South Africa - Wilderness (Garden Route)

 

The Garden Route in South Africa stretches from the iconic town of Mossel Bay to the well-known town of Plettenberg Bay. With plenty to see, experience and do, we opted for a base in Wilderness for the week-end. The small village of Wilderness is surrounded by Wilderness National Park, stunning beaches for low tide walking, Sunday Markets with music and many restaurants to choose from. With numerous hikes and water sports, it is a magical spot.

Paragliding is huge in Wilderness - there are 2 areas where these intrepid adventurers take off 

One high up on the hill close to the Map of Africa viewpoint and the other near the beach. It is very calming to watch them soar high above the waves with their colourful sails. 

We decided to head to the village of Hoekwil for an early lunch - go too fast and you will be at the other end of town before you can blink! It is a farming community and the locals are cheerful and friendly. One lady was picking flowers from nearby verges and then trying to sell them! She was burbling to herself all the time but when we tried to get a photo she whipped her scarf over her face so fast that it was rather funny. Obviously, she is known in the area! The local cafe is cute and busy - worth a stop.

From Hoekwil we drove to the Woodville Forest where there is an 800 year old Yellowwood tree. It reaches into the sky at approx.33 m

The forest is magical and there are picnic areas as well as 2 hikes - one an easy 2km and the longer one of 7km. There is an entrance fee if you don't have a Wild Card. There is plenty of parking. 

The other attraction is the "Map of Africa" - this is on the other side of Wilderness - way up on Wilderness Heights. The views are lovely with the rivers snaking down below and wrapping around the mountain. The Kaaimans river is ideal for canoeing and this is one of the activities in this area. One can also do boat trips up the river - very peaceful and informative. 

Close to the "Map of Africa" viewpoint  there is the other paragliding take-off spot. This has a very long run down the slope - not for the feint-hearted!

All in all, a great place for a week-end or longer - lots to see and do, plenty to eat and many scenic spots to gaze upon. Be as active or as slow as you like, Wilderness will charm you with its lakes, rives, beaches, village atmosphere and nature trails.

Happy wandering!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradclinphotography

                         For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

                              www.bradclin.com

Malaysia Self-Drive - Melaka City

 Colourful and Historic Melaka

Malaysia Self-Drive

Penang to Kuala Lumpur

We were the 2nd people in for breakfast at Hard Rock Hotel at 06.30! Sadly, time to leave and be on our way. We would certainly recommend ##hardrockhotel #penangisland - the staff are amazing, the breakfasts are superb, the pool is great and the beach is right there.

We left the hotel at 8.00am - it took ages to get to the bridge with morning traffic. Then it was highway all the way to KL. From 2 to 3 to 4 lanes and busy in both directions all the time. Loads of trucks, some very fast drivers, scooters, motorbikes and trucks pulling out to overtake as well. The scenery changes as one gets closer to the Cameron Highlands area, also large Quarry and then further on palm trees. We spotted smoke up ahead - thankfully, this was on the lane going north where a truck had overturned and was on fire. Very sad to see but some of the driving is very reckless. The tailback going north was huge - must have been about 10km. This must have been so frustrating for weekenders heading away from KL.

We arrived in KL at 13.00 hrs - a 5 hr drive at the speed limit of 110km per hour or less depending on traffic.

Then the fun started - we could not find the hotel that we had booked. Driving in circles was extremely frustrating. We eventually reached a hotel with the same name but it was not the correct one! So then another 24 min drive ended up taking even longer! One benefit was the drive on an elevated freeway where I could see the centre of town and the famous twin towers. High rises where ever you look in KL.

Eventually, we reached the hotel Komune Living and Wellness at about 15.30!!

We had booked a Deluxe room. Well - if deluxe means a double bed with one side basically up against the wall, then I despair. Reception told us that they cater mainly for Chinese guests as if that was a valid excuse?

We were forced to pay extra for a bigger room with twin beds and on the 13th Floor! There is a 7Eleven on the ground floor so we could self-cater as our "fancy" and "expensive" room has a microwave, plates and cutlery but not a single glass! So water must be in the cup....

Most of the facilities here are not available to guests - only to Komune members. Never known a hotel like that where you cannot enjoy the warm pool because you are not a "member" It's weird. The ONLY saving grace is the park near by.

The driving in KL was fine - it was the Google directions that kept getting us lost and this is possibly the fault of the hotel? Inputting them incorrectly?

Tomorrow is another day!

#hotelkominelivingandwellness #kualalumpur

Breakfast is a bun fight! Notices on the tables tell you not to leave anything when you fetch your food. Such a change from #hardrockhotelpenang where everything is so well organized! And not much choice either.

After breakfast we took a walk to the park where a group were practicing their #fusionlinedance for a competition 7th June!

Fun to watch and a pity we won't be here for the competition!

#komunelivingandwellnesshotel #kualalumpurmalaysia #malaysia #travel #travelphotography #travelblogger #traveltheworld #exercise #fusionlinedance

We enjoyed a walk along the lake later. Very humid once again but that's life in the East! At least it's a green lung amidst all the tall buildings in Kuala Lumpur.

And there is a wedding in the Events section of the hotel!

Traffic insane - beyond anything seen so far! It's Sunday and the Kings birthday tomorrow so driving in circles because of a road closure just added to the 5 hr journey that should have taken 2.5 hrs. The E1 highway was so congested even when 4 lanes. But we have now arrived in this historic hotel and we have a beautiful room. We are in the centre of the Historical district so lots of exploring awaits.

The population in Malaysia is 35.9 million and it is ranked the 44th most populated country. I think they were all on the E1 today!

Melaka

The temperature was 32 degrees - officially feels like 40 degrees. Humidity horrid! When ones clothes get so wet you can bring them out its not such fun!

Anyway, we walked along the Melaka River one way ( no benches for a rest) then turned and headed up to the main section.

The Stadthuys was built in 1650 and it's the oldest Dutch building in South East Asia. It is currently a history museum.

The Christ Church was built in 1753, also by the Dutch. It took 12 years to build. The pews are handmade and date back 200 years!

This area is called Dutch Square and the Red Colonial buildings are something to behold. There are numerous trishaws (not to be confused with rickshaw) in this area, touting for tourist business.

Further along the river walk it was interesting to see the colourful houses and shops. Mostly closed due to the Kings birthday weekend and a Public Holiday. There was a chap sitting on the path that stopped us to talk as he apparently knew the Minister of Transport of SA in the 80's. He was very chatty and asked us how we were perceiving the Malaysia as a country/tourist destination. He then carried on to tell us that we really should visit Vietnam next! No Self-Drive in that country!!

We popped in a huge shop on the way back to Hotel Puri ( opposite the Hard Rock Cafe)j just to cool down then bought some sweet treats for energy!

Another wander around the local streets around Jonker Street and the River area. We saw a number of temples and a mosque. The Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple was built in 1781 and it is the oldest, functioning Hindu Temple in South east Asia. Situated in Melaka it remains one of the few existing Chitty Temples in Malaysia.

We stopped at Connors along the river for a rest and some ice-cream. We could see the old man opposite who chatted to us yesterday. He did not have so many tourists today. He lives in the building where he sits - the river path is his outdoor patio!

Melaka

Kampung Morten

Today we visited the preserved village along the river. Consisting of about 50 traditional houses, it was quiet and serene. This village was gazetted under the Preservation and Conservation of Cultural Heritage Enactment 1988. The area was named after Frederick Joseph Morten, a Land Revenue Collector. The river runs along here and offers a lovely walk. It's all very well done with flowers and trees lining the walk. We did receive some friendly waves from residents in these interesting homes. Away from the bustle of Jonker Street, it made for a different outing. Many of the homes here are now Home Stays. I loved the pitched roofs and the special tiles on the steps. Gardens were miniature but interesting. A real find and a fun walk around something that has been preserved yet is so near to huge, high rise blocks of apartments.

A river boat cruise is a must if in Melaka. It's only about 45 minutes but takes you past the interesting sights and then turns around just beyond Kumpang Morten, the Preserved Malay village. The brightly colored shop fronts are similar to our Bo-Kaap in Cape Town. Very pretty and cheerful!

Melaka

Today we went up high! The Menara Taming Sari is an iconic gyro tower featuring a revolving observatory. 110 meters high this offers views over Melaka. The glass cabin has seats all round so everybody gets to see the view. Great fun! It's scarily high when you look at the tower from ground level!

Next stop was Klenang Beach for a quick view. There are loads of tables and chairs for rent plus numerous food trucks.There are also quad bikes for hire. With an International Hotel just across the water it appears to be a popular spot. Swimming is apparently not recommended.

We are reaching the end of our Malaysian trip with just 1 more day of exploring.

Melaka

Jonker Street and surrounds

It is all so colourful, vibrant and a fun place to be.

The past few days there were less tourists ( mid- week) but plenty again today.

It's a great spot to people watch. Humidity, as usual, very high. It seems only I look like a drenched rat in this heat! I suppose the Chinese, Japanese, Indians and local Malaysian folk are all acclimatised. Very few Europeans around.

We also popped into Christ Church on Dutch Square - very different to the ornate Europeans churches.

And that's just about a wrap of our Self-Drive Tour of Malaysia. It's been a very interesting experience travelling around the West Coast of Malaysia. One that we could certainly recommend.

We hope you have all enjoyed some armchair travel with us!

Until next time!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradclinphotography

                         For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

                              www.bradclin.com

Malaysia Self-Drive - George Town, Penang Island

 

Some interesting snippets of George Town, Penang:

Designer Jimmy Choo was born in Penang, Malaysia (15/11/1948) to a family of Chinese descendant shoemakers. Jimmy made his first pair of shoes at age 11 under his fathers guidance. His family name is "Chew" but this was spelt incorrectly on his birth certificate as "Choo"!

Jimmy graduated from London Technical College in 1983 and the rest is history!

Chinese New Year is a huge event in Penang given that nearly 50% of the population are Chinese.

Chai Sin Yah is the God of Prosperity and the meaning is "Grandpa God of Prosperity" in the Hokkien dialect.

Gurney Drive, named after Sir Henry Gurney, a High Commissioner of Malaya, offers a lovely seafront promenade and boasts the largest open air food market in Penang. With numerous hotels lining the seafront here, it's an ideal place to stay for those food lovers. Shoppers are also catered for in the Gurney Plaza and Gurney Paragon - upscale malls where you can browse all the international boutiques.

Batu Ferringhi has been a favourite for visitors since the Colonial era and still remains one of the main tourist areas in Penang. With loads of water sport activities and a huge beach, there is something for everybody. Ferringhi is an Arabic word meaning "Foreigners" and Batu meaning "Rock" This is possibly where Westerners came ashore and relates to the rocky coastline along this area.

Durian is a fruit native to Southeast Asia. Duri means "thorn" This fruit has an extremely unpleasant smell and many hotels ban this fruit from their premises! However, it is much loved by locals who can refer to Durian as the "King of the Fruits"

Trishaws used to be the primary mode of transportation in Malaysia and these are still seen in Penang and Melaka

There are two bridges linking Penang Island to the Mainland. The Penang Bridge Marathon was held on the first bridge from 1985 but this moved to the second bridge in 2014. The 2nd bridge is the longest in SouthEast Asia. The bridge is 13.5km long. The second bridge is 24km long.

Koay Teow originated in China - it's a type of Chinese Flat Noodle. Adopted by the Malays it is called Char Koay Teow and the dish can be found in various parts of Penang. It was originally a labourer's dish.

Let the adventure begin!

Penang - George Town

Today we visited the Tropical Spice Garden. The 8 acres of secondary forest offers winding paths and over 500 unique plants. The best for James was the Fish Spa - there were no fish to be seen but as soon as he put his feet in the water, there they were, nibbling away! It's a tranquil space for a wander in amongst all the greenery and plants.

The humidity was a killer today so we found a beach bar for a light lunch of the most delicious samosas.

George Town

Penang

Today we explored the Clan Jetties. At first we could not find parking, then it rained but eventually, after circling a few times, we found a parking place. Most of these places have booms but are not manned so the "Touch and Go" card comes in handy for payment.

The Clan jetties date back to the late 19th century. Each of these landing stages was populated and controlled by a Chinese Clan.

These jetties became the focal point for new Chinese immigrants. Specific clans took these jetties for loading and unloading cargo. Rudimentary structures were built and these became the residences of the clans. The Ongs, Lims, Lees and Chews were mainly boatmen while the Yeohs, Koays and Tans traded in charcoal and firewood. These are still home to the following clans - Chew, Lim, Tan, Yeoh, Lee and Koay. The busiest and most popular is Chew - there are many shops at the front of these houses. The houses seem to go quite far back yet there is only a narrow strip of water between them. All these homes are on stilts in the water and were originally the homes of the early stevedores and fisherfolk. We visited Chew Jetty, the busiest and most popular with tourists and also took a walk along Tan Jetty - which was much quieter as no shops, only homes.

The Koay and Peng Aun jetties were destroyed in 2006. However, the city centre was declared a Unesco World Heritage site in 2008 thereby preventing further development of the Clan Jetties.

Due to the ongoing tourism to this area approx. 30% of the houses in Chew Jetty are now commercial outlets since around 2017. The houses are built with a certain type of wood that is resistant to sea water. Old traditions are still practiced with candles outside doors and often prayer temples inside of the home. A fascinating history of the Chinese immigrants and their homes, all built on stilts above the water.

Such an interesting part of George Towns early history that is still alive and well today.

A total must see!

The Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower was paid for by Cheah Chen Eok to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. The Tower is 60feet high and was presented to George Town in 1902. THis can only be viewed from the street and parking is always n issue!

George Town

Penang

Cheong Fatt Tze

The Blue Mansion

This historic building is very much part of George Town history.

It was a "rags to riches" story of a 16 year old migrant who was compared to the Rockerfeller of the East, the JP Morgan of China, the Last Mandarin and the first capitalist of China. Apparently, Cheong's 7th wife was his favorite and lived in this mansion. Artisans from China, building materials from as far away as Scotland all resulted in "Feng Shui" perfection.

Cheong died in 1916 and mansion did deteriorate over the years. It eventually was inhabited by squatters and looked really run down.

Restoration was eventually completed in 1995. In 1996 Hammer Piling for a building close by caused severe damage. Court cases followed and the result was that no hammer piling was allowed near any heritage building.

Today this building is also a Boutique Hotel so you can stay here, eat at the on-site Indigo Restaurant or have a drink at the bar.

We chatted to a gent, born in Shanghai, now living in Victoria Island, off Vancouver in Canada. He loves Canada and has been there for 38 yrs. He came to Malaysia for an airshow!

The Blue Mansion provides an interesting slice of Malaysian/Chinese History.

There is a huge mix of cultures here, Chinese, Indian, Malaysian with various religions such as Hindu, Buddhist, Islam and various Christian sectors.

George Town

Penang

Today we went looking for street art. Parking was a nightmare so after going around the block a few times, we headed to our known parking place near Chew Jetty. This is a "Touch and Go" parking so no worries about parking fines.

The recommended roads are Lebuh Armenian, Lebuh Ah Quee and surrounds. However, the art scene is all over George Town and there is a map available listing all the steel rod sculptures. George Town was listed as a Unesco World Heritage site on 7th July 2008.

Founded 200 years ago the city has many historic buildings representing the cultural heritage of the Chinese, Indians, Malays, Arabs, Siamese, Burmese, and Europeans. Its a melting pot of cultures! The Penang State Government started branding itself through the arts. The project was named " Marking George Town " The stories introduce traditions, beliefs, practices and industries at key areas of the heritage city. As there are approx. 52 steel-rod sculptures spread across the city, it is impossible to see them all, especially given the parking issue. If you have the time, grab a map (Marking George Town) and explore to your hearts content!

The wall art is also fascinating and pops up all over but it does require lots of walking in high humidity that we Capetonions are not used to!

During our walk today we also wandered thru part of Little India. This is where the early Indian immigrants first settled in Penang. The scents and fragrances in these streets were amazing. From fragrant curries to the intense fragrance of incense, it was a sensory overload. Spices, restaurants, beautiful saris and jewelry- it's all available in Little India!

There are many rickshaw guys available for hire in this area if walking is not your favorite pastime.

The drive back to Batu Ferringhi is always a stop, start affair. And the drivers here are crazy. Most roads have 3 lanes yet it is still insanely busy.

Penang Hill

We took a different route to get up to Penang Hill - lots of very fancy homes higher up rather than all the high rise apartments.

The staff at Penang Hill were really helpful in getting us near to the funicular without having to negotiate any stairs. Malaysia caters for those of us currently using a crutch!!

The views from the top are not great when it is so hazy and this is often the case in Malaysia. It was still worth the ride to the top though as the gardens are pretty and the buggy ride is very interesting for the history of the area. Elevation is 833m

This was a retreat during the British Colonial period. The funicular railway system is the only one of its kind in Malaysia currently. It's very steep! The bungalows used by the British are still in use today as private homes. Penang Hill is the oldest hill station in Southeast Asia, dating back to the 1700"s.

The funicular was first started in 1923, the current version started operating in 2011. The track is 1996 metres. The bungalows are more than 100 years old and the oldest was built in 1789.

One can hike up but be warned that the elevation is 2552ft and it takes approx.4.5 - 5 hours to complete the climb. The funicular takes about 5 to 10 minutes to get to the Upper Station!

Our friendly buggy driver was very informative about the history of Penang Hill - it is well worth taking this side excursion.

Penang

Teddyville Museum

Firstly, let me state that I resisted the urge to add to my Teddy Bear collection so Big Brownie points today.

The museum is situated at the Double Tree Resort in Batu Ferringhi.

It is extremely well done with loads of history of the island and it's a fun place to while away some time. There are teddy bears from various nations and some go back as far as the 1900's.

Sadly, our time in Penang is coming to and end. There is much to see and do on the island - impossible to see it all in a short visit, especially given the high humidity that we are not used to. So the stunning swimming pool at the Hard Rock Hotel beckons most afternoons!

Malaysia Self-Drive

Penang to Kuala Lumpur

We were the 2nd people in for breakfast at Hard Rock Hotel at 06.30! Sadly, time to leave and be on our way. We would certainly recommend ##hardrockhotel #penangisland - the staff are amazing, the breakfasts are superb, the pool is great and the beach is right there.

We left the hotel at 8.00am - it took ages to get to the bridge with morning traffic. Then it was highway all the way to KL. From 2 to 3 to 4 lanes and busy in both directions all the time. Loads of trucks, some very fast drivers, scooters, motorbikes and trucks pulling out to overtake as well. The scenery changes as one gets closer to the Cameron Highlands area, also large Quarry and then further on palm trees. We spotted smoke up ahead - thankfully, this was on the lane going north where a truck had overturned and was on fire. Very sad to see but some of the driving is very reckless. The tailback going north was huge - must have been about 10km. This must have been so frustrating for weekenders heading away from KL.

We arrived in KL at 13.00 hrs - a 5 hr drive at the speed limit of 110km per hour or less depending on traffic.

Then the fun started - we could not find the hotel that we had booked. Driving in circles was extremely frustrating. We eventually reached a hotel with the same name but it was not the correct one! So then another 24 min drive ended up taking even longer! One benefit was the drive on an elevated freeway where I could see the centre of town and the famous twin towers. High rises where ever you look in KL. Eventually, we reached the hotel Komune Living and Wellness at about 15.30!!

We had booked a Deluxe room. Well - if deluxe means a double bed with one side basically up against the wall, then I despair. Reception told us that they cater mainly for Chinese guests as if that was a valid excuse?

We were forced to pay extra for a bigger room with twin beds and on the 13th Floor! There is a 7Eleven on the ground floor so we could self-cater as our "fancy" and "expensive" room has a microwave, plates and cutlery but not a single glass! So water must be in the cup....

Most of the facilities here are not available to guests - only to Komune members. Never known a hotel like that where you cannot enjoy the warm pool because you are not a "member" It's weird. The ONLY saving grace is the park near by.

The driving in KL was fine - it was the Google directions that kept getting us lost and this is possibly the fault of the hotel? Inputting them incorrectly?

Tomorrow is another day!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradclinphotography

                         For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

                              www.bradclin.com