...I'm off... Back to KL and off to the Perhentian Islands - Malaysia (Stage 6)

Out of the cold rain in Nepal and into the tropical heat of Malaysia...and welcome back to Kuala Lumpur!

After collecting my left luggage from the Travelodge Hotel, I made my way straight to Mingle Hostel. On my first visit to the neighboring Mingle Cafe, I found the accommodation and atmosphere very appealing. The hostel is perfect for backpackers: lots of young people, a relaxed atmosphere, and friendly staff. Here, I met three nice girls from Germany and Sweden. In the evening, we joined forces on the "Malaysian Reeperbahn" (as I call it), sipped some cocktails, chatted, and looked for a good shisha bar in a quieter area after being blasted by overly loud live music. In Jalan Telawi, located in another part of Kuala Lumpur, there was also plenty of choice of bars. That's where we found one. The shisha wasn't too bad and the sound wasn't excessively loud.

To lighten my luggage again, I had my hiking gear sent to Germany by post, hoping that the package would arrive :-)

During my second visit to KL, I also took the opportunity to visit Putrajaya, the "Administrative Capital" of Malaysia. The 92-year-old Prime Minister, Tun Mahathir bin Mohamad, has his government seat (Perdana Putra) in the district of Presint 1. There is the mosque Masjid Putra, which was built in 1997. The mosque can accommodate up to 15,000 worshipers. You can take a look at the building and the prayer room up to a certain boundary. The friendly guide "Zack" even took me on a small private tour inside the mosque, while the other visitors had to stay behind the barrier. He showed me every specially designed architecture of the mosque, which come from different countries (including Germany, Iran, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt). The carpet is designed so that all worshipers stand evenly in a row, with their eyes focused on the imam and towards Mecca. It is also oriented in such a way that it forms a central point to the dome of the mosque. Every architectural object in this building has its special meaning, which I found very interesting. On the large terrace of the mosque, you had a wonderful view of the Prime Minister's government building and the city of Putrajaya.

After another 2 days in the city and new impressions, I wanted to escape the hustle and bustle again. I got on a plane, flew from west to east, then got on a speedboat and sailed across the sea...

...And two small paradise islands of Malaysia were waiting for me - Perhentian Kecil and Perhentian Besar - with white sandy beaches, palm trees, and turquoise blue sea. However, both islands also have their dark sides: there are mountains of garbage in many corners and on many beaches that could be so beautiful. It almost makes you want to cry. A big problem in Malaysia! But you can also find wonderful and clean beaches.

There are many bungalows on the different beach sections with great views of the sea. However, you pay a lot of money for most beach accommodations and don't get what is appropriate for the amount. Instead, I discovered the campsite "Orang Hutan" in the middle of the rainforest on Kecil Island and was absolutely thrilled! As far as facilities are concerned, you shouldn't have high expectations, because it is a campsite after all. But the atmosphere was so relaxed and family-like, the staff super friendly and helpful, and the experience of sleeping in the jungle unparalleled (okay, the mosquitoes were pretty aggressive and annoying, and I couldn't avoid some bites. Regularly applying mosquito spray kept the critters away for a while though). Various geckos, monitor lizards, mice, and small snakes regularly came by my tent. The diverse and loud animal sounds added to the unique jungle feeling. In the evening, I sat together comfortably with the others, enjoyed the nightly delicious and lovingly prepared dinner, and had plenty of entertainment, be it music, guessing games, or just small talk.

The Mira Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches on Kecil Island, is located near the campsite. I hung my hammock between two palm trees and let my soul dangle during a beautiful sunset.

A funny "German travel group" was formed in the camp. There were six solo travelers from Germany and we made a joint trip to D'Lagoon on Kecil Island. The lagoon consists of large rock formations and crevices. Unfortunately, these were also contaminated with a lot of garbage. However, from above, you had a wonderful view of the sea and the island. After a short climb, we went down an iron staircase that was cordoned off to the lagoon. There was also a good reason why it was cordoned off. After a few meters, the stairs were so rusty that some steps and the railing were partially missing. Nevertheless, we ventured on this adventurous descent and all came down unharmed :-) Completely soaked in sweat, I first went into the wonderfully clear and refreshing water.

On the opposite island, Perhentian Besar, there are clean beaches and great snorkeling spots. Tuna Bay and the beach at Perhentian Island Resort are highly recommended. I observed diverse coral reefs, lots of colorful fish, Nemos hiding in the anemones, huge turtles, and small sharks. I was so fascinated and stayed in the water for so long that I forgot about the sun burning my back and came out of the water as a half-side crab. Ouch! :-D

so white and so clear...

After getting a bad sunburn, I thought it should be enough. Now I can go back to the mainland. Besides, I have an appointment in Ho Chi Minh...