This past year was an interesting one. We got to re-visit some places we had already been but more importantly we got to take in some of our dream destinations for the first time. We thought the best way to show you why we loved all the places we visited was through our favourite photos from each country. So sit back with a cup of coffee and come travel with us for a few moments.

Thailand:

Sea Canoeing in Thailand

Malaysia:

Thaipusam in Penang, Malaysia

New Zealand:

The stunning New Zealand Landscape

Jordan:

Petra at Night

Had to put this one in! the Bedouin girl in Jordan

London:

London Landmarks- The Tower Bridge

Brussels:

Prague:

The main Square in Prague

Russia:

The Astrakhan Kremlin in Russia

Kazakhstan:

The uncanny modern city of Astana in Kazakhstan

Mongolia:

Mongolian Traffic

Mexico:

The ruins of Tonina in Mexico

Jamaica:

Grabbing the Catamaran in Jamaica

Egypt:

Alexandria, Egypt

As I sit down to write this 2011 Adventure Travel Round up, I am in shock and awe that we really did all these things in a span of 365 days. The other day, Dave was telling his mom about our upcoming trip to Antarctica that we have in January and he said, “It’s going to be the trip of a lifetime” to which I replied “We’ve been having a lot of those lately” as I stopped to pinch myself. Is this really happening?

It is while putting it all down on words that I realized that we just lived a year of adventure travel that I never thought I would have the opportunity to ever do in my life. We left for Fiji last November knowing that we would be going to China afterwards but then, the plans were all up in the air. All we knew was that we were going to fly to Thailand to hang out for a bit because its a cheap place to visit.

It was then the Real Adventures Began.

2011 started off with us studying Muay Thai Kickboxing at Rawai Muay Thai in Phuket. We spent a month boxing, skipping, sparring, visiting an orphanage, learning the wai kru and making new friends.

Thailand

Muay Thai Training at Rawai Muay Thai

Malaysia

After a month in Thailand we had to do a visa run to Malaysia so we thought we’d stick around a bit to witness Thaipusam. This festival is an adventure unto itself. Imagine seeing people with spikes through their cheeks, hooks on their back and carrying heavy kavadis on their heads walk by you so close that you could reach out and touch them. It was our second time experiencing Thaipusam and no less thrilling.

Worshipper at Thaipusam, Malaysia

Thailand

We were then back in Thailand doing a great adventure with the Tourism Authority. They sent us on a two week custom itinerary showcasing the great adventures that Thailand has to offer. From rock climbing in Railay to paddling into sea caves of Phuket with high tide rushing in to add to the thrill. We then flew north to take a week long motorcycle journey to the Myanmar border through tea terraces, mountain passes and hill tribe villages. It all rounded off with a mountain bike adventure, elephant safari and longtail boat back to Chiang Rai.

Mountain Biking in Northern Thailand

New Zealand

Just when we were trying to figure out what to do next, we received an email from our good friend Melvin on Travel Dudes. “Do you guys want to go to New Zealand?”" I can’t do it so I recommended the Adventure Couple!” Do we!

Sadly, the earthquake hit 2 days before we arrived in Christchurch and we witnessed the devastation that an angry planet can reap on civilization. But the Kiwis are resilient and they pushed forward.

The Devastation in Christchurch, New Zealand

We shared their story with our readers telling people to not forget New Zealand. It’s still open for business and outside the city of Christchurch it was business as usual. Even though the country was mourning the loss of life, they were doing their best to rebuild and move forward.

And move Forward we did!

How can I sum up 6 weeks of the greatest adventure of our lives…Do I dare put photos in of the 30+ adventures we did day in day out?

Ok, that will be another post but for now, imagine every thrill you can think of that happens in the World’s Adventure Capital, add some more and that is what we did.

Adventures in New Zealand

Skydiving, bungy jumping, paragliding, flying a stunt plane, white water rafting class 5 rapids, swimming with dolphins, paddling through glow worm caves, riding a jet boat, 4X4ing through old gold mines, sand boarding, glacier hiking, sailing, cruising, paddling, eating, camping, hiking, you name it, we did it!

Mexico

While we were in New Zealand we received an email from Jordan to come and sample their adventures but first we had commitments at Rancho La Puerta in Mexico where we spent 1 week working out and detoxing in such classes as cardio drumming, African Dance, walking the Labyrinth and spinning the Hoola Hoop just to name a few!

Walking the Labyrinth after a Workout at Rancho La Puerta

Jordan

Directly from Mexico we then flew to Jordan where besides witnessing the beauty of Petra, the classic landscape of the Arabian Desert in Wadi Rum, the medicinal elements of the Dead Sea and the gorgeous views from the Dana River Reserve, we also had the chance to go Canyoning in Wadi Majub. We’ve always wanted to rappel over a waterfall and this was our chance. We slid down rocky dams, waded through rushing rivers and yes, we jumped over a cliff and lowered ourselves into the spray of the mighty waterfall!

Canyonning in Wadi Mujib, Jordan

There was no rest after Jordan, our greatest journey of 2011 had yet to begin.

The Mongol Rally

In July, we met our teammates Sherry Ott and Rick Griffin to take part in the Mongol Rally. A 10,000 mile drive in an inappropriate car from England to Mongolia through 13 countries. We drove through the Ukraine and Kazakhstan and Siberia! Yes, Siberia! We then dodged camels, yaks, serious potholes and herds of horses through the Gobi Desert. All while nursing a broken exhaust, tender tires that were constantly being punctured, a busted shock and most importantly a dead horn. No honking at the wildlife or just for the heck of it. It was just us and our duct taped gear shift keeping us company.

Mongol Rally River Crossings

Canada

It was late September when we were finally back in Canada.

It was wonderful to be around family and friends and it was here that we had the opportunity to do an adventure in our own back yard with Samba Days. We took a flight over our home city of Toronto and it was spectacular. It was nearly as thrilling as the Stunt Plane in New Zealand.

At The Toronto Island Airport Awaiting Take-Off

It was then off to Mexico. While we didn’t do adventures there, we did go to the Adventure Travel World Summit where we learned that in the tourism industry, 16% of all travellers are adventure travellers. That is awesome!

Jamaica

We rounded up the year with a soft adventure tour in Jamaica where we went Jamaican Bobsledding! We then spent the next 5 days sampling the islands other adventure activities such as ATVing, catamaran sailing, snorkelling, ziplining, hiking and mountain biking and finally eating spicy Jamaican Jerk Chicken at Scotchies.

Jamaican Bobsledding

We are heading to Seattle this weekend to watch a Seahawks game and then we’re jetting off to Cairo next week to speak at the ioeti Conference.  While it is not going to be a physical adventure, speaking to the Middle East Market about the future of Travel Blogging is definitely going to be an exciting moment in our lives and we can’t wait to end our year with this wonderful opportunity. Plus, we’re really looking forward to seeing Alexandria, we missed it during our last trip to Egypt.

I don’t know how we are going to top this year, but 2012 is starting off with a bang to Antarctica. More on that next week!

The Holiday season is fast approaching and while we may be all about Christmas here in Canada, we’ve got nothing on the astounding Asian Festivals that we’ve attended in the past.

Christmas in Beijing

We’ve been lucky enough to stumble upon some awesome festivals like Shilpgram in Udaipur India, Chinese New Year in Malaysia, A cremation ceremony in Bali and several other festivals around the world that we don’t even know the names of. Seriously! We have happened upon thousands of people gathering for an event, and at times, we never even found out what we were celebrating!

Anyhoo…

There are three Asian Festivals that stand out in our minds and if you happen to be heading that way in the New Year, you can catch them all, one each month!

Thaipusam, Malaysia

January/February

The most shocking Festival we’ve ever seen, Thaipusam in Malaysia will make your jaw drop. Happening at the end of January or early February, Thaipusam attracts two million people to pay homage to the Lord Muruga. That sounds pretty tame doesn’t it?

Well, Think Again. These worhshippers jam spikes through their cheeks, stab hooks in their backs and pull chariots and people with reigns attached to said hooks. Oh Yeah.

We have had the luxury of witnessing Thaipusam twice in a lifetime. Once at the Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur and another in Penang, Malaysia. The Batu Caves are far more intense and if you want to really feel overwhelmed I suggest going to that celebration starting at midnight on day one. Thousands of people walk from downtown to the caves 13 km away. It is here that they are put into a trance and pierced by a high priest before they begin their walk up the 272 steps to the impressive chamber of the Batu Caves.

Thaipusam is also celebrated in Mauritius and Singapore.

Holi, India

February/March

This Hindu Festival happens in the Spring where people throw coloured powders. It occurs at the end of February beginning of march. Burning away the Witch of the Winter. On the eve of Holi, bonfires are lit in the streets to cleanse the air of evil spirits.

Holi is a festive event.

People dance in the streets, music rings through the air and people throw coloured powders at each other and passers by. It is a time for people to put aside all caste, creed and prejudice. The colours bring all of India together in the bond of love. When covered with powders everyone is equal for this one brief moment.

A Meet up with Our Friends Becca and Julian

Try to celebrate it in Mathura, the Birthplace of Krishna. It is believed that the festival began with Krishna, so where else should you celebrate but the place most readily associated with him. However, there are several different stories regarding the origin of Holi. I can’t get them straight even after talking with people and looking it up. This link explains Holi’s different myths and legends quite well.

Instead, let’s just say that Holi is a fun time where India gets to party and forget about what class they come from for a couple of days. It is also a time when they can target crazy foreigners that are nuts enough to join in! Look out if your not from India, they’ll have a blast pelting you with coloured water, water balloons and handfuls of powder. You won’t be able to stop smiling until you get home and try to wash off the sticky mess.

Holi is also celebrated in Pakistan, Nepal, Surinam, Fiji and Mauritius.

Songkran, Thailand

April

Celebrating the coming of Spring, Songkran is the world’s largest water fight! Celebrated on the traditional Thail New Year is falls somewhere around mid April. It has turned into one big party where people line the streets throwing water at each other. People are armed with water guns and trucks drive through the festival route with giant barrels filled with ice water. Kids in the back scoop out bucket loads and throw them on innocent by standers.

Watch out if your a tourist, you are a prime target for the icy cold stuff.

It may be all fun and games now, but there is a religious element to Songkran. A Buddhist Holiday, Songkran takes place over 4 days. it is a time for households to cleanse their Buddhist statues with fragrant water. It is also a time to cleanse their house and start fresh for the New Year.

Chiang Mai in the North of Thailand is where Songkran is celebrated to the fullest and it is here that you will find thousands of people lined up along the moat of the Old City waiting to catch the barrage of people who make their way down for the festivities.

Celebrating Songkran along the Moat in Chiang Mai

If your not in Thailand at this time but at one of the many surrounding countries, never fear, they celebrate them too! Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Yunnan in China celebrate Songkran too!

Have you witnessed an amazing, astonishing, shocking or fun festival? What is your favourite and did you participate? Let us know Now! 

It is the most fascinating festival you will ever witness. Thaipusam is a Hindu Festival that happens every January or February.  It is celebrated by the Tamil community in Sri Lanka, India, Singapore and Mauritius. But nowhere celebrates it as big as Malaysia.  Celebrated during the full moon of the Tamil month of Thai, Thaipusam draws thousands of devotees paying their respects to the Lord Muruga.  It is a colourful and shocking Hindu festival where devotees pierce themselves with pins and spikes, hang pots and fruit off of their chests with hooks and pull chariots or people hanging onto heavy rope attached to their backs by hooks.

It is a day of celebration as devotees pray to the Lord Muruga for good luck in the coming year.  They thank him for a wish that was granted this past year or as I read in the paper, for the good grades they received in school.

Shocking Asia, Malaysia’s Thaipusam

The ages range from the very young. Babies have their heads shaves and piercings were as young as a 13 year girl to old men well into their 70′s.  They are offering penance to Lord Muruga for their own and various reasons.  We have had the privilege to experience two Thaipusam Festivals.  Our first was at the Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur in 2004, our second was Penang’s Celebrations in 2011.

There weren’t as many people in Penang as there were in Kuala Lumpur.  Over a million people make their way to the Batu Caves where as 20,000 people visit the waterfall temple in Penang.

The festivals are quite different in each city but each as equally shocking.

For a first time Thaipusam attendee, we would suggest going to the Batu Caves.  It is far more exciting and energetic.  The crowds are bigger and the devotees are far more outlandish and flamboyant.  At the Batu Caves, people seemed to be in a more crazed state of trance. Their eyes were wild and void of recognition.  The energy is more animalistic and frenzied.

In Penang, it is more reserved. The crowds are smaller, the devotees are calm and relaxed.  You feel as if you could walk up and talk to them, to ask them how they are feeling. They are in a trance, but seem to be very aware and present at the same time.

As a second time attendee, we enjoyed watching Thaipusam from Penang.

We could walk right up to devotees and take extreme close ups of their faces and backs.  We didn’t have to fight the crowd of a million people to catch a glimpse of a worshipper.  We enjoyed the quieter energy.  The devotees were just as devoted and impressive, there were just fewer and farther in between.

The pilgrimage route to the temple was shaded by trees and the steps to the top of the temple was shorter and less crowded.

We stood right beside a group from China and watched their handlers take care of their open wounds.  They bathed them with water and guarded the long spikes sticking out of their cheeks.

We felt that we could study Thaipusam and felt more a part of it rather than the far away observer that we were in Kuala Lumpur.

While I would never change my first experience of Thaipusam at the Batu Caves, I was grateful to be a part of the procession, the breaking of coconuts for good luck in the year ahead and an up close and personal observer of Amazing Thaipusam in Penang.

Here is our video from 2004. When we get some time 2011 will come out too.

It was  6 years ago at this time that we were introduced and shocked by the amazing festival called Thaipusam. We were sitting in Penang when we met two other travelers that told us about this crazy festival where people put spikes through their cheeks and hooks in their backs.  We made a plan to meet them in Kuala Lumpur to check it out and it was an amazing event.

This incredible event is happening tomorrow all over Malaysia and Singapore. Pilgrims pay homage to the Lord Muruga for different reasons as they make their pilgrimage to the Batu Caves carrying heavy Kevadis, pulling chariots and suffering through heat and exhaustion.

Thaipusam at the Batu Caves, Malaysia 2004

The Large Crowds at Thaipusam is Overwhelming

Spikes Through Cheeks is all part of Thaipusam

Pilgrim Suffers through Pain and Heat at Thaipusam

Fruit Hangs by hooks off of back of Pilgrim

Worshippers go into a Trance during Thaipusam

We didn’t think that we would ever witness another Thaipusam, but we find ourselves back in Malaysia at the very time it is happening again. Tomorrow we are witnessing our second Thaipusam in our lifetime.  This time in Penang.  We hear that it is quite different here than in KL and we look forward to making the comparison between the two places.

This is by far the most fascinating festival we have ever taken part in and we look forward again to being observers in the Mighty Hindu Festival known as Thaipusam.

Malaysia’s intrinsic colourful contrasts climax in spectacular Kuala Lumpur. The vast capital city is a zenith of culture and a dynamic urban metropolis. KL pulsates with shiny skyscrapers, feverish wet markets, lively pedestrian malls, venerable mosques and a wonderful, chaotic array of restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

With so much on tap, astute potential visitors should keep several key landmarks in mind before they consider accommodation options and hotels in Kuala Lumpur.

Central Market

The historic, Art Deco Central Market of Kuala Lumpur is far from a secret gem. The city is famously rife with furtive enclaves that proffer a multitude of markets, both wet and night, and untold, miscellaneous vendors. Nonetheless, Central Market is a must. Built by the British colonial authority in 1888, the heritage landmark is a one-stop shop for food, culture and civic life and opens daily from 10:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Be sure to visit the adjacent Annexe Gallery, the veritable “Art & Soul of Kuala Lumpur”.

Photo credit

National Art Gallery

The cultural landscape of a capital city is sadly incomplete without a premier fine arts museum. Thankfully, Malaysia has one in Kuala Lumpur’s magnificent National Art Gallery. While the modern facility is not quite the Guggenheim Bilbao, the museum certainly stands out amid KL’s wildly eclectic architectural cityscape. The permanent collection at the NAG is impressive and spans a wide range of disciplines.

Photo credit

Bazaar Baru

A surplus of nonpareil sensory stimuli is on hand in Chow Kit’s frenetic and extraordinary Bazaar Baru. The hyperactive KL hub has all the hallmarks of a classic Malaysian marketplace: loud vendors, pushy, purposeful shoppers, feral cats, potent smells, gory animal flesh, exotic produce and just a trace of sweet, hospitable claustrophobia.

Photo credit

Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve

Kuala Lumpur’s proclivity for vivid contrasts comes to life in Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve. The urban oasis thrives under the conspicuous loom of the colossal KL Tower and as a result, is curiously close to a bevy of predictable tourist traps, from theme restaurants to theme shops. Alas however, KL is not alone in this department and indeed, the rainforest is well worth a tour. Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, the implicit, precious lungs of KL, is the last bastion of primary woodland left in the metropolis. For a more immersive jungle wilderness escape however, head 20 minutes north of the city to Templer’s Park in the Klang Valley.

Photo credit

Suria KLCC and KLCC Park

On the other end of the tourist attraction spectrum is a massive retail and leisure complex at the base of the Petronas Towers. One of the best malls in Southeast Asia, Suria Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) proves how utterly futile it is to visit KL and fight off urges to indulge in rampant consumerism. Decidedly upmarket and sleek, Suria KLCC is a posh polar opposite of dingy (but fun) night markets. The fashionable mall, close to several fine KLCC hotels, has a variety of designer brand shops from Europe and Japan, a concert hall, art gallery, cineplex, science museum and a small but high-quality food court. For remarkable skyline photo ops, head outdoors to the lush confines of gorgeous KLCC Park to snap blog-worthy pics of the Petronas Towers.

Photo credit

Aquaria

The Aquaria is another vital KLCC landmark that deserves a whirl. The vast underwater marine park is home to more than 20,000 aquatic creatures, from hawksbill turtles to piranhas, sand tiger sharks to mammoth freshwater fish. A popular family destination in KL, the Aquaria won “Best Attraction in Malaysia” in 2009.

Photo credit

Kuala Lumpur was one of our favourite cities when we travelled through South East Asia in 2004.  We saw a lot of the city, but surprisingly we didn’t see many of these key landmarks.  When this guest post came into our inbox the other day, we thought it would be cool to share this list of places to visit in KL.

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Most of the time when Deb and I travel it is to see the country and meet the people. But we always seem to stumble across crazy festivals that never cease to amaze us.

From Thaipusam in Malaysia to the 500yr anniversary of the town of Hampi in India, we seem to have the knack of being in the right place at the right time. Below are just 5 of the crazy festivals we have been lucky enough to experience. Hope you enjoy.

Thaipusam- Batu Caves, Malaysia

Songkran- Chaing Mai, Thailand

Holi- Mathura, India

Adams Peak Pilgrimage- Ratnapura, Sri Lanka

Hampi 500yr Anniversary- Hampi, India

Waiting for the Hampi celebrations to begin!

The 500th anniversary of Hampi is in full swing!

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The tea feilds on The Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

When we were traveling in Malaysia, probably the last thing we expected to see was Tea plantations. But to our surprise, in central Malaysia, there is a place called The Cameron Highlands, where you can enjoy an afternoon cup of tea and fresh baked scones with cream. Who knew?

Not only does it produce great tea it also produced great colours and scenery. As we hiked through the hills of Central Malasia we were treated to views like this all day. So when you look at this image just imagine breathing in the cool mountain air and sipping a fresh cup of tea. Sounds like a relaxing Sunday to us!

Yesterday we had our first massage in India.  It was a memorable experience and you can read about it here.  We had the full body Ayurvedic Massage will therapeudic oils.  I am sure that we will be having more as we go through our travels in Asia.

It made us think about the other memorable massages that we have had around the world.  We love getting a massage, it is a luxury that we cannot afford to have regularly at home, so we take advantage of it whenever we travel.
Some experiences have been better than others and some stand our in our memories better than others.

Here is a list of our Top 5 most memorable massages

Reflexology: Penang Malaysia

In a back alley in the heritage city of Penang, Dave and I had our most painful experience while having a massage.  We thought it would be nice to have our aching feet massaged and tended too after traveling for about 4 months.  Well, this wasn’t your every day pamper me massage.  This foot therapy involved strong hands pushing on pressure points and not letting go until he was good and ready.  We squirmed in our seats and winced with pain while he prodded around our feet.  Our expert reflexologist told us exactly what was wrong with us and all of our ailments.  He was bang on about everything and even though it was painful, it was definitely an unforgettable massage for the feet.  Price: About $10

Back Bending Massage in Laos

We had been told my many that we had to get a massage in Laos.  We were in Vientiane when we had our first experience.  The two of us walked into a large room sectioned off with curtains and mats all over the floor. We had a massage side by side and these guys twisted our bodies in all directions.  They were pulling us back, sitting on top of us, pulling our arms.  It was a little scary at times, but we came out alive and feeling pretty limber to say the least.

About $5

Beach Massage in Vietnam

We were chilling out in Mui Ne after both experiencing about a week of illness.  A massage was just what the doctor ordered to make us feel better.  Two little unassuming women walked by as we lay on our lounges and asked us if we wanted a massage.  We decided to go for it and they put us through the wringer.  These little ladies had strength and they pounded and pressed on our muscles until we were literally black and blue.  Dave got the worst of it.  We assume since he was the man, the woman pushed even harder.  He had bruises all over his body for a week.

It was quite tender to touch as well. $3 bucks, you get what you pay for.

Heavenly Ethiopia Massage

We had just been riding our bicycles through Africa for nearly 2 months and by the time we reached Addis Ababa, we were in desperate need of some pampering.  We booked at room at the Ghion Hotel Resort a where they also had a spa.   Our muscles had been tight and sore since we left Cairo, so a massage was must.  We were led to separate rooms where we received our individual massages.  It was very sanitary and hospital like. But the massage was great.  Just the right amount of pressure to work out the knots, but not to hard that we were black and blue.  After the session was over, we were free to spend time in the steam room and  jacuzzi tub that they had just filled specifically for us.  We hopped in and out of the steam room from the cold water shower to the hot therapudic steam.  After a couple of hours there, we were ready for bed.  Luckily we had two rest days in Addis Ababa.

About $12

Bali Floral Bath and Massage

Ubud Bali is one of the most tranquil places on the Island.  It is a beautiful town set in the interior and it was a perfect place to book a massage.  We each booked individually, but they took us in together.  We walked into the office and were sent to a room where there were two tables side by side.  They closed the hospital like curtains then told us to take off our clothes and lay down.  We didn’t know how much we were supposed to take off so we stripped down to our birthday suits unsure if we were supposed to or not.  I guess that everything was O.K. Because they didn’t bat an eyelash when they came into the room.  It was a very soothing and professional massage.  They covered us with towels and worked on each section with expert hands.  After an hour, we were lead to another room where a floral bath was waiting for us both.  We hadn’t had a bath in months.  It was heavenly and we stayed in that tub until the water turned cool and our hands and feet pruned up.

About $10

Have you had some memorable rubdowns around the world? Let us know of a place where you had your best or most unique massage, we are always seeking out some pampering!

My 3 Best Kept Travel Secrets

We were recently nominated to participate in Tripbase’s “My 3 Best Kept Travel Secrets” game by our great Twitter friend, Isabelle of @IsabellesTravel. You can read Isabelles best kept travel secret here.

“The aim of this game is to unite travel bloggers in a joint endeavor – to create an amazing list of top travel recommendations across the globe to share with the entire online travel community.” – Katie from Tripbase.com.

So here are our Travel Adventure Secrets.

1. Pinnacles of Borneo

Everyone seems to know about climbing Mount Kinabalu in Malaysian Borneo, but one of our favorite adventures of our life was trekking to the Pinnacles of Gunung Mulu in Sarawak.  A stone forest of white and grey limestone, jutting 45 metres out of the earth in razor sharp formations.

It is an adventure just getting there. It takes two days to trek to the pinnacles.  After flying into Gunung Mulu National Park on a twin-engine airplane, you take a 2-hour boat ride to the start of an 8km trail.  After your long trek through the jungle it is a beautiful overnight at Camp 5 where you prepare for your summit push the following morning.  The steep climb is exhilarating and to finally reach the summit and witness this rare and awe-inspiring site is an incredible life experience. It is our little secret for when you make your way to Borneo, enjoy!

2. The White Desert of Egypt

Egypts white desert, not a secret for long.

Everyone thinks of the great Pyramids, the Sphinx, Abu Simble and the Luxor Temple.  But make your way out to Egypt’s interior and you will witness a true natural wonder.

Book an overnight safari where you will camp Bedouin style among giant monoliths scattered throughout the barren landscape.  Centuries of erosion have shaped these chalk formations into gigantic mushrooms, camels, hawks and mountains.

It is one of the most unique and thrilling opportunities a person can have in their life.

3. Huacachina Peru

Peru's Giant Sand dunes

Peru has many famous sites that have intrigued and fascinated the world.  It houses Macchu Pichu, Lake Titicaca and the Andes Mountains. However for us, one of the most exciting and adventurous destinations was in Huacachina.   Located in Ica Province, you will find some of the largest sand dunes in the world as you enjoy yourself at this beautiful Oasis.

Relaxing is nice, but all the fun starts when you take a dune buggy ride out to ride the giant dunes.  It is more exciting than a roller coaster as the skilled drivers climb steep hills only to fly down near vertical drops.

Sand boarding is a must and it can be done out in the middle of the desert on your excursion or grab a board from a guesthouse in Huacachina and make the hike on your own to the top of one of the surrounding dunes.  There isn’t a more beautiful site than to stand atop a giant peak during sunset while looking out over the endless desert sands.

And that my friends are our three best kept travel secrets with a little adventure team twist.

The object of the game is to tag other Blogs to take part.

Here are our 5 tags for you to check out their sites!

• Ottsworld
• TheTravelExpert(a)
• TheQFamilyAdventures
• ApproachGuides
• TheProfessionalHobo

Hands down one of our favorite adventure destinations on the planet is Malasyian Borneo.  Sabah and Sarawak are exciting provinces filled with beautiful scenery and exciting wildlife.

We had never even considered venturing to Borneo during our Asian Adventure, but when a fellow traveler told us of a great deal on flights from Air Asia, well we just had to go.

I remember seeing Julia Roberts on the Rosie O’Donnell show years earlier talking about an Orangutan Sanctuary that she had filmed a documentary about and that had always been something that I had wanted to see.  So our first stop upon Landing in Kota Kinabalu was to take a bus to Sepilok.  One of two Orangutan Rehabilitation Centres that we had the privilege to visit.

$20 per person goes towards the sanctuary and gives you access to the park and of course viewing the Orangutans during their feeding.  These incredible primates don’t have to come to the feeding if they don’t want to.  They have been rehabilitated and released back in to the wild. The feedings are for newly reintroduced Orangutans to come back to a familiar place.  They need to re-learn how to live on their own, and this helps them to make the transition easier.

To See Borneo’s Wildlife in Action, check out our featured video to the right of the page

The Viewing is absolutely breathtaking.  As the crowd sits on the boardwalk and waits, Orangutans slowly come swinging into view. One at a time they make their way to the platform where workers feed them banana’s and fresh fruit and for an expectant mother and her baby, bottles of formula and vitamins. Astounding.

We went to another Centre in Sarawak called Semenggoh.  This one is not as popular on the tourist track, but we found it to be even more rewarding. There were only 5 of us watching the Orangutans eat and luckily 3 showed up that day for some fresh banana’s and milk.  It is far more rustic and the feeding area is much farther away from the viewing platform than Sepilok, but that is what makes this Centre so special. The Orangutans are hardly exposed to humans at all making their transition that much easier for them.

The Orangutan sanctuary’s were some of the most memorable experiences of our life.  To see the work being done there is a testimate to the human spirit. With the clear cutting of jungle happening at astounding rates in Borneo due to Palm Oil Plantations, the habitat of the Orangutan is running out.  There needs to be more reserves like this if they are to survive.

Early Morning

After moving on from Sepilok, we caught a boat to Uncle Tans Jungle Safari. This rustic lodge is smack dab in the middle of the Jungle. Your days are jammed packed with wildlife viewing.  A morning river cruise to see Proboscis Monkeys, Orangutans and Macaques.  Daytime takes you on a trek through the jungle where you hunt for more wildlife. Wild Pigs hang around the camp and you will also learn all about medicinal plants of the rainforest.

Our Guide Shows us a Bat found in a Leave

Nights are exciting as well.  Take an evening boat ride to look for crocodiles and after dinner take a walk with your guide to see scorpions, spiders and other creepy crawly’s that come out in the dark.

scorpion

Sarawak has its fill of Wildlife too.

A trip to Bako National Park is a treat to walk through the trails and see the highest concentration of Proboscis Monkeys on the planet.  Stop and listen and you will be sure to see the leap and play in the trees above.  The park is filled with monkeys and wild pigs and we saw our fair share of snakes as well.

Wild Pig

If you make it to Gunung Mulu a must see is the 2 million bats that come out of deer cave every evening.  You will be in awe as the bats circle above feeding on insects. Their chain growing larger and larger with each pass.

Borneo is truly a wildlife and bird watchers paradise. There are so many places to view wildlife. We didn’t even talk about the underwater paradise of Sipidan and unfortunately we didn’t make it to the turtle sanctuary.  But that just give us many reasons to go back soon!

Mount Kinabalu, Sabah Borneo

The Legendary Rainforests of Borneo bring to mind images of towering trees, abundant wildlife and a wild foreboding rain forests filled with raging rivers.  Only great explorers would dare to go there, it was home to the Headhunter after all.

The Malaysian Borneo of today is a very different one of 50 years ago.  During the 70′s to 90′s the rain forest was cut down at an alarming rate becoming garden furniture and chopsticks.  Much of its jungle and habitat was wiped out. Sadly, forests are still being clear cut in Borneo to make room for Oil Palm Plantations and poaching of endangered species such as the Orangutan and the Clouded Leopard is on the rise; but there is a glimmer of hope.

The Endangered Orangutan

Conservation and reforestation methods are being introduced and 16% of Sabah’s forested area is protected.  And there are heavy penalties for poaching.  So, now is the time to get yourself to Borneo and see this magical land before it is too late.  Plus if there is one thing that I have learned in my travels, if people can make some money off of tourists coming to see their wildlife and nature, well, they will just work that much harder to protect it.

Our Picks for Top Things to do in Malaysian Borneo

Malaysian Borneo is broken up into two provinces. Sabah and Sarawak.

Each destination can be a trip in itself, but we want to share our top things for both provinces.

Sabah

1. Climbing Mount Kinabalu. South East Asia’s highest peak at 4095 meters in a magnificent climb over 2 days.  A two hour bus ride from Kota Kinabalu will take you to the parks gate where you can book the climb, your guide, accommodations and climb. It is recommended that you secure your permits in Kota Kinabalu before you go, but being Dave and Deb, we of course bought them on sight right after the bus let us off at the park. Not a problem though, we secured a climb for the next day with dorm accommodations at Laban Rata at 3500 meters.

• To read more about Mount Kinabalu, enjoy our post Mount Kinabalu, Two Tough Days in Borneo
  
• To see our climb click here to see our video of Cllimbing in Sabah

Dave and Deb at Mount Kinablu Borneo

By far one of the most heartwarming moments of my life was visiting our next destination in Borneo.

2. The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre

Lodging right beside the park, we stayed at the Sepilok Jungle Resort. A lodge right in the middle of the jungle with boardwalks twisting through the grounds. It is a short walk to the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre where we were treated to a video explaining the centre and what it has accomplished. Very interesting indeed, but the piéce de resistance is definitely all about the Orangutans. After walking along the jungle path with monkeys playing in the trees, we come out to the feeding platform. Every day, the orangutans can choose to come back for a hearty meal of fruit and vitamin milk. They are orangutans that have either been injured, rescued or orphaned that have been nursed back to health and let back into the jungle.  To make their transition easier, they can come back any time they want for a feast.

Semenggoh Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Sarawak

We loved it our time at Sepilok in Sabah province so much that when we went to Borneo’s other Province Sarawak to see the orangutans again. Semenggok Rehabilitation Centre is a far less visited rehab facility, but just as effective and more fulfilling I must say. It was just Dave, Myself and another couple watching the Orangutans munch on their banana’s.  A very touching experience.

Now it is time to see orangutans in the wild

Last Day at Uncle Tans, Sabah Borneo

3. Uncle Tans Jungle Safari

This lodge in Sabah was one of the coolest trips I have ever taken. Take a boat up the The Sungai (river) Kinabatangan right into the heart of the jungle of Borneo, and stay in this rustic camp for a few days.  Your meals and wildlife safaris are included, but if you want some alcohol, bring it with you.  It won’t be needed though because the days are packed.  You can get up at 6:00 am for a morning safari on the boat to check out the life on the river. Morning is a great time to see the Proboscis Monkey.  Another trek will take you into the jungle by foot where you will learn about plant life and smaller amphibians like, the smallest frog in the world.  There is another afternoon safari where you will see a ton of wildlife such as monitor lizards, wild orangutans, proboscis monkeys and civit cats. Then it is off again after dinner for a night safari where you will look for crocodiles.

Smallest Frog in the World

4. The Pinacles of Gunung Mulu National Park

There was so much to do at Gunung Mulu National park in Sarawak Borneo, that it must not be missed.  Fly into it on a twin engine plane and you already feel that you are in the middle of nowhere. We immediately booked out trek to the Pinnalces, the star attraction of the park and settled in for the night.  The next day started with a boat ride, stopping at various caves along the way until we reached the entrance to our trail. We were let off on the shore and proceeded to hike 8 km in the jungle, with two river crossing in the process. We eventually found our way to camp 5 in the middle of the jungle once again where we stayed overnight resting for our climb to the pinnacles.

Pinnacles of Gunung Mulu

First thing in the morning, our guide took us up a rigorous climb. At first we were climbing in slippery and steep jungle, but 3/4 of the way up, we came to the first of seventeen aluminum ladders. This is where it gets fun.  Climbing on ropes and ladders over crevasse’s and drops. It can be a little hair raising, but the payoff is worth it.  Once we emerge around a rock,we are treated to a view of  dozens of jagged limestone layers reaching forty metres high. Magnificent.

To see our climb to the Pinnacles of Borneo check out our video here

Dave at the Pinnacles Lookout

Once we were back at Gunung Mulu Park Headquarters, we made our way out to Deer Cave. It is the largest cave chamber in the world and here we were treated to a view of 2 million bats flying out at dusk to feed on the insects.  It was one of the most extraordinary sights I have ever seen in my life. A giant black cloud snaked through the sky performing and arial ballet in front of our eyes.

Bats at Deer Cave in Malaysian Borneo

And that takes us to the end of our Malaysian Borneo adventure, where we finally got to see the Proboscis Monkey up close and personal at Bako National Park

Proboscis Monkey, in Bako NP

5. Bako National Park, Sarawak Borneo.

Native only to the Island of Borneo, these peculiar monkeys are an intriguing sight.  A golden brown color with a pot belly and a snout nose, the Proboscis Monkey can be found all over Bako.  Walk quietly through the trails, stop to listen for a while and soon you will find yourself amongst a family playing and feeding above.  At first we couldn’t find a single one, that is until we realised that they were everywhere above us.  We just weren’t standing still long enough to notice.

Bako National Park Entrance in Sarawak

Getting to Bako is half of the fun. Permits and accomodation be arranged in Kutching, Sarawak’s Capital City and then you hop on a bus to catch a boat to Bako..  The boat is small and we enjoy the ride, but it is at the approach that it gets fun. Riding the tide in to the shore, we almost capsize in the waves, we make it fine though and spend the night chilling out at the headquarters.

Crossing another River in Borneo

There are so many amazing things to do in Borneo, that you need months to fit it all in.

There is diving in Sipadan, The Turtle Sanctuary at Turtle Island, Hiking the Headhunters trail, visiting a longhouse, and many more national parks. I truly is one of the great adventure destinations on the planet. Let’s just hope that the Malaysian government starts taking care of it so that Borneo will be there to enjoy for years to come.

The Famous BackPacker Ghetto of Kho San Road Bangkok

So you have been backpacking through South East Asia for a couple of months. You have travelled through several countries trekking over mountains, sleeping in dingy guest houses, wearing the same clothes for days and you haven’t had a decent shower in I don’t know how long.  Not the makings of a romantic travel situation for you and your partner.

Just like any other time in your life, couples that travel need to make the time to keep the relationship sizzling.  Backpacking is no exception. You can get so caught up in treks, seeing sights and partying, that you can loose sight of each other and simply turn into traveling buddies.  Well, here are some things you can do in South East Asia to chill out and bring a little romance back into your backpacking adeventure.

The romantic setting of Ubud brings back all romance to travels

1. Go for a massage and floral bath in Ubud, Bali – What better location than the centre of Bali surrounded by rice terraces, volcanoes, lush jungle and a feeling of what Bali must have felt like decades ago to take time for romance in your travels.  To the soft sound of traditional Balinese Music,  you can have your aching muscles worked on as you relax side by side.  It doesn’t end there. After you have completely relaxed, walk into the next room where a floral bath awaits.  When was the last time you had a bath during your travels in Asia?  You milk it for all its worth and sit in that tub until your skin prunes.  But you don’t care, you are rejuvenated, mellow and smelling a whole lot better.  Maybe a trip to the market is in order to spice up your travel clothes.  Top off the night with some wine and cheese at the Delicat restaurant.

A Pool in Paridise Makes Everyone Happy

A fine hotel will bring back any romance

2. Splurge on a hotel. We love Wotif.com to find an executive suite in Kuala Lumpur (or any big city for that matter).  We did this after months on the road, and it was heaven.  It cut into our budget a bit, but it was worth it.  For under $100 you can stay in a deluxe hotel at an extremely discounted rate.  We loved sitting in our white robes on our queen size bed so much that we went back to the Internet and booked another night.  It was worth every minute and we were ready to face the hassles of travel fresh and relaxed.  Yes, there was a pool too, but as many of you travelers know, a clean, comfortable and decadent bed is a luxury for any travel couple and we didn’t leave it for 2 days.

A Cruise Through Ha Long Bay to Bring Back Romance

3. Take a cruise on Ha Long Bay- Bring along some Vang Dalat, Vietnams cheap red wine and cruise through Vietnams most spectacular destination, the magnificent Ha Long Bay.  Lay on the top deck and watch the unique landscape pass you by.  You are surrounded by giant khart; thousands of limestone islands burst out of the South China Sea. The sky is blue and the breeze is cool and clam. You are fed a gourmet meal by an excellent cruise staff and will enjoy an evening under the stars in the most romantic place on earth.

Nha Trang Mud Baths to rekindle the Romance

4.Mud Baths of Nha Trang – So you have been fighting the touts of Vietnam for days, the pollution is taking its toll on your skin and that cracked heel that you developed just won’t go away.  You need a rest.  Just outside of Nha Trang there is a romantic little getaway, the theraputic mud baths.  Cover yourself in this cool goo and bake away your worries in the sun.  After rinsing off under the shower, pop into a hot tub and clear your mind.  The serenity and peace can lift your spirits back up to face the rigors of travel in Vietnam.  But wait, you can’t leave yet, you need to stretch this out for as long as possible.  Never fear, there is a warm pool that you can swim in and relax by.  Stay all day chatting with each other with no fear of being interrupted to buy a book or some flowers.  Just watch how you start to reconnect with each other and have those romantic feelings come surging back.

5. Meditate in Chang Mai – You can book a private 2 to 5 meditation course in Thailand’s Northern city of Chang Mai.  What better way to reconnect than to meditate together.  We had a private session where we learned how to meditate to music, did a laughing meditation and eventually worked our way into a full meditative silence.  Our teacher cooked us traditional vegetarian dishes, and we ended each day with learning some Tai Chi.  With both of us centered and relaxed, we could easily get through our travels in a more Zen Like state.  It is a wonderful thing to do together, you will both be feeling refreshed and optimistic at the same time.

Splurge on a nice meal for travel romance

Other Travel Romance Ideas

• Go on a dinner cruise-you are in a land that has water everywhere.  Splurge on a romantic night out feasting on the water.  Almost all destinations offer dinner cruises and nothing brings two people together more that fresh air, good food and gorgeous scenery.
• Take a traditional cooking course.  These are everywhere and can be a lot of fun. Fun is important in any relationship.
• Massage, Massage everywhere.  The thing that I love about South East Asia are the massages everywhere.  You can get a cheap traditional massage that does wonders for the backpackers body.  On the beach in Thailand, On the Beach in Vietnam,  In Lao, Indonesia.  In Cambodia, get the best massage at one the healing hands massage clinics where highly trained blind masseurs take care of every joint. In Malaysia, try something different and get a traditional reflexology foot massage. It can be painful, but they will fix you right up.
• Take the time to just be.  Too often we run around catching busses, seeing attractions, jumping on a trek and ticking things off of our list, that we don’t stop to just relax for a few days and do nothing. It is important to take the time to watch the sun go down and walk on  the beach with no plans for rushing off any time soon. Just Be.

Relaxing will Help you reconnect

As I look out the window of the small twin engine airplane that is taking me to my destination,  I am overwhelmed with the vastness of the jungle that lays below.

We are enroute to Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak, Borneo.

Malaysian Borneo’s southern province.

Here is where that my husband and I will be climbing to the Pinnacles, a stone forest jutting 45 metres out of the earth, in  razor sharp formations.

Part of the fun and challenge is getting to the Pinnacles.

Gunung Mulu is a remote National park reached only by plane and a short truck ride will take you to the parks headquarters in the middle of the jungle.

It is here that we book our dorm for the night and then look for people to trek to the Pinnacles with.  It helps to share the costs of the boat and guide otherwise it can be quite expensive.

Pulling boat on Pinnacle Trek in Borneo

The Pinnacles is not an easy undertaking. You must carry your own food to last for 3 days and carry with you on your back.

The trek itself involves a 2 hour boat ride to the start of an 8.9 km trail which takes you to camp 5 situated at the base of the Pinnacles.

We boarded our small motor boat at 7:00 am and started our journey up the Melinau River, stopping at  Wind Cave and Clearwater Caves.  The longest cave passage in South-East Asia.

The water was low at this time of year and our driver and navigator had their hands full pulling our boat through the shallow river while avoiding rocks and logs.  We were let off at the entrance to the trail,where arrangements were made to be picked up in two days.

The Trek to the Pinnacles

River Crossing in Gunung Mulu, Sarawak Borneo

Within one km of our 8.8km hike we had our first of 2 river crossings.  It was pretty deep and a rope was attached across the river as a safety line to keep from falling over as the water rushed passed.  We all made it safely and managed to keep our packs dry, but nobody could escape the leaches.  They smuggled their way into our socks and even though we did a thorough check, we still entered camp 5 a bloody mess.

We kept up a steady pace and reached our second river crossing in 2 hours.  This one wasn’t quite as intimidating.  No rope was provided, but it was only about 2 feet deep and the water was moving at a leisurely speed.

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We all did our required leach assessment and were on our way.

Camp 5, Torrential Downpour in Borneo

We made it to the Pinnacles base camp by early afternoon and had time to enjoy the views and went for a walk along the headhunters trail.

It is a beautiful location, surrounded by large cliffs,  a quiet stream and lush jungle. We made our dinner of noodle soup and crackers, played some cards and enjoyed meeting new friends.

In the early evening the rain came with a vengeance and we worried that we would not be able to climb to the Pinnacles the following morning.  The park rangers are very strict about not letting people on the trail if it is too dangerous, and this was our one and only shot.

No refund, no Pinnacles.

Needless to say, nobody slept well  in our basic accommodation of vinyl mats placed in a raised wooden platform.  The rain was relentless all night, but it managed to stop in the morning and thankfully we were allowed to climb.

We joined our guide Micheal at 6:00 to begin our climb. For the first hour Micheal kept up a furious pace and it was exhilarating to be climbing with such determination.  After a while, he fell back to stay with the slower climbers and we were on our own until we reached the upper portion of the climb, the 17 aluminum ladders.

Many people who try to climb the Pinnacles do not make it to the lookout.  It is not a high climb, it is steep, exhausting and it is technically challenging with no safety ropes.

We crossed crevasses on metal beams, balanced on rocks while holding onto a rope over head and climbed up ladders attached to the side of the cliff.  We had a blast, but I can see how some people would be very uncomfortable.

An hour later we emerged to the Awesome sight of the Pinnacles.

Giant grey and white stones, jut out of the jungle like razor sharp sharks teeth.  They were  majestically poised for our viewing.

The sight of the Pinnacles were a magnificent payoff to a difficult  and exciting climb.

Dave at The Pinnacles of Gunung Mulu National Park, Borneo

Soon the clouds rolled in bringing an ominous feel to the pinnacles.  That was our cue to leave as we had to be down before the weather rolled in .

5 hours later and a slippery and exhausting climb down, we were back at camp showering and relaxing.

The Break didn’t last for long however.

The following day we had to hike back the 8 km to meet our ride back to Gunung Mulu park headquarters.

We only had a short break upon our return as we had to hike 3 more km  to Deer Cave, the worlds largest cave opening.

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Here we witnessed the phenomenon of 2 million bats emerging from the depths of darkness to perform a ballet in the twilight sky.

2 Million bats fly out of Deer Cave in Borneo

It was all I could do to put one foot in front of the other walking along the path, but once the bats appeared, it was worth the exertion.

A giant line of bats circled above becoming longer with each pass until an endless black spiral was formed overhead. It was a wonder of nature.

To explore everything in Gunung Mulu National park could take months. The Sarawak Chamber, the largest cave chamber in the world, rock climbing,  the head hunters trail, The summit of Gunung Mulu and tthe Bario and Kelabit Highlands.  We only scratched the surface with our 5 days doing the Pinnacle Trek, but I am eagerly looking forward to returning in the near future to explore its vastness in depth.

When travelling to Malaysia, one normally doesn’t think of tea plantations and mountain chalets. But when visiting the Cameron Highlands in the country’s interior, that is exactly what you will find.

A former hill station for English settlers to escape the unbearable heat of Kuala Lumpur, this charming area is a must stop on anyone’s list when visiting Malaysia. Rich with lush jungle, rolling mountains, waterfalls and agriculture, one can lose themselves for days hiking its many trails and relaxing for afternoon tea and scones on a veranda overlooking breathtaking scenery.

The Cameron Highlands are a three-hour bus ride from Kuala Lumpur on a harrowing winding road. The trip can be hair raising accidents happen and local people seem to be unfazed by the unpredictictable driving. Sheer drops, narrow roads and a winding route will get your heart pumping. But you can take comfort in the fact that you are riding in luxury.

The buses are pure decadence in Malaysia. Super VIP buses for a mere, $10 buys you an over-sized fully reclining seat, English movies and western bathroom on board. The roads are in good condition and the drivers are quite skilled. Once you become used to the dizzying speed of driving in Asia, it becomes more bearable.

The views en-route are breathtaking. You are reminded of the rice terraces in Vietnam’s Sapa. Only instead of rice terraces, it is tea plantations. Mountainous terrain filled with trees full of vibrant green leaves blending together. Planted in neat rows, it is as if a giant knife has sliced lines through the solid canopy creating winding patterns in the rolling landscape.

Upon arrival in the main town of Tana Rata, several touts from surrounding guest-houses are there to greet you vying for your business. It can be a daunting task choosing the right accommodation, but there are plenty of places to stay and it is easy to get around.  Kang Travellers Lodge is a great choice and once settled in, one has to check out the towns many cafes and restaurants. Sitting down with a book and drinking tea and dipping scones are a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of most of Malaysia.

Dinner offers plenty of opportunities, but make sure not to miss out on the Steamboat dinners at one of the many restaurants offering them. The thinly sliced meat with vegetables and noodles cooked in a simmering pot at your table gives a welcome warmth to the cool highland evening.

It is the hiking and the jungle that brings one to the Cameron Highlands however, so make sure to grab a map and set out for one of the many trails in the area. A must do trail is Gunung Brinchang. It is the highest peak in Malaysia and starts from Sungai Palas. The 1 hour hike through the jungle trail takes you to a summit that offers spectacular panoramic views. Clouds sweep in and out over the mountains changing the scenery with each passing second.

Once you have soaked in the sights, a gentle walk down the road takes you past the Sungai Palas tea estate, offering beautiful photo opportunities. Deep green lines are etched into the mountains where millions of tea plants neatly planted in rows and patterns. Catching a ride back to town is easy. Friendly people will offer a seat in the back of their truck and you can stop for fresh fruit en route.

Several other trails can be explored as well, there are 14 in all. They take you to the beautiful Robinson Falls, Parit Falls, to a Buddhist Temple and around the Cameron Highlands Golf course. It is truly getting back to nature when one visits The Cameron Highlands in Malaysia.

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My lungs are burning as I gasp for breath in the thin mountain air.  I have been climbing for two hours in the darkness and I ask myself repeatedly, why am I doing this? My husband Dave has talked me into conquering Mount Kinabalu, in Borneo but I am having my doubts.

Am I actually capable of making it to the summit of South East Asia’s Highest Peak?

This 4095 metre mammoth is a 2-hour bus ride from Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo’s northern province.

As we ride along the winding mountain road, its unmistakable figure comes into view.  The dark jagged rock of Mount Kinabalu is a sharp contrast to the lush surrounding jungle and it’s an intimidating sight rising out of the deep valley.  My heart races just a bit faster and a burning question creeps into my mind.  “Am really going to climb that tomorrow?”

Left alone on the side of the road, we haul our packs onto our backs and walk anxiously towards the Mount Kinabalu park headquarters to book our trek.
It is an easy task to secure a spot on tomorrows climb.  The parks staff takes care of everything.  Just tell them that you want to climb the mountain, and they supply the guide, sell you your permits and book your rooms.
After signing our waivers, we settle into our cozy dorm to organize our packs for the two days ahead.  Managing to piece together hats, gloves and jackets, by accepting handouts and frantically shopping in Kuala Lumpur on Malaysia’s mainland, we feel ready to face the near freezing temperatures of Kinabalu’s summit.

The Kinabalu Climb

The first day of our climb starts at 7:30 a.m., where we meet our guide and the other members of our group.  A mini van takes us to Timpohon Gate at the base of the mountain where our journey begins.

Our climb up to Mount Kinabalu’s Summit will be lasting for two days and within the first 5 minutes; I am already exhausted.  My small daypack weighs heavy on my back as porters whiz by carrying giant barrels and cumbersome loads to supply the rest house, Laban Rata at 3500 metres.  It makes me appreciate the high cost of bottled water. Mount Kinabalu’s face is a steep grade and climbing the high steps is a struggle, but the views make it all worthwhile.

Rolling mountains of dense jungle under a vibrant blue sky blanketed with fluffy white clouds is a wondrous site.

Upon reaching Laban Rata, our resting spot for the night, we gratefully relax until dinner at sunset. Mount Kinabalu stretches above the clouds and we bask in the heat as we laze on the warm granite rock.

Sunset on Mount Kinabalu

The sky is ablaze with fiery reds and pinks illuminating the clouds pillowed below. We are on the top of Malaysia and really all of South East Asia.

The mood is festive, but there is no staying up late, the summit push starts early and we need all the rest we can get.

The temperature plummets during the night and it is a fitful sleep with anticipation for early in the morning. Bundled in layers, our group meets at 3:00 am to set off in the frigid air.  It is a struggle and I find it difficult to catch my breath, but a bottleneck on the first set of wooden steps forces us to keep a slow pace climbing in single file.  Soon, I find my rhythm and as if in a trance, I steadily climb the mighty Mount Mountain for 2 1/ 2 hours.

Kinabalu’s sheer granite face becomes near vertical as we gain altitude.  I pull myself up with great effort using ropes tethered to the rock, thankful for the darkness concealing the long drop into oblivion.
It is cold and dark and I am exhausted.

It feels as though we will never reach the summit and every step is excruciating.  My legs ache and my heart races.  I look down and see a long line of lights winding below and I am thankful that at least I am farther along than they are..
Breathlessly, we stumble up the last obstacle of precarious jagged rocks and arrive at the top in darkness wondering “is this it?” It is too dark to be certain.

After verifying that yes we are at the summit, we jostle for a position on the small peak, careful not to take a wrong step and fall into the deep canyon.  We perch ourselves on the edge of a rock facing east, and I am overcome with emotion until I realize that I have to wait for another hour until sunrise.  Huddling together, we wrap anything that we can find around our legs and shoulders to protect us from the freezing air but, nothing helps and we shiver in the cold.

Finally, the sun breaks out from below the horizon, lighting up the sky and warming our chilled bones revealing a magnificent view.  Surrounded by the vast mountains of Borneo I look into the plunging valley, and I am amazed that I made it.

We snap the obligatory photo of us standing at the summit of Mount Kinabalu – 4895 meters.

We conquered the fabled peak of Malaysia’s Borneo and suddenly we realize there us nothing left to do but to walk back down.

I thought that the walk up was difficult, but the walk down is twice the pain.

I now understand why they say that going down is the hardest part.  My legs cramp tighter with each step, and the distance seems to be endless.  I no longer care about the stunning vistas and panoramic views.  All I want is to get off of this mountain and to have this ordeal behind me.

With the final cruelty of steep steps leading up Timpohan Gate, we finally come to the end.  The sight of our mini van waiting for us brings an overwhelming sense of relief to know that I will soon be sitting down and I plunge into the seat feeling proud of my accomplishment.
It is amazing how quickly the mind forgets pain.  The next day on the bus back to Kota Kinabalu, we are already planning our next climb.  Kilimanjaro, here we come!

And yes, we did Kilimanjaro 3 years later.  It seemed less painful than Mount Kinabalu.  I really think that Borneo’s climb, which was shorter and took less time, was still a far more difficult mountain to conquer.

So if you conquer Mount Kinabalu in Malaysian Borneo, you definitely have some bragging rights in our books.

As my husband and I share a beer with a couple from England in the superbly preserved Malaysian city of Penang, I learn that we happen to have stumbled into the country at the most exciting time of the year.

It is the end of January and in a weeks time Thaipusam, a sacred Hindu Festival, will be in full swing all over the land!

We make plans to meet in Kuala Lumpur where the largest congregation of people will converge for a three-day festival at the Batu Caves.

According to the papers, 1.5 million people will be attending the Thaipusam pilgrimage this year and we are in the heart of the action. Staying at a guesthouse in Chinatown, we are only two blocks from the start of the procession where worshippers pay tribute to the Lord Muluga.

At midnight, devotees will begin the 13km walk from downtown Kuala Lumpur to the base of the Caves following his Golden Chariot.  It is here that they will be put into a trance and begin their journey up the 272 steps to the entrance of this vast chamber.

People take part in Thaipusam for different reasons.  Some to give thanks for a miracle which has happened in their lives, others to ask for a wish to be granted or to rid themselves of their sins by carrying burdens and piercing their bodies.  However, this is not your ordinary everyday piercing.  These devoted people have a Priest drive spikes through their cheeks and tongues or insert hooks into their backs and chests on which they hang various fruit or milk pots to add to the discomfort.  Some people carry Kevadi’s; giant cumbersome alters made of steal decorated with vibrant ribbons and peacock feathers, while others simply carry a pot full of coconut milk upon their heads to take to the cave as an offering.  A feat in itself due to the heat and number of people they have to push through.

We arrive at the Batu Caves 24 hours after the procession begins in the middle of the night by local bus. Drums are beating and people are chanting “Vel Vel” as the overwhelming crowd pushes forward towards the cave high in a cliff overhead.  It feels like a dream as you sway in the intense heat among the squeeze of people.  I work my way out of the procession to the safety of a drainage pipe over looking the masses for as far as the eye can see watching in awe as people pass.  Their wide eyes seeing through me as I snap my camera.

Sometimes devotees will break into a wild dance or let out a primal scream. Others are more playful and dance to the music putting beetle nut on the foreheads of onlookers.

They seem to be connected to something ancient and powerful feeling no pain and experiencing little fatigue due weeks of meditation, a strict diet and then finally a fast to help them prepare for this important event.

We are so enthralled with Thaipusam that we take the bus back to the caves the following morning.  Exhausted from the night before and working on only 2 hours of sleep, we haul ourselves out of bed to experience for a second time this once in a lifetime opportunity

The daylight hours take away a bit of the eeriness and we feel a little braver under the bright sky.  Hooks and spikes are bigger, kevadi’s are more ornate, and the worshippers are as committed as ever.

We have managed to join the procession this time walking up the steep flight of stairs with thousands of other people to enter the caves.  The sun is overwhelming and it is a relief to reach the cool darkness.

It is here that we are treated to an intimate view of people coming out of their trances, having their hooks and piercing removed and to watch some mischievous monkeys fight for bananas.

In a roped off area, each person reacts differently to the effects of their difficult task.  Some people faint once they have finished their pilgrimage and are surrounded by loved ones who massage feeling back into their arms and legs as they lie on the rocky floor.  Some bleed as their hooks are extracted from their backs and chests, but most of the time, not a drop of blood is spilled.  It is said that their deep trance and strict preparations, stop the flow.  Priests carefully take out the spikes and hooks, stuffing the wounds with ash and disinfecting them with lime.  It looks painful, but they seem oblivious.

The cave is quiet and calm, a contrast to the enormous energy and excitement of outside.  Their ordeal is over and burdens are lifted.  It seems almost anticlimactic to watch people talking casually, laughing with each other or walking calmly around the cave, taking in the sights.

The festival has come to an end and the only thing left is the long procession back to Kuala Lumpur where the Golden Chariot will return to it’s home at the Sri Mahamariamman Temple.

People will resume their lives as bankers or students, fathers and sisters feeling cleansed of their sins, released of their burdens and grateful for the opportunity to thank their Lord for a wish that he has granted.

We take the bus back to Kuala Lumpur and arrive in Chinatown for the final festivities of Chinese New Year.  Dragon and lion dances are taking place in the street, and once again, I find myself in a sea of people.  Only this time, the mood is completely different.  People are laughing and cheering as the talented acrobats perform overhead.  Children are boosted onto shoulders for a better view and lively drums are being played with enthusiasm.

It is an exciting time of year to be in Malaysia experiencing its rich culture to the fullest.

Thaipusam happens yearly in Malaysia at the end of January or beginning of February throughout the country.  Check Malaysia tourism at www.malaysiatoursism.com for more information.

Chinese New Year takes place near the end of January.

You can fly to Kuala Lumpur from Toronto via Malaysia Airlines for $1200 for a return flight.