2011

2011, Asia, Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Last stop before heading home again. I had no real plans for Hong Kong except for meet up with someone I used to play computer games with. I arrived quite late in the evening so I headed directly to my hotel where I more or less crashed straight away. The following day Howard met me in the lobby. He took me out on a eating adventure where we tried the Cantonese cuisine. 9 courses over the day, from breakfast to supper in the evening.

The next day I explored Hong Kong on my own, took a boat trip out in the archipelago to Lamma Island. Later in the evening I met another friend I’ve met online. Together with her friends we went to a rave party on the 23rd floor in a skyscraper. Last day in Hong Kong I spent mostly strolling around.

2011, Asia, Borneo, Malaysia

Malaysian Borneo

I flew from Krabi to Kota Kinabalu with Air Asia for really cheap. Realized I had not spent as much money as I thought so I treated myself to a 5-star hotel (I was used to live in the cheaper side of hotels/hostels). Then after a couple of days my friend arrived (again) and we checked in to a hostel located around Jalan Gaya (Gaya Street). From there we went on a white river rafting on the Padas river and also planned our expedition to climb Mount Kinabalu.

On our way to Mount Kinabalu we stopped at Sabah Tea Garden and Poring Hot Springs before finally entering Mount Kinabalu National Park. From the entrance to the base camp it took us roughly 3 hours to walk (mountain guide speed) which gave us plenty of time to drink tea at base camp and enjoy our clothes that would not fully dry due to the extremely cold and moist climate.

They woke us up at night to start the ascension to the peak so we could see the sunrise, but we were greeted with cold rain and clouds instead. Back in Kota Kinabalu my friend left for Thailand again and I aimed for Semporna. But first I had to fly to Tawau and then take the bus to Semporna. I had booked a bunch of nights at a place called Singamata Reef Resort with the intention to learn to dive. And eventually I got me PADI Open Water certificate. And I also made an amazing drift dive with sea turtles around an island called Palau Sibuan (which at that time is the farthest east I’ve ever travelled).

I really wish I had had the time to take a trip to Brunei or dash over to the Indonesian side of Borneo too. Or to see the orangutans on a jungle trekk.

2011, Asia, Thailand

Thailand (one year later)

I flew to Phuket, took a taxi to Ao Nang where I waited for a friend for a couple of days. Then we moved to Krabi and waited yet another day for my friends friend to arrive from Sweden. The 3 of us went on a small version of the trip I had done the previous year, Koh Samui, Ko Pha-ngan and then back to Ao Nang. I decided to split because I had already been in Thailand, and I wanted to go to Borneo and I had limited time.

2011, Asia, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Can’t say I knew much about Kuala Lumpur when I landed there. I knew I wanted to see the Batu Caves and the Petrona Towers. On my way from Batu Caves I met some other backpackers and decided to stick with them while being in Kuala Lumper and that was a good thing. I would probably not have visited Bukit Bintang (which is Kuala Lumpurs equivalent of Khaosan Road in Bangkok).

I also spent some time around Sentral and China Town before it was time to leave for Thailand.

2011, Asia, Singapore

Quick stop in Singapore

I had never planned to stay long in Singapore, it was just a (unnecessary) stop on the way from Bali to Kuala Lumpur. But I thought since I was in the area and had not made any further bookings it would be sad to miss it. So I booked a plane ticket and off I went.

I took a walk in town, ended up at Raffles Hotel and ordered a Singapore Sling (now I can cross that off the list as well). I hope I can come back one day, I know I missed a lot.

2011, Asia, Bali, Indonesia

Shortest stay on Bali ever

Decided to travel on my own since none of my friends was able to join me. Started with Bali which I reached after some 18 hours in a plane. Landing in Denpasar, took a taxi to Sanur where I checked into Swastika Bungalows which I choose only because of the name. Stayed for a couple of nights doing nothing more or less.

Moved to Kuta Beach and thought I’d try my hands on surfing. That did not happen. Took a walk around town instead, and then booked a trip to see the rest of the island the next day. The driver I had booked showed me a monkey temple, a volcano that I declined to climb mostly due to not have any good shoes. We then proceeded to a coffee/tea plantation where I bought a package of Kopi Luwak to my family back in Sweden.

Before leaving Bali I also visited Uluwatu temple. That was, special.