We traveled over 3000 km, three countries; more than half of which was traveled by land and sea.
Bangkok - Satun - Langkawi - Penang - Kuala Lumpur - Melaka - Singapore - Bangkok.
The bus ride from Bangkok to Satun was over 900 km and it took us about 16 hours. That itself was a mini horror, body aches and sleepless bus ride. But Satun itself, has always been on my list to visit and even though I didn't quite go to the place that was specifically on my list, I stopped over and that short time I did stop over, I knew I was going to come back to visit it. The small city was filled with greens, massive large trees along windy roads, and the roads were impressively clean; so unlike Bangkok.
The next part of that trip was to cross over from Satun pier, and later a ferry ride into Malaysian waters, which took about an hour, about 55 km. That ride wasn't too bad and as I reached Langkawi, I felt a sense of relief to have made it somewhere. Langkawi was a big island, so we rented a manual car, small enough to have us all in with our big bags and we drove around the island. We stopped at many places, looking for affordable yet nice places to stay at. Eventually we got this chalet, literally when you step out of it, you feel the sand. The chalet even had a huge glass panel which allowed us to look outside, right at the ocean, the coconut trees, the mountains and the islands further away. The mornings were exceptionally nice. The sky was often clear and the breeze was just right. I sat out there for a while each day, just staring into the sea to gain some comfort. The food on that island brought back a pang of nostalgia; it was the kind of food I grew up with, the cuisine I love and would do anything to have it. And on the last evening, I sat and watched the sunset behind an island, just literally for so long that from sunlight, it slowly disappeared behind that mini mountain and then, total darkness. That was really a wonder of nature that I witnessed. And after 2 nights, we decided it was time to pack our bags, and move to a different place.
We then took a 3 hour ferry ride, about 110 km from Langkawi to the famous island of Penang. We stayed at Georgetown and the night we got in, we had banana leaf! That dinner was one of the best deals we got. We stayed in Penang just for a night, went by the beach to chill at night for a while.
The following day, we traveled by sea across from Penang to mainland Malaysia and then a bus trip that took us literally 6 hours when it should have only taken 4 due to bus breakdowns cuz it technically was approximately only 300 km. Anyway, in KL, I got to meet new faces and old ones; my cousins and my Pine. We didn't do anything much but after 3 or so days, we left to Melaka. And that was also the end of the trip for my friend who started it with me.
Later, we traveled about 100 km or so back to the city of Alor Gajah, Melaka. The city where the house of my late grandma still dwells. it was the city where my brother and I used to go to each time we had our short holiday breaks. Nothing is very much the same, Alor Gajah is just developing like any other city. We stayed there at our cousin's place for perhaps 2 days and later we took a bus down to Singapore.
The bus from Melaka took us about 3 hours, approximately 200 km. When we arrived in Singapore, I certainly felt nostalgic once again, the buses I took as a kid, the playground I played at, the building I once called home and certainly still do. Not many things have changed for me but perhaps it did change for my brother who was last there about 10 years ago and somewhere in between a short trip. But we were greeted by our aunt and the kids! The kids whom I saw as babies, are now grown up, speaking and talking, and joking with us all. It was certainly nice to see them all, what a joy. Of course, there were more added to the collection of kids in that house, used to be 2 when I lived there, there's 7 now. Extremely interesting indeed. I played with them, and went to 2 of their birthday parties with them where I got to meet loads of people whom I haven't met in a really really long time!
In between, my brother had to leave sooner than I did. But I stayed on, being able to catch up with my friends, who have grown up too of course. A lot did change in our lives, yet there were many little things within us which didn't. That closeness and connection we shared was still around, and that openness and friendship still lives in us all. Some of them I have known them since I was 8 and others along the way. But it was amazing to have met them. I also met my teachers who saw me grow up. We sat down and talked and it's also interesting to know how some of them were doing, especially when they all still look the same! And they still do recognize me. My homeroom teacher was there and we chatted about life so much, she's still that same person I once knew, the one who tried to talk me out of many things as an adolescent and into others along the way. Many teachers have also left, but that's okay I guess, not everything in life stays the same.
Besides that, there was nothing new. I got to eat my favorite home-cooked food my aunt used to cook me. It still tastes the same and I love that fact! Life really has changed for me, I have moved on in many ways and yet, there is a teeny part of me which is that same little girl that everyone knew. I'm glad I had this trip, especially with the fact that I got to travel the way I wanted, a road-trip, though tiring, it was certainly worth it. A trip I shall not forget as it is one of the first of the many to come. Further along, I would probably attempt a similar trip, but to new boundaries and territories of course. I don't quite know where would be next, I'll just wait to where time takes me.
For now, here are some of my favorite pictures along the way. I didn't have the time to make any edits but please enjoy them! Peace.
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| Satun Pier |
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| Overlooking Langkawi islands |
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| You see the mountains, ocean, and then the clouds; where is the horizon? |
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| Sunny day |
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| Sunset |
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| More sunset |
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| Peace |
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| Run by the Waterfront |
