Malaysia - Travel and Photography Tips (Page 2 of 4)

Malaysia - Travel and Photography Tips (page 2 of 4)

Hibiscus Blossom, Perak, Malaysia

Teleconverters leave the minimum focusing distance of a lens unchanged while simultaneously increasing the focal length, increasing the macro capabilities of any compatible lens. Combining them with extension tubes lets you focus even closer and can eliminate the need to carry additional macro equipment.

Prices

I have paid between $800 US and $1600 US for airfare to Malaysia. Once in a while you can find fares this low on the travel web sites, but that is not usually the case. You typically have to arrange things yourself, sometimes through a ticket broker. We usually fly a domestic airline to the west coast and then take an Asian airline the rest of the way. The equipment, comfort, and level of service, and price on Asian airlines like Cathay Pacific, Eva Air, and Malaysian Airlines puts our American airlines to shame. Northwest has consistently given me the worst domestic flights of my life and my worst flight to Malaysia too. I avoid them even if the fare elsewhere is a little higher.
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Once in Malaysia things cost about one fourth of what they’d cost here in the United States. The overall cost of a three or four week trip is more than it would be for a comparable domestic trip, but not much more. A typical local-style lunch can be had for a little more than $1.00 US. An excellent American style steak dinner in a restaurant with impeccable service costs about $14 US.

Borneo Anglehead Agamid, Sarawak, Borneo

The Borneo Anglehead Agamid (Gonocephalus borneensis) is one of the many strange, colorful, and difficult to identify lizards encountered in Borneo's rainforests. We came upon this lizard while photographing an orangutan. The orangutan's presence prevented the use of flash to take the photograph, so the shot was made in available light at 1/100 second, f 5.6, ISO 1600, at an effective focal length of 672mm. The lizard was 1.64 meters from the camera.

Seasons

There are two seasons, wet and dry. Both are very hot. The rainy monsoon season generally starts in October and lasts through February. Monsoon rains can be extremely heavy and sometimes cause widespread flooding. A range of mountains running north and south shield much of the west coast of the Malayan peninsula, including Kuala Lumpur, from the heaviest rains. The east coast of peninsular Malaysia and Borneo receive the brunt of these storms. I once went to Borneo during the monsoons and can say that it is probably not something you want to do. The heaviest downpours we have in Ohio look like sprinkles by comparison. Temperatures remain nearly constant throughout the year. Count on high temperatures of about 90 degrees Fahrenheit, with lows in the mid 70s every day. Relative humidity levels hover around 90%.

Sunrise and sunset times vary by only a few minutes over the course of a year. Sunrise is always between 7 AM and 7:30 AM, sunset is always between 7 PM and 7:30 PM. If you allow some time for error and plan on a 7 AM sunrise and a 7 PM sunset you'll always be at your destination on time.

Cooling Swim, Malayan Tiger, Perak Malaysia

A bright overcast sky produces ideal light at the edge of waterways or other clearings. Areas where different habitats come together generally produce more wildlife opportunities regardless of where in the world you photograph.

The Malayan Peninsula
As I mentioned already, the Malayan peninsula is far more developed than Borneo. The city of Kuala Lumpur has a population of just under 1.5 million and is surrounded by a number of suburbs with only slightly less population density. For a nature or wildlife photographer there are only a few places of potential interest around the city. For a person with an appetite for southeast Asian food the opportunities are unlimited. I am an admitted wimp when it comes to eating things I am not used to, but there is a nearly infinite array of foods that I find delicious. Those with a more advanced sense of culinary adventure may never want to leave Kuala Lumpur. Food is found absolutely everywhere in this and any other Malaysian city of significant size. There may be four or five restaurants in a given city block, each serving eight to ten different kinds of food. Then there are the food courts, each with dozens of vendors. If that's not enough there are street vendors too. Wherever you are, you are never more than a short stroll from truly great food. We have had many authentic Chinese, Malay, Indian, Iraqi, Japanese, Vietnamese, and western meals in Kuala Lumpur, and with very few exceptions it was all freshly made and wonderful tasting. It is little wonder that I always gain weight while I'm there. There are also foods that most westerners will not probably want. Just find out what you're getting before you order. Of course Kuala Lumpur has the same problems faced by all major cities in the world. The traffic is astounding and there is plenty of crime and urban sprawl.
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Alright, back to photography. Wild macaques have adapted to city life and they can be found in many park areas around and within the city. The Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens area has a big troop of these urban macaques. Local families often come with papayas and mangos to feed them, much like people in major American cities go with corn or bread to feed the ducks and geese in our urban parks. Of course neither practice is particularly good for the animals. Fortunately you don't have to feed the monkeys to get photos of them. In fact, when people feed them it is sometimes more difficult to obtain good images, unless you're after photos of a monkey with a slice of papaya in its hand or mouth. One word of caution here. These "city monkeys" can be very aggressive, and have even been known to rob people of shopping bags and other possessions. While this sounds hysterical, these monkeys are very strong and can produce an extremely nasty bite. Keep your distance and keep an eye on the branches above you. They are known to deliberately urinate on people and throw coconuts from high places. In addition to these city monkeys, there are beautiful botanical gardens and a wonderful bird park. The Kuala Lumpur Bird Park is the largest park of its kind in the world. It is essentially a big natural valley covered with netting. Most of the birds here have lots of room so they fly, nest, and behave as they would in the wild. The netting poses significant problems for photographers because it is often visible in the background of photos. Even so, but the park is worth a visit whether or not you take pictures.
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Beyond the urban areas things get more green but not more natural. Oil palm plantations are consuming Malaysia at an alarming rate, and you have to go quite a distance to find what remains of Malaysia's native rainforest. It does still exist in Taman Negara National Park and in other locations further north and along the east coast. The peninsula contains its share of extremely rare and endangered wildlife including Asian elephants, Sumatran rhinoceros, Malayan tigers, and clouded leopards. These animals exist only in certain areas, seeing one is extremely unlikely, and the assistance of someone familiar with both the animal and the area is a must if you want to try. Even then, pure luck is by far the dominant factor.

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