Singapore
Thursday May 30, 2013
Just arrived in Singapore and the weather is predictably hot and muggy at 30 degrees, with thunderstorms on the forecast. I'm feeling much better than yesterday but still not 100% unfortunately. It was pretty grim.
Looking forward to hitting Orchard Road later today and hoping to meet up with the ever elusive Ted, who never even told me he had left New Zealand to go overseas!
Posted by Jeremy at 5:20am on Thursday May 30, 2013 :: 0 comments :: 
Blerg
Wednesday May 29, 2013
Yesterday: went swimming. Got out. Lazed about on the deck chair. Fell asleep. Majorly sunburnt. Went snorkelling. Saw heaps of fish and corals. Had a great time. Had to tow my cousin to the boat because she was being swept out by the current. Went to bed at 6pm with no dinner. Was suffering from exhaustion.
Today: woke up with food poisoning. Having a bad time. Tired and lethargic. No appetite. Saw the doctor. Pumped up on drugs. Feeling better. Went for reflexology. Sore.
Tomorrow: leaving for Singapore. Back to civilisation.
Posted by Jeremy at 8:36am on Wednesday May 29, 2013 :: 0 comments ::
Stars and Lights
Monday May 27, 2013
I had yet another buffet dinner today, but thankfully I didn't feel too obliged to stuff my mouth silly on this one since it's part of the Tioman vacation package. I am however, pretty full, but at least I didn't over eat.
It's nighttime now and being in the middle of the South China Sea, light pollution is low and I was interested in what the constellations would be like here. On one side of the sky I can clearly see the Southern Cross and its pointers, and it reminds me of home. On the opposite side of the sky sits Ursa Major, the "Big Dipper", but unfortunately Malaysia is still too far south to spot Polaris, the North Star. The night sky here is interesting because the constellations are different, but it's definitely not as clear as what you'd get in Wellington. I can't see the Milky Way at all and the chances of seeing shooting stars is slim.
There's something else on the horizon that's catching my eye, though. There's a tropical storm all the way west, over the mainland. I can see the thick thunderclouds illuminated against the pitch black night sky from continual lightning strikes - we're looking at close to three or four strikes per second. The brilliant flashes of electricity pierce the darkness and reflect off the water, yet unfortunately my iPhone camera isn't good enough to capture any of the action.
Stunning.
Posted by Jeremy at 2:04pm on Monday May 27, 2013 :: 0 comments ::
Pulau Tioman
Monday May 27, 2013
I slept three hours last night. I would like to blame the delicious Japanese buffet from Midori at the Marriott Putrajaya. I've been there three times in total (that's twice on previous trips back to Malaysia) and have always overeaten to the point where it's hard to breathe and move.
Anyway, we took a plane from Subang to Pulau Tioman and arrived just before noon. The island has some fantastic beaches and the water is invitingly warm. Temperatures are still hanging around the mid thirties. We're overlooking the west side of the island so tonight when it starts to cool down, we'll watch the sunset and have an explore. I've got a snorkelling excursion planned for one of these days too!
I am not missing the weather in New Zealand right now.
Posted by Jeremy at 8:44am on Monday May 27, 2013 :: 0 comments ::
Eat, Sleep, Eat
Sunday May 26, 2013
The title pretty much exactly sums up what I did yesterday. We went to the market in the morning for a quick browse at the local produce and brought back some fresh mango, jackfruit and lychee, as well as some beef and sotong nasi lemak and some tofu fah (everything was sooo goood). I took a brief nap in the afternoon to prepare myself for the night's dinner.
Last night we were at Five Sen5es at the Westin Hotel to celebrate my cousin's wedding. I had not seen her in 15 years and it was amazing to be there with my extended family to enjoy a wonderful meal in honour of the bride and groom. Like a typical Chinese wedding dinner, there were eight courses of decadent and exquisite food, including abalone, pork belly and Peking duck. It was a night to remember and it was made even more special because of my family.
The dinner was quite late so I had a few hours to kill beforehand. I walked around Pavillion Mall with my cousin's husband for a bit, and he showed me Tokyo Street, a collection of Japanese shops on the top floor of the mall, as well as a multinational alfresco dining alley with restaurants from Ireland, Italy, Spain, Turkey and more, lining a whole walkway. We wandered down to Starhill as well - the sheer opulence of the products on display were matched only by the ridiculousness of the male toilets. It seems fitting that a shopping complex that sells necklaces and earrings for over a million dollars should have two employees in the bathroom who operate a large bamboo lever system to deliver water to the hand basin.
So unnecessary.
Also, I love being five inches taller than everyone else. Malaysia should totally be a heightocracy.
Posted by Jeremy at 12:52am on Sunday May 26, 2013 :: 0 comments ::