Hiking

August 15 2017

From Krabi to Koh Phi Phi Island

Tobias Stricker Travel Log Beaches, Hiking, Koh Phi Phi, Krabi, Maya Bay, Thailand, Trails

About hiking to remote temples and sailing to idyllic islands – Travel log no. 88

Back on the mainland I took a bus to Krabi. Around 5 pm I arrived at my hostel. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t welcoming at all. Still I drove out to explore the Tiger Temple on top of a near by mountain. The only barrier between me and the temple should be the 1200 steps wet after hours of rain and the setting sun. Never the less I made it up there and the view should be definitely worth the risk.

Temple, Krabi — Before going up I explored this temple next to the 1200 stairs.

The way up was treacherous and long. Especially because the steps were wet, steep and with different heights.

Tiger Temple, Krabi — Finally at the top I was still able to grasp the sunset over the cloudy peaks.

Tiger Temple, Thailand — Another view from the other side of the Tiger Temple.

In the morning I left to Koh Phi Phi. A little bit to early since Krabi is really worth staying longer. It is less touristy, has beautiful beaches and cool hikes.

On the trip to Koh Phi Phi I met Philipp with whom I traveled the next days.

After checking into our hostel we explored the island together.

Viewpoint, Koh Phi Phi — Philipp and I sitting on a viewpoint overlooking the island of Koh Phi Phi.

The island is just inhabited due to the tourism. Never the less if you open yourself up to the idea you can still have a great time. We made some friends and went to the Banana bar to watch an open air movie. Afterwards we went to see Muay Thai boxing where everybody can compete in a fight for a bucket of booze.

Early in the morning I explored the small island by boat.

Ko Phi Phi Lee, Thailand — Ko Phi Phi Lee with it’s famous Maya Bay comes up on the horizon.

Pileh Lagoon, Thailand — Here a view from inside the Pileh Lagoon.

Pileh Lagoon, Koh Phi Phi — And another one facing the exit.

Loh Samah Bay, Thailand — Passing through the Loh Samah Bay.

Maya Bay, Thailand — Taking the last turn to the famous Maya Bay know from the movie “The Beach” with Leonardo Di Caprio.

Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi — Finally the view from inside the Maya Bay.

Limp but still happy I left the island to explore Phuket together with Philipp.

August 13 2017

Riding the scooter through Langkawi

Tobias Stricker Travel Log Beaches, Hiking, Langkawi, Malaysia, Scooter

About exploring beautiful beaches and high mountains – Travel log no. 87

From Penang I took the ferry to the island of Langkawi on the borders to Thailand. After 3 hours of bad sea and enduring a lot of puking from the other passengers we finally made it to the island.

At the hostel I met up with Niko who I already knew from Penang. Together we rented a scooter and explored the island of Langkawi.

Eagle, Langkawi — The symbol of the island of Langkawi.

At first we made it to the famous cable car from where you get a beautiful view on the whole island.

Cable Car, Langkawi — View on the mountain and cable car from the base.

Walls Falls, Langkawi — Never the less the view from the cable car was amazing already.

Platform, Langkawi — Here: Niko enjoying the view on the island.

Skybridge, Malaysia — The skybridge carrying on over the jungly rim of the mountain.

Falls, Langkawi — Back down again we checked out the falls close up.

Later the rest of the day we used to explore the paradisiacal beaches of the island.

Beach, Langkawi — A random beach on the way out.

Black Sand Beach, Langkawi — The black sand beach. Unfortunately not comparable with the one on Hawaii but still neat.

Datai Bay, Langkawi — Langkawi is one of the last places on earth where you can have a beautiful beach just for yourself. Like here on Datai Bay.

Paraglide, Langkawi — Furthermore a beach barely crowded and a paraglide on the horizon.

Tanjung Rhu Beach, Langkawi — Probably the most beautiful beach on the island: Tanjung Rhu Beach

Rhu Beach, Malaysia — Niko and I enjoying a Coconut on Rhu Beach.

In the morning the next day we took the scooter out to explore the Kilim Geo Forest with its mangroves.

Kilim, Langkawi — With a boat we explored the mangroves, it’s caves and wildlife.

Crocodile Cave, Langkawi — Passing through the crocodile cave.

Bat Cave, Langkawi — Within the bat cave we found lot’s of small fruit bats.

Mangroves, Langkawi — Lastly the mangroves on Langkawi.

Sunset, Langkawi — Finally another good stay goes to an end. Last but not least Niko is heading to Northern Thailand and I will explore Krabi.

Can’t wait to explore the differences in culture and nature in Thailand.

August 5 2017

The island of Penang

Tobias Stricker Travel Log George Town, Hiking, Malaysia, Penang, street-art

Exploring the smallest state, it’s art, beaches and mountains – Travel log no. 86

After another relaxed bus ride I checked into my hostel in George Town. Sure enough Val a girl I met already in Cameron Highland would check in right after me.

Together we rented a scooter and explored the city.

Clan Jetty, George Town — At first we walked down the docks of a clan jetty to watch the sunset. Back in the day each family had their own neighborhood build on the docks.

Penang, Malaysia — The sun is setting behind the Penang hill.

Floating Temple, George Town — Here a view on the floating Chinese temple on the next jetty.

Armenian Street, George Town — Our hostel was based on one of the most beautiful streets in town – The Armenian Street.

On the morning the next day we got up early to explore the National Park on the other side of the island. After an hour of riding the scooter through dense traffic we got there to hike to the turtle beach.

Bridge, National Park, Penang — Hiking through the park is beautiful. We passed many small bridges on the way to the beach.

Bridge, Penang — In the middle of the forest we came over this bridge. Unfortunately it was in bad shape and closed, like many other public sites in the park.

Turtle Beach, Malaysia — Finally we made it to the beach and had a swim.

Lake, Taman Negarra — The view on the fresh water lake in the back of the beach.

On the way home we stopped by the light temple.

Light Temple, George Town — This Buddhist temple is lid at night in ever changing colors.

Boats, George Town — Another view on the city at night with some boats floating along the beach.

On our last day together we hiked up the Penang Hill. What sounded like an easy hike took us exhausting 3 hours of climbing up muddy trails.

Monkey, George Town — All along the way we encountered with wild life. Here is a monkey mum with her baby.

Jungle, Penang Hill — Here a view of the jungle on the way up.

Penang Hill, Malaysia — Finally the view from atop was definitely a good reward. Unfortunately the cable car was broken but we found a ride down.

Finally down again we checked out some temples on the way home.

Indian Temple, Penang — On this picture you see an Indian temple at the foot of Penang Hill.

Chinese Temple, George Town — In addition to that a Chinese temple.

At last, after 2 days exploring the city we had to depart. In the end Val was flying off to Indonesia and I took the ferry to Langkawi.

Biker, George Town. — Last some of the street art of George Town.

March 31 2017

Hiking up the diamond head crater

Tobias Stricker Travel Log Diamond Head, Hawaii, Hiking, Waikiki

Culinary foods, relaxing on the beach and hiking up a volcano – Travel log no. 37

I got up around 8 am already feeling more recovered than the day before. Downstairs I head a couple of Pancakes for breakfast and made some new friends.

At first I went out to the beach with Lacey for a swim and really got into vacation feeling for the first time of my trip. It feels weird but finally I realize that I am not going back behind a desk any time soon.

We met up with Piotr and had some taco’s and a poke bowl at Kona Brewing Company.

Afterwards Piotr and I hiked up the Diamond Head Crater which is an old volcano.

Diamond Head Trail, Hawaii — The higher we got the more we got the felling for the dimensions of the crater and the island.

We got pretty lucky, usually they deny the access after 4:30pm, but we still got in around 4:50pm.

The hike was pretty steep but well paved, but we were already kind of tired of walking 1 hour up to the trail itself.

Bunker, Hawaii — The volcano was used a an old military base and is armed with old bunkers along the top of the rim.

We climbed up to one bunker and were rewarded with a beautiful view over Waikiki and the island O’ahu.

Waikiki, O'ahu — Outlook over O’ahu from atop of one of the bunkers.

We took a couple of cool pictures and made our way back into the sunset on the way to the hostel.

Waikiki, Hawaii — Piotr enjoying the view on Waikiki.

Back at the hostel we had a couple of drinks made new friends and enjoyed the beauty of the island at night.

Today I am planning on checking out the big surf at the Banzai Pipeline and doing some snorkeling.