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Malaysia

Malaysia is nice enough, but it’s a bit underwhelming after Thailand. Sure, it’s got jungles, coastline, history…but it’s all a bit developed and Western…i.e. expensive, with too much traffic, driving too fast. But perhaps the most galling thing is the price of beer – around $3-$4US for a big bottle. It’s an outrage.

We were on Langkawi the same day as the Ironman. I could do that I’m sure. Well maybe not the swimming part. Or the running. Old Vietnam war injury in the knee and all that.

Langkawi Ironman

Penang was nice, history but faded a bit. Maybe livable.

Penang Mosque Penang Penang Penang Penang Penang Penang Penang Penang Penang

Penang

It’s election time in Malaysia, and banners are out everywhere. Here’s a rally nomination day, and later a party gathering in front of our hotel in Ipoh.

Penang Rally Ipoh Rally

It’s not always pretty by the coast. Sometimes it’s tower blocks and muddy rivers.

Butterworth

For a short while we rode along the expressway, until the police told us to get off. Not unpleasantly though. But these sorts of things along the motorway make you realise how heavy those tropical downpours can be.

Motorbike shelter

Jan and Nic, on the way to Taiping.

Jan riding in Malaysia Nic riding in Malaysia

Kuala Kangsar had some interesting historical sites, but oddly they liked to have a bit of military hardware around too.

Kuala Kangsar Kuala Kangsar Kuala Kangsar Kuala Kangsar

Not just a tree – the oldest rubber tree in Malaysia, and a foundation of an economy.

Oldest rubber tree in Malaysia

But I didn’t know that deer also seem to be part of the agriculture here

Malaysian Deerfarm

Ipoh was an odd sort of a place – a pretty train station, the oldest bar in Malaysia, and a political rally held outside our hotel.

Ipoh train station Ipoh political rally

Kellie’s Castle was a bit of an oddity, out of place in the Malaysian Jungle.

Kellie's Castle

Because I know you like pictures of my feet.

Feet

Random shots from the road.

Chinese cafe Malaysian Roads Malaysian Roads

Kuala Lumpur wasn’t really that great – a bit anonymous really, everything too clean and shiny. Interesting enough, but you should visit other Asian capitals first. Random collection of shots:

KL Street KL Little India Independence Square KL Bike shop Eye on Malaysia Eye on Malaysia Eye on Malaysia

Eye on Malaysia Shopping Mall Indian Temple Petronas

Petronas

Getting on the move again from KL – trust me the guesthouse looks much better on the inside.

Leaving KL Leaving KL

We rode to Melaka, getting there rather late – hence the fuzzy photo. Guess we should have gotten on the road a bit earlier. A nice town, check out the random photos.

Melaka Melaka Melaka Melaka Melaka Melaka Melaka Melaka Melaka Melaka Melaka Melaka Melaka Melaka Melaka Melaka Melaka Melaka Melaka Melaka

Melaka Melaka Melaka

It really can rain in Malaysia, genuine tropical downpours. Pretty much every afternoon the heavens would open up, forcing me undercover if I was still out on the road.

Malaysia Rain Malaysia Rain Malaysia Rain Malaysia Rain Malaysia Rain

Finally made it – the end of the mainland, Singapore visible in the distance, just over the causeway.

Johor Bahru