Mamamalaysia

Well it's all over for Thailand and so the weather got better immediately after I crossed the border. They have highways in this motha! Woosh we ride very fast to Penang/Georgetown where I setup base camp in chinatown with the indian blocks not far away. It came as a total surprise to me that they have Indian food here in Thailand and nothing could make me more happy that night than a nice Masala Dosa. Oooh so good! The town has kept its colonial image with the low storied buildings with a chinese temple there, mosk here, all that jazz. Nice place to stay a night or two but I was on my way to the highlands.. Cameron Highlands!



Took the ferry over to Butterworth and hopped on a bus that was right next to the ferry docking point that flew me right down to Ipoh where I was destined to change the buss. Unfortunately the perfect time leaving bus was canceled to who knows what reason and I had to wait 4 hours for the next bus at the bus station. Well with a nice book to read it wasnt that bad. Another wooosh through some nice landscape as we climb into the clouds to see some tea plantations. Dusk arrived before I could see any and the episode was delayed for a couple of days. At least I was able to find a nice cheap indian street eatery where this mother/daughter combination keeps giving me more and more delicious foods. I have become a regular guest at their establishment.



A couple of days into the highlands and I see myself enjoying the cheap food, cheaper accommodation and nice walks that they have to offer. Did a big tour to the tea plantations a couple of days back and my legs are still hurting! Never mind though as the scenery was just to die for. Never really realized just how well blue and green go together until I started snapping away with the camera to a certain extent of TOO MUCH. I was expecting there to be tons of tourist loitering around the estate area but I didn't see any other tourist or locals apart from ones traveling with a car or motorbike down and up the curvy roads amids the tea bushes. I took the liberty of walking around anywhere I pleased and it turns out those tea bushes dont really bent easily and you have to really jump over them if you want to skip a line. Anyway the walk back turned out to be a exhausting one even though its mostly downhill. I was completely beat when at the last mile or so left the signs of a storm started to be in the air and I could feel the drops of rains starting to hunt me. Make a run for it to keep yourself dry!



Legs dont hurt anymore and I think soon Ill hit the jungle paths again. Hopefully the weather will be more merciful this time :)

More pictures at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/timo.laaksonen/