MALAYSIA TRIP 2007
Two overseas trips in one year! How decadent! But we just couldn't resist such cheap airfares to KL, and they are only getting cheaper.

Day one we flew to Kuala Lumpur with Malaysian Airlines. It was a reasonably good flight, the food was boring- why do airlines think just because you are vegetarian you are a health nut? Sugar is after all from a plant, not an animal.  The entertainment was working, unlike Gulf Airlines, so for people who can't sleep like me it was great, and they have a very good system. The staff were terrific, and I'm amazed that they can stay smiling on an overnight flight doing what they do.
KL
Arrived in Kl on time, organized the prepaid limo to our hotel for about $50.  A bit expensive but not compared to Sydney! A freeway took us almost all the way to the Sunway Resort Hotel near Petaling Jaya, to the west of the city. The resort was amazing, and just shows how decpetive the net and even Google Earth can be, as it is set below street level in an old tin mine and quarry. The hotel rises 10 floors up and about the same down to the bottom of the mine site, where there is also the theme and water park.  Next door is a huge shopping mall and another hotel.  After an easy check in thanks to Mari Mari  the kids couldn't hit the  water park quick enough  so off they went.  Although  not as good  as Veegaland in India  it is still great value.  The hotel is terrific  too  and the breakfasts were excellent.  While out for a walk I discovered a veggie restaurant so we tried it for dinner and it was really nice and very cheap. I think it was called the Evergreen, and it was in the old shopping centre across the road from the hotel entrance, around the corner from the 7-11. Nice Chinese style veggie food, with an assortment of "mock" meats.

The next day was spent entirely at the theme park, all had lots of fun on the water slides and rides. Sadly the longest suspension footbridge in the world was closed. The only annoying thing is that they don't give pass outs, so when we realized we didn't have enough money for the wave pool Aidan had to pay again to go back to the hotel to get more - you'd think they'd at least let hotel guests go in and out. For dinner went to the Ramadan buffet in the Pyramid hotel restaurant which was excellent, with all sorts of Malay, Chinese and Indian specialities.

The drive north
In the morning our car arrived, a Toyota Unser 4WD sort of thing. Big car, seating 7, but very underpowered. It was only about $50 a day but they slugged us $100 just to drop off at Kota Bahru. Could have done with some new tyres too, but otherwise very easy to drive. Headed out into the chaos of Kl roads, but because we werre on the ringroad it wasn't too bad. First stop was the Batu caves, Hindu temples up a long flight of stairs in big limestone caves. The temples weren't that exciting after india, but the caves were interesting, as were the monkeys running riot there. Still, its good to get your journey off to an auspicious start. Once out of Kl it was easy driving, very good freeway and then a nice road when we turned off to Kuala Lipis.
K lipis was a nice compact town, not quite as hill station as I expected, but had a nice feel to it. Checked in to the Centrepoint Hotel once we found its entrance, which is on the 5th floor of a shopping centre. Nice big rooms with pretty woodwork. Walked down a road to the old british club, with views across to historic Clifford School and other colonial buildings.  Crossed the river to the old town which is just 2 streets, very busy with lots of discount shops and many cars for such a small town. By the time we'd gone to look at the muddy river the town had mysteriously closed up, contradicting what we thought would happen with Ramadan. Obviously people buy their food then go home to break the fast. Everything had closed up, except a Chinese run restaurant at the beginning of the town.  It turned out to be a terrific place and the spread of noodles, curry, Thai tofu and fried rice was delicious. We ate accompanied by about 50,000 swallows that were roosting for the night on every available perch. The lady running the restaurant was really nice too.

After a reasonable brekky at the Centrepoint we headed off to Kota Bahru, beginning with an easy drive to Gua Musang. After having lunch at the nice bakery there we continued, and the roads got a bit more confusing and a lot busier. Once in the state of Kelantan we detoured to see the coast, which meant a winding and confusing drive along poorly marked roads but eventually we found the see at a very nice beach. Headed into very busy Kota Bahru and to our hotel, the Crystal Lodge, which was very nice with modern but small rooms in a good central location. Once again everything seemed to be closing up, but did see the palace. The poor guy that collected our car had caught the bus from KL and then had to drive straight back ,so couldn't really begrudge him the 300 ringgits, in fact we could have just given him a lift! Ended up finding an Indian restaurant, the Sri ... which was basic, home style South Indian food and then went to the night market which was colourful but a bit repetitive.  Wandered back up to the night market which was a bit repetitive, but was worth it for all the locals in their beautiful local outfits.

Pulau Perhentian

Next morning we were picked up and driven to Kuala Besut, where we waited around for a while before our very nice speed boat out to Pulau Perhentian Besar. The islands looked great as we approached them, both with quite high mountains in the middle sloping down to lovely sandy beaches. Kecil even had a school on the beach. Our resort, Tuna Bay, was right on the beach. I went for a great trip getting off the boat and had a sore shin for the rest of the holiday! The beach was really nice as were our cabins, but not happy about getting the nearest cabin to the restaurant. But in place like this you can't complain, not with a coral reef full of fish on your doorstep.