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Published: September 17th 2013
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Thursday 12th
We left the island on time at 12.30 and soon made land fall. We were going to catch the bus down the coast but we had a good offer from a taxi driver and after negotiating him down further to 100 ringgits we decided to take the offer.
He was a frustrated racing driver and we sped along soaring over the speed humps, grateful that we had missed lunch ! We did the two and a half hour drive in one hour forty five. The scenery was attractive but not spectactular. We passed villages and open fields and a couple on a motorbike with the passenger carrying a full size old style TV. It was ok though as it wasn't switched on !
We arrived at our hotel, a real bargain buy. A 4* hotel at half price, only £36 per night with breakfast. It is the nicest we have stayed in since arriving in Malaysia. Lots of hot water !
We had a walk into town and sort out the tourist office which was open until 5, except it had closed at 4.30! We'll try again tomorrow.
In the evening we walk into China town, every town seems to have one. There was
a special lantern festival taking place. Illuminated paper lanterns were hanging every where and children were queing up to shoot rubber sucker arrows at a picture of moons for a prize. There was also Chinese writing being done in ink on cloth and we were offered Chinese cakes for tasting. Everyone was so friendly towards us, probably the only westerns in town.
Friday 13th
We should have known by the date that things wouldn't go well. First we have a look around the central market at all the fresh fish stalls which was interesting and then go back to the tourist office to find it not only closed but padlocked. It wasn't opening anytime soon !
Around KT there are lots of handicraft workshops, kite making houses, batik painting and traditional ship building. Lots to look at if only we knew where they were, how to get there and what time they opened. Without the tourist office being open we were stumped ! No one speaks sufficient English to ask. The day was ruined. Also being a in Muslim State and being Friday, everything is closed. Even their parks are padlocked shut.
We spend the rest of the day looking at the sites from
outside.In the evening we walk back through China town and as part of the Lantern Festival there were 20 foot flags on poles being thrown around and carried on peoples heads. Also the small children carried candle lit lanterns in a procession.
We move on to a huge night market selling the usual fake goods and the food stalls offering things like deep fried chicken feet in batter. We manage to avoid the temptation.
We leave tomorrow and I can't help feeling we didn't see the best of KT, but we couldn't wait any longer for the place to open !
Saturday 14th
We are leaving this morning for Cherating a small coastal village. We don't know anything about the place, only what we have read in our guide book. We thought we'd go and have a look. It's a 3 hour coach ride down the coast.
When we arrive I plod round looking for somewhere to stay. I've been told it will be easy as the season's nearly over. It happens to be a public holiday weekend and the place is heaving and nearly everywhere is fully booked!
After discounting a couple of places that didn't look too hygenic, we eventually find a place with
chalets close to the beach. It looks like Maplins Holiday camp ! There's a very large Christian youth group staying and the leader keeps running round with a mega phone shouting out orders, just like Ruth Madoc from Hi Di Hi!
We go and take a look at the beach and find the sea's out about half a mile ! You would die of sun stroke before getting into deep enough water to drown your self. We pop back later and see kite flying, sand cart racing and windsurfing. It's a busy place.
For dinner we find a place that has white snapper wrapped in banana leaves.
Sunday 15th
This morning we had a walk into the village centre and booked our coach tickets back to Singapore and dropped some things off at the laundry.
We then went and sat on the beach and watched the kids playing in the sand and water. The area is strictly Muslim but the kids are just like kids everywhere, except they go swimming fully dressed and then the small ones strip off and change into dry clothes !
Walking through the village we see lots of monkeys hanging in the trees. They then attack the bins for their lunch
!
For lunch I thought I'd try the Malaysian "famous" dish of chicken rice, it's advertised everywhere. It does what it says on the tin ! It's a chicken drum stick chopped up and eaten with rice ! it's ok but nothing special.
This afternoon we go on a river boat trip through the mangroves to see the wildlife, well we would see some if all the animals were deaf to the sound of the motor boat ! We mange to see a couple of large monitor lizards, a kingfisher, mangrove snake (actually I didn't see it, too bloody small !) and a sea eagle. Not bad considering the noise we were making.
Arrived back at Maplins to find the chap running around with the mega phone again !
Last nights sleep was disturbed by Karaoke going on until 2 am and it's started up already tonight. I wouldn't mind too much, but no one can sing a note !
Monday 16th
Woken at 5.15 by the sound of karaoke still going on! Get a few hours sleep and woken again at 7 by Mr Mega phone shouting "BREAKFAST ! BREAKFAST !" I know what I'd like to do with that mega phone ! We go
to breakfast and find it all gone and the staff finishing up the remains of the scrambled eggs. After giving them a telling look they go and get some jam for our toast and some more scrambled eggs.
We go for a walk out of the village and come to a fishing lake and stop to watch the locals in action. After 30 mins they haven't caught anything and we agree there's only one thing worse than fishing and that's watching it !
We go down on the beach and a local family offers us some fruit to try. They invite us to join their picnic and I try rice balls with a coconut and peanut sauce washed down with ice cold nescafe. They also offer me something that looks like a raw sausage but I'm told it's cold fish rolled up with something or other. It still looks like a raw sausage and I graciously decline and they laugh at me ! Christine's tummy is still playing up and I don't want to join her.
After dark we take a river boat trip to see Fireflies. They are tiny and hundreds of them cover some of the trees. They are easy to
catch and when you hold them, it's like having star dust in your hands ! They are quite magical.
Tomorrow we leave on a coach for Singapore, the journey will take about 8 hours !
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Jeff and Jane
non-member comment
It's like having star dust in your hands !
Hark at you! Must be the heat your starting to wax lyrical. Do these places know your coming? Everywhere seems to be closed when you get there. Hope Christine's tums better now. Jane and I are waiting with bated breath for our grandaughter to arrive, due next Monday so could be anytime now. Starting to make plans for John and mine's party in Nov band and hall booked and invites sent. No point in sending you one where will you be on 16th Nov? Take care both and keep sending the updates.