I used the AGL3080 GPS to record where I went. I had a few problems. A memory error on one day. When this happens I have to wait until I can down load the files before resetting the unit or the files I already have are lost. Also on more than a few occasions I forgot to turn it on. And well, on a few days I did not bother turning it on. Still it provides handy data to geotag the photos and I was able to send the files to the nice Germans I spent a day with in Taman Nagara so that they can also tag their photos and see where we walked and boated. Here are all my maps from the trip with some notes.
I’d like to stick a map of the whole trip here by my software cannot cope with the number of points in almost three weeks of files.
Continue reading Maps in Malaysia
As we travelled around we spent a bit of time on the road. We saw a Hindu parade. They were taking the idol (I do not know if this is correct) to the temple or on a walk. We also passes what is the only old dredge left in the area. The tin mining stopped in the early 1980′s as the price fell. They are talking of turning this one into a museum and they really should. I suspect that given the location of my grandfather’s tin mine, it would have used pressurised water to wash away the dirt on the hill rather than a dredge system.
Continue reading On the Road around Ipoh
I had wanted to get of the train at Kuala Tembling, but that was one station the train did not stop. I do not know why. So I had arrived by train in Jerantut. The NKS were very organised. I was now in a different world. No longer a world of locals travelling. Now I was in a world that was full of wealthy western travellers, well, in fact, mostly western European travellers, who had money and a local economy which had adjusted to this. NKS was the primary case in point. Much more expensive, but also much better organised and run. I was quite impressed and it was quite a bit of culture shock.
Continue reading Jerantut to Kuala Tahan via Kuala Tembling
The whole reason for going to Gua Musang was to catch the Jungle Railway. The express trains travelled through in the middle of the night. To catch the local train from Kota Bharu meant getting the train at 4AM. So I had decided that the civilised way to travel was to catch the train from Gua Musang. There was an english couple sitting opposite me who had caught the train from Khota Bharu and they slept most of the way. Kind of defeats the purpose. Though I was a bit sick and also was not fully functional. To my great delight the train arrived on time. It also made good time and arrived at Jerantut on schedule. My fears proved unfounded.
The train was a double header. Probably to get up into the mountains, though Gua Musang must be a high point, as for my journey the train was mostly down hill. There was also the great Gua Musang train timetabling sham. When I had checked for the train in Penang, they said that there were two trains and it was too complicated for them to sell me a ticket. This turned out to be a good thing (that they did not sell me a ticket). But there were not two trains. The train to Gua Musang arrived, people got off, some, including myself got on, and it continued on it’s way. But now it had mysteriously become a different train. The people like the brother and sister from England did not need to get off and change trains. In fact, I think that they slept through the whole experience.
Continue reading Jungle Railway
I had decided that the best way to catch the jungle train in the day time was to use the local train from Gua Musang to Jerantut. So I arrived in Gua Musang by bus form Kota Bharu. I arrived a bit after midday. I wanted to get off the bus when we crossed the railway line, but the conductor indicated I should stay on the bus. Then we passed through the old town bus stop before continuing onto the new town bus stop. I by now had decided that this had been a mistake. I asked a few people and eventually confirmed that the train station was back the way I had come. The driver of the only taxi, did not understand word I said, so I walked the few km back into town.
Continue reading Overnight in Gua Musang
I caught the bus from Kota Bharu to Gua Musang. The trip was quite uneventful. I got up in the morning, lateish. Wandered the 100m or so down to the bus terminal after checking out. Waited around for quite a while until the bus arrived. While I was waiting an old man, who did not seem to be able to speak came up and gibbered at me for some time. He seemed to be offering me his pre-wrapped lunch (in a brown paper wrapping as is normal) and was very very happy. The man beside me mentioned that there were some strange people and I had to be careful. I agreed. He was heading home, which was not far away. Just about then it was time to catch the bus. Basically we followed Highway 8 for the whole trip. Initially along the flood plains and then up into the mountains. We stopped at Kuala Krai. If I had been planning better I might have got off there and caught the Jungle Train from this station. Though it may still have been too early in the morning. Gua Musang seems to be a high point. I wanted to get off the bus where it crossed the railway line, but the conductor indicated I should have stayed on. We passed through the old town bus terminal and then to the new town terminal. I should have got off at the old town terminal and saved myself a lot of walking.
Continue reading A bus trip from Kota Barhu to Gua Musang
I went to Butterworth twice. The first time to visit the bus terminal and train station, the second time, the next day, to catch the bus. For some reason I did not seem to take any photos of the bus terminal with my good camera. Though I have a few snaps with the mobile phone. The bus terminal was easy, I just went up. I did use one of the totes in front of the offices to purchase my ticket, even though I had intended to use the official office. It just seemed easier that way and it all worked out well in the end. I then wandered over to the train station, but found that the ticket office was closed. I had seen a ticket office at the Penang end of the ferry, so I went back and talked to them. These three girls were on the overpass bridge, over the railway line. They wanted their photo taken, so I obliged.
Continue reading Butterworth
I travelled three times on the ferry over two days. The first time was to go and get my bus ticket. The second time was to catch the bus. As you only pay when travelling from Butterworth to Georgetown, I only had to pay once. The ferry service is very good when it comes to the frequency and running times. Though I am not sure how the open design would go in a sever storm with strong winds.
Continue reading Three times on the ferry
In the afternoon Simon and I went into the nearby Ipoh parade shopping centre. I did a bit of banking and bought some salt and tissues. I’m sure I’ve never purchased that combination before.
My plans for the family gathering are looking good. I am happy with the progress so far.
I went up stairs to the food court and purchased some anggar Hiram or black grape juice. The bahasa Malaysia to English dictionary I purchased for 6 rm is proving to be a poor choice so I purchased a proper colins dictionary for the iPhone.
Continue reading Anggur hitam
Well, this was easily the cheapest way to fly from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur. We went on Air Asia X a low cost airline. We arrived early on the airport bus after wandering around Melbourne and had to wait for a while until the check-in counter opened.
Continue reading D72723 Melbourne To Kuala Lumpur
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