MALAYSIA Freedom

Our first trip DIY in Venezuela we had clarified once and for all the difference with a vacation organized and I think we have opened our eyes to the true essence of travel.
That is why on this occasion our summer program has been marked by adventure, and Venezuela as well as having the same filled with unforgettable memories and having given the beauty of its landscapes, has left us a small sense of regret for not having able to visit many areas of interest.
This time was more available and our desire was to discover as much as possible of our goal: Malaysia.
Departure from Bologna July 29, stop in Rome and then fly with the airline, the Malaysian Airlines.
As always, the companies of South-East Asia are to appreciate the comfort and impeccable service ... Veronica .. as always sleep like a dormouse for the long journey but this time the monitor with personal TV and video games (in class) makes me spend some 'time.
We arrive at the airport to KL (Kuala Lumpur) but does not stop there, our destination is the Borneo in the state of Sabah. Arrivaimo in the capital Kota Kinabalu, a city from which the next day we will have the link to Sipadan, divers paradise for us .... And beyond.
The flight the next day to Tawau allows us to admire Mount Kinabalu (the highest in South-East Asia with its abundant 5000metri) at dawn, the transfer to Semporna in the van is a bit 'long but we can see that now the famous forest of Borneo has been irreparably cleared in favor of anonymous (but for the people most profitable) plantations of palm oil. Finally after an hour's boat arrived at Mabul, this together with the nearby Kapalay is the only gateway to Sipadan in which it is no longer permitted to stay overnight after the kidnapping of tourists happened by some Filipino insurgents a few years ago.
Mabul island is a beautiful tropical island, here is all the activities organized for diving and living in close contact with the population for the presence of two local villages. When you reach Sipadan, there is a pearl in front of a turquoise sea, what we have had the opportunity to see into the depths of the ocean will always remain imprinted in my mind, the coral reef that descends into the depths as the eye can see, the dozens of turtles that are not treating wander all around, reef sharks, schools of Jack that move as if to form a vortex and corals ... .. three days of diving ... .. speechless! The only consolation starting Mabul were from the photos that diving with my new digital camera it does leave a good memory and the video we had shot from a 'teacher.
After the first taste of sun and sea the second stage was the forest, now sadly all that remains of this ancient green lung is enclosed in some protected areas, or to penetrate hundreds of kilometers inside, we have chosen to reach Sukau, along Kinabatagan the river, and the two days are spent visiting the caves where Gomatong gather the nests of swallows, sailing along the river and doing some 'of trekking through the jungle.
Malaysian Borneo is one of those rare areas where you may still encounter the wild animals, snakes, Varani, and the typical monkeys Nasice sightings are most common for elephants and rhinos ... .. we were not so lucky .
Arrived in the town of Sandakan, we spent the night and the next day was the obligatory visit to Sepilok, all'Orang Utang Reahabilitation Center. This park contains a large number of copies of Uranga Utang were saved by various difficulties, for lunch start to twirl the rope to get their bananas ... they are our ancestors .... And sometimes it is very good ... .. i am really too small and pretty much inspired by sympathy and tenderness.

 

Peninsular Malaysia

Was time to leave for the Peninsular Malaysia, arrived in Kuala Lumpur that it was evening, the first impact with the city and the airport which conveys a sense of progress and wealth.
Our base in KL will be the Swiss-Inn Hotel in Chinatown, and economic un'albergo enough in the middle dell'incredibilmente crowded local market. Here you can find a little bit of everything from the usual bags, sunglasses, t-short, watches, shoes, CDs, DVDs, all strictly copied to the smallest details.
Kuala Lumpur differs slightly from the rest of the country for its modern buildings, its premises and to everyday life quite unlike the frenetic pace so slow in Borneo where we arrived. The visit to the Sky Bridge on the Petronas Towers was the first step in this Sunday morning, but unfortunately a slight delay we had not allowed us to arrive in time to take the last ticket (free) for the ascent of the afternoon. The alternative solution to see the city from the tower was telecommunications, came up to 300 meters .... ..... the fog Petronas hardly distinguished and the surrounding view was very limited (only a few days after we were to know that it was not fog but smoke caused by fire in Sumatra). The old palace of the Sultan, now the government is perhaps the most elegant building in the city, overlooking a park in which waves a large Malaysian flag, say the great distress flag in the world.
Even going back to the Petronas Towers, one is really a blow to their size and their style so unique, glass and steel rise from the ground up to touch the sky. Within them there is the Suria Kuala Lumpur shopping center, 6 floors of shopping to do, turn your head. Fortunately, you can 'isolate from the confusion and chaos in the gardens adjacent, and' always nice to find even in these large metropolitan areas green so 'well looked after and where we can isolate, in which case a beautiful tropical garden is space between the skyscrapers. As often happens, the sky-line of big cities' are illuminated at night and also to KL this tradition does not fail to give tourists a spectacular game in the fountains of water beneath the Petronas towers.
Nightlife in KL and 'lively enough, the local fashion and restaurants and no shortage of ethnic mix to more traditional activities. The thing that jumps more all'occhio visiting KL is the peaceful coexistence between different cultures, Malay, Indian, Thai and Chinese blend into everyday life and then finding its origins in the temples and mosques scattered throughout the three days città.Dopo of life in the modern capital of Malaysia are preparing to return to the jungle, leaving for the Taman Negara. By Bus to Kuala Tembeling, we expect 3 hours of ascent along the river to get to our camp, the Nusa camp. The journey is long but it allows us to see life along the banks of the river, finally arrive at their destination and immediately appreciate the peace and silence that gives us the forest, now the noise of the city are just a memory.
All; internal park Taman Negara is virtually impossible to meet the local fauna (which is rather quite simple in Borneo), and this was a little disappointed! Malaysian tiger then nothing .... only forest and long walks; fortunately untouched nature that surrounds us gives us emotions with its ancient trees, waterfalls, caves, walks on the night .... e. Canopy walkaway, bridges suspended between un'albero and the other, rocking you, take you to a height of 50m above ground! A visit to a local Aboriginal village has shown us once more as there are still differences between the deepest local ethnic groups, some of which still can not or do not enjoy the minimum rights and health food.
We are once again leaving us today but a journey into the trip, still 3 hours of descent along the river and then Sungai Tembeling Jungle Train, train 11 hours in the middle of the jungle that would have resulted in Kota Bharu, a city of departure for now both want Perhentian islands!
The transfer from the coast to the Perhentian is fairly short, from Kota Bharu you must reach Kuala Besut or Tok Bali to take the ferry. L; arrival at Perhentian was not like we dreamed of, unfortunately the famous smoke coming from Sumatra we blurred the view surrounding paradise, the sun could not penetrate the thick cloud of fog and the colors of the turquoise sea is not highlighted. The beautiful bays, white beaches and coconut palms that plunge into the sea that we met our little closer to the resort but we did well for the days ahead. The Paradise Resort has welcomed us with its family atmosphere and a bungalow we had booked from home for 10 days to 8 euros a night ...... The islands are divided into Perhentian Besar (the big island where we eravamo) and Kecil, the smaller but more; busy. The structures on these islands are still quite simple, no resort can boast believe the luxury and the everyday life is marked by freedom. It goes in search of remote beaches with taxi boat, canoe or on foot by following the paths. Snorkeling and diving activities are also preferred because the reef is very generous and gives great emotions already is a stone's throw from the shore. Unocome for me, to say the least fanatical of clown fish and anemones them was like being on the moon .... hundreds and hundreds of little Nemo .... never seen such a thing! The evening then we try several restaurants on the beach, unforgettable evenings in the company of our friends in Turin and Roberta Massimo; the distance between Reggio Emilia and Turin will keep us away here in Australia but the grilled fish from Mama's Place and the mini cruise between Besar and Perhentian Kecil remain forever an indelible memory! These isolée 'all very cheap but what is most striking is the relaxed atmosphere that you breathe and restoring us before our return home. Climate? Great, hot sun and no excessively wet and the sea ..... well what can I say ...... and the pleasure to discover, explore isolated beaches arriving in a canoe, tiring but memorable, short, when I imagined a paradise Tropical imagined just that and I think I have found in Malaysia, the Perhentian islands.
The departure after 10 days was a dream of those with the knot in my throat, some moments of isolation and detachment from everyday life do not forget easily.
Cut back on the Malay Peninsula, and after the visit two temples at border with Thailand are back with an internal flight to KL (the Low Cost airline Air Asia) for the last purchases e. .... go to the hairdresser in the Petronas towers ... this is an experience ... In conclusion, my Malaysia trip was the longest and most varied I've ever done, certainly more than the adventure, perhaps the most beautiful word, unforgettable!