The Pinay Solo Backpacker

“One, two princes kneel before you.”

I was humming the song in my head while walking the long stretch of the crazy Bukit Bintang.  My head kept spinning over loud clubs, diverse shops offering different services, restaurants bragging their world class cuisines, towering buildings and seductive hotels all lined-up on the bustling street. It’s like walking in a hippie world of faceless crowds and United Colors of Benetton models. It’s one amazing blend not just of Asian lineage but of the entire world’s descent.

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God said, “Let there be chaos!”

Then viola, there was Malacca!  And He blessed it with a pint of  charm.

The heavy uproar in this tiny province listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site startled me. (more…)

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Cameron Highlands is perched on the mighty peaks of Banjaran Titiwangsa in Malaysia and named after a British government surveyor William Cameron.  The major tourist draw here is the vast tea plantations that dominate the highlands.

Their welcome here is friendly and congenial; in fact, I was tempted to stay longer. (more…)

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“Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.”

C. S. Lewis

Once upon a time, a healthy baby born was in a rubber plantation empire known as Kinta Kellas Estate in Batu Gajah, Malaysia.   The sound of innocence and joy filled the air.  He was baptized as Anthony, the son of the wealthy Scottish owner William Kellie Smith and her lovely wife Agnes.   They have long wanted to have a son to become an heir to their empire after their first daughter Helen.  So when the gods answered their prayers, they decided to build a castle.  An impeccable and stately building with an elevator is to be the first of its kind in Malaysia and will take about 10 years to complete.

Oh fairy tales, why am I madly and deeply in love with thee?

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April 2011 trip

Rugged and crowded, the local bus station situated somewhere in the heart of the not-so-known city in Perak is dominated by local passengers.  I blend in, but not the two blondes sporting their 45L branded backpacks.  I was too lazy to ask around so I figured why not follow them. I do that sometimes, especially in a touristy place.  They’re headed to Langkawi.

I stopped.

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I’ve included Borneo travel on my South East Asia tour last summer.  Where is Borneo?, people would often ask. Borneo is located north of Australia and South of the Philippines.  It is the 3rd largest island in the world and is divided into 3 countries : Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia.  Due to time constraint, I have focused my trip to Sabah, the second largest state in Malasia.  And when you mention Sabah, perhaps the tourist destination  that comes to mind is – Kinabalu.

Kota Kinabalu ( formerly Jesselton and also called KK) is a the capital state of  Sabah, Malasia and is the most famous tourist destination in Sabah. (more…)

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Crossing overland to Brunei from Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia is just one part of the Malaysian Borneo Overland Trail which stretches from Tawau to Kuching in Sarawak.

Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal

How to get to Brunei from Kota Kinabalu:

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If you’re gonna give me flowers, just give me one… and I want  it to be a flower with a beautiful meaning.

“I am beginning to understand…there is a flower… I think that she has tamed me…”

— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (The Little Prince)

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When you’ve lived in the Philippines all your life or have explored it’s beaches, I bet you’re standard of a “good beach” is hard to reach.  Unarguably, the best beaches in the world and in Asia is found in the 7,107 islands of the Philippines.  Aside from old colonial structures, I choose Malaysia as  one of my summer backpacking destination primarily because I wanna discover it’s pristine beaches.  Sadly, Malaysia’s paradise islands are overshadowed by Thailand’s beaches. My original plan was to check out the posh Langkawi in the west, the backpacker island of  Pulau Perhentians and Tioman Island in the south, one of  Time’s choice as  Best  Beaches in the World.  Pulau Pangkor was never on my plan, though it’s reputed to be one of the best beaches in the west,  the modern Langkawi took all the glimmer perhaps because of  it’s massive tourism drive.

What I like about Pulau Pangkor, aside from it’s homey and casual atmosphere is you don’t need to rent a boat to get to the beach. (more…)

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Today I climbed a tree and sat on it with the sunset and the beach as my only company. I’ve been moving around lately, trying to visit each and every destination like tomorrow will never come. I want to slow down and I found myself  looking for a temporary niche here in Teluk Nipah.  This was never on my plan.  Thanks to my first failed attempt to explore Ipoh.

Ipoh, the “Hill City” is an unknown city in Perak, Malaysia is supposed to be my next destination.  But I had a hard time asking and looking around for a cheap accommodation and my heavy backpack is becoming a burden. (more…)

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