Last day in Malaysia!

Overview of Penang.

It was our last day in Penang today, although it's been nice I'm happy that we are finally moving on to Thighland tomorrow!

It's been a dream of mine for a while now to go there and it's almost surreal that I'll be there in less than 24 hours. I'm filled with so much excitement and I have no doubt that Thailand won't disappoint me in any way, shape or form. 

We had a pretty chill day again today, got myself the sickest jean shorts and t-shirt for so cheap compared to back home. After lunch we came back to the hostel, sat on the porch and chilled in the warmth listening to music. Vee, Mar, Ross and I spent the whole day together, it was an awesome day loaded with laughter, good vibes and good company. 

Once we all got a bit antsy and in need of change of pace we all headed to the Danish Bryani House. This place has been great to us for sure we ate there 3-4 times and it was delish each time. One of the managers was super kind to us and made us feel right at home in a place we were unfamiliar with. 

Penang hill!

Vee and Mar had been on a search for masala spices to make masala tea and hadn't had any luck yet. This kind manager was nice enough to offer to show us where to get the proper spices along with the instructions on how to make authentic masala tea. What happened next will shock you ALL!!! Veronica Woroby hopped on the scooter with him and went to little India to fetch these hard to find spices... I was shocked that she actually got over the nerves and rode on the bike. I'm so proud of her, Asia is already changing her! I love seeing this side of her that I'm not sure she even knew existed. 

I truly believe that this trip will change us forever (in a good way of course). It's teaching me to have more patience and teaching Vee to let go a bit more (I wonder how it is to travel with an ADD person...haha). Since being here I've seen more bum guns (thing to clean your bum after going to the loo?) than I ever have, well actually I had never seen any before Asia lol. I can safely say with complete certainty that I will not be using a bum gun unless desperate measures presents itself! The secret to avoiding it is to always carry toilet paper with me:).

Lots of drinks in bags around here?

Anyway.....

It's only the beginning of our trip and we've already met some wicked people and I can't wait to meet more along our journey. At this point the British have my vote, ohh and that one guy we met from Dubai. We were trying to tell him that some places in Canada have previously gone down to -40 in the winter and his response to this was, "woah! It's cold like the fridge?" (Apparently Dubai can get up to +50). We all laughed and told him that it's quite a bit colder than the fridge, it's so funny to think that up to this day the coldest thing that this guy has experienced, is the fridge hahaha!

Ross and me:)

Alright well that was it for today, our bus ride to Koh Samui is booked, we leave at 5am tomorrow morning so sleepy time is in order for me here! Peace err'body!

A bientot,

Janelle Brine

Fed UP!

On the hunt to add to our few pieces of clothing today, Vee has finally had it and it's time to get what she calls "cutie shorts!". 

We went to Mugshot Cafe this morning to get some awesome fresh juice and tea. When Marleigh woke up she joined us for breakie, then once back at Reggae (hostel) we parted ways. Marleigh went to monkey beach with Ross and we headed to the mall to begin our hunt for "cutie stuff". 

The mall was about a 20 min walk and even though it was only 11 am it was already so hot out (apparently it's their monsoon season at the moment...??). All good though because once in the mall the A/C is cranked up to the fullest and we were frozen the whole time so really there's no winning, we just love to complain haha.

One of the stores we came across... Too funny!

Found Herbie !

First stop H&M I guess! Because we don't have that home right? Lol Vee found a few things but it was a struggle  unfortunately. For me on the other hand that's a different story. If I wanted to shop I could easily spend loads of money because men's clothing comes in smaller sizes here, in fault of all the skinny Asian men! Yay! And...... All I got was a pineapple watermelon shirt that cost me 6 bucks. 

We got hungry after a bit of shopping and found a vegan resto in the food court which was a score since we both ate for 4 bucks each (so much food too!). After the mall we went back to Reggae to see if Mar and Ross were back from the beach, but no luck! We hung out for a while in our pod then went back to Mugshot for another fresh juice. We did a bit of research and found a veg resto that seemed appealing to eat at for dinner. With Mar and Ross still not being back we decided to head out to dinner by ourselves. We went to Leaf Healthy Vegetarian Restaurant and it was great:)

At The resto, well said (little spelling error but that's ok!) 

On the way to and from dinner we saw lots of street art, they didn't lie when they us told that it's everywhere around penang. 

Shopping✅

Food✅

Vee by my side✅

Cozy bed✅

Sleepy time! Gnight peeps.

A bientot,

Janelle Brine

King of the hill

I'm soooooo damn sticky... All the time. Its so hot here that when I shower I'm sticky again before I even have time to get dressed. But I guess at the end of the day I'd rather be in warmth than in cold Canada, so I'll suck it up HA! Since being here I've really enjoyed only having a few options of clothing to choose from, it makes life so easy and efficient (Vee on the other hand, she's annoyed and want more clothes to choose from). 

Think about it though, why do we have to have a different outfit every day of the week back home but here it's the norm to wear the same one a few or more days in a row? Why does society make us feel like we need so much clothes and so much variety, ever thought of spending your money on something a bit more important? Maybe spend it on fresh high quality organic food instead? I don't know but I had a bit of an epiphany about a year ago and realized that I had way too much shit that I didn't need. I started getting rid of and stopped buying things I didn't need from then on.

It's such a vicious cycle that most of the world runs on. Work to buy things, get stuff you can't actually afford then go work some more to be able to afford those things. It's to the point where people are getting so burnt and stressed out because they're living paycheck to paycheck. GET RID OF SOME STUFF, people literally don't need 3/4 of the stuff they have and most people own maybe half of their things and are making payments on the rest of it. I will say this again and again...simplify your life, go back packing if you haven't already and see how you can easily live out of a bag for an extended amount of time. 

Ok enough about that for now! So today was our first full day in Penang and I'd say it was a pretty successful one! We woke up before everyone and headed out to grab some juice, we decided to only have juice and fruit until dinner today. We went to a little cafe that made us some fresh juice then we got the best and sweetest mangoes yet, perfect breakie! When we were walking down this one street there was loads of little stalls with different foods or nic nacs. At about three of these stalls in a row they were chopping raw meat on a news paper on the ground, soaking it in water buckets and slapping it on their table for people to buy. I already don't like to see meat period, but this was just overboard and plain unsanitary. There was chicken feet and fish heads everywhere, to say the least it was absolutely disgusting.

After that nightmare we went back to the hostel to meet the others so we could go find some street art that Penang is known for.

We founds so much and it was a great stroll around town. After that we commuted out to Penang Hill where we took a cable car to the top. Once at the top we saw some temples and a great view of the whole city.

After we got back down we all went to dinner at an Indian restaurant (of course) called Kapitan and had some solid food to fill our empty bellies. Pooped from the day and it's time for bed! So good night. Ox

A bientot,

Janelle Brine

Pee-nang!

This morning we got up from another awesome sleep in our temporary queen size bed and got ready to go get breakie before our departure out of Cameron Highlands. We ended up at the same curry house that we had dinner at, the night before to grab some fresh juice. Unfortunately this was the extent of our breakfast by cause of the slim pickings here in CH. I will admit that it has been a bit difficult to get the right food since we've been in Southeast Asia. It isn't so much that it's hard for restaurants to cater to our vegan lifestyle, it's more that they're having a hard time either understanding why we don't want animal products or understanding what we mean at all. I guess it's somewhat of a foreign thing for someone to not want meat, egg or dairy in their meals when most here are loaded with all of the above. 

Especially Chinese food, every single dish has animal products but we've come to realize that Indian food is easily made vegan or is already by default. I'm looking forward to Thailand where there is more of an abundance of fruit and also Thai food is my favourite so hopefully they will be able to cater to us.  

Sometimes I can see it in people's eyes that they're thinking about how either they could never or would never go vegan because it's too hard and annoying or that they just don't get why I do it. I wish people would ask more questions because then I would be able to educate them a bit more on my lifestyle. I've definitely learnt to not say much unless the person asks, so that they don't get offended or think that I'm trying to make them feel bad or lesser than me for eating meat. I've just come to realize that most people really just don't understand why I choose to live like I do, it's much deeper than most would think, it's not just about what I eat. 

It's about health, love and compassion for myself, the people around me and for all living sentient beings. "But Janelle, plants are alive so you're technically killing them when you eat them" well actually no because plants aren't sentient beings, meaning that they do not feel pain and or have emotions therefore, I'm not harming anyone or anything by eating them. Mother Nature has provided us with the most perfect food and it is so beautiful in its simplicity, nothing has ever been so easy. You want to live a long, vibrant and healthy life? Eat more plants!

Anywayyyyyyyyy!!! Back at the ranch. We left Cameron Highlands around 9 am and headed to Penang which was about a 4.5 hour bus ride.

The cool kids sit in the back of the bus.

Heading to Pee-nang we stopped along the way for a pee break where I used my first "squatter" toilet... Verdict, it wasn't so bad haha. All I can think is how lucky I am that squatting is easy for me but I can only imagine how hard it might be for certain people... Meh! Who knows, all I need to wore about is not missing the bowl! 

Once we got to Penang we trekked to our hostel and paid up for two nights at the Reggae Mansion. This hostel definately had the best beds yet, I feel like a kid again sleeping in our own little pod. It's just like the castles I used to build out of blankets and chairs when I was just a wee one. 

Sleeping beauty in the pod!

After settling in at the hostel we showered and headed out for dinner with Charlotte and Sophie, our new British friends (is it just me or is everything funnier in a British accent?). Following dinner we came back and was informed that today is ladies night and that free drinks are available from 6-11pm sooooo the girls decided they better take advantage of this offer. 

Reggae Mansion Hostel

Once the girls had a few free drinks, we decide to change locations and ended up at a bar that indicated on the chalk board outside "Buy 2 Mojitos get 1 free" so naturally a big group of girls (ohh and Ross our other new British friend) migrated to this offer. We talked to the owner for a minute then asked for some Mojitos and with absolute honesty he informed us that he didn't know how to make one........ (I know.. Wth right?). Charlotte ended up being allowed to go behind the bar and fix everyone a proper Mojito ha! Then me and Marleigh had a handstand off (that she won) in the middle of the street, which got the table a few free drinks, I guess they like handstands lol. 

Cool street art, all over town.

That was all for today we are in our private cave and going to bed, so goodnight!

A bientot,

Janelle Brine

Highlands High Rollers

Yesterday we travelled by bus from Kuala Lumpur to the Cameron Highlands. It's was. 3.5 hour drive up the windiest road I've ever been on or seen in my life and I swear to you the bus driver was trying to kill us. Zipping through like he was driving an impreza we got there safe and suicidal driving aside the view was quite amazing and absolutely beautiful. 

                                       

Once arrived in the Highlands we walked from the drop off to our guest house where we paid 30 bucks (10 each) to stay in our own private room with room service...??  Come on Canada get with the program here! After settling in we went to a curry house up the street and had an amazing dinner, to add to the wonderful dinning experience they were playing Michael Jackson and ABBA in an Arabic/Indian restaurant haha... So random, yet so awesome.

After dinner we hung out at the guest house, then went to bed.

Sunday January, 18th.

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Woke up very well rested today, it was definitely nice to sleep in a double bed. We had to get up fairly early this morning and get ready for our full day guided tour of the Cameron Highlands. This tour included: Tea Plantation, Mossy Forest, Butterfly Garden, Strawberry Farm, Time Tunnel and the Buddhist Temple. The guide was fantastic, kinda funny at times and very knowledgable, all in all it was a great day! 

We spent the day with two British girls that are on a similar route for their travels as we are so we've been bumping into them quite a bit the last week or so. Sophie and Charlotte were their names and they are definitely some rad chicks, I'm super happy we met them and got to all do the tour together.

       

We used the selfie stick all day and I think it may be the best purchase of the whole trip yet....

                                        

                                            Tea Plantation & Mossy Forest.

Now we are back at the guest house hanging out for a bit then out to the curry house again with the girl to have some dinner later. 

I have to say that up til now between Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Cameron Highlands the best things we've seen and experienced have all been outside of the city. While the big cities can be cool to see and interesting culture wise, I find much more pleasure in visiting things a bit less man made. Like I've said before and will keep saying, simplicity is so vital in ones life, because the biggest burdens in life are worries and wealth. Living a stress free life with no attachment to money will bring you an endless amount of happiness and thats all you need to understand life.

A bientot my friends,

Janelle Brine

Ballin' Batu

Hello world! 

I had a good feeling about today from the start, I knew that what we were about to experience was going to be nothing short of spectacular. 

When we woke up, ideally fruit would've been the best but peanut butter toast had to do this am. Around 10 am we headed out on our adventure, the plan today was to go to the Batu Caves for the majority of the morning and mid day. 

We had with us our new Canadian friend from the hostel, his name is Jesse, he's from Vancouver and is traveling from Singapore to Chiangmai in Thailand all on his steel frame bicycle. So fucking rad, this kid is too cool for words. While walking towards the entrance of the caves one of Jesse's friends was just leaving and warned us that he thought there wasn't much to see. Temporarily slightly disappointed, this feeling didn't last more than 2 minutes, once at the entrance with a view of the 272 steps up to the caves our disappointment vanished.

At the bottom of the stairs we looked up and got super excited because we spotted so many monkey so we all took our first step and got stopped. Apparently our shorts were too short therefore, we had to get these scarf looking things wrapped around our waists to be allowed up. All wrapped up and ready to go, we started climbing! The climb was so much fun from getting some exercise to seeing monkey stealing bags or full tins of Pringles from humans. So funny:)

At the top of the stairs we finally were able to see the beauty of these caves, they were larger than life and something we had never seen before that's for sure. Walking through and stopping to look at the natural beauty around us (and the monkeys of course) we were in awe and took loads of pictures, soaked it in and headed back down the stairs. I have to mention it one last time because none of us had ever been that close to a monkey but we were so amused by their craziness and they were nice when you fed them but otherwise they hissed at you. Either way it was awesome, I love this shit and it was definately the best thing I saw so far this trip.

Once we got back not much excitement happened, Vee and I went to do the laundry while Mar and Jesse went to central market, then we all met back up at the hostel. Out of nowhere, within seconds it started storming outside but when it slowed down we went for dinner, came back and went to bed. Big day tomorrow, we are traveling to the Cameron Highlands which is our next stop for a few days before going to Penang, Malaysia.

A bientot,

Janelle Brine

(Ma)laying around

Pretty chill day today, we didn't get up to much but still saw some sweet stuff. We woke up a bit later than planned mainly because there's no window in our room and is completely dark and we didn't think to set an alarm. When we finally got up and going we had a solid fruit breakie and tried to figure out our day along with our next stop in Malaysia. 

After laying around for a while we decided we better go see stuff before it's too late. We took a free transit bus (free, weird I know right?) to central market where there's a lot of random little stalls selling knock offs of everything you could ever think of, from raybans to beats headphones. We walked up and down this market for about an hour then ate and headed back to home base. 

More laying around happened, this is almost unintentional it's just nice to chill and do absolutely nothing sometimes and just knowing you're in another country makes it that much more enjoyable. No stress and living the simple life, this is exactly what life is all about; embrace simplicity. With laying around comes too much comfort sometimes therefore, we all passed right the fuck out for a few hours.

Once we woke up it was about 8pm and we had plans to go see the famous Petronas Towers after dark since they're all lit up at night. These are huge twin towers and I believe they're the biggest now that the ones in NY are no longer. They were spectacular and so beautiful especially lit up. While taking pictures we met a man named Maher, he is a student here however is originally from Dubai area I believe. We somehow got on the topic of weather and we mentioned how hot and sweaty we constantly are  here and he was telling us how this is on the cooler side for him because where he's from it can get up to +50.

We were explaining to him that in some places in Canada that it gets down to -50 sometimes and his mind was blown, which his reply to this was: it's cold like a fridge!? Haha I got a good kick out of that one. 

Only other thing worth mentioning today is that I'm definitely getting use to hearing two things when were out and about. One, hey miss I like your hair! And two, nice tattoo! I'd say every 5th person says either of those lines, could be worse right? :) oh and i didn't get a selfie stick yet, don't worry guys.

A bientot,

Janelle Brine