Where Am I Again? Oh Yes – Langkawi

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– 28/04/2011Posted in: Exploration Blog

New friends helping me celebrate my birthday - D, Ines, Me, Felix, and Mark

It has taken me a bit to get a post in for Langkawi and I have already been here two days.  But the pace here is significantly slower than in KL and I am taking that pace in fully and completely.  I got here on my birthday and the owner of the place where I am staying, Pondok Keladi (that’s the place – the owner is D) suggested we all go to dinner.  Ines and Felix are a great couple from Germany.  Mark is originally from England but now lives with D.

It's a little dark but this is my room at Pondok Keladi

Langkawi has a reputation for being a party island but it is off season first of all and secondly D’s place is not in amongst the main street and beach resorts.  It is about a 10 minute walk to the beach.  This is all very fine to me because this place is very peaceful and zen-like.  No complaints about noise or any of the other challenges I have experienced.  After our dinner at the Red Tomato, we all went back and D brought out a lovely bottle of sparkling wine to celebrate my birthday.  Since D and Mark don’t drink it was largely left to Ines, Felix and me.

Just outside my room which is one of six of the guest house.

Langkawi is a tropical island in all respects.  I will have to rent a scooter to get around more of the island which I will do today.  But it is mostly about beaches, water, relaxation and rest.  Everyday has been the threat of thunderstorms but aside from the odd lightening and thunder no rain has fallen just yet.  I actually wouldn’t mind if it did rain since everyday the temperature is about 32 – 34 C but feels like 40 – 42 C.  Sauna like.  I don’t know how anybody can get things done in this heat.  You end up feeling exhausted by early afternoon no matter how much water you drink.

The Pondok - the open common area. It is lovely with lounging beds, kitchen, music and fans.

I walked down to the beach the first day and yesterday and the water is  warm.  Very warm.  You have to go quite a way in to find some cool streams of water but it is just plain bath-like.  Every morning at 5:30 am you can hear the singing being piped out from the mosque.  Then again at 1:30 pm, 4:30 pm, 7:30 pm and 8:30 pm.  It is actually kind of pleasant to listen to.  There are lots of food stands everywhere but I have not been very hungry – the heat.  And being so near to a jungle you do deal with a lot of bugs everywhere.  Boy are we ever spoiled in our sterile living in North America.  K gotta – gonna go sit by a pool with Ines and Felix.

The nearby beach