Flashpacking: The New Way of Backpacking

It was a calm and peaceful busy week, the funeral service and the prayers were occupying all the time over the weekend.

I personally want to thank everyone of you who had attended my dad's prayer and service last week.

Dad had been really strong for the past ten months, he was a tough, a leading role in the family, very charismatic and charming.

His love covered every corner, connecting everyone of us deeply to him from within, Dad, you will be missed, rest in peace. You are blessed with our love and prayer.

Flashpack, The New Way of Backpacking

If you take a closer look at flashpacker, they generally aged between early 20s to late 30s. I'm no doubt categorizing myself in this group due to several reasons.

These flashpackers want to travel like the backpackers but with more disposable income, which makes perfect sense in any way assuming they are from higher income group.

They have more budget, they would probably blow their budget with more meals, tours, beer, and parties. They carry more clothes, and more electronics such as iPod, laptop, nice camera.

Don't get me wrong, the flashpackers don't behave much differently than normal backpackers, it's just that the latter are more persistent and generally with better budgeting discipline unlike the first.

While flashpackers would probably compromise on budget looking for slightly better quality of traveling experience in basic amenities doesn't mean they don't bargain on every items and service purchased.

In short, the tolerance of expenditure could differ, but they all are seeking for the common thing in traveling, that is the fulfillment of cultural exploration and meeting up with new friends from all backgrounds with great stories to share.

I like the quote from How to travel the world, whether you are a backpacker or flashpacker, there's no difference in the spirit and soul.

Backpacking is about opening up your mind to new things and looking differently at the world, it's about the spirit, not about the amount you carry, and how much of flash you are.

Flashpacker, the new way of backpacking

So are you a backpacker or flashpacker? It doesn't really matter.

The Wonder Aquatic World, Pulau Tioman

This is the time in life, I'd want to get out of the house door and don't stop running until I'm totally exhausted.

It's been crazy weeks for me and my travel time and blog are first to be compromised to be set a side for while.

We all live in the same timespace defined by the Universe, racing against timeline and deliverables, given the equal time to complete some tasks whether we like it or not, we just have to do it.

One sensible I learnt to do is to stay positive, give all your best while you can.

Happy New Year! 

I wish you all the best in 2012 although the Mayan had predicted the end of world, apocalypse is coming this December 21 according to them.

The date that is regarded as the end date of 5,125 year long cycle in the Mesoamerican long count calendar.

I'd spend my time thinking about what to do next if the day doesn't come than worrying about it.

Nevertheless, it's still unbelievable that the Mayan's influence is so great and very exciting to see if the Mayans had actually predicted it rightly.

Do you know that there are still many Mayan descendants and languages being spoken today?

Tioman Island, East Malaysia

Tioman is a small lovely island located 32km off the east coast of East Malaysia, Pahang, 39km long and 12km wide, renowned for its diverse marine life and inland forest.

There were 4-5 stops before finally reaching Salang beach where I spent couple of nights, I chose Salang because it was recommended by my friend but I was sure they were pretty much the same except that Salang was nearer to the snorkeling spots.

Tioman, the perfect place for weekend retreat

Image taken from MalaysiaMap.org

Snorkeling and diving in the wonderful aquatic world of the South China Sea is always the key attraction to Pulau Tioman.

This resort is one of the more expensive ones in Salang

Sea transport

Wonderful day at Tioman

Getting into Tioman can be by sea or air, a conservation fee of RM10 will be incurred, I took the fast boat and it was about RM70 per trip which would double if you think you are coming back =).

There was only single jetty and single boat operator, it was a painful experience as the seat was typically lack of space for tall and big size travelers.

The malfunctioning air-cond on the way back wasn't helping at all it was unimaginable, incredibly suck and really screwed up the whole experience of Tioman.

I hope the boat operator and the travel agency would take a good look at the matter and fix the air-cond at least.

Resting booth at Tioman beach

Resting on the swinging hammock on the sunny day and listening to the sound of wave was heavenly joy particularly with Chang beer found from the one and only tax free store.

Tioman usually would have less travelers in September, I was worrying about the rainy season before the trip but it was all OK, and less travelers meant I had more quiet and quality time relaxing at the beach.

Snorkeling tour package to the neigbouring small islands was easily found along the beach for around RM80/USD28.

Make sure you rent a boat with roof, check with your tour guide before committing unless you love The Sun so much

Leaving the main island to snorkeling spots, Tioman

Salang Beach Resort

Salang Beach Resort offers non air-conditioning room for twin sharing starting from RM80/USD25 per night, RM110/35 with air-conditioning.

They also offer budgeted single room for only RM40/USD13, these wooden rooms carried beautiful local architectural design.

Salang Beach Resort

Salang Beach Resort

Resting area at door front, it's my drinking place in the morning, afternoon and night

The island remains considerably clean and unpolluted at most of the areas and is strictly enforced nature reserve by Malaysia authorities.

Tioman has less visitors if compared to some of the most famous islands such as Koh Phuket and Koh Samui in our culture-rich neighbour, Thailand due to some obvious reasons including the enforcement.

I believe the night life activities are also playing an important for a travelers like me though I can't speak for the most of them, besides the beautiful beach we need more pubs, beers, music and party!

All these are my personal demand and we know damn well that we can't possibly achieve that without compromising the pollution on the sea and land.

Anyway, I believe Tioman island (Pulau Tioman) is still the most sensible retreat destination at all time.

The Bridge of River Kwai and the Death Railway, Kanchanaburi

For many travelers, the main sight of interest would be The River Kwai Bridge, as the start of Death Railway link into Burma/Myanmar, as well as many associated museums.

It's not hard to image why the Thais see the province as one of the most beautiful provinces in Thailand with easy access to waterfalls and national parks.

If there's a better time to visit The River Kwai Bridge, it's going to be in the morning between 8am-10am.

Any trip to the popular bridge later than the recommended interval it should be compromised, the bridge will be filled with countless tourists attempting to capture good takes of photos of themselves with travel mates and the surroundings.

The River Kwai Bridge, Kanchanaburi

World War II scene, an important piece of time

It's clearly understood why you should wake up early when you are traveling to get the best out of your trip.

The bridge, neither the most eye-catching structure nor it's being beautifully decorated, was aesthetically significant if you understand the historical settings.

The River Kwai Bridge, Kanchanaburi

According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in Wikipedia:

"The notorious Burma-Siam railway, built by Commonwealth, Dutch and American prisoners of war, was a Japanese project driven by the need for improved communications to support the large Japanese army in Burma. During its construction, approximately 13,000 prisoners of war died and were buried along the railway. An estimated 80,000 to 100,000 civilians also died in the course of the project, chiefly forced labour brought from Malaya and the Dutch East Indies, or conscripted in Siam (Thailand) and Burma. Two labour forces, one based in Siam and the other in Burma worked from opposite ends of the line towards the centre."

An important piece of time, the River Kwai Bridge is situated at the up river, approximately 1.5KM from where I spent a night at the rafting Sugarcane Guesthouse, I've written briefly about Kanchanaburi's historical background.

Bicycles could be rented conveniently at the price of 20 Baht for a day to get around the town.

During World War 2, the Japanese used Allied prisoners of war to build a railway from Thailand to Burma so they could supply their army without the dangers of sending supplies by sea. 

Many prisoners died suffering under appalling conditions during its construction, and the line became known as the "Death Railway".

Riding on the 3rd class train was an exceptional experience

A closer look at the railway

The tour package I booked was about 1,000 Baht, it included trip to spend the day at Erawan waterfall, elephant riding and bamboo rafting.

The last stop would end at visiting the Death railway and riding the rail for couple of stops before dropping me off at River Kwai Bridge but I chose to return the next morning.

The bridge was bombed by the Allied in an attempt to halt Japanese's further intrusion

The bridge is an important supply link to the Japanese during WWII

The bridge over River Kwai

The bridge was the frequent target of bombing raids by the Allied in attempts to halt Japanese's further intrusion where they were believed to build the link to supply the war in Burma and India.

The Japanese would force the Allied prisoners of war out from the prisoner camp to line up on the bridge and to friendly wave off the threats of bombers.

The bridge was eventually taken out by the bombers in one of the strike, taking Allied prisoners of war with it. It's rebuilt after the war ended.