Langkawi The island of beeches and duty free booty

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Time for yet another update on our adventures I think we had better find a better opener talk about stating the obvious!!!!!

Well we left Taman Negara with the Australian in tow we got back on the worlds slowest bus and got back to KL we then made the very clever decision to travel to Langkawi by overnight train as if we traveled by bus we would of missed our last ferry to the island. So we thought by catching the overnight train we would not have to pay for a hostel we could get to the island nice and early and we could be fresh and ready to go. Or so we thought. We after being told we could be there from any time form 8am we were quite excited to get on the train. HOWEVER when we were on the train we were told we could expect to get there at 9.30, 10.00 or 11.00 we have now learn through a lot of experience do not believe anybodys time keeping skills or directions. This is the fun part after being on the train for 14 yes 14 hours we got to the Thai border but we were suppose to come off the train about a hour and a half earlier this happened because the train did not stop where we needed to get off. We hasten to add that the train attendant spoke over the speakers saying the next stop was our but did not stop until the Thai border. So after speaking to a very friendly Thai customs officer we were pointed in the right direction.(we both believe that as soon as we have finished speaking to the locals they say bloody English). The biggest issue for Charlie was the fact that all beds in Malaysia are approximately 6ft tall but as Charlie is almost 6ft 2 his feet are always sticking out of the bed somewhere so as you can imaging the trains bed was exactly 6ft and he was slightly squashed and bent so he was very happy to be off the train.

After a few worrying moments we were in a taxi heading for the ferry port very hot and bothered as well as very happy to be of that damn train. We managed to get a ferry across a lot easier then anything else we have done so far they are literately chasing you down the port asking if you want to buy a ticket. The trip across was quick but we were still a little bit behind time wise on what we expected. Most importantly we grabbed a hostel dumped our bags and rushed of to the beach for a cold pint watching the sun go down(Take it as you want three men watching the sun go down together).

The hostel we did find was literally a 2 minute walk from the beach. Imagine this fine white, white sand clear water which was not salty, lovely rocks sticking out of the water as well as tropical trees lining the beach. We all had a quick dip the next day the water was warm and inviting we had to drag Charlie out before we did anything else. Now this is the interesting part Langkawi is a duty free island which means you can have a pint of beer for 50p a packet of cigarettes for 40p so we were all devastated when we found this out. (HA HA HA). The only thing was everything else was a little but more expensive but when you consider three of us ate and had two rounds of beer and it cost us 8 pounds who is to complain. Because it was so cheep to drink Charlie and Brad decided to take full advantage of this opportunity and because there was not much going on where we were staying we went to a Reggie bar and by the end Charlie and Brad wanted to play with the musical instruments the band were playing. There was a slight problem as neither could stand, think or string a sentence together was a problem Owen took this as an ideal opportunity to laugh at them the same way they did at the bat cave.

The next day with very bad heads Charlie and Brad rented some mope heads with the worst helmets imaginable when Owen put his on he looked like the Policeman from the village people and was not impressed but did do the dance for Charlie and Brad. Now it was time for one of out little adventures we headed up north to see a really nice beach and waterfall the beach was ok nothing special so we wandered up to the waterfalls to start with it was 367 steps to the top of the waterfall and then Charlie and Brad thought it would be a good idea to go for a walkabout up a hill(mountain). This small walkabout lasting one and a half hours with poor signs(don't trust the signs) which seemed to go over the river a lot. By the time we had reached the half way point it was 1.2km and Owen was again losing his sense of humor. Being hot, sweaty and in the middle of a poorly signposted forest the trail was barley visible at times and was getting a tad concerned that we might get lost and eaten by some of the locals. We headed back down the hill to the bottom part of the waterfall where Brad and Charlie cooled of in the water, Charlie would not like to admit this but he did slipped down the rocks of the waterfall on his backside admittedly very gracefully down 20ft and giggling like a five year old girl. He did almost wipe out Brad on the way as he did lose control of where he was heading. Then it rained and we decided to head back to the Hostel. Now one point to make here is Owen does not like being on the back of a Mopped and had already hit his foot going round a corner so after a lot of convincing(pleading) Charlie went quite slowly home much to Charlie frustration and Owens relief.

So after that days adventure and the state Charlie and Brad were the night before we wanted to have a quiet meal and a early night. The next day Owen was struggling after the traveling and near heart attack on the bike he decided to have a rest and lie in. But Charlie and Brad decided to venture out on their Moppeds again to see more beaches, waterfalls etc. They went to one of the most beautiful beaches Charlie had ever seen in his life they stayed there all morning and Charlie even managed to swim to another island and Christened it Charlie's island. Even though from the island did not looked that far after half way across he realized he seriously underestimated the distance. They both headed to another amazing waterfall with less steps. The waterfall was isolated and the water was cold which was fantastic and they needed to cool down as the temperature was about 34 degrees. After cooling off they got back on the moppeds and raced from one side of the island to another as they had no Owen to restrict of weigh them down, the roads however was like our own racetrack with no traffic to slow us down reaching speeds of 110km (don't worry mum I had my helmet on). The next stop was a cable car up to the top of Mount Langkawi which is 710m above sea level and gives a amazing view the pictures we have do not do it justice. This is something Charlie was glad of if Owen had gone up then he would have been petrified of the assent up to the summit as you can see from the pictures. At the summit there was a couple of platform that you could view the island from and taking the jaw dropping views in. They also walked across the only curved suspension bridge either of them had ever seen which linked the two mountains together. After enjoying the 3-4 temperature drop at the top they slowly made their way down to the bottom of the mountain Charlie enjoyed the sky cart so much he could of done it all day long.

That night after a relaxing day we went for 1 or 2 drinks(14 in total each) Charlie and Brad went of to the night club and Charlie lost his helmet and did not get in until 5.30am after agreeing for Brad to come back to get some money but did not make it back after passing out at the hostel. You guessed it they woke up with the mother of all hang overs so the next day was just lounging around the beach in the shade drinking lots of fruit juice. AND THAT WAS IT.

Between us we all agreed this was paradise and the island was unbelievable I think we will all try and visit again at some point this is the first place we have been to where we have actually not looked forward to the next place. Even though everyone is telling us Thailand is so much better especially the islands.

The next day we headed off to Panang by ferry but that will have to wait for another time.

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Photos

1st Waterfall
This break was well needed after 367 steps

Proper Waterfall
This was a fantastic waterfall with splash pools and slides(not intentional ones though)

Waterfall to scale
After Charlie and Brad scaled the waterfall Charlie slipped about 3 seconds after this photo was taken right to the bottom

Beach
The rock in the centre was the one Charlie swam to it was a big rock lol

The bendy suspension bridge
This was a great view looking down while walking across it, Owen was glad he was not there

Smile if you like heights
Charlie and Brad at the top of the world ok an island

Nice view shame about the idiot standing in the way
How big was that fish

Nice view
We were staying almost in the centre by the beach

What a drop
That camera was pointing down as well

Is it suppose to bend like that
Even a good view on the way up.

Would you rent something to this man
HMMMMM nice hat Y M C A at least mine didnt have a basket on the front like Brads

Comments

[Mand]

G'day!
Hey you two (and your aussie friend!) Looks like you're having an amazing time. Loved that picture of Owen on the rope bridge - looks like he could have been "I'm a celebrity.." Langkawi looks so beautiful - wish I was there sunning myself instead it's been gales and rain here, lucky us. Sounds like you had a wicked burfday Char. Have a sunny Xmas and hope to hear from you sometime, love mand xxx

[Charlie and Owen s world tour]

Morning Moo
Hello U, Thanks for the comment, we really are having the most amazing time out here, the jungle was unbeleivable and Langkawi was so beautiful as u have seen in the pictures. I burnt my bottom lip on the beach thou and it started to blister and then i decided to have a really hot chilli- not a clever idea but it did make Owen laugh! just got into Thailand now so beachs and islands it will be for the next month, oh life is so hard! Oh yeah i went to a snake temple the other day, at not only did i hold a python, i had 2 poinious green vipers on my head and another 1 in my left hand. i was absolutely bricking it as 1 of the vipers heads was 1 inch from my eye! smell it i thought i was sitting in it! ha ha Well it was good to hear from ya, keep the comments coming Take care Charlie x