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Published: April 3rd 2016
It's funny how life has it's ups and downs sometimes.
All the time we'd been in Kuala Lumpur Stan had been off colour. Feverish one day then fine the next. We figured a spot of island time would put him right. We took the 3 hour bus ride to Lumut which turned out to be 4.30 hours! The bus was highly air conned - in other words - freezing.
When we got off it was a stifling 34 degrees C. We found the ferry and boarded it to the island of Pulau Pangkor. Once there we jumped in a taxi and arrived at the accommodation we'd booked. It was awful and we'd paid two nights up front as Booking . com said it was fully booked later in the week. Annoyingly this was a lie the place was empty as were most other places around, this is now the low season for the West coast.
Next day we ended up at the doctor's as Stan's condition had worsened overnight. He was given antibiotics to bring the respiratory infection under control, probably picked up in K.L.
Later that day we looked around and found a lovely place with cute clean
Bungalows and a pool but it was fully booked. We tried asking at a big hotel across the way and they offered us a room at 50 % discount then added free breakfast. It turned out they were completely empty. We would be their only customers. The receptionist showed us a room, I instantly fell in love with it, then she eagerly showed us the roof top pool. It was an infinity pool with views over the bay and also the jungle clad mountains at the back. This was 130 ringetts a big jump up as the first awful accommodation had been 60 ringetts but well worth it in my eyes! Just what we needed after the last couple of days. Stan agreed, well it was also coming up to my birthday after all and he needed a nice place to recover!
We soon moved in and I felt I'd gone from the depths of despair to cloud nine!
That night we found a nice restaurant right on the beach that sold Western food. Stan was feeling better by this time. Now things were really looking up.
Next day after a walk and time on the beach we
went to the pool to cool down. An hour or so later - disaster struck again! I was going down a few steps to the shower from the pool when my foot slipped on the wet floor and I ended up sliding down four steps banging my leg on each as I did so. Stan had already gone for a shower in the room. I dragged myself back into the pool to stop any bruising but to no avail. My leg was already turning a lovely shade of purple!
I made it back to the room and spent the rest of the day and night with it elevated but as time went on the swelling took over and I couldn't walk.
Next day was my birthday. Great. Just as things were going well I was down in the depths of despair again! What if it was broken? Was there a hospital on this island, how would I get there?
I hobbled down to breakfast and the receptionist asked what was wrong. I explained then after breakfast went back in the pool to cool my leg down again. Later back in the room the receptionist called and asked if
I wanted to go to hospital. The swelling in my leg had improved but I was still a bit worried and didn't know if I should walk on it or not. In the end I said yes I should go. She said to be downstairs in five minutes.
When we got down there was a very posh looking car waiting, I worried she'd called an expensive limousine taxi and it would cost a fortune on top of hospital costs. But no , it was the hotel manager, he was going to take me himself. He spoke good English and was very friendly. We arrived at the hospital and to cut a long story short, all was ok
No broken bones just soft tissue damage and bruising. The doctor there gave me multiple medications and a bandage and said it would be OK to walk on as long as it wasn't too painful.
The hotel manager insisted on picking up the hospital bill and then decided he would take us on a tour of the island. He took us first to the Dutch fort, then a huge Chinese Temple, the Sultan's holiday retreat and a fishing village. We hadn't got the
camera with us so he used his phone to take photos to email to us.
Once again I'd gone from the depths of despair to huge relief as there was no serious damage. The trip round the island had been a bonus too.
We spent the rest of the afternoon cooling down in the pool again. At 6.30 as we floated around we heard some comotion from the street below. We were able to stay in the infinity pool, keeping cool, and watch the goings on. A large crowd had gathered and one person was Whistling to the Hornbills. They came flocking in one by one and began taking food from the Whistler's hand while onlookers took photos. I think we had the best vantage point as the pool was level with the tree tops.
That night I successfully walked to the restaurant, a ten minute walk away so things are looking up again. Fingers crossed nothing else happens!
We had been planning to do some jungle trekking while on this island but when we'd mentioned it to the manager he said probably best not too without a guide as there are wild tigers on the island! Maybe that's
one disaster avoided.
One night walking to the restaurant we saw a wild pig at the side of the road, apparently they often come out after dark! We hastily crossed the road but it didn't seem interested in us.
Tomorrow we return to Kuala Lumpur before a bus the next day to the East coast.
Sunday 3rd April
We have now arrived back in Kuala Lumpur, I delayed publishing this blog as I couldn't put photos on when we were on the island. I thought once we were back here it would work as before but once again technology has phased me! So anyway the three on were taken on this tablet, any other photos will have to be added at a later date.
Tomorrow - the East coast for our last island destination of this trip.
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David Davies
non-member comment
Your blog
Well first it has been, as always really good to read your exploits. Never been that brave but so enjoy reading your blog. You certainly do enjoy yourselves Joan & I are at least in the sunshine as we are visiting our son & family in LA. Our grand daughter is three on Tuesday 5th April so today Sunday we have enjoyed a fun party in a park. 12 3-5 year olds and parents yes it was fun & interesting. Another family gathering next Saturday for another birthday. That child is nine I believe but still more feasting. Then next week on to Big Sur for about seven days then a couple of days later back to Yorkshire and normality and lower temps. Enjoy the rest of your tour & Stan see you at Oliver's Mount if not sooner.