Langkawi: Back to Kuala Lumpur

I'm finally back in KL. Oh well, it's been two days, yea. I guess that's really how long it takes me to get synced into KL again.

Now just to give you a sense of timing. We checked out at 11am, hit the road by quarter past 11 towards the jetty. We reached Kuah jetty at quarter to 12 noon. We returned the rented car, had casual mamak lunch at Hameed's, peed and prayed, all at the jetty. We took the boat back to Penang at around 2.30pm, then from Penang we took the ferry back to Butterworth, Conveniently, the train station, the bus station and the ferry jetty are all located within Mariah Carey's high pitch away. Technically they're within the same vicinity. We then took a bus to KL and by 11pm, we arrived at Puduraya (now popularised as Pudu Sentral). Before midnight, we were already in the comfort of our cat-haired home, the kitties receiving us warmly for a scratch in their bellies.

All in all, we spent almost RM2K on the trip, practically everything we had lol. But I needed that break to celebrate the end of my radiotherapy, and Mr Khan needed it simply because, hailing from the mountainous Peshawar, he had never been on the beach his entire life and he wanted it to be special (Ok, why does that sound like he's popping his cherry for the first time? lol) I would've stayed on a different side of the island if ever I return to Langkawi. Perhaps at one of those resorts facing the Andaman Sea directly, where the water is crystal clear. I would've taken the Payar Island snorkeling trip, which was a wee bit out of our budget. But just in case you're going, remember that the package ranges from RM85 (USD24) up to RM200 (USD55) per person, all the packages being pretty much the same with the difference being the agent's range of commision. So if you care about getting the best for less, it's a good idea to get assistance from a local who won't take advantage of you. oh yeah there are such people. Plenty of them in fact.

I am planning to trip to Perhentian Island next, hopefully with my girlfriends (you know who you are!). And when I do, I'd give a detailed scoop on that trip. Inshaallah.

Langkawi: 3D Art Museum

I've been itching to go to this museum since the moment I say some FB friends posting artsy pictures of themselves in there. The entrance fee is quite hefty at RM38 per person. Mr Khan was unamused but as Stephen King once put it, 'words are my power' lol.

It's located in the Oriental Village where tha Skycab station is. This is also the place where you would find limitless choice of souvenirs, some rides, stalls selling food and offering caricature services and one of 'em giant clear plastic balls into which you can go in and roll your way on a small lake. I would certainly recommend that you spend a whole day here instead of half a day like we did.

So there's nothing to talk about this museum more than to show the pictures. Most of Mr Khan's photos are in our digicam so here are what I can share from my phone.

Langkawi: Skybridge

There is an action Hindi film called Don, starring Shahrukh Khan. This film is so popular and cultish to some that they try to go where the climax of the film was allegedly shot. Mr Khan was dying to get to the Skybridge in Langkawi that he actually sulked big time when we were told that we might miss the cutoff time to visit the bridge. I persevered through his tantrums and ensured that we sped our way towards the bridge. A child throwing tantrums is a tragedy, but when a full grown man does it, it's simply ugly lol.

So eventually, Alhamdulillah, we made it on time to walk through the bridge. The look on Mr Khan's face was rewarding, but honestly I was just too tired to enjoy it. The bridge was about 200 meters long, roughly. Maybe less. As you start from the beginning of the bridge, you will have the view of Malacca Strait on your right and the Andaman Sea on your left. We were there at sundown and the view was out of this world. I was speechless, but well, it doesn't take a lot to impress me. We walked from one end to the other and sat a while in the middle.

The Skybridge is undoubtedly strong, but when the wind up there gets stronger, the bridge subtly swings and that really gave me butterflies in my tummy. The sundown in the horizon of Andaman Sea was amazing. I was speechless most of the time and was drowning in exhilaration. Some women feel that way about shopping or drinking cocktail or wearing the latest Gucci collections. Me?  Nothing excites me more than natural beauty and the natural orders of this world. I can't thank God enough for all these.

Langkawi: Skycab

To get to the Skybridge, you have to take the Skycab. Technically it's a cable gondola that starts from a low point towards the top point. The fee is RM20 for Mykad holders and RM35 for those without. It includes some animated rollercoaster ride inside the Skydome, which you have to sit through before going into the gondola. At that point too, you can rent binoculars for RM8 each or RM10 for 2 units.

The Skycab takes about 10 minutes ride. There are two points at the top where you can stop and get to the conservatory tower to enjoy the view. The Skycab reminds me of Genting's cable car and Murree's cable chair. It's fun but for those with fear of height, I suggest you don't look down.

Langkawi: Pulau Beras Basah

Pulau Beras Basah literally translates into the Island of Wet Rice. I have no idea how the name came about. The boatman will leave you here for a good hour to take a dip in the water or to get a good tan on the beach. The water isn't too clear but it ain't dirty either. This will be the last stop in the series of Island-hopping. Please note that there is no public restroom on this island, so if you need to go, get creative, but be discreet. If you are into clear water sea and you have been to Redang Island or Perhentian Island, the water here will leave you unimpressed. But in my case, taking a man whose lives only revolves around mountains and sierras is a rewarding experience. Mr Khan, until this moment, had never taken a dip in the sea, so his excitement excited me.

Here, too, the wild monkeys are abundant so always be careful when you are carrying food.

Langkawi: Eagle-feeding

The next point to which the boatman will take you is the middle of the sea near an island where there are many eagles flying by. We didn't take any photos here, just videos on Mr Khan's camera. I don't find this exciting, although the abandoned island nearby is a bit of a mysterious attraction to me. According to the boatman, no one lives on that island since there isn't any source of fresh water. I imagine this to be an interesting choice of location to shoot a thriller or a horror film. *hint hint*

Langkawi: Knackered

Yesterday was such an exhausting day, albeit it being a fun one. I really pushed my boundaries to the max, physically and emotionally. I'll update today our activity yesterday shortly.

Langkawi: Tasik Dayang Bunting

Tasik Dayang Bunting literally translates as the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden. If you believe in legend, you will hear preposterous accounts of how a fairy came to earth and fell in love, got pregnant and later found out she was cast a love spell. She later threw the baby in the lake and returned to fairyland. The boatman will even stop in the middle of the sea at a specific spot to show you a particular angle of the hills on that island that resembles a pregnant woman lying on her back. If you ask me, I'd say screw the legend and just enjoy the natural beauty of this allegedly largest natural lake around.

Visiting this lake is part of the island-hopping package. For RM25(or RM35 in our case since the agent took a whopping RM10 extra each), you will be boated to three different locations, two of them islands. So Tasik Dayang Bunting is located conveniently on Pulau Dayang Bunting (Island of the Pregnant Maiden), which will be the first island you are taken to. Once aboard the island, it requires you about 400 meter climb up and down the hill before you eventually reach the lake, cradled right in the middle of the island.

A word of advice: the elders and people with feet or knee problem may want to reconsider the hike. It is quite challenging and by the time you are done having fun on that lake, you will need to go through the same climbing ordeal. I'd do it for love, but if it wasn't for Mr Khan, I would well remember my vow some time ago never to put myself through that hassle again.

Once there, you will find there a small booth that rents out life jackets and some cycling boats, whatever the name is. The small booth is located on a platform made of toughened bottled plastic, or something like that, and that's where the cycling boats are docked too. The platform is strong yet gives you a floating feeling. You are free to swim in the 20 meter deep lake. The water is somewhat murky, and I know of many people who would get giddy at the idea of something lurking underwater. So if you are one of those people, save yourself the trouble. Otherwise, it's a great experience to take a dip.

The boatman will give you an hour at the lake, so with the climb up and down taken into account, you only have about half and hour on the lake. Plan your time well so as not to be abandoned by your boat.

There are plenty of monkeys on this island and they can get quite violent if you are carrying food. Avoid carrying food in your hands and just put them all in your bag. Don't be fooled by their cuteness.

Whether you are going there in the morning or afternoon, the sun can get quite harsh on your skin. For snow queens like me, several layers of sunblock are necessary. For those looking to get a tan, this is your moment.

Langkawi: Island-Hopping: the beginning

So this is the jetty where we are tkaing the boat for an island-hopping activity. You can see our hotel , Langkawi World Resort (formerly known as Awana Porto Malai Langkawi) on the right side of the photo and in the middle to left are the boats awaiting their patrons.

Island-hopping is an activity where we take a boat that'll take us to 3 different islands for four hours. I'll update further once we are there.

Langkawi: Sunrise in Tanjung Malai

Peace be upon all of you.

The summer wind
came blowin' in
from across the sea
It lingered there,
to touch your hair
and walk with me
All summer long
we sang a song
and then we strolled that golden sand
Two sweethearts and the summer wind.

We woke up to this magnificent sunrise this morning. My heart keeps beating chapter Ar-Rahman repeatedly.

We're off for breakfast now and then island hopping. May you too have a blessed day throughout.

Langkawi: The dream weaver

Langkawi: Here we are

We got onto the boat to Langkawi a little over 8.30am, and by 9 we were speeding in open water. We reached Langkawi jetty in Kuah at about 11ish, I really forgot to check the time. Perhaps excitement got the better of me. We hopped off the boat and rented a car. Public transport's route is not something you wanna spend time studying during a short stay in Langkawi, so instead of spending a few hundreds on cab rides, I decided to rent a car for RM110 for 2 days. I wouldn't say it's a bargain since I know it could go lower, but it's cheap enough. I know for a fact that foreigners are charged twice as much if not more.

We got a Kia Picanto, then paid for an island hopping experience tomorrow morning, had a kampung lunch near the jetty and then took off to our hotel. The drive was about 20 minutes towards Cenang Beach where our hotel is located. We got there and was given a room looking off towards the gulf. It was quite a walk to Block 4 since we opted for a single king bed instead of two double beds. By the time we reached our room, I was beginning to regret choosing a block so far from the lobby.

I remember the hotel being so majestic in those years when I came to Langkawi before. Each room is either facing the garden or the sea, with the latter with a breathtaking scenery. But after being bought over and renamed Langkawi World Resort instead of Awana Porto Malai, the room rates significantly decrease from RM1000++ pernight to just RM200-RM300 pernight. So I took this opportunity to experience staying at a hotel room where the balcony door opens up to the open sea. But I have to say that the years haven't been gentle on the hotel. The upkeep is relatively poor in general. It's clean, but some fixtures are old-fashioned and not well maintained. Frankly though I am easy to please, so by my standard, this place is heavenly.

Mr Khan apparently was too tired from not getting enough sleep, so upon checking in, he fell asleep and screwed our plan to explore the sky bridge and cable car. It's minutes to 4pm now and we would probably just take a drive around the island before dusk, if he even wakes up early enough.

I'll update in the next post of our next activity. Till then, hang tight. Toodles!

Langkawi: Here I come. Again!

We woke up right after the fajr adhan came on air. By 7am we already hit the road, chasing a CAT shuttle to Sweetenham Pier. We had breakfast at the pier canteen, where the meehoon was heavenly and the iced Milo was subpar. By the time we got here at the departure hall, we are the minorities with others being the western foreigners. I chatted up an old couple sitting next to me who carry really old-fashioned luggage. Somehow I can sense reservations, most probably due to the way I am dressed, but who gives a hoot haha. It's my country and back here, you can get away with wearing too much or too little. Bur then again, one can never judge.

We are awaiting the boat now. Will update later.

Penang: Pendekar Musytar

What can be sweeter than three high school friends driving hours from home to pick you up for dinner on a week night just because they missed you? Exactly. Not much. Rozette, Azy and Mazerq came all the way from mainland to take me out for dinner in Penang. Rozette and Azy both have an early day at work tomorrow while Mazerq, the house wife, came with a baby in tow. I felt so touched.

Anyways, Pendekar Musytar was a warrior whose character was used exhaustively in classical Malay movies, specifically P. Ramlee's Bujang Lapok series. A character. Or so I thought. So according my high school junior, Keirun, who also happened to be my toing, this guy really existed and he happened to be her husband's great grandfather!

So that was where we went for dinner. We had nasi lemak kukus at Keirun's husband's stall and the nasi lemak is out of this world! I couldn't believe I got to meet friends I haven't met in years! After dinner and bidding farewell to Keirun, Azy took us for a drive around the island. Honestly her driving sent my kidneys switching positions a couple of times, but considering she just learned to drive after ordeals in her life, I'd say wow! Azy is a survivor!

I walked a whole lot today. I haven't walked this much in such a long time. I am so knackered. But my joy offset the exhaustion and I can honestly say I feel so alive!

I need to travel more. I can see myself going to places with friends who would be happy to receive me: Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Texas, and Brazil.

Now, if only I can afford it. Lol

Penang: The art of being artistic

One thing becoming popular of late in Penang is the grafitti scattered all around Georgetown particularly, done artistically. Georgetown has been playing host to a number of art and literature events since the past few years.

In fact I actually saw A Samad Said at Butterworth train station while waiting for the shuttle van to ferry jetty at dawn. I felt compelled to say hi and asked for a selfie (he was with a woman, wife or daughter, not to sure) but Mr Khan was sleepy and grumpy at that time and I was half dragged into his tantrum, so I wasn't in the mood to be chatty.

Anyways, we had a becha (trishaw) ride to Hameediyah for a late lunch. I honestly can't remember the last time I took a becha in Penang. It has to be at least 15 years ago, or perhaps longer. It wasn't anything to shout about, unless you enjoy a slow ride around Georgetown's nostalgic lanes. Some buildings actually triggered specific memories, mostly with Opah (my grandmother) and some with other people. I can't say it was an entirely cheerful feeling. I did get teary a bit, mostly because I have been missing those memories. Things were simpler. Penang was my world and Opah was the world President. Oh, how time flies.

Mr Khan is all dressed up today to meet an old friend and a potential business associate. After being on that becha, he told me that he felt ashamed of getting on a becha being cycled by an old man who should be resting at home at his age. Where he's coming from, old men just rest and young men would work for a living. I told him in Malaysia, men and women both still work at sunset ages, some till they die. I feel him, but I guess when the young ones care less and less about their elderly, it is natural to expect this to happen. Not that I agree with it though.

After sending Mr Khan off to the jetty, I walked back to the hotel. I wanted to take the shuttle bus but the cold-hearted driver told me it was a short walk and threw me off the bus. Apparently walking is normal in Penang, while I can't say the same about KL. Perhaps it was because of the pretty sights that I didn't feel too tired of walking such distance. Perhaps because I walked ever so slowly. Upon reaching the hotel room though, I collapsed into bed lol.

I've done jama' though I forgot to do qasar for Dzuhr and Asr. I'd do both for Maghrib and Ishaa later. I love that about travelling. That I get to do both jama' and qasar. That my du'a will be more mustajab than normal days. That I get to push my boundaries, exceed my expectations and expand my horizons simply by exploring this beautiful dunya.

I also realise that I am most drowning in gratitude when I am travelling. Which of the Lord's favour could I ever deny?

Alhamdulillah.