It's weird to actually return to a place. After a fond farewell to Tanah Rata and the rest of the Cameron Highlands, Indi and I boarded a bus bound for our final stop in Malaysia. Returning to Kuala Lumpur was always in the cards, as our first visit left so much unexplored territory. We are … Continue reading Back in Kuala Lumpur
I am a blessed individual. I am following my dream to wherever it will lead me, and I have a wonderful, caring, intelligent man who has chosen to accompany me on my journey. I am in relatively good health, although the smoking has just got to go, and am losing weight (albeit slower than I … Continue reading Existential Crisis in the Land of Smiles
Short version: Today was spectacular. Long version: At around 8:45 this morning (after a too-short breakfast due to my poor wake up skills) Indi and I left in a caravan of Land Rovers to start our day-long tour of various nature areas in the Cameron Highlands. It was broken up into several parts, so it … Continue reading Cameron Highlands Experience Tour
We didn't sleep at all last night; our sleep schedules are so out of whack that the 6:00 AM bus was best served by us just staying up; waking up may not have happened. It would take about four hours to get from Georgetown to Tanah Rata, our destination in the Cameron Highlands. We arrived … Continue reading Arrival in the Cameron Highlands
Well, we didn't rent motorbikes to cruise around the island...but we had a great time anyway! Yesterday we took the bus ride to Bukit Bendera, otherwise known as Penang Hill. It was here that I rode a funicular for the first time! For those not in the know (like I was) a funicular is a … Continue reading Final Days in Georgetown
I've created a Facebook Page for our blog! Rhys and Indi Martin on Facebook If you haven't already, head on over and become a Fan! Then you'll get Blog updates in your Facebook feed. Sweet as!
Throughout Malaysia, motorbike traffic is everywhere. Although it's not quite as heavy as it was in Indonesia, the bikes here are in generally better condition. One thing I've noticed is that nearly HALF of all motorbikes I see are the same model. The Boon Siew/Honda EX5 Dream This particular bike has a basket in front, … Continue reading The Quintessential Malaysian Motorbike
After relaxing for a day in beautiful air conditioning, we made it safely from the clutches of Jerantut and the East Coast of Malaysia and took the daunting all-day bus ride to the northwest corner of the country and Pulau (island) Penang and the largest city on it, Georgetown. At the end of our bus … Continue reading Pulau Penang and Georgetown
Taman Negara, widely touted as the world's oldest primary rainforest ("Yes! It's even older than the Amazon!" read the brochures), is nonetheless a beautiful destination to explore. Though not independently confirmed as the "oldest," much to the chagrin of local tourist companies, it is dated at approximately 130 million years old, and has the added … Continue reading Taman Negara – Day 2
I was born and raised in Oklahoma, one of the most conservative of the United States. My parents are Republican, as is just about everyone else. Growing up, I was raised to believe in the basic Republican tenets:1) Fiscal Conservative2) Smaller Government3) Strict Constitutional Interpretation4) Environmental AwarenessRonald Reagan was the Prez during my early youth, … Continue reading From (R) to (D). What Happened?
Rhys' Pieces 