©reativist Peder Strandh

Waking up in Singapore an early sunday morning (January 28) and skipped breakfast in order to catch a coach (bus) out of this mammon town. The cab driver drove us to the “Golden Mile Complex” where we got our hands on a couple of tickets going to little Perak town of Tapah. Leaving Singapore at noon, going via KL to finally reach Tapah at 8.30 pm made us quite tired so we descided to stay the night in town.. Huge misstake. When arraving to the first recommended (by our guide book Willma Guide) hotell, it was to be greetened by a drunk indian portier. The man was trying to sell us rooms wich actually seemed more like a stinky brothel hide out than hotel rooms. We kindly denied and went to a chineese shop on its way to close for the day. After shopping some bottled water we went on to a hotel named NH, situated in a dark alley. The Chineese owner welcomed us and we checked in. The room was not very nice but the bed sheets clean. After a shower we went to sleep (at least trying to). Since the air con didn’t work properly we ended sleeping all night in a 28 degrees Celcius room. Nor med or Maria can put our fingers on what made us uncomfortable about the city, but we agreed on that this should be the last night we spend at a place like this. So remember, if you ever get to Tapah Malaysia. Get out of there as soon as you can or you’ll have a rather unpleasant time.

Tapah do have one slight advantage; it’s the base for all trips heading for Cameron Highlands. We took the very first bus up the mountains (ap. 1.300 m). An old bus that seemed to have been in service since Marco Polo’s days. Roads whinding a hole lot made Maria motion sick. That’s a two hour ride she’ll never forget. Never the less, reaching the highlands and Tanah Rata was wonderful! Fresh air, rather cold and clean, fresh strawberries, tea plantations and many nice aquaintances in other back packers. We descided to stay for three nights at the Hill View Hotel. 

In the afternoon (3 pm), we went up the nearest town summit wich was a climb of 200 metres. We also had our personal guide in Dinesh - a very competent trekker who’s knowledge about the local nature and forests made us appriceate the climb even more. Indian as well as Chineese ginger, eucalyptus (planted by the English settlers in the 19′th century to clear the air from smell and mosquitos), the smallest orchid in the world and a tremendous view from the summit. It sure was a wonderful trip, visually as well as spiritually.

The tuesday was spent going to the BOH tea plantation and cisiting a summit of 6.666 ft (2031 metres) with no view due to the mist. On the trip we got to know some real nice people, back packers, from the Netherlands, Ireland and England. After the last stop at a native village we all ended up at the “T Cafe” in Tanah Rata for a late lunch. That’s all for now, folks. 
Peder Strandh, Tanah Rata - Cameron Highlands - Malaysia             

Yesterday, on January 26′th, Maria and I started off by getting a private guided tour through the Peranakanhouse (Indonesian term for Chineese immigrants - 2:nd 3:d etcetera generation - who’s been integrated and married into the Malaysian culture) at the Baba & Nyonya (Mr and Mrs) Museum of Melaka. Later on a favorite, Limau Limau’s wonderful Lasagne on former Jonker Street. 

After this it was time for us to leave Melaka for Singapore. It was a little bit hard leaving the small and beatiful city by the Malaccan river. But we did - by bus from Melaka Sentral. A one way ticket 17 RM per person. 
After a four hour bus ride - getting off the bus in Johore Bahru, getting a stamp in our passports and getting on the bus again. Transportation for 1,3 km, crossing the Causeway seperating Singapore from Malaysia. And then - getting off the bus again, now carrying all our bagage with us through the x-ray machines and getting a new stamp by Singapore customs and after that hopping on our bus again.
Traffic jam on the “expressway” and finally reaching Singapore’s Lavender Bus Terminal by 9 pm. Getting a free bus ride on the number 167 local bus to our hotel “Dickson Court” near the junction Jalan Besar and Dickson Road.

When going out for a late meal and asking in the reception for a tip on some good neighborhood restaurants we happened to trigg a verbal fight between two Chineese gentlemen fighting on having the best suggestion. Interesting and very exotic

Today, Saturday 27′th, we’ve been out checking the landmarks of Singapore central business area, Sir Stamford Raffles statue (on landing place), Raffles Hotel, Suntec city, the “Walkie-Talkie Skyscraper” as I call it, and a brunch at the Boat Quay at Penny London-something-restaurant. Impressive but not very genuine.     
In the afternoon though, we visited the Singapore Botanic Gardens’ and their Orchid Gardens and got realy thrilled. So beautiful, lovely fragrancies and not to many people due to the rain. This was the days highlight, according to both of us.
Tomorrow, Sunday 28′th, we’re planning on leaving Singapore. The idea’d been to go to Batam (Riau in Indonesia). But we’ve changed our minds and head for Malaysias jungle and mountains in Cameron Highlands instead. Hang on guys!
Peder Strandh, Orchard Road - Singapore  

On wednesday morning (24/1) myself and Maria felt that we’d had enough of KL’s intensity and constant smog. So we desided to head for the coastal and historic city of Melaka instead. And just as easy as “a walk on the street” we got hold of a room at Hotel Puri in Melakas Chinatown. 
With its private garden offering a water fountain, palm trees and other tropical fauna as well as ”The Straits” newspaper adding loads and loads of antiques, it seemed like heaven coming here. A rather big minus on its account was the lousy Internet connection on the one and only Mac computer - Frustrating! Never the less, the beds gave us a real good nights sleep and the AC works perfect. 
       
Today we went out trying to get to know the town a little. The traces of the Portugeese, Dutch and British settlers are still strong in and around the central part of Dutch square all though the Chineese influence on the city scape is dominating.

Paying a visit to Malaysian artist Charles Cham’s boutique was a lot of fun and is recommended if visiting Malaysia and Melaka. After this we took a 30-minute ride with a Chinees driver in his trishaw. At the age of 69 he impressed on me a hole lot with his strength.   

The temperature yesterday (wednesday) was 33 degrees Celcius in KL as well as here in Melaka. But the breeze coming in from the Malacca strait makes it a much more comfortable place to be and also drastic increases the chanses for a northener dude like myself to cope.

The food is great and nature even better. But make no misstake about it, wether they’re Malaysian Chineese, Malaysian Indian or any other mix the people are the number one that makes Malaysia worth while. Genuinly friendly faces, helpful and often eager to conversate and share their “know abouts” generously. We’ve also noticed that many are interested and wants to know about Sweden, the swedes etcetera. In other words it’s a matter of cultural exchange of ideas - wich is great I think! Now it’s time for the afternoon tea in the garden. Over and out.

Peder Strandh, Melaka - Malaysia   

Tuesday was spent getting to know the 1,5 million city in the bowl named Klang Valley. Temperatures reaching 33 degrees Celcius and a humidety that “could drown a fish” makes one appreciate air con buses. Visiting the Petronas towers, Merdeka square and also getting to stick my foot in a pool of urin outside the National Palace surely made this day complete. Tomorrow, Wednesday, we’re planning on leaving KL for the historic site of Melaca (Malaca). That’s it for now.
Peder Strandh, Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia 

Leaving a snowy Sweden behind and a twelve hours flight later we were in Malaysiea. All though it was early in the morning, 6:40 am, the temperature was up at 25 degrees Celcius and humidety high. An authority stamp in the passport and off we went, heading for the KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) Ekspres, taking us down town KL. The train stopped at the central (sentral) after a 30 minute and 30 Ringit trip, and it was time to get our hands on a taxi (teksi).
For “the bargain” of 20 Ringit Malaysia (RM), sharing the vehicle with a hungarian bloke, we came to our hotel Allson Genesis - situated in the Golden Triangle area at around 9 am. Fortunately enough it was yet possible for us to check in at the early hour.

Both me and Maria were exhausted after the long flight wich probably explains why we emediately fell a sleep - on this wonderfull kingsize bed, in our room equiped with AC - thank God for that!

Seven hours later we woke up, had a shower and got out for a stroll around downtown KL. The afternoon rain had just ended and the streets was soaked. Amazing for northeners like us to see a flora of coconut palmtrees, banana plants and lots and lots more growing alongside the pavements. Majestic Petronas Towers, KL tower and several skyscrapers reaching out for the tropical cloudy sky. All this mixed with the traffic jam and people driving in the wrong directions, lanes (since they refuse to agree on driving on the right side of the road), made an impression on me that I will never forget. Maria has been to India in the late 90:s, so the culture chock was not that brutal to her at it was to me. But I like it in a weird way!
Kind and helpfull people with an easy going lifestyle and having no problem getting around with just speaking english.

We went down to the Central Market area, got ourselves something to eat and after that making our way through KL Chinatown. This was prety much what we had time and strength for at this, our first day in Malaysia.

Peder Strandh, Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia           

Some news except for the coming up trip. I´m pleased to anounce my presens on MySpace.com (see link below). Listen to four “new” Peder Strandh songs, perhaps leave a comment etcetera.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=147182516

This easter until Swedish mid summer (end of June) you can visit Peder Strandh´s exhibition in Simrishamn, south Sweden. Further info will be presented here in early March.
Peder Strandh 

Is everything packed? Underwear, medicins, did I remember to take that malaria profylax? Sleeping bag.. I might be recognized for a number of good personal qualities although organizing is not one of them. However, I´m not going to the the moon (I´m trying to tell my self) so I won´t have any trouble finding the basic necessitys I might have forgotten at our distant destination. Another issue bothering me is whether I´m handeling this blogg the correct way or not. Well, I´d better wait and see.
Peder Strandh