08.10 We just got out of our beds. Soon we will leave the room for some breakfast. I wonder what they will serve and where it will be served? No, it seems to tempting to return to my bed. There is no panic to get up. Check out is as usual at 12.00.

Peter having breakfast at Classic Hotel.

Christer on the hotel terrace in Kuantan.

This sign was very close to a "bad" English expression.

10.00 We pulled ourselves together and went down one at a time. The lift door closed before I got in to the lift. Breakfast was served on the entrance floor. It consisted of vegetable rice, sausage, cucumber, something crunchy deep fried, coffee, tea, juice and toast. Now we are about to stroll the town and take some pictures. We didn't have time for pictures last evening since we checked in just before the sun went to bed and to top it all it rained.

10.39 Back in room 339 after a short photo session out on the town. We managed to among other things take pictures of the State mosque. We also took time to check from where the bus to Cherating departs. Cherating is today’s destination. A room is awaiting us in Suria Resort.

11.15 I hope we soon have packed everything. It is time to check out and go to Cherating. We have to see if we will go by bus or taxi. Most likely it will be bus, I mean there has to be some thrill in it, or?

State Mosque (Masjid Negeri) in Kuantan.

11.40 All our belongings are back in the backpacks. They have some charming instructions at this hotel. One can read on the room door that the hotel owns everything in the room but they are willing to bargain about the price if you would like to purchase one of things there. By the toaster was a note saying that it is forbidden to add butter and marmalade before toasting the bread.

11.59 We´ve checked out and gone to await the bus. Soon it will be here. The bus to our next home. I hope we will find our way there.

12.20 Yet no bus. But we saw a man with our colour of the skin sitting down just near here. He asked one of the local people about the bus to Cherating. He travels barefoot with a backpack and something that looks similar to a guitar.

12.40 The bus with us in it is going north. We are chatting with the guitar man. It seems as we got half of the town’s population on their feet to help us get on the bus. They stood up, waved and cried out that "this is your bus" as it appeared. It is as usual on our trips lots of people willing to help us.

13.53 We´ve just seen some signs advertising our home to be. We just passed the village border. The guitar man is Irish and a son of teacher.

14.24 We just got to Cherating. On our way to the village from the main road the three of us had some grilled bananas, really tasty and excellent. Now we just have to find our home, and if we can´t find it we must find a taxi stand and a taxi that can get us there. We gave the Irishman the address to this page.

14.28 We just entered an internet café and asked for a taxi. The woman there asked us to be seated and now she is calling for a taxi and we heard her mention our place, Suria resort. Christer has managed to buy some postcards and stamps while I wrote this.

15.03 We just got seated at room 304. A bed each, a chest of drawers, TV, desk, table, chairs, water boiler and a large bathroom. It is close to the ocean and the pool. The cost for this is 225 ringgit per head for 3 nights. That is around $20 each night. A welcome drink is included in the price and so is breakfast. On the receipt we can read that the price is 450 ringgit, "450 ringgit only".

Our empty lovely beach in Cherating.

17.55 We left the room for some strolling on the beach. Now we sat down outside the hotels café. We are waiting for that drink. After the drink we will check with the reception if someone might help us plug in the TV. The plug on the TV doesn’t fit the socket. The plug has two pins and the socket has three holes. The adapter I brought with me and that is supposed to fit in this part of the world doesn’t fit at all.

18.01 Pineapple juice and something else in the drink. What ever it is it sure isn’t alcohol in it. In the pool some kids are playing around but also a grown man, father?, babysitter?

Suria Cherating Resort

18.39 We spoke with the reception about our TV problem. We also checked with them about the price for the dinner. They want 25 ringgit ($7) for the buffet. Finally we booked a seat in the internet café. We mailed our future home in Kuala Lumpur to check if we are welcome one day earlier. This would render us more time in the town. Being able to meet our friends from the net.

20.08 Tasty buffet with typical Malay food. We chose rice and meat. The juice they offered us to drink was pink and reminded of soap. Finally we tried some pastries but they didn't have any coffee. It feels good to know that we got instant coffee and a water boiler in the room.

21.25 We just went back to our room. Still no news with our TV. No problems with the air conditioner. A lot has happened today but few things have been done.

Tuesday 4th of July

08.56 Our air conditioner is just a little too good. Windy even at the lowest speed. Soon I will have a shower and then it is time for another hotel breakfast. What will be offered today? All at a tray or buffet?

10.23 Today’s breakfast was full of power, vegetable rice, mixed meat, noodles and vegetables. To drink, two kinds of juice (tasty ones this time) and coffee. Finally toast and marmalade. The clouds are leaving and the sun is shining. As soon as we had some rest (why are we so tired?) we will head for the beach.

Peter thinking about life.

11.36 We are sitting by the sea on a log that has floated ashore. It seems that we are the only ones on the beach. Soon our bodies will get soaked.

11.52 We have walked along the beach, seen seashells and countless small and big holes in the sand. Which animals have done those? Now I am on another log. Christer is standing by the water and the wind blows. Can it get any better than this?

Mysterious holes in the sand.

12.35 We have let the waves cover our bodies and let the suns rays toast our torsos. Is this really the same planet as back home? The same rock as there I sat in April with bare feet overlooking a snow covered Liectenstein ski resort? Everything is just wonderful. One question remains, where have all the others gone?

13.28 Tanned, salt-covered and happy guys have just returned to their room. Our TV remains unplugged. Are they busy or what is the matter?

Christer has found a long bamboo stick.

15.41 We went downstairs to buy an ice cream each. It ended up with no deal, the store/kiosk is closed. We are sitting by a table near the sea.

16.31 We are sitting in big soft chairs by the reception. The kiosk still is closed. I just read a newspaper and Christer is reading it now. Soon I will go and check about the TV again.

16.45 The lady in the reception asked me to go up to the room and phone her. I just did so and she will call someone that can help us. Let's see how that works.

16.57 It was no problems for the guy to plug in the TV. The correct thing to do was, switch off the power on the socket, place one pin of the plug in the left hole of the socket, the other pin placed in the upper hole, after that just insert the plug as usual and switch the power back on. A piece of cake or?

18.50 I am getting hungry. This must be taken care of.

20.10 Another delicious dinner is eaten. Rice, chicken with a taste of coconut milk and vegetables. Christer also had some fish which was full of bones. After that we had slices of melon, small pastries, melon cake and some other cake. Now we are regaining strength.

21.02 It is time for an evening swim. I hope we won´t get tanned now. The skin is still hot from the earlier tan.

21.43 It is low tide. The water is far away. There are thunder and lightning. In other words, no evening swim. We decided to shower instead. The kiosk/store that sells juice in 25 centilitres bottles opened at 20.15 and closed just before we got down.

Wednesday 5th of July

03.48 Out of bed and tired, close to sleeping. 45 minutes have been played in the game between Italy-Germany. 0-0 so far in the football World cup semi final. We still notice the tan.

04.50 45 more minutes and no goal. There will be 30 more of them, minutes that it, not goals.

05.30 We are spared from penalties. Italy won 2-0. Both goals in the final minutes. Time to get some sleep.

08.46 Outside the day is breaking. Inside it is time for some showering.

10.02 Not so delicious breakfast today. Now we are back in the wicker chairs and wait while they clean the room. Right now around 20 guys in blue shirts sat down in front of us. They are watching a rerun of the game from this night. They guys are in contrast of the well-dressed people that seem to have a conference here at the resort.

12.06 After a little nap we have started to plan what to do today. I guess we will take a trip to the village of Cherating for some buying and other things. I wonder what it was that made us so sleepy?

13.15 Time to see more of Cherating. We are sitting near the reception waiting for a taxi.

Cherating village.

13.59 We got here with the same driver who took us here yesterday. Here is as mentioned the village Cherating. We just popped into a small restaurant to have beer and sandwich. We had plans for food but it is ”teatime” until 17.00. We just got our beer and glasses. The glasses are frosty. I guess they took them out from the fridge. The place for this feast is Cherating Cottage.

Ice-cold beer glasses at Cherating Cottage.

15.39 We sat on a rock at the beach, returned to the village, surfed the Internet and found out that we can´t come a day earlier to our hostel in Kuala Lumpur. Further on we have bought beverages, I have bought postcards and now we are back on the beach and the rock. We manage to see different kinds of animals. A couple of dogs, a monkey on a leach, several goats and even more sand-coloured crabs that live in the holes in the sand. Now we are planning the future. We also saw dead, stranded jellyfishes.

The beach in the northern part of Cherating village.

Small crabs on the Cherating beaches.

16.50 Brought home by our driver, is he the only one? He offered to take us to Kuantan and the bus to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow. He wanted to have 50 ringgit (around $14) for the trip. We told him the transfer of the hotel cost 45 ringgit, this we had read about in a brochure. He just smiled at us and said that everyone takes 50.

18.28 There seem to be a merry sound from the hallway. What is causing it? I don’t think it is the ladies and gentlemen that are having a conference? Inside of the room not much takes place just us having coffee.

18.54 The merry sound was from some guys playing table tennis, not in the hallway but one floor below us, it sure is great acoustic here. We sure have some lazy days here. This will be remembered during the long, dark, cold winter days.

20.54 We just finished our last dinner at Suria. Today they offered us rice and chicken curry. The desserts were peculiar. Some green egg half shaped pastries, fruit wrapped in plastic and some other things. On our first day here we saw a European couple. All the other guests are from different parts of Malaysia and most of them are dressed in the traditional way, the men with their small hats and the women in head cloths. They are here for different conferences, from private companies to military and religious people.

22.15 We have walked the beach looking for seashells. We didn't find any but met a guy on a motorbike who drove with his lights off. As he had returned he had had a lit cigarette in his mouth. Excellent lights!

23.00 Outside Mother nature is giving a spectacular show with light- and sound effects. It is a mighty thunderstorm. On top of this it is raining and the wind blows in the windows, great stuff to fall asleep to. Tonight awaits another game of soccer.

Thursday 6th of July

00.02 we had just fallen asleep. Suddenly the phone in the room rang. I answered but no one wanted to talk to me. All I want to do now is to go back to sleep. Was it the thunder that made the phone ring?

03.30 Time for semi-final 2, France-Portugal. Both of us are sleepy. The thunder has moved on. Now France and Zinedine Zidane have a penalty, he scored.

04.53 It is done. France has reached the final. There will be a game for bronze for Portugal and for us to go back to sleep. We will travel later today.

10.08 The last breakfast is eaten; the last belongings are packed. Now we will take the last sips of our soft drinks before we walk towards the taxi for the last trip away from here.

11.18 We are in a taxi, driven by our familiar driver, on our way to Kuantan. From there we will head on for Kuala Lumpur. We just had to make a stop. There are cows in the road. With us on the trip is the driver’s wife; she is on her way to the hospital in Kuantan to work. They returned a deposit at 12 ringgit/night as we checked out. The total cost for 3 days, $57 per person.

12.03 We are back at the bus station Makmur in Kuantan. Now we just have to wait here before we embark the bus. We are sitting on the top floor, below us are the buses. The hotel wanted to have 60 ringgit for the trip although it said 45 ringgit in their brochure. Our friendly driver still only wanted 50 as he mentioned yesterday.

12.43 Information is being cried out now and then, partly in loudspeaker, partly more personally by some gentlemen at each terminal entrance.

13.30 We are now leaving Makmur bus station in Kuantan. Ahead of us is about 200 kilometres road and about 4 hours ride to the trips second capital, Kuala Lumpur (aka KL).

Oil palm trees.

13.48 Sometimes one has to correct a distance. This is such moment. We´ve got 250 kilometres left.

14.27 On both sides of the bus there are lots of planted palm trees. Could they be oil palms? Palm oil is big business here.

14.45 Short stop at a rest area just after the exit to Maran. Some of the passengers have gone outside of the bus.

16.03 It was a short stop. The terrain around us is having more hills. We can see hills and mountains with tress on them. It is 64 kilometres left. We just stopped at a highway toll. Here as at earlier tolls an old lady walks up to the driver and ask him something.

17.31 At last we are at Puduraya bus station in Kuala Lumpur. The bus got caught in the traffic and we had to walk the final hundred metres. We are standing by counters 41,42 close to Dunkin Donuts. We wait here for Shu Ming who lives here and has promised us to guide us in this city as well.

View from Hotel Malaya in Kuala Lumpur.

17.58 We have together with Shu Ming crossed through Chinatown and to Hotel Malaya. Here the check-in was a story of it self. The young lady by the counter either was a trainee or fresh in the business. Christer who was placed responsible of the room was booked as Mr Christer Ulf (Ulf is his second name). She took all the facts about him from last years visa to Belarus.

19.17 We left the room, took the lift downstairs and ended up in the basement. We thought we had pushed the button for the entrance floor. We found a way outside and strolled through Chinatown with several small shops and offers. Christer met people who begged, offered him stuff and claimed to be a policeman. Now we are sitting at a small restaurant in the middle of it all just close to the hotel. Right now some fascinating food landed on the table. I wonder what it might be? I hope that Shu Ming knows. After all she placed the order.

Exciting dinner in Kuala Lumpur´s "Chinatown".

21.16 It was really exciting flavours. One dish was a mix of chicken, squid and noodles. The other dish was noodles, meat and dark sauce. After this we headed with the metro to the Twin Towers. I have seen them in pictures, TV and on movies but for real is something extra. The building is the second tallest in the world. The tallest one can be found in Taiwan. Now we sit inside the huge shopping complex Suria KLCC and have some coffee. We are at San Francisco Coffee.

22.39 We have after shopping at 7 Eleven returned to room 711. Tomorrow Shu Ming will guide us in the town in daylight. Before that is done we will change home to our pre-booked place.

Shopping centre Suria KLCC.

Petronas Twin Towers and the moon.

Friday 7th of July

08.46 We have woken up and I have looked through a copy of the newspaper ”The Sun” which was slid in under the door. Not bad at all to receive a newspaper in the morning. Next a little rest before we go down for breakfast. We better get as much strength as we can. Just in case there will be lots of walking.

09.53 We took the lift again and once again ended up in the wrong place. Well to be honest it was the right place; we had entered the wrong lift. The one we used just last night and this morning is probably for the staff. The breakfast was similar to earlier ones. Shu Ming joined us during breakfast. Next we will go out on the town for some shopping.

11.41 We had barely got out on the town before a heavy rainstorm forced us inside Starbucks Café. Here we felt forced to drink coffee. I can’t say I had anything against it. After we purchased some washing powder and a new, working adapter. Now we are back in the room and soon we will check out.

12.47 We checked out from Hotel Malaya and checked in at Anjung KL Hostel. Now we are waiting while they clean the room. As soon as this is done we will freshen up. When that is done we will return out on the town for lunch and a new visit to the towers.

14.08 We just sat down for lunch. Shu Ming just left to place the orders. We wonder what it will be. The place is Vietnamese and is in a mall.

Christer and Peter trying soybean milk.

14.55 We had both Vietnamese and Malay for lunch. Not bad at all if I might add. Right now we are slurping on some soybean milk. It is served in a small plastic bag and drunk through a straw. Sure it tastes like milk but still not, some strange flavour. We are walking to the towers. Our tickets are valued at 15.15. Shu Ming queued for us and arranged with the tickets before our arrival to KL. A big thanks to her! Queues are seldom funny.

15.29 We are standing on the footbridge between the 41st floors at Petronas Twin Towers. We are 170 metres above ground. The view is beyond totally amazing, It is actually, well what do you say, I lack words. Before we got up here with the lift we saw an information film about how the towers were built.

View from Petronas Twin Towers.

Christer and Peter on the 41st floor.

KLCC Park below the Petronas Twin Towers.

Petronas Twin Towers

16.18 Bench break in the park below the towers. Christer is reading a SMS that he just received. We are relaxing. I am digesting the impressions from the footbridge but also the soybean milk.

17.10 We just had three large portions of ice cream at Haagen-Dazs inside KLCC. I chose Coffeebreak, Shu Ming decided to have Triple Temptation with green tea, coffee and rum raisin. Christer who got a soda, Summertime berry soda to his choice had a Summertime berry delight. Luxury ice cream, but sometimes thins have to cost.

Peter and Shu Ming enjoying themselves.

19.50 We remained a while at the ice cream parlour. After that we strolled around in the mall and looked at several books. Christer and I bought a book about dos and don’ts in the Philippines. Now we moved on to the restaurant Dome for dinner. For Christer and I will it be the restaurants meat pie. Later we will meet and have coffee with Christer’s pen pal in town. It will be later since she works late out in the suburbs.

21.07 We are back at San Francisco Coffee. The pie took care of all the hunger we had and more. Here we are having coffee and wait for Christer’s lady friend.

22.47 The date/meeting is cancelled. The lady was late and we postponed it to tomorrow. Now the two of us (Christer and I) ride the monorail on our way to a station close to our hostel. Shu Ming logically went home to her place. I am looking forward to get back home and into bed. Tomorrow awaits more sightseeing and a new attempt to meet the lady.

23.26 We are back in our room II at our hostel. Outside in the common room the creatures of the night are gathering in front of the TV. This is a shame since Christer wants to charge his cell phone out there. We lack a socket in our room. Christer found a solution to it. He just said that he had seen a socket for an accordion in the bathroom. He quickly changed it to a socket for a razor. The brain can play tricks with you during these kinds of days. Next we will fill up with lost fluids (we bought Coca Cola from some Indian guys outside our hostel), flush water over our bodies and go to sleep. We also took time to chat with a young lady that went to school in the USA, but is from Malaysia and both seems to be guest and employee at the same time. She has asked us about our teacher jobs, Swedish midsummer celebrating and the Swedes ideas about travelling.