Tonight is my last night on Redang Island. Am back to Singapore tomorrow for a night, then back to Darwin on Friday night, arriving at the convenient time of 2am... Actually, leaving here has come at the right time, considering it has started to rain and I've run out of books to read.
The rain kicked in at about 2pm and kept going til about 6:30. The entertainment from my balcony was watching the bamboo and plastic greenhouse they'd built fall to pieces. No Cert I in General Construction there... Eventually the rain stopped, and I headed out for a stroll on the beach at dusk. It's certainly a top spot for a wander, with the sky darkening and the clouds making an impressive display in the sky. There weren't too many people swimming, except for a group of three women wearing burqinis, which are those whole body and head covering bathers for Islamic women. They don't look very comfortable... At least they could get in the water. I try to be one for tolerance, but that kind of restriction seems over the top to me. By the time I returned from the other end of the beach, two of the women had left and one was lazing in the shallow water. I couldn't help but ponder whether she felt free, or just wished she was.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Redang continued....
I've come to terms with the fact that there are worse places to be when you have a cold, so I will stop complaining about it... And it isn't a particularly bad cold at any rate and hasn't dampened by ability to do what I came over here for, and that is to do not very much at all. Had a good day by the beach today, though it appears my sunscreen is getting a bit old (the labels are written in French and English, which is a bit of a concern, considering it's been 15 months since I've been in Canada...) so I have a bit of a reddish tinge to my face with matching panda eyes were my sunnies have been. But not so bad.
The beach has been a pretty sweet spot to hang out. The snorkelling from the beach has been fantastic, with heaps of fish and really clear water (though the coral, as I suspect it is in most places, is pretty much dead.) There is some sort of Bollywood-esque filming going on at the beach, with Indian actors doing crazy dance moves on the beach, in the water and standing on rocks. I say 'esque' because I'm guessing this is some sort of el-cheapon Indo-Malaysian Bollywood ripoff, since no doubt there are equally as nice beaches for the real Bollywood actors in India, although the more telling sign is the fact that the actors here are fatter and far more unattractive than India's best.... The entourage is entertaining in itself with a huge cohort of sleazy Indian men wearing their best 1970s porno clothing and matching moustaches, as if they have been lifted straight out of Apu's Kwik-e-mart... You start understanding where stereotypes come from, that's for sure.
Will continue on with another lazy afternoon. I am almost through my second book - reading Life of Pi right now, after slogging through a Richard Dawkins' account of evolution. Sadly, unless I figure out a way to learn German or Swedish overnight, it'll be it for the reading, since the books on the second-hand shelf are all European. And the TV isn't much better, with the same shitty Brendan Fraser movie the only thing in English shown over and over again. The 10 minutes I've seen of Inkheart are enough... At least there's still the beach!
The beach has been a pretty sweet spot to hang out. The snorkelling from the beach has been fantastic, with heaps of fish and really clear water (though the coral, as I suspect it is in most places, is pretty much dead.) There is some sort of Bollywood-esque filming going on at the beach, with Indian actors doing crazy dance moves on the beach, in the water and standing on rocks. I say 'esque' because I'm guessing this is some sort of el-cheapon Indo-Malaysian Bollywood ripoff, since no doubt there are equally as nice beaches for the real Bollywood actors in India, although the more telling sign is the fact that the actors here are fatter and far more unattractive than India's best.... The entourage is entertaining in itself with a huge cohort of sleazy Indian men wearing their best 1970s porno clothing and matching moustaches, as if they have been lifted straight out of Apu's Kwik-e-mart... You start understanding where stereotypes come from, that's for sure.
Will continue on with another lazy afternoon. I am almost through my second book - reading Life of Pi right now, after slogging through a Richard Dawkins' account of evolution. Sadly, unless I figure out a way to learn German or Swedish overnight, it'll be it for the reading, since the books on the second-hand shelf are all European. And the TV isn't much better, with the same shitty Brendan Fraser movie the only thing in English shown over and over again. The 10 minutes I've seen of Inkheart are enough... At least there's still the beach!
Monday, September 28, 2009
A possible blog resurrection? Redang Island, Malaysia
So I haven't blogged in awhile, and was wondering whether to keep it up, but considering I'm on holidays at the moment, having come down with a cold, and with a comedy of errors seemingly stalking me the whole time, I figured now is a better time as ever to be grumpy!
I'm currently on Redang Island off the east coast of peninsula Malaysia. The island is really nice, with a clean, white beach and really clear water. The island is pretty well known for its resorts, rather than catering for the independent traveller, so it probably wasn't the best choice for me, but it's easy, with everything laid on (except booze, which is way more expensive than Langkawi or Thailand...)
I had originally intended to head a little further north to the Perhentian Islands, but after arriving in Kuala Terengganu on a Saturday (which is like our Sunday... nothing open) I wandered around the hot and humid streets looking for an ATM and an open travel agent. Despite passing about 384 Hotlink Mobile phone stores, you'd think you'd come across an ATM, but no luck. I had a handful of ringgit, but needed more and eventually stumbled into a 7-11 where there was an ATM, and got out the cash I needed. Not too far down the road, I wandered into an open travel agent and asked them to send me to the nearest island with a half decent beach.
Perhaps I may have investigated things a little further if being hot and bothered was all that was impacting on my mind, but sitting in Singapore airport a few hours earlier, I realised that I'd booked the wrong return flight, requiring a mad dash to an available internet terminal to rectify my stupid mistake (you think by now I could use a calendar effectively... I am a low level educational bureaucrat after all...). So I was flustered and didn't want to think anymore, so hear I am on Redang Island, home of the non-alcoholic all inclusive resort, and not a place designed for the independent traveller. But the beach is nice, the snorkeling pretty impressive and I can indulge in a bit of doing nothing for a few days to recharge the batteries.
I do have a few photos I will upload later - sadly, my brand spanking new Panasonic camera has decided to shit itself, so I won't get too many more shots (save the odd mobile phone photo). They are doing a bit of filming on the beach, including what could count as Malaysia's equivalent of Girls Gone Wild (but being conservative Malaysia, it was just a few girls in bikinis walking up and down the beach... oooh, risque!)
That's about all for now. I will keep resting up today and hope that this cold doesn't take hold...
I'm currently on Redang Island off the east coast of peninsula Malaysia. The island is really nice, with a clean, white beach and really clear water. The island is pretty well known for its resorts, rather than catering for the independent traveller, so it probably wasn't the best choice for me, but it's easy, with everything laid on (except booze, which is way more expensive than Langkawi or Thailand...)
I had originally intended to head a little further north to the Perhentian Islands, but after arriving in Kuala Terengganu on a Saturday (which is like our Sunday... nothing open) I wandered around the hot and humid streets looking for an ATM and an open travel agent. Despite passing about 384 Hotlink Mobile phone stores, you'd think you'd come across an ATM, but no luck. I had a handful of ringgit, but needed more and eventually stumbled into a 7-11 where there was an ATM, and got out the cash I needed. Not too far down the road, I wandered into an open travel agent and asked them to send me to the nearest island with a half decent beach.
Perhaps I may have investigated things a little further if being hot and bothered was all that was impacting on my mind, but sitting in Singapore airport a few hours earlier, I realised that I'd booked the wrong return flight, requiring a mad dash to an available internet terminal to rectify my stupid mistake (you think by now I could use a calendar effectively... I am a low level educational bureaucrat after all...). So I was flustered and didn't want to think anymore, so hear I am on Redang Island, home of the non-alcoholic all inclusive resort, and not a place designed for the independent traveller. But the beach is nice, the snorkeling pretty impressive and I can indulge in a bit of doing nothing for a few days to recharge the batteries.
I do have a few photos I will upload later - sadly, my brand spanking new Panasonic camera has decided to shit itself, so I won't get too many more shots (save the odd mobile phone photo). They are doing a bit of filming on the beach, including what could count as Malaysia's equivalent of Girls Gone Wild (but being conservative Malaysia, it was just a few girls in bikinis walking up and down the beach... oooh, risque!)
That's about all for now. I will keep resting up today and hope that this cold doesn't take hold...
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Farewell to Toronto
Currently sitting in YYZ waiting to head down to Boston. It was great to be back in Canada and to catch up with old friends. It's been three-and-a-half years. Hopefully the gap between this trip and the next won't be as long.
I've been back in Toronto and surrounds since getting back from a great couple of days up north at Three-Legged Lake, where my old exchange partner has a cottage. It was a great spot and I could have chilled out there for a few weeks and enjoyed it just as much.
Since the return I've mainly spent time catching up with people, though did have a couple of trips downtown, including a visit to Toronto Islands which was well worth it considering how good the weather was (a rarity in Toronto!)
There are photos on facebook if you're keen to have a look!
I've been back in Toronto and surrounds since getting back from a great couple of days up north at Three-Legged Lake, where my old exchange partner has a cottage. It was a great spot and I could have chilled out there for a few weeks and enjoyed it just as much.
Since the return I've mainly spent time catching up with people, though did have a couple of trips downtown, including a visit to Toronto Islands which was well worth it considering how good the weather was (a rarity in Toronto!)
There are photos on facebook if you're keen to have a look!
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Jazz in Montreal
Blog has been a bit slow, but doubt there are too many readers...
I got back from Montreal yesterday, having spent the weekend there for a second visit. My first trip in 2004 was a bit ho-hum because the weather was ordinary and I had a cold. This trip was much better, particularly since I was travelling with a semi-local. The jazz festival was on and it certainly added a buzz to the city, with a lot of people enjoying the free acts and soaking up the atmosphere on a great summer's day - unfortunately the rain put a dampener on one of the days, so a wander around Old Montreal was a bit shortlived. But I won't complain too much about the weather, lest you think I'm turning into a Canadian.
On a related matter, I have only heard the term 'humidex' once since I've been here - must be a record!
Facebook is a hundred times better for uploading photos that Blogger, so feel free to check out the album. Here's the link:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=129415&l=ff136&id=641760192
I got back from Montreal yesterday, having spent the weekend there for a second visit. My first trip in 2004 was a bit ho-hum because the weather was ordinary and I had a cold. This trip was much better, particularly since I was travelling with a semi-local. The jazz festival was on and it certainly added a buzz to the city, with a lot of people enjoying the free acts and soaking up the atmosphere on a great summer's day - unfortunately the rain put a dampener on one of the days, so a wander around Old Montreal was a bit shortlived. But I won't complain too much about the weather, lest you think I'm turning into a Canadian.
On a related matter, I have only heard the term 'humidex' once since I've been here - must be a record!
Facebook is a hundred times better for uploading photos that Blogger, so feel free to check out the album. Here's the link:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=129415&l=ff136&id=641760192
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Famous Places from Aeroplanes
There are times when you get a window seat and are treated to fabulous views of the wing, or of clouds from the top. But occasionally you get a chance to see a few famous places from the sky.
And since I have seen them with my own eyes I think it's fair for me to say that I've visited them, and can tick them off the list. Hell, I didn't even leave Heathrow Airport and I can say that I've seen Windsor Castle...
Windsor Castle...
Niagara Falls...
And since I have seen them with my own eyes I think it's fair for me to say that I've visited them, and can tick them off the list. Hell, I didn't even leave Heathrow Airport and I can say that I've seen Windsor Castle...
Windsor Castle...
Niagara Falls...
O Canada
Welcome back to the land of the humidex and Tim Hortons and inferiority complexes about the United States (okay, the third one is a stereotype...)
It is very good to be back. I managed to get back to the old school for the last day of classes, and it was good to catch up with some old colleagues. Stacks of new faces, though. I went along to the staff show, which was pretty good fun and we had the guitars out strumming away a few songs.
There's probably not too much exciting to report at the moment - maingly catching up with people and reaffirming some friendships, which has been great for me but boring for others to read about. I'm in Montreal as a bit of a tourist this weekend, so will post an update shortly.
Hope all is good wherever you are!
It is very good to be back. I managed to get back to the old school for the last day of classes, and it was good to catch up with some old colleagues. Stacks of new faces, though. I went along to the staff show, which was pretty good fun and we had the guitars out strumming away a few songs.
There's probably not too much exciting to report at the moment - maingly catching up with people and reaffirming some friendships, which has been great for me but boring for others to read about. I'm in Montreal as a bit of a tourist this weekend, so will post an update shortly.
Hope all is good wherever you are!
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