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Published: January 9th 2017
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Ahhh Malaysia and more specifically Langkawi. What a wonderful place to languish around for a bit. My routine here has pretty much stayed status quo but the past few days have been a whirlwind of activity. Good thing to, as it has provided me with a spark to kick start my travel gear again. I've been very lazy of late but the time has come for me to get going. I've been thinking the past few days and for the very first time since I left home about a year ago I realize I am short on the one commodity that I've had an ample supply of. Time. Although my path and my road remains long and I have plenty to do, in the back of my head I know things are winding down. The next couple of months will see me cover a vast area of land, peoples, cultures, and adventure. Time for me to go hard, go big, and then go home.
Hanging out with Celine has been such an incredible time. Because she has lived and worked on Langkawi the past seven seasons she basically knows everyone on the island. You cannot go anywhere with her without
someone stopping you in the street and asking how things are going, how much longer are you here, etc. People are so very friendly and it is refreshing to see. Celine works for
Blue Water Star Sailing which offers sailing charters for the tourists on Langkawi. She arranged for me to go on a day sailing trip around the islands with Gerd who is the owner and operator of s/v Daddledu. The three of us set sail and had a full day of sailing to different islands and deserted beaches. It was a really special day for me as I have a serious affinity for sailboats and for me to be on one was awesome. Gerd was great and let me help plot the course on the navigation station, he answered all of my questions about sailing and explained all the aspects of different types of sails, maneuvers, rules, regulations, etc. I was a sponge soaking it all in and even had my turn of controlling the vessel. What an incredible day.
The freedom and sense of adventure of being on a sailboat is something I cannot really describe, nor will I ever forget. Simple tasks like dropping and pulling up the
anchor I was completely enamoured with and excited to do over and over. The wind in my face and the spray of the sea was exhilarating. I fear that this small experience and amount of time I had on the boat may incur a seismic shift in where I want to spend the second part of my years in this life. Somehow, someway I feel I need to incorporate sailing and a life on the ocean in my days. You get one shot in life and the way I felt on this boat was definitely something special.
Another evening I was able to go fishing with a friend of a friend of Celine's. Ali and his daughter were kind enough to take us out on their boat. Any opportunity I can get to fish is a no brainer and I love it when I am presented with the chance to interact with the real people of a place off of the tourist trail. We had a great start to the evening catching lots of squid to use for bait for bigger fish such as barracuda, tuna, and dorado that swim these waters. Unfortunately shortly after this photo
was taken Ali received a call and his best friend had suffered a heart attack. We of course turned around immediately so he could be with his friend. I later learned that his friend passed away the next day. Goes to show you don't ever know. Time is precious. Use it wisely.
My time here on Langkawi draws to an end and of course the time I had is highlighted by meeting my dear friend Celine. My journey however continues and I will pick up my bag and move on. Such is life when you are a solo wanderer of the world. It's never easy leaving good friends and good people you meet behind. After a year of doing it I'm still not 100% used to it. The world however beckons and I will answer her call. Tomorrow I hit the ferry to mainland Thailand and go north from there. What awaits? Who can know, but I will hit it head on with open eyes and an open mind ready for all that comes.
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