Kuala Lumpur & Langkawi, Malaysia; Singapore; Hong Kong

[E_Dawg]

Hey all, just got back from a week and a half trip out there. Was a friggin BLAST, here are some shots in no particular order (more later, HKG is still on my camera)


Late in the day at Tanjung Rhu, Langkawi


the specs in the center are people walking from the shore to the rocks/island. The water depth varies a lot, but there are a few paths that are 1 foot deep depending on the area.




A non-touristy area, the locals in this area weren't pleased to see foreigners. We explored for a minute but quickly got the hint.




Petronas Towers before sunrise, easy to wake up for it being jetlagged.


Singapore on a cloudy day


Early morning Kuala Lumpur, taken from the top of the KL tower, a radio tower.

[Beech driver]

Sweet pics. I gotta try and get that way before too long.

[skyrunner1500]

Great shots!

Did you also hop over to Kota Kinabalu on Borneo? Borneo is really worth a visit!

[N826AW]

Sick pictures! Looks like you had a great trip. Thanks for posting them.

[coa787]

Nice photos!

[Swen]

Great share!

There's a bit of trivia related to those horizontal shaft boat motors. As you can see, the motors appear somewhat rudimentary, but functional. The simplistic design worked for decades over there. Then a dude saw that and started making them domestically; thereby creating a market, when there was no market for the motors at all in this part of the world.

[AP2B]

Great pics E_Dawg

[SkyCougar]

Very nice photos! I love the Malaysia shots.

[ZachH]

Sweet Pics..

[bike21]

Do you actually work these days?

[E_Dawg]

Eh, kinda. No more trips now that the roommie moved out and I gotta pay for this place myself. I've just been working like crazy for 3 weeks then take 2 off

[E_Dawg]

Here are a few randoms from Hong Kong:




Waiting for the Peak Tram which takes you to some great views of the city. You really have to hold your ground in line since their idea of personal space is NOT the same as ours.


A bar district. Dead quiet during the day for Chinese New Year but going on at night!




view after the Peak Tram on this hazy day


street market. Beers here were 2usd each for a LITER. Shirts, 5 dollars.

[bike21]

Originally Posted by E_Dawg

Eh, kinda. No more trips now that the roommie moved out and I gotta pay for this place myself. I've just been working like crazy for 3 weeks then take 2 off

Well, good to hear you had a ton of fun traveling. I can't wait to get out again soon. Was Hong Kong as dirty as they say it is?

[E_Dawg]

No I didn't think it was dirty at all, really. The buildings are old and rusted in some places (first picture), and some don't look so hot - but not so dirty as to really put you off about the whole thing. I say this mainly because the air quality is okay and the streets aren't littered with trash. For a truly dirty city try Bangkok, Thailand. Crowds, insane amounts of pollution, noise, tropical heat, virtually NO trees or green areas other than one park - it's overwhelming just walking around.

[E_Dawg]

Originally Posted by bike21

I can't wait to get out again soon.

Let me know if you want someone to go with. One of the hardest parts is finding someone else who has the same time block off that I do. Gotta work for now but assuming I find a roommate, when taxes come back I'll be in good shape. I was thinking of the Trans Siberian railway in late april-early may. Beijing to Moscow via Mongolia, a 7 day train ride where you can stop at any city along the way. You need a visa for China and Russia.

[bike21]

Cool, good to hear. I have my reservations about a certain prospective employer and spending time in that city. Time to go check it out first hand!

[bike21]

Originally Posted by E_Dawg

Let me know if you want someone to go with. One of the hardest parts is finding someone else who has the same time block off that I do. Gotta work for now but assuming I find a roommate, when taxes come back I'll be in good shape. I was thinking of the Trans Siberian railway in late april-early may. Beijing to Moscow via Mongolia, a 7 day train ride where you can stop at any city along the way. You need a visa for China and Russia.

That sound like fun! Although my travel plans for the interim are tied up with going to South Africa in March with my wife. After that, I won't have any vacation time left for awhile

Perhaps in the fall?

[E_Dawg]

I'm usually down to go somewhere, just let me know! I'm pretty set on the trans siberian thing in apr-may though. Depending on when in the fall it could be really freaking cold. Ulan Bator, Mongolia is arguably the coldest city in the world. It's 0F in chicago right now, but in Ulan Bator it's -27. No thanks!

[Nick]

Originally Posted by E_Dawg

Let me know if you want someone to go with. One of the hardest parts is finding someone else who has the same time block off that I do. Gotta work for now but assuming I find a roommate, when taxes come back I'll be in good shape. I was thinking of the Trans Siberian railway in late april-early may. Beijing to Moscow via Mongolia, a 7 day train ride where you can stop at any city along the way. You need a visa for China and Russia.

I have always wanted to do that train ride. What do those visas cost? I am talking to some people I taught who now live in China and I'm gonna visit them in the fall. Great pictures by the way.

[Customx]

I came back from Hong Kong last week and was quite impressed with how clean it was. There are fines for spitting or littering, which is quite a change from how things are here in South Korea. If anyone gets a chance, stay at the YMCA Salisbury, which is on the Kowloon side of HongKong. It's only a few minutes from the subway, 10 minutes to the bars on Hong Kong island, and 10-20 minutes from some temples, shopping markets and other cool stuff.

[Mavmb]

Originally Posted by E_Dawg

Hey all, just got back from a week and a half trip out there. Was a friggin BLAST, here are some shots in no particular order (more later, HKG is still on my camera)


Late in the day at Tanjung Rhu, Langkawi


the specs in the center are people walking from the shore to the rocks/island. The water depth varies a lot, but there are a few paths that are 1 foot deep depending on the area.




A non-touristy area, the locals in this area weren't pleased to see foreigners. We explored for a minute but quickly got the hint.




Petronas Towers before sunrise, easy to wake up for it being jetlagged.


Singapore on a cloudy day


Early morning Kuala Lumpur, taken from the top of the KL tower, a radio tower.

I know there are places that tourists shouldn't go, but just wondering, what did the locals say or do? You just felt like President Bush at Katrina?

[E_Dawg]

Well the Malaysian culture seems to be a very friendly and welcoming one, so it was mainly the lack of that. That beach had some very poor houses with most of the people either in their 'yard' (beach) or in shacks that weren't totally enclosed from the outdoors. So even for those that were inside, we were still plainly visible to each other. I got a few looks so I waived to a few and when they didn't waive back I figured maybe it was time to leave.

[rjmore]

Nice shot of Bulldogs

That is the more adult bar district with a sprinkling of regular bars aka Wan Chai. Lan Kwai Fong is the more wholesome bar district.

[E_Dawg]

I dunno, it seems pretty benign to me; maybe we didn't go to those spots as we had a 'guide' of sorts (friend).

[rjmore]

That area right around Bulldogs is pretty tame. Plus I noticed that pic was in the daylight.