Langkawi

day 8: let's explore the island a bit

Since the past days were exhausting and tiring from lots of walking, we wanted to relax and check out beaches ;). But let the relaxation start already at our chalet....open the curtains and oversee the great field from the bed and hop under the shower, being gently wakened by the morning sun shining trough our almost open roof :)....what a start, can't get any better, we thought!

Starting to take some pictures on our terrasse from the surrounding, which was more landscape than beach, suddenly the caddy drove by to bring our breakfast....9 o'clock on the spot! 


Grabbing some sandwich and a fruit juice on the way back to the tour office, we got into a bus to take us to the jetty. Besides us there was only a family with two kids and the two guys in front of us. They started talking to us and the trip turned out to be the four of us and the rest ;)
First stop was the Rhino Island, no idea why it's called like that. Beautiful turquois water and green hill islands around us, simply stunning!!
Second stop was another island close to the other with a lake on top of the hill. You could swim, but we were off to explore more...walking along the lake to a spot overseeing the ocean and lake at the same time!
After one hour stopover we had to return, which seems quite difficult having so many monkeys interested in our pockets and GoPro cameras :)))!!

Having a short stop watching numerous eagles flying around us to grab fish from the water surface, which our boat captains had thrown in, we got to the final spot....THE beach!! Swimming, relaxing and taking pictures....
Back on main land we met the guys at their hotel to go for dinner. The choice seemed not quite easy looking for a seafood restaurant because of many places in one street, but one place really flashed us. All the seafood presented alive in their aquarium for us to choose! Well, the lobster was not that cheap (600g for about 45€), but like the shrimps with rice for about 10€ was reasonable. Yummy food and tired after such a long day we went back to our resort.

Day 9: get around...

We met our newly friends from the day before at the car rental, had asked them to join us. They had early bird offers from 9 a.m. on, so we were the first to be there. But we're in Malaysia, so time works differently here...they opened thirty minutes later ;). Early bird for 105 RM (~25€) plus 40 RM insurance fee was ok divided by the four of us.
Our first stop should be the seven well waterfall, in which you could swim and slide from one well into the next one. Before we could explore this, we were told to climb up 800 stairs to the top! 
On the way down we checked out the end of the wells, the waterfall. Really high and in the middle of beautiful green nature! After we took some pictures, we stopped at the parking for some delicious fresh chilled coconut...and then headed towards the cable car!
Walking through a cute little village, but artificially made, we reached the cable car. The ride up with return was 35 RM (~10€), also reasonable.
Stopping at a middle station for some glimpse of the view we reached the top for an even greater view all over Langkawi island...also saw the nearby waterfalls seen earlier. But keep the best for last we went towards the sky bridge. Well the additional 5 RM fee and the exhausting walk to the very top didn't matter at all, the bridge and the view were amazing overlooking both sides of the island...

Since time was running fast and during lunch the family from island hopping the day before sitting next to us, told us that the Krokodile farm was not supposed to be the best attraction. Well then we skip that and go straight to a fruit farm, which the guys had heard of and was located the island center. Only twenty minutes of drive and we found it. Obviously we were the last tourist reaching this place just shortly before it closes at 5 p.m.! But the guide was so excited and in such a good mood to take each of us around for only 25 RM (~6€). We started at a fruit buffet with pinneapple, melon, star fruit and orange. Unfortunately it was not the season for most of the fruits we wanted to try: Mangostin, Jackfruit, Rambutan or Durian! Best would have been June/July.


And then he took us around the farm driving an open bus, explaining different fruits and stopping at different places to try freshly picked fruits from the trees...like passion fruit or water apples and star fruits, which taste much sweeter that we would expect!

After a fun tour we drove back to Cenang beach to not miss the sunset ;). We dropped the car off and quickly book our day trip to Koh Lipe for the next day. At the beach we met the guys and were just in time for the stunning sunset with chilled drinks!

Koh lipe

day 10: paradise on earth

The pick up at 7:30 by the travel agency brought us to the jetty, which at the same time was the immigration office. Filling out the departure and arrival cards, handing them to the officer they kept our passports to call us out from 9 a.m. on for further procedure. After calling us out they handed us some papers and told us to proceed to the immigration office, where they stamped passports and gave them back to us. Just as embarking the boat they took our passports again...we would get them back at arrival! Well, that was not in case of a day trip as we found out later. They placed all our passports into a cardboard box and we got on board...
Then just before reaching the island the water turned into different shades of blue and turquois with bright sun lighting up the calm water and sandy white beach...surrounded by little bars and resorts, nothing higher than the palm trees!! What a paradise on earth!!!
Finally reaching Koh Lipe after 1 1/2 hours at around eleven (Thailand time, six hours ahead, not seven) the ferry stopped at a swimming platform switching into little motored boats....the again stooped just 20 meters in front of the beach, so we steps into the purely clear warm water towards paradise ground ;)!
Passing the next procedure actually we ended up having free time from 12 o'clock until 3:30 to check back in at immigration office. So we walked down the walking street enjoying the flair....
As we sat in a beach bar and had some food....after lunch we found a massage place right next to the bar...only 300 Baht (~8€) one hour including free view to the ocean.

We enjoyed the rest of the time in the sun cooling off in the beautiful water.

Unfortunately the check in time 3:30 was reached and short after a small boat brought us to the ferry....too short time in total but definitely worth the 200 RM return (~50€) :)!
Next day we would move on for the next paradise island: Tioman on the East coast of Malaysia!
-> Tioman