Welts On Your Stomach

Thailand, 4 years later ...

We thought back "home" somehow ... Well no, it's another side of Thailand that we discovered. More Muslim, a Buddhist monk. As border areas are often fragile. The south of the country is no exception. Tensions are still being felt ... We decided not to stop en route. Throughout the train journey, armed with machine guns watched all stations ... The course of this little piece of Thailand gave no indication that the well-being economy. Seated on wooden benches in the middle of many commodities, the compartment fan not working! Dripping with sweat, we had the opportunity to curse the false stops ... Fortunately the fruit vendors and drink followed another. Regularly, bales were thrown on the banks allowing banks to regain their original design and people to loosen. Paradoxically, this is when the contacts with the public have begun. We found people so friendly. The respect is palpable. The greeting is a witness! Palms together facing in the face with a slight tilt off a certain kindness enhanced by warm smile ... You quickly get used to saying "Sawat Di Kaa" accompanied by the gesture. It is not the same language. The nuances between the "g" and "k" are difficult to perceive without talking about "a" rising, descending, which extend or not ... We've also become illiterate. We laugh under the omnipresent gaze of the king which stands everywhere. In the streets, photos with his image with successive outfits and different postures. In railway stations, bus stations, restaurants, shops, private residences, etc.. framed by calendar, poster, alone or with his sweetheart he is part of the life of Thai people. It's a real reverence. Soon it was his birthday, we can all celebrate! Here on the local currency: Baht.

In Koh Mook, we attended the opening of a bar restaurant with a very nice team ... It was nice and friendly.

Thibault was surprised and intimidated and very moved when employees arrived with a birthday cake. The seven candles were lit that look on his face. It was a real surprise for this November 20, 2009. Once again the generosity of people has touched us all.

We also met some fishermen have been displaced since the tsunami ... A sign gives direction to be taken if another disaster happened. The population is now living with. But we have also benefited greatly from the beach, with or without rain. "" Hits has an inside! "shouted Emma.

Thibault and Emma have encountered these strange crustaceans called hermit crabs. By following these innumerable traces we inevitably stumbled upon their hiding places. They were so numerous that we have spent hours watching them or build them a castle.

Again, there are larger leaves as children. It weighs about two pounds. Thibault can not help but bring a discovery during his excursions. It will test its ability to float in a sea a little choppy ...

In Songkhla, we immerse ourselves slowly but surely in Thai culture. We take new bearings. To 15 hours we observe conservators vendors settle on a piece of road. We try various specialties and we find certain flavors ... The famous "Pad Thai" wrapped in an omelette. The back of pickup trucks becomes stall for a few hours.

Beautiful fishing boats plying the side of Songkhla. Colors, drawings and sculptures blend perfectly.

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Malaysia, a shared territory.

Malaysia: what was initially surprised to catch a bus as clean, air conditioned. Thibault has found that it looked like France as the highways were like ours! Kuala Lumpur we were impressed by its cosmopolitan. We rushed into the neighborhood Indian power back his thousand and one flavors. We immediately recognized the child was hidden behind the dark-skinned man named Indian! We rubbed the Chinese who stands behind the cash many stalls. We enjoyed a variety of soups with their chopsticks and the famous Peking duck. But we also enjoyed the western tastes during our reunion with my uncle ... and Malay cuisine you say? That's right! For some time, we wondered where were the Malay? On the island of Pangkor, we crossed several. This is most obvious in the national park in the center of the country before reaching its climax in Kota Bharu. We quickly feel that this country has undergone several waves of mass immigration. It is basically a union of several communities whose majority are Malay, Chinese and Indian. Outwardly, everything seems to be okay but by talking a bit we realize they do not mix them. All while the economy works well, everyone is benefiting ... A view of Kuala Lumpur from the large pool of Mandarin Oriental. A century earlier, British colonial architecture more like this ...

In a city airy, clean and civilized, like finding a small hairdresser popular in an alley.

We tried the exfoliation of dead skin using three types of fish (Garra rufa). At first it's terribly surprising and it tickles but ultimately we've got a taste. Tested and approved. is an example of Malay food! The big city to small villages, chains McDonalds or KFC in particular, are ubiquitous burgers. Rest assured, there are also healthier food made with rice, vegetables, meat or fish and coconut. We can also sample fruit salad with spiced vendors motor.

We expected a lot of nature. We were not disappointed even though we are not in Malaysia at the right time. It is the rainy season and the east coast is inaccessible to us with its islands known to be genuine pearls. We did not dare to leave on several days in the jungle for fear of spending more time in the tent than outside. We've still been able to walk several times medium and even large trees in the canopy. Yes, yes, this is quite exceptional to observe the rainforest to thirty meters above the ground! But we were also soaked from head to feet with leeches who hoisted higher and higher. The raindrops were big and warm. The trails that we had borrowed had turned into a stream in minutes. We were all euphoric four. We were more attentive to the sounds of these places were a green roof. In the blink of an eye, the atmosphere had completely changed. We still cross pheasants and black and white birds in the long tapered tail named "drongo". We have heard many others with cries more or less acute. The variety of plants has amazed us. Do not talk about trees with vines and roots intertwined ... The lights were also quite incredible. In my case, I kept a little low for hornbill that I observed at leisure on the island of Pangkor ...

looks like a bridge in the canopy.

ropes When it rains, our room is transformed into a laundry room. I grant you, it lacks a bit of heat!

Pangkor Island was a perfect stop with its wild coastline, its wooded terrain and numerous birds including the famous hornbill ...

In Kota Bharu, I was glad to find other means of transport than cars and the air-conditioned buses on the roads. The "becaks" 'rickshaws) mingled with traffic.

The road continues, this time to Thailand ...

Right Side Of The Throat Hurts

A little geography.

Hello everyone!

some time ago that I want a map of Indonesia to retrace our route. I did not really found my happiness when I started. I grant you, it lacks precision. This country is very extensive, it is difficult to represent on a small scale. Some are better than I fared! Finally, I hope that with the summary of the course, you can better visualize our (almost) five months of travel. Obviously, I mentioned that the places where we slept, not those of a getaway day.

Java: Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bromo, Probolinggo

boat, 45 minutes

Bali: Lovina, Ubud, Tirtagangga, Amed Padang Bay, Nusa Penida

Bateau 4-5 h

Lombok: Sheet, Sekotong, Mataram, Kuta, Tetebatu, Gili Air

Bateau

Sumbawa 1h30: Sape

Bateau 8 h

Flores: Labuhanbajo, Ruteng, Bajawa , Boawae, Koanara Moni, Ende

Croisière Labuhanbajo - Komodo - Côte Nord Sumbawa - Lombok

Lombok: Rinjani

Tour du Bateau 4 h

Bali: Kuta, Jatiluwih

Avion

4h Denpasar, Medan Sumatra: Medan, Bukit Lawang, Berestagi, Lac Toba, Bukittinggi

+ Bateau Bus: 30 h!

Malaisie: Kuala Lumpur, Île de Pangkor, Ipoh, Jerantut, Taman Negara and Kota Baruh.

Shiny Stone Heartgold

Sumatra, forests and volcanoes ...

Hi all!

For three weeks since we arrived on the island of Sumatra. Since the "air, she seemed very nice and flat with long sinuous meanderings ... We chose only to discover mountainous places.

We started hunting for orang utan using new technology known as Cell Phone! I just kidding. The guides are called and give information to better track the monkey gene pool close to man ... His agility, his dexterity surprising. His eyes are very expressive. It does not feel like making fun of him ... We met families of macaques, langurs Thomas (Presbytis thomasi), ants the size of the thumb of Emma and a snake coiled loosely around a branch. We heard the howling gibbons. Thibault and Emma had a blast with vines dangling everywhere.

To go see the orangutans there was still love the thrill to cross a river in the strong current ...

We discover the rainforest ... Between vines, roots and snakes, can get lost!

The king and queen of the forest the day.

We've scoured the flanks of the volcano Sibayak. He smoked a lot infiltrate leaving the smell of sulfur in our hair. We slalomed between fumaroles ... The panoramic view was splendid, the "atmosphere devoid of a tourism context made to Nature all its grandeur. The descent into the tree ferns and bamboo was beautiful. The intimacy and the silence that emanated from it called us to slow down, observe, to feel ... to smile to express well-being ...

During the ascent of the volcano we found many varieties of plants. We went in real tunnels of vegetation. It was fantastic!

We discovered the slippery slopes of the jungle in search of rafflesia . These are among the largest flowers in the world. Tentatively, we progressed behind a child fitted with a machete. We were on the lookout for leeches, etc. .. ... We have seen that the buds. The flowers were not open.

is the bud of a Rafflesia, which opens here once every five years. We went to see her in three days apart, but she would not hatch ... We do not control Mother Nature yet, fortunately!

Above, some previews of the jungle.

Going from one place to another, we crossed cultures of oil palm, rubber to manufacture rubber ... We also spent some time in the largest orchards in the country. I still saliva!

What's better than making a bamboo basket in the middle of the bamboo? They will be used to transport the fruit to various cities more or less similar. They export to Taiwan even cabbage!

the side of Berastagi, the variety of fruit is awesome! We tasted at least six species of mangoes, three of passion fruit, not to mention citrus, persimmons, etc. ....

In Sumatra, I was charmed by the ancient architecture. It was up to my expectations although unfortunately some old houses will perish quickly.

An example of architecture Batak side Berastagi. One is renovated, the other abandoned.

Further south, near Lake Toba, the architecture is different.

Both are above the Bukittinggi region. All the houses have roofs certainly not as elaborate. The latter is the renovation of the palace of King

cities often have little charm. Markets, many stalls offering hand clothes. Many people wear clothes patched ... People wear a hard face, expressions harsh ... but as we encounter everywhere Indonesian riders and always curious.

Women of the Batak people in the market of Berastagi.

Here is the paparazzi

Asia. We identified, finite intimacy!

During these four months spent in Indonesia, we have seen a bit of the string of islands. We leave behind many mysteries, secrets and dreams ... We are now moving to Malaysia.

The rainy season really started, we have an appointment with her each end of the afternoon ... you soon!