Langkawi Island 20/11

The day dawned fine and clear although had been raining at night. This pattern characterised almost our entire stay in Malaysia and we were very lucky as the NE Monsoon starts in November. We were picked up at 0900 and taken into the ferry terminal where we arranged to hire a small Proton car for 100 Ringitts (NZD 42) for 24 hours. We went to the local chart agency and arranged to collect the next day most west coast Malaysia charts as well as some Indonesian ones. Also bought courtesy flags for Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. All much cheaper than here.We then embarked on another island circumnavigation. Once clear of Kuah Town the scenery was beautiful. Soon after we found a boatyard and called in. There we found a Scotsman who said he couldn't live anywhere else because the price of beer would ruin him!! Had a discussion with him and his boss re our deck re-caulking problem and it appears we could put the boat into their shed with the mast in place. And labour costs half the price of NZ. So that's what we are going to do. We are keeping in touch with them.

Saw many beaches and resorts which would be great to come and stay at when next we are here. Some really outstanding places. Had lunch at another marina and continued on our way. Stopped at a wild life "park" but less than impressed with the conditions under which animals and birds were held. However found a "duty free" store and bought a bottle of Highland Park whisky (from the Orkney Islands) to replenish our diminishing supply!

Then happy but tired it was back to the Royal Langkawi still in time for happy hour and another very pleasant dinner overlooking the water and sunset.

21/11

Picked up our charts and flags and paid the bill. The owner "inadvertantly" had forgotten to credit the 50 Ringitts we had paid the previous day but once that was sorted all was well! Then back to the ferry terminal to return the car. We had a relaxed day before catching the ferry back to Pulau Penang at 1715. Spent the day in town having a leisurely lunch at a Chinese sports bar (!) and shopping for more clothes for the children. Beautiful sunset on the way back and then into Penang at 2030. Dark by then but Georgetown looked beautiful from the water all lit up. Good to be back at the Cititel.

22/11

Last full day in Malaysia! Feeling quite sad about that. Wandered the shops up and down Jalan Penang, lunch at a cafe and then took a taxi to the  marina at Port Swettenham. Very swept up facilities but suffers somewhat from the wash from the ferries - however, they are building a breakwater to hopefully fix that problem. We were dropped in Little India and then walked back to the Cititel by degrees including a refreshing Tiger at a backpacker on the way.  Checked the internet also while we were there.

After another siesta (we are now very mindful of Mad dogs and Englishmen!!) we enquired as to where we might find a very good Chinese restaurant. We were directed to the Foong Wet Heong, only a 5 minute walk from the hotel. Apparently at times there are queues in the street waiting for tables but we were lucky and arrived only about ten minutes before the rush. We had what was definitely the best Chinese meal we have ever had anywhere without question and our 6 dishes came to approx. NZD35 for the 2 of us. Another example of the value encountered in travelling in Malaysia. Unbelievable. Fully sated we then wended our way back to the hotel through the delicious warm tropical air, conscious that this was to be our last night in Malaysia. We savoured every moment.

Jean then fell into washerwoman mode again and washed all our sweaty clothes as she had been doing pretty much every night during the trip. She was great about this and in that regard it was no different from living on the boat except for not having to wash the sheets. We have lots of jokes about the "washerwoman" thing and now that we are back on the boat it's full swing again. We are moored right in front of the ablution block and it's a great social mecca when washing day is in full force.

But we digress.............

23/11

Again wandered up Jalan Penang and bought some gifts for Heather and Magan and our friends Hamish and Sara. Had a look at the Fatt Tze Mansion where one can stay - at a price. It was built by a wealthy Chinese merchant in the late 1700's and that had been a real rags to riches story. He became very wealthy and built this wonderful house which has now been restored to a very high standard. He was also a well known local philanthropist.

We left early for the airport hoping to secure the same seats as we had coming up on SQ to Auckland but were too early for the check in! We then found that they were taken so had to settle for what we could get. Had a good flight (1 and a half hours) on Silkair to Singapore and then an interminable transfer to another terminal by Skytrain and walking travelator to the SQ gate. That process took about 30 minutes and we weren't dawdling. Just as well there was enough time between flights. An example of security gone mad was water Jean bought just outside the departure gate and then we weren't allowed to take it on the plane. We had to tip it all out and then refill the bottles from a water fountain in the departure lounge. Seeing as how it was bought in a secure area in the first place we couldn't fathom that bit of logic!! Jean got a bit vocal with the security guy who in turn became quite stern!!

We took off at 2115 local time and then had nine and a half hours to Auckland. For some reason nowhere near as good a flight as going up but we landed on time at just after Noon NZDST on the 24th. (5 hour time difference). We followed quite a different route coming south too. When we went north we crossed Australia from somewhere north of Sydney and left Australian airspace near Broome in the NW. Coming the other way we crossed the coast near Perth and then came across the Great Australian Bight and Bass Straight before heading to Auckland. Probably travelling against the sun going this way was the main cause but we were exhausted and slept like the dead at Heather and Magan's. Jim didn't wake until 10 the next morning - still on Malaysia time!! 

All in all we had a wonderful time and it has gone in a flash - looking back it almost seems that it never happened. But that's air travel for you; when we travel back there on the boat at only one hundredth of the speed we're sure it will all be much more real!!

We hope you have enjoyed reading about our experiences and we are hoping to have some photos on the web site very soon. We just have to overcome our technological phobias!! It is now 0045 on Dec. 5th. and we are sailing later this morning for about a week where ever the wind blows us.