Goodbye Perhentian-Hello Langkawi

29-30th July

Eating breakfast while watching the sunrise.

Of course we both ordered eggs sunny side up.

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Last breakfast at Bintang View Chalets was a sad occasion, as we really liked this place and the people running it. Their food was always excellent and fresh, and friendly service.

So I went for my last two dives, and David stayed doing his Swedish homework, while listening to heavy metal of course. And he sneaked in an hour of sun bathing, to relieve the stress of language learning. After that David bought flights to Vietnam, and Visa on Arrival is also sorted now. Its good to plan ahead, and cheaper too.

Long Beach

(it might be hard to believe, but I've seen longer)

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We caught the last speed boat to Kual Besut, to catch a bus to Kota Bharu. Once again, the Malaysian people (well te ones that have the pleasure of dealing with tourists) tell us lies about buses, in turn making us wait for 2 hours, while the taxi drivers laugh at us, and keep waiting like vultures for us to give up, and take their taxi, for 5 times the going bus price. However, on this occasion, we gave them the middle finger, and organised a car with a family going to Kota Bharu for a better fair. Wehoo.

On the way the heavens opened, and it started raing cats and dogs. Heavy thuder and lightning showers, monsoon style. That didn' stop our driver speeding and overtaking at any given moment. Scary stuff.

On arrival to the bus station, with an hour to spare, of course we were dropped off at the wrong station, meaning we had to take a taxi again. While David was getting a taxi organised, I was being harrased by a young boy, looking at my chest. (He was very fascinated by them). While still the heavy rain poured down, and us with no rain cover. Wet wet wet.

We made it none the less, as good travellers do, with empty stomachs since lunch time and aching limbs. For food we had to resort to youghurt and banana, the youghurt however had a life of its own when opened, it nearly ran off the table, thats how alive inside it was. The overnight bus followed, with its usual freezing tempertures, resembling Swedish winter.(Hence the multi coloured socks, as they retain more heat than normal ones).

Socks ar us!

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Arrival in Alor Star, was the same as usual. Bright and early at 5.45 am, so no public transport til 7 am. We had the approach from taxi men, with usual story. (The ferry leaves at 7, you should take a taxi, bus is not reliable, blah, blah,blah). Nice guys though. NOT

Angela (sleeping) and David (watching the bags, of course)

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Surprise surprise, there was a public bus going to the jetty, and for a third of the price. So our respect for taxi scum, still the same. (It does not exist).

Fishing boats (not the ferry boats)

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So here we are on Langkawi Island, it looks bigger than we are used to, but with many things to keep us busy here, so gonna enjoy it. Its low season here, so accomodation is not a problem, unlike the Perhentians.

Angela & David