri Lanka there was always someone making fresh hoppers, here it is beautiful fresh roti. Tuna just goes the one with egg inside, I go the special of the day. Today it was a super fluffy crunch bread with a mildly sweet condense milk over the top, yesterday was a spicy sambal. Both excellent.

I also went and attacked the curry section today, (along with a lot of other things). The egg curry was a delight, well it was until mid-afternoon. As we tend to only brave the climate in mornings and evenings if we can help it, the ramifications for both of us in the hotel room were a tad unpleasant. As we have a bit of Bezza time tomorrow, I might hit the nice broth and noodle section instead, maybe a nice bowl of congee.

Happy to leaving the resort tomorrow and start the final leg home. Three weeks in the tropics really is my limit. I love the cultures, sights and chaos, however, I just get so over the heat and humidity. I’m also really looking forward to my own home and kitchen where I’m free to create a varied menu. Top of the list is a lamb roast.

Warm waters

Tuna

Monday 27 May 2024

Sunrise was rather pretty. The sparkling lights of all the ships slowly fading away as the sun rises amongst the clouds.

This place (Westin Desaru Coast Resort) is full, as evidenced at breakfast. We only had to wait a minute before getting a table but there were people everywhere. When we had finished breaky there was a queue waiting for a table. After breaky we changed into our swimming derps and headed off to the pool for float. There wasn’t really much difference between air and pool temperature. Back to our room around 10.00am to hide from heat, and there was still a queue waiting for a table for breakfast.

We chilled out in our nice air conditioned room for the afternoon. Around 4pm we went for a quick swim in the lukewarm and very calm South China Sea, washed the sand off our feet and then another dip on the pool.

A burger and a couple of cocktails on the beach for dinner and we were spent for the day.

The last great Bezza adventure

The Albatross

Sunday 26 May 2024

Today was the last big drive in the Bezza, heading south along the East Coast to Bandar Penawar. I’ve actually grown quite fond of the little thing, and it’s done the job a treat. We still have it for a few more days, however, everything is short drives or puttering around town. Today’s journey was four and a half hours, which is more than enough in any stint.

For our last few nights we’ve booked a resort, this may be a mistake as all I can hear from out room is squealing children. I hope they go away. We’re only two hours away from downtown Singapore, so I get the feeling that people come over for a weekend treat, then sod off late Sunday afternoon. Well, that’s what I’m hoping. It’s now 5:30pm and they are still here.

Not much else to say, we came straight down, arriving at around 1:30pm. Beat off all the concierges who were hell bent on stripping all the possessions out of our car the second we arrived, and checked in. A light late lunch whilst we waited for our room to be ready and a mild heart attack at the prices (we eventually reminded ourselves that it is a resort, and it’s no worse than dining out in Australia) after becoming used to normal Malay prices.

Relaxing so much it is tiring

Tuna

Saturday 25 May 2024

I woke up (6.30am) to a quite bright room, but then realised it was moonlight as the clouds had disappeared overnight. After slobbing in bed for over 2 hrs, having my morning coffee delivered as per everyday of our holiday, I finally got out of bed as breakfast was ready.

We didn’t have any set plans for the day and by 11am we still hadn’t really decided what to do, so we didn’t do anything. We’ve not gone outside today, at all!

We have spent the day doing very little but we have both enjoyed it. We watched the boats go up and down the river and the clouds slowly form over the hills. I chilled and relaxed so much that it made me feel tired that I even contemplated having a midday nap. I didn’t, I struggled through the afternoon.

Dietary Supplements

The Albatross

Friday 24 May 2024

I love Asian food, Malaysian, Thai, Indian, Chinese, bring it on. However, if I eat rice today, I worry I may never poop again. It has a binding effect on me. Even lovely oily noodles, wok seared over blistering heat are not soothing the passage way. The difficulty is not necessarily in the starchy goodness alone, its in the ratio. Huge amounts of rice, some tasty protein covered in sauce and token vegetable. We had similar difficulties in Japan and Hong Kong. Even the small serves of dahl and falafel haven’t provided the adequate motivation.

The trouble is that eating out is insanely cheap, last night we had a vegetable dish and two other mains, plus two serves of rice for under $10 AUD. I’d love to tell you what we ate, however I have no idea as they spoke no English, the menu was in Malay and the entire transaction was conducted by guess work, poor sign language and quite a lot of laughter on both sides.

The other problem is that every apartment you rent here, even the poshest ones, have a very poor kitchen. It may have a big fridge and a cook top, however, very little to cook things in. At best is a fry pan and a very small thin saucepan. There is nothing in the way of cooking staples such as salt, pepper, sugar, oil etc. I can make us a decent breakfast here by cunningly using a flat bread (thank you mission wraps) as a liner for a pan and slow cooking some cheesy eggy goodness with different exotic toppings. Dinners are the problem. We were okay with this. We would eat lunch out, then go to a restaurant and grab take away, to eat at our leisure back in the climate controlled, wine filled domain of our apartment of the night. But………..

I need some vegetables, and I’m sick of Asian food. The next two nights meals are going to cost us stacks more than eating out, however we have lentils, carrots, mushrooms, eggplant etc. We also have the forbidden meat. Pork. Malaysia is secular in name, although the vast population is Islamic, throw in some Buddhists, Hindus etc, and you have a bunch of folk who don’t dig the pig. Interestingly when we went through Sabah and Sarawak (rather than the Malay Peninsular) quite a few years ago, pork was common. Is it because of a large Chinese Malay influence or a cultural change.

I have no problem with the constraints at all. You can obtain wine and some pork products, and some restaurants will serve you beer and a cocktail, but generally if you want to buy a bottle of wine and bacon, you must go to a Western style supermarket in big shopping mall and go to the special, clearly marked naughty corner. Choices are typically a bit limited. Yesterday we hit the mother lode.

Hanks, attached to a very western supermarket selling all sorts of treats (even Vegemite, although for some reason only available over the counter), has a huge range of wine and charcuterie, uncooked and frozen pig products, including some delectable sausages. Easily the best refuge we’ve found for satanic treats. We bought wine there yesterday, however, we didn’t commit till today until we had checked out the kitchen.

Today I bought a decent pot, several types of sausages, lentils, pasta, pesto, vegies and nice French loaf of bread. It’ll be worth it. Lunch was a couple of brilliant snags with onion in a super crusty French stick, tonight is a porky mushroom pasta with stacks of veg. Yum.

Oh, it’s quite nice here too, we watch the colourful fishing boats go up and down the river, last night was an epic lightning storm (lightning every night this trip, but this was huge), and it’s glorious looking across the city from the 27th floor. Other than that, we had a day off, and we both loved doing bugger all after months of travelling. Right now, a rain storm sweeping across the city whilst the beautiful call to prayer is ringing out from two nearby mosques.

Transit day – Part II

Tuna

Thursday 23 May 2024

Today was another transit day to get us to the east coast of Malaysia. We are going to spend our last few days on the east coast chilling out before we head home to what seems to be an unseasonably warm Perth for May.

As our apartment was near the main road east, it was quick and easy to get going.

The first part of the highway out of KL is through the foothills and then mountains/highlands and very windy roads. The mighty Bezza managed it ok as I could keep the speed up and not get stuck behind stuff doing 30km/h. It looks like they are building a new road/bridge through the highlands and there are massive concrete pylons for about 30km. It is a major construction project, but it will be awesome when it is done and it will cut out lots of bends and hills.

Once past the hilly and windy part (about 1 hr) the highway was mostly flat and not very bendy (2 hrs). Lunch was at one of the road side stops, which is what we have been doing each time we are driving over lunch. The food isn’t that exciting but it is good and cheap.

Into town, Kuantan, and off to the shopping mall for a few suppliers. A few wrong turns, but we got there. There is a fantastic supermarket and The Albatross is considering cooking dinner one night we are here. We just have to see what cooking utensil, if any, there are in the apartment.

By this stage both of us are quite hot and in need of a sit down with a beer. Check in was standard, tell the security guard who we are, be allowed to go to the mailbox room to get our key, part in assigned carparking spot. Walk into apartment, dump everything we are carrying and turn on every air conditioning unit we can find.

Penang to KL

The Albatross

Wednesday 22 May 2024

We have a couple of transfer days, so today it was punting ourselves south again and staying on the outskirts of KL. There isn’t really anything to say, drive, eat lunch, drive, find up supermarket for breakfast supplies, and a restaurant for some Middle Eastern take away.

Next stop our insanely cheap (24AUD) but lovely apartment, to have some wine and chill for the evening. All good, just not exciting.

It rained! For a very short time.

Tuna

Tuesday 21 May 2024

It seemed a little cooler today, maybe it was the cloud cover or maybe I was imagining it. On the west side of Penang Island there is Penang National Park and it looks like it is less populous as it is on the opposite side of the island to George Town. We thought it could be a nice drive, stop somewhere for lunch and then head back. I worked out that it would be about 2.5 hours to do a complete lap of the island but half of that would be driving through suburbs and billions of traffic lights.

The drive through hills was lovely, but the road was very narrow and very windy. Unfortunately, there was nowhere to stop to really have a look, but it did rain there for a little while. Our destination was a nice little town down near the ocean, but once we got there, nothing was really there to see and no where to eat. So, we headed back home, along the narrow windy roads. As the driver it was fun, but as the passenger, The Albatross was really getting over it. As the might Bezza is a small car, we barely fit and most of the time we are both trying not to rub shoulders with each other.

For a late lunch we found a road side stall selling food, we just pointed at stuff. However, it was quite nice, seemed like a beef rendang and some type of chicken dish.

Did some more laundry and hung our knickers around the apartment to get them dry. We have a great view out over the ocean.

Exactly as expected

The Albatross

Monday 20 May 2024

I really did go in with enthusiasm and an optimistic attitude, however, alas, my lingering doubts were well founded. Maybe I’ve travelled to these things too often, but when a place is listed as a must do and in the back of your mind you think it sounds a bit crap, it is.

We went to the clan Jetties today. These are the old Chinese floating jetties that the different Chinese clans (surprise) set up during British colonial rule. You are graciously allowed to explore the narrow walkways while the honourable hosts try and sell you tat and ice-creams. You also get to waddle behind fat Germans who won’t get out of the way, praying for a breath of fresh air. It’s just so cultural, and soul enriching, you must go. Don’t forget to Instagram it.

To get there we did get to drive through Georgetown, it was way less congested than on Saturday, so it’s really fun pumping our go cart through traffic (I’m not being sarcastic, it’s a hoot). It’s like a video game as lanes run out without warning, scooters dodge out everywhere and the car in front has right of way over everything as everything behind is dead to you, yet you mustn’t get caught behind a large vehicle as all vision is lost. All road rules are advisory only. Just don’t do it tired.

After many hours of culture and go carting we were back in our wee village, where we found a nice place on the coast and had a smashing steamed snapper, rice and vegies, washed down with a few frosty ales.

Chillin’ by the beach at Bora Bora

Tuna

Sunday 19 May 2024

I don’t think the air conditioners work very well in this smallish apartment. We had three of them going in three different rooms all nice and set to 17.5C. It kept the apartment at a reasonable temperature that we could get some sleep, but there was no need to be sleeping under sheets or even any type of doona.

Our plan for today was to top up the Touch ‘n Go card (useful for paying tolls and parking), get petrol, go for short drive along the coast and find lunch. We achieved all of it. The first two done at the local petrol stations. The Albatross managed to fill up the car quicker than I could to up the card. The lady in front of me at the self-service machine struggled to understand it and how to make it work. After about 10mins one of the petrol station attendants wandered over and pushed all the buttons for her. My turn next, it wasn’t very difficult. Tell machine I want to top up my card, put card in machine, put cash into machine, click ok and I was done.

We then went for a short drive along the coast to the next little village, about 5kms. Not a lot there but it seems it is mainly full of locals and a big hotel that looked empty.

I’d done some research this morning on places for lunch. We were after something with a view of the water and where we could take our time over lunch. Hello BoraBora@Ferringhi. Although it was nothing like the posh Bora Bora resort and island in French Polynesia, it ticked all our boxes. However, we were half an hour early and they hadn’t opened yet, so we sat at a table anyway and waited.

A cocktail each, some beers, three plates of deep fried goodness and nearly 2 hours later, we had sated our luncheon needs.

We’ve spent the rest of the afternoon planning and booking the rest of our accommodation in Malaysia and Singapore. Our holiday is nearing the end.

Boy racers

The Albatross

Saturday 18 May 2024

Guess what Malaysians do on a Saturday?

They drive their shitty cars and bikes somewhere in packs. Awoken at 2:00am by bikes roaring up the hill into the highlands. From our apartment on the 35th floor we could see and hear them coming up the valley. I get it, it’s a windy road and you want to bust out of the city, it’s cool and nothing is on the roads. This continued till we checked out at 9:00am. Lots of bikers were having breakfast in the local cafes.

It then continued all day as we did a long drive north to Penang. Huge amounts of bikes on club rides (one group doing it lying flat on there stomachs) and groups of Honda Civics with lots of plastic bits glued to the bodywork to make them faster (dunno how that works). Even a Bezza with a wing on the back the same size as the car.

Anyway, we did our normal 1 hour shifts till we hit the outskirts of Penang and made a detour to a shopping mall.

BAD DECISION.

Traffic was awful, roads were one or two lanes and lots of traffic lights. Traffic light cycles take 5 minutes in Malaysia. It took a long time to get there, and longer to get out. From the shopping mall to our apartment north of George Town was about an hour and a half. Eventually arrived 8 hours after we set out.

I was cranky, then the apartment was about 50 degrees and the aircon was like a moist fart. It took about 2 hours to get the place habitable. I must find something joyful in the morning.

Monkey Magic

Tuna

Friday 17 May 2024

It was cool enough last night to keep the air conditioning off and get a good nights sleep. Unfortunately, the wifi doesn’t quite reach the bedrooms, so I had to get out of bed earlier than normal, but only after my morning coffee was delivered.

After puddling around the apartment doing very little except appreciate the great views and wonder at all the new construction of hotels and who is going to stay there, we hit the road. Heading further up the hill we stopped at the Chin Swee Caves Temple. Constructions was started in 1975 and the temple opened in 1994. It the idea of the same businessman who developed Genting Highland as a resort town. There is a temple, pagoda, buddha statue and great views over the mountains and down the valley to KL.

Wandering around you go past figurines depicting the Ten Levels of Hell and the punishments for each. The crimes you need commit to get into one of the Level range from tax fraud, stealing, adultery, killing animals including poultry, disappointing your parents, and any other sin you could imagine.

The other attraction here is the story of the monk who travelled to the West to collect sacred scrolls and had a monkey, pig and sand demon as travel companions. The best things were the big than life statues of the characters from the TV series.

Next stop was the top of hill and the main resort area of Genting Highlands. The road consists of about 100 hairpin turns to get to the four hundred resort hotels at the top of the hill. The might Bezza and its massive 1.3lt engine struggled, a lot! It always wanted to be in the top gear despite only being able to go 30km/h and refused to stay in a lower gear. I spend most of the time with the foot literally flat to the floor and chugging away very slowly in the left-hand slow lane typically used by trucks.

Our destination was a huge shopping mall, which features included the Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park (none of the rides were open), Jurassic Research Centre (doesn’t do research, but has dinosaur models and is more an indoor playground for kids) and Zombie Outbreak (another kids playground). It is all attached to the biggest hotel in the world, the massive First World motel with 7,351 rooms.

By this time our footsies were getting a bit sore and it was past lunchtime. We headed down the hill and the 200 hairpin turns to get a late lunch at one of the local little restaurants near our apartment. Time to do some laundry.

Jail Break

The Albatross

Thursday 16 May 2024

Our final sightseeing excursion was to the old Melaka jail, only closed in 2010. My gosh, I promise to be a good boy. They happily show the noose and the canes for whipping people. The cells are bare concrete with two buckets in them and, well, the photos tell the rest. We didn’t do this yesterday as I was cooked after a couple of hours, and by the time we left the prison I had achieved waterfall status again.

Not to worry, the rest of the day was travel in nice air-conditioning. It took an age to get to the freeway due to insanely long light changes, however once on it initially travelling was easy. Then it started to rain and didn’t really let up until the outskirts of Kuala Lumpa.

All of a sudden the clouds disappeared as I turned off onto a road that would take us around the city. And boy what a road, it travels through the suburbs about 7 storeys up, taking us for miles, and there was virtually no other traffic. It must have saved us hours of travel.

Our next turn was the road up to the Genting Highlands, which are really just out of KL, however they beautifully cool and shrouded in cloud. A welcome plate of noodles and pot of tea made for a satisfying late lunch. Our apartment on the 35th floor and actually has amazing views down the valley, just right for a crisp glass of wine as the cool air flows through it. Bliss.