Airport Blogging Ritual

At the terminal 2 free internet stations. Boarding in 5 minutes time.
Today has been a crazy eventful day even before I get on the plane to go to Sabah.

I tried looking for free wifi but there was none at the airport. Unbelievable. Wireless@sg doesn't extend to terminal 2 and the place with ethernet requires me to provide my own cable! WTF! I really need to send out the survey questions and interview questions for my thesis and now I have to wager on Kota Kinabalu having internet access.

Anyways I sustained a slight injury this morning and hopefully that will not affect me when I get to Sabah. Sigh.

What a way to start an adventure. See you guys in 7 days! And if you are lucky, KK comes with inet and I'll be online before you know it.

Maliau Itinerary

20 Feb
Arrive at Kota Kinabalu, 4.40pm

21 Feb
Leave for Maliau Basin via Keningau
Arrive Maliau late afternoon

22 Feb
Field work at Maliau

23 Feb
Field work at Maliau

24 Feb
Field work at Maliau

25 Feb
Depart Maliau towards Tawau
Arrive KK in evening

26 Feb
Field work in Kota Kinabalu
Visit island off KK

27 Feb
Return flight to Singapore arrive 1.5hours before Dan's talk

Gearing up

Bought new footwear at Feder Shoes, located at Peninsular Plaza #02-58 last Sunday.

I supposed had I know of Campers Corner at Capitol Building earlier, I would have ended up with a pair of Gore-tex shoes. Unfortunately I did not and spent $149 on a pair of waterproof mid-cut hiking boots instead. If nothing else, it's a nice purple and grey color combi.

Even still, the gore-tex shoes, like this pair, were similar in that the shoe is not totally waterproof. It's not river-wading friendly and would only work as far as keeping my feet dry in a rainstorm. However, if water goes above the line marked "waterproof", my feet would still get wet! Nothing is worse than a pair of wrinkly pruney stinky monkey feet.

After chatting with Calvin Tay*, the manager at Campers Corner, I was disappointed to find out that the MION amphibian shoes line has apparently been stopped this season! That shoe indeed would have been able to worked both as a bootie and also as hiking shoes.

If it's any consolation, Calvin convinced me to buy a pair of socks from campers corner which purportly keeps my feet wrinkle-free even if it were soaked in wet socks the whole day! Can't wait to put that to the test in Maliau.

*Got his full name from this article. Indeed, campers corner is a total gem and I had a lot of fun chatting with Calvin. More about my conversation with him later, probably to be posted on MMM. He shared with me so much about the latest in organic and upcycle merchandises. But most of all, he put my mind to ease about my trip to Maliau. In fact he got me plenty excited! He was actually one of the first people to see Maliau, more than 10 years ago! He was one of the legendary ones who helped to clear a helicopter pad for people to enter and helped with building up the base camps there. WOW! Got me very excited indeed. Looking forward to Maliau now!

Survivor Maliau

Coming to your screens in 10 days.
SURVIVOR MALIAU
Sabah's Lost World

Outwit. Outplay. Outlast!


Map of Maliau

Unfortunately, although Sabah has mobile phone network, the heart of the forest is absolutely free of phone frequency and network. Internet is out of the question. I will not be blogging from site but just like Survivor, broadcast begins the minute the mandated stay is over. You will soon be able to see all the juicy, bitchy, gory behind-the-scenes drama.


As seen from space, this is the result of uplifting to a delta area

Unknown to humans for hundred thousands of years, the first exploration team that entered the Maliau Basin was a mere 20 years ago. The basin is enclosed by undulating clifts that surround the basin which prevented entry into the basin previously. Likewise, it would be as if I would be stepping back in time into this self contained unique ecosystem through the mouth of the reserve where the base camp is, just as the gate greeted the visitors in Jurassic Park.

There may not be dinosaurs but with a species count of at least 80 mammals like Sambar deers, wild oxens, 2 species of leafmonkeys and ubiquitous leeches lurking in this Lost World of Sabah, you can definitely expect the adventure of your life.

Will the rambling leafmonkey survive outside of her native habitat?
Find out on February 28 when I return!
Exclusively yours at the Traveling Menagerie.

More reads about Maliau Basin:
"Maliau Basin: Scouting Out Sabah’s Wildest Frontier", Wildasia.net
" 6-14 May 2006 Expedition to Sabah's Lost World", Yeoh Chee Weng

Greetings from Penang

Today is already the last day in Penang. Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion was da bomb! It was really awesome. The weather in Penang is horrid - so much hotter than Singapore which is absolutely unimaginable. W got seriously burnt and just slept the whole day away on Sunday due to severe exhaustion on Sunday after Pedalling around Ubin on Saturday. We went up Penang Hill in the evening and then collapsed in exhaustion. Tried very nice prawn noodles at Pitt Street opposite the Kuan Im Temple and W had murtabuk because tandoori chicken is apparently suspected of bird flu by the US. So basically if you eat chicken in Malaysia, the americans will quarantine you. That is just too stupid.

Today we had a fully guided tour around the mansion which was awesome. It's sad that there are no hard records of family histories and things just get lost in the passing of time. We are just now checking out and start bitching with the gay manager which is always a delight. Ended up having lunch with them which is cool. Possibly the best alternative to dragging our feet in the sun in the middle of the day.

I'm just really upset about not being able to get any homework done and will be such a dead monkey when I get back. *sigh* Kill me now but it's difficult to enjoy travelling and exploring when the mind keeps thinking about responsibilities back home.

For now, I shall try. Later maybe going to explore Chulia Street and Penang Street before taking a bus home tonight.

Going to Penang

Crazy monkey has one day woke up and decided to go to Penang.
Couldn't sleep the whole night learning about Penang and planning the trip.

Originally thought I could fly there but it was too late to get a cheap ticket. Now the only way is to take a bus there which is cool with me.

The bus from SIN to Penang cost $38
The bus from Penang to SIN cost RM42
Travel time is 9 hours one way.
Source: Journey Malaysia
Total for 2 persons transport: $113*
*expecting a higher cost if I can buy both ways in Singapore.

Accomodation will be at the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, a UNESCO Conservation Award Winner, that was the home to a very rich Hakka Businessman and Philantrophist.

Staying one night on Sunday will cost us 250RM.
Check out their website!

ITINERARY
Saturday
9pm Depart SIN

Sunday
6am Arrive Penang
7am Breakfast!
9am Penang Heritage Trail?* (RM50 each!)
12nn Check in Cheong Fatt Tze
- Penang Botanic Gardens, request by duck

Monday
9am Penang Heritage Trail?*
- Free walking trails
9pm Depart Penang

Tuesday
6am Arrive SIN