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09/06/2003: We are back at the east coast of Malaysia to enjoy the nice beaches once again before the season of the monsoon starts. We explore the north-east of the country - that means the two more conservative and very Muslim states Terengganu and Kelantan. Here 90% of the population are Malay and most of them are Muslims. The small villages with traditional houses along beaches lined with coconut palms are just marvellous. A friend we met in Kuala Lumpur invited us to stay in his beachhouse. Some days we enjoy the space and privacy of this typical Malay house with view over the ocean. We nearly have forgotten how it feels to have a roof over our heads ... but we get used to it very quick again!

08/31/2003: After negotiations with the British government the Independence of Malaysia was officially declared on August the 31st 1957. Since then this day is the national day and the Merdeka (Malay for independence) is celebrated every year on this date with joy all over the country. A month long many different events take place to celebrate this historical event (for example the 4x4 Merdeka Challenge. Highlight of the events is the evening of August the 30th where everybody celebrates the Merdeka-countdown and the big colourful parades on the Merdeka day itself. We are back right in time to join these big events. We start the evening before Merdeka on the Merdeka square where many people took there place with the whole family all over the place. The Prime Minister holds a speech and many cultural performances are shown to underline the unity of the nation despite the many different races and religions in Malaysia. Later we hurry to the KLCC, the modern business centre at the feet of the famous twintowers. Here also many thousand people - in average much younger than at the venue before - enjoy the exciting last minutes before the countdown. Here also is a stage is set up but here it's less classic that we here - more Malaysian Pop and Rock. The last seconds to the national day are counted down, at midnight many thousand voices cry: "Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!" and the national hymn is sung by (almost) everybody. After this patriotic moment immense fireworks light up the night sky over Kuala Lumpur and the twintowers shine in the colours of the rainbow. We are fascinated by the emotions that wave through the crowd surrounding us! The next morning a big parade takes place, for the first time in Putrajaya, the newly built administrative city. After the army, the police and the fire-fighters, many pretty decorated wagons of different companies line up to represent the economic power and development. A great event to celebrate this wonderful country!

08/28/2003: The closer we get to the National Day "Merdeka", the more active Malaysia gets: all the houses, streets and cars are decorated in the national colours, the national flag "Jalur Gemilang" is shown everywhere. With our friends of the "Land Rover owners club" we join a parade of Landrovers to celebrate the upcoming event. 40 Landrovers of all models and ages leave Kuala Lumpur in a police guided convoy. Two hours later we make pictures of all the cars and passengers in front of the Prime Ministers Offices in Putra Jaya. Our car is not as spectacular as the oldest model (built in 1956), but the only one with the steering wheel on the left side!

08/20/2003: On our way up the Malaysian west coast we spend some days in Melaka, the oldest town in Malaysia. In the 15th century it was the most important harbour at the coast of south-east Asia, many European ships stopped here on their way to or from China. At that time the sultan governed the city, but in 1511 the Portuguese took over the city to get their share of the trade along the coast. 1631 the Dutch conquered the city and left their marks before the British troops took over in 1795. The different regimes still life on in the buildings they left behind: the "Istana Sultana" is an impressive reconstruction of the Sultans palace; the "Porta Santiago" as the only part left standing by the British after destroying the mighty Portugues fortification. The "Stadthuys" was constructed 1650 and served a long time s administrative centre. All over the town centre we find buildings in various European styles which we did not expect here. On Board a rich decorated Trishaw - the local form of Taxis: a bicycle with sidecar for the transport of two people - we explore the town. Our chauffeur takes us to the heart of the Chinatown of Melaka, where we visit the noble mansions of the rich Chinese as well as temples of diverse religions. In the so-called "road of harmony" we see within some hundred meters a Taoist temple, a mosque and a Hinduism temple, all built in the 17th or 18th century.

08/15/2003: We need some patience! Crossing the border to Singapore takes us about two hours but finally we and our car enter this city-country! A success not every traveller manages: the strict borderposts and regulations kept many vehicles out of the county. Only a river separates Singapore from the peninsular Malaysia, but the difference between the two countries is clearly visible: here everything is crowded, organised, clean, modern - a typical industrialised nation. For two days we enjoy this city with its centre being home to numerous shopping centres. (Some Malays like to call this city a "shopping centre with its own flag".) Especially high-tech-stuff makes us turn our heads but with our budget we can't afford fooling around - even with the prizes we find here! But along the little streets we also find a different Singapore: temples, streetside restaurants, people that live and work here. Most of the people here are Chinese, but the tolerance between the races and religions is impressive: on this 590 km2 measuring island are more than 500 places of worship - Taoist, Hinduism and Buddhist temples, mosques, churches and synagogues. We also see some people praying in a Taoist temple and later in a Hinduism temple! With help of the internet we already had contact to the local "Land Rover Owners Club". Hannes and Veronika - both German - live here since fife years. They invited us to stay in their adorable spacious mansion in colonial style. We exchange our tent against a guestroom in the workers wing of the house - and enjoy the luxury! The weekend we spend with our hosts and some other club members on a small expedition into the Malaysian jungle. Fife Defenders fight in the Endau-Rompin Nationalpark against the mud in the rain. The cars slide down muddy hills or in hidden holes, little bridges break under the weight of the cars ... but working together long enough brings us all together to our goal and we enjoy the "Camel Trophy Feeling". After these experiences we are sure: the Malaysian jungle is something different than the African savannah or the Australian sandy desert!

08/10/2003: We park our car in Mersing and board the ferry to the Island Tioman, 50 kilometres off the eastern coast of Malaysia. Tioman might be the most touristic Malaysian island and walking or driving by boat are the only means of transportation on it. We start with a walk crossing the island from west to east through the jungle. The heat and humidity is quite challenging for us on that three hour track over the mountain that forms the island, but we are rewarded with impressive views of flora and fauna. We spot monkeys, monitors, squirrels and birds in many different sizes and colours between the thick green that surrounds us. Reaching the more quiet side of the island we hire a small bungalow between the palms on the beach. The view from our small terrace to the sea is only bordered by the sand, the sky and the coconut palms ... The next morning we start to explore the world on the other side of the beach: during two dives we discover many living things under water: fish, corals, nudibranches, seacucumbers and many other creatures demonstrate the diversity of live in this part of Malaysia!

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