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Quotes

“Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.” – Seneca

 

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Tuesday
Jul272010

Capital City

Kuala Lumpur - Capital of Malaysia

Currency = Ringgit (RM) $1 USD = 3 RM

Language = English speaking city with English/Malaysian duplicate signs

Famous for the Petronas Twin Towers

I didn't know this until I hopped on public transport, but there are two circles of Kuala Lumpur, aka KL. The International Airport is in the outer circle and the actual city of KL is in the inner circle. To go from the airport to the center it could cost you up to 80 Ringgit by taxi, which is more than any backpacker wants to spend. On a cheap budget, you'd better take the bus. Get a ticket at the Taxi Ticket Counter inside the airport terminal. And when I say bus I don't mean the crappy, no air-con, smelly city buses you might be used to, but a nice, clean, upholstered Greyhound style bus, and then you switch to the oh-so-stylish Monorail. Should cost you about 8 or 9 Ringgit. Either option can take you about 45 minutes to an hour.

If you haven't booked your accommodation ahead (like me), stop at the great information desk before you leave the airport. They have great recommendations for all budget ranges and they'll tell you the best route to get there, circle it on the map they give you and give you a list of other backup options, just in case.

Most of the backpackers like to stay in Chinatown or a couple streets in Bukit Bintang. Tiara Hostel has one of the nicest staff members for helping lost blonde backpackers ;). I didn't get a chance to stay there, but I would have in a heartbeat considering the guy behind the counter bent over backwards to find me an available bed in the area. It's only right that I send some business his way.

Honestly, I loved staying in Chinatown. I loved weaving through the shops and stalls and food carts to get to my hostel. It made me feel like....well, I don't know, like a backpacker I guess. Petaling Street is where all the hustle and bustle is. While it is actually a street, its more of a walking street for most hours, blocked off by stands and has a beautiful green awning covering the tops of the buildings called the "Green Dragon". This is the place for fake purses, great dumplings, and souvenirs of all shapes and sizes. And if you're in a bind for a bed on short notice, you should probably start here. All the little hotels and hostels are relatively inexpensive to stay in, there's good food and Petaling Street is right next to a major metro stop.

The Monorail is going to be your cheapest and fastest route around the city, and its a major form of transport for normal citygoers, so don't be afraid to use it. If there's a city you're definitely not supposed to use the metro, don't worry, I will let you know before hand.

Monday
Jun212010

Random Railay

If you're really looking save some money but still stay in the Railay/Ao Nang area, you might want to try Ton Sai, a small inlet around the cliff from Railay West. If you're coming over on a longtail boat, they usually make a stop there to drop off all the budget traveling rock climbers. These bungalows are basics at best, used only for sleeping after a long day of conquering cliffs.

I'm going to eat your face, TouristWe should probably talk about Makak monkeys, you know, for your own safety. They are grey/brown and fuzzy and positively spawns of satan. Do not pet, feed or entertain the musings of these climbers in the wild. It might be ok to feed them in an area where they are used to humans, like a reserve, but not in the wild. Their cuteness is apparant at first, but as soon as one hisses at you for being too close to their kids, their K-9 like teeth will surely deter you.

Internet - I'm sorry to say that I did not find a free wifi spot on Railay. Which is a huge bummer considering how expensive the internet is. Normally 50 baht an hour might be standard for a Thai town, but because of the remote location Railay is located, not only is the internet sketchy but expensive. Stay away from the hotel internet, I 've found it to be the most expensive (around 150 baht/hr). Take a walk down Railay east where the bars and travel agencies are. It's cheaper, the connection is better and the computers are Skype ready.

Day Trips:

Bamboo Island - usually included in a package of island hopping including the ideal Maya Bay (The Beach movie). It's just a spotless white beach, you know, nothing special (layered with heavy sarcasm here). I loved this beach. Again, it would be more ideal were there not handfuls of other people there, but what can you do. The only thing manmade that I saw there was an outhouse bathroom, so prepare yourself.

Chicken Island - I'm going to go with my Eiffel Tower theory, in that it is more enjoyable looking at it than actually being in or on it. It's a fluffy looking green island which you'll pass during island hopping, that has a cliff that looks like a chicken neck and head. Honestly I think it looks more like some type of dinosaur, but whatevs. I never actually went ashore on this one, but like I said, some things are only cool from afar.

Phra Nang - aka the James Bond beach. This spot became popular after the 60's when The Man with the Golden Gun was filmed here. It's recently fallen out of favor because of the rise of The Beach lagoon (Maya Bay). And I'm sure sometime in the next decade another Thai beach will be filmed in some blockbuster movie and knock Maya out of the loop as well. Either way, a beautiful beach is a beautiful beach. I think I'd actually rather visit the less populated one.

 

Thursday
Jun172010

Real Slick

peliCAN - Threadless, Best T-shirts Ever

Contribute in Style!

The Gulf oil spill is devastating the surrounding areas, so help out in anyway you can. Threadless, of course, is making it a little easier and a lot more stylish. Get this American Apparel printed t-shirt while supplies last and all proceeds will go to the Gulf Restoration Network. Come on! Look at the bitchin' shirt! I think I'd get it even if it didn't save the world.

Here's a message from the Threadless team:

"As of this writing, there is still no end to be seen to the Gulf oil spill. And as we all watch the gallons of oil spilling into the water and onto land, we can't help but wonder what we can do to help. So a couple weeks ago, we decided to reach out to Threadless member Frederik Wepener of South Africa to work with our own Ross Zietz on a collaboration tee. The result is this design, peliCAN, which is intended to add a bit of hope to an otherwise devastating situation.

We're donating all proceeds from the sale of this tee to the Gulf Restoration Network, a 15 year old environmental non-profit organization committed to uniting and empowering people to protect and restore the natural resources of the Gulf Region for future generations. They're the only environmental organization working Gulf-wide, and since the first days of BP's oil drilling disaster, they've provided independent monitoring and advocacy focused on holding BP accountable and ensuring an effective and transparent response to the crisis. Take action, stay informed, and donate to these efforts here.

We know "PeliCAN" can only make a small dent in the aid that goes to the Gulf Coast area, but we also hope it will keep public focus on one of the biggest ecological disasters of our time, and inspire others to help too. The printing of this tee was generously donated by local friends Sharprint, who used a water-based ink to print "PeliCAN." Both Ross and Frederik have donated their standard designer payment to the cause as well.

Though Frederik lives down in South Africa, he says he still feels the impact of this event: "My grandparents lived in Nature's Valley, a small, unspoilt town on the coast of South Africa. Having spent my summers there as a boy, I can only imagine how I would feel if something similar struck the place I hold so dear."

Ross, a Baton Rouge native, says, "I spent many many days on or near the Gulf coast. It is very near and dear to my heart. Hearing the sadness in the voices from all my friends and family back home plus seeing all the depressing but very real images on the news and web, I just really wanted to do something about this nasty disaster."

A big thank you to everyone involved - it was truly a group effort!"

Click on the picture link above to get your own. Thank you in advance to anyone who contributes.

Christina Wanderlust

P.S. Designer Ross Zietz can do no wrong

Tuesday
Jun152010

Flight of Fancy

Before leaving the United States for my trip around Southeast Asia I only booked one ticket, and that was to and from Atlanta USA. I was instructed not to purchase any other transportation that I would need while traveling domestically. You can purchase almost any flights and buses online, but haggling in person at all the travel stands is by far your cheapest option.

Look how happy they are!Air Asia - they might as well name every airport in Southeast Asia after this airline because it's all everyone flies, it seems. And I honestly thought that because it was so cheap I might have to sit on a crate and hold some Asian woman's baby on my lap while she changed the diaper. When in fact the seats are new leather, there's loads of leg room and decent snacks. Just make sure you check for any local holidays before planning a departure. For instance a flight might be $50 from one country to the next, but on holidays like Chinese New Year, the price can triple.

Other airlines to check: Garuda, JetStar, Bangkok Airways, Lion Air (some of which carry over to southern parts like Australia)

Also make sure you understand the systems. In the western countries we usually just have coach prices and first class prices. However, over here, some have a system based on your amount of baggage. For instance "Lite" usually means you have a minor carry on and nothing else and therefore pay the lowest price. If your backpacking, it's easy to book these in advance because the pack is usually the only thing you have. But if you're unsure, and you book the "Lite" feature, you might have to pay a higher fee when you arrive at the airport to change to your status.

Remember to keep all neccessay valuables and electronics with you in your immediate carry on or daybag, for safety purposes. Especially on the buses when your pack is stored below.

Try Kayak.com for good deals

Sunday
Jun132010

Koh Phi Phi

It might look familiar. It might look like that happy place you go to in your head when things look bleak. Of course, if you're trying to pin point the exact location it reminds you of, its the fantasy lagoon featured in the 1999 film The Beach with Leonardo DiCaprio. It's the perfect beach, the perfect water, the perfect amount of shade and sun. Aside from the other people of course.

It's called Maya Bay on an island named Koh Phi Phi (pronounced Ko Pee Pee, try not to laugh). Phi Phi has two parts, Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Lei. Basically, it means means, Big End and Little End. Phi Phi Don is the civilized end with hotels, restaurants and markets, while Phi Phi Lei is all quiet paradise. A 30 minute speedboat ride from Railay is this iconic spot, which had the rest fd the world not already known about it, I probably would never have told you. I understand the need to want to spread the joy, thats what most of this website is based on, however, some hidden beaches should stay just that; hidden.

I can honestly say that I had one of the best naps of my life on this beach, which I oddly enough consider to be a great milestone in my life. While the beach has it's foliage, it also has a rocky cliffside with a ledge that reaches out just far enough to give the perfect amount of shade for a pleasant sleep. Most visitors only come on an arranged day trip, spending only a few hours in paradise, but it is also possible to camp here for the night. There are no snack stands, to keep people from littering and attracting animals, so if you need to, pack a snack to keep on the speed boat. Please be respectful of this place. It is so peaceful.