Langkawi, sheer drops and attack deer

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Chris's Section

Our first impressions of Malaysia are positive ones. You can tell it's much more developed than other parts of SE Asia. We got the boat from Satun, Thailand and made our way to the guesthouse we had chosen in Pantai Cenang, Langkawi's biggest beach resort. The heavens opened and more biblical rain came down - Asia really knows how to do rain! We were shocked to discover our guesthouse was closed, so we had to walk about in torrential rain to find another place. We struck gold with Sweet Inn. A really nice place close to the action. Actually, there wasn't much action. Not only is it the rainy season, but it's also Ramadan, so the resort was pretty quiet. The beach in Cenang is good, but no where near as nice as many of the Thai islands.

Cenang has a pretty decent aquarium, which we enjoyed. The highlight of our stay in Langkawi was a visit to the cable car about 15k north of Cenang. Now I'm not great with heights (understatement), so I was a little concerned when I discovered the cable car goes up a 700m+ (2,300 feet) mountain! If I'd known this I doubt I would have gone. I was absolutely terrified. The cable car is very safe and well run, and the views are spectacular (not that I opened my eyes much on the way up). At the top you have viewing platforms with views of the whole island. After a few minutes composing myself and summoning up some courage I actually checked out the views, which are amazing. Feel free to laugh - it's pathetic really.

Another cable car then runs to the next peak (more terror). You can then walk across a massive (and very impressive looking) suspended bridge to another peak. The bridge was 100's of metres up and the walkway was covered by steel planks. You could see between the gaps (which is bad when you're trying not to look around at the view/drop/certain death). It took me ten minutes to build the courage to walk across. I held the rail, tried to stare straight ahead and not look down (seriously - I don't think the pictures do the height any justice). Then I discovered some of the steel planks wobbled (OMFG!!!!!!). My heart tried to escape out of my arse! By looking down I then discovered the small gaps in the walkway (OMFG!!!!!!). For the next two minutes I walked like one of those speed walking dudes. I broke speed limits, threw woman and children over my shoulder and mowed down the elderly and disabled. If you were in my way you were fair game. I almost got on my knees to kiss the floor once I reached the other side. There was just one problem. I had to walk back. I could say the return journey was easier, but that wouldn't be true. Would someone with arachnophobia get into a spider infested box? Of course not. Would a claustrophobic guy go potholing? Don't be silly. What was I thinking?! Lou found all of this pretty amusing. Can't blame her really.

Still, despite the terror I was glad that we went (once I was at sea level again). The views are simply amazing. The journey there was also great. Langkawi is a beautiful island. Hiring a moped and exploring the island would be a great thing to do. The cable car make Langkawi a worthwhile place to visit. Next stop is historic Georgetown, on the island of Penang.

Louise's Section

Yep, I spent a good hour or so chuckling at Chris teetering around the opening of the bridge or clinging the chair in the cable car. The urge to start leaping up and down in it was mega but I also thought this may scare the chinese tourists sat next to us, which would be mean. The views were astounding and would have been fab had there not been mist and more impending rain.

I'd already had some excitement in the taxi ride there as we saw wild monkeys. I must learn to stop behaving like a two year old and shout out the animals name at full blast (the taxi driver did seem to jolt up out of his chair at my exclamation).

Back down from the mountain Chris stupidly pointed out the sign for the animal farm, duh!! So in we went and I purchased my bag of food. Sadly the only animals in there were about a dozen caged up, manky looking rabbits that I really wanted to free to a better life (even if it did mean the wild jungle) and the deer. Now I have often thought as deer to be calm, sweet creatures who would just bat their eyelashes at me...nope...mental f***ing animals that would happily and tried to stampede and trample me to the floor in order to devour said feed. I wouldn't mind but I was happy to feed them all but only had one pair of hands. Needless to say, within five minutes I was covered in deer snot and dribble from waist to neck, my hands were dripping and I have never been so glad to have hand sanitizer with me. The only good thing was I was tall enough that the deers head reached bosom level, the kids in there, not so lucky and were covered in deer snot and dribble all over their hands, faces, t shirts and were screaming and wailing in horror (still clinging to their bags of deer food though, idiots!!). I must point out that this is not mean of me as their parents were having hysterics at the sight of them being so terrified too.

The second outburst at nature came on the way to the pub when something huge caught my eye flying into the tree above us. Cue shouts from me “tucan, tucan, look Chris a tucan”, as Chris seemed to be shuffling off sideways and the locals stared on at the moron in front of them jumping up and down with animal tourettes.

The aquarium was ok, not the best I have ever been to but hard to beat Scarbouroughs. Chris had never been to one so for him he still wowed at the big fishes and yep you call all guess, I went around shouting 'Nemos, Nemos' everywhere. They did have a touch pool though and I stroked a sea cucumber (no jokes please), I would have stroked the ray fish but they cowered away from me, not sure why, hmmmmm.

Hoping the weather picks up soon as getting bored of rain now, we have 4 weeks to work our way down to Singapore so fingers crossed the golden globe returns for some of it.

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Photos

Misty blue
The views were spectacular, once I'd opened my eyes.

OMFG!!!
The picture still doesn't do the height justice

Fun fun fun
I'm lovin' it!

Don't look down...
...I didn't!

Attack deer
Evil can be cute

Comments

[Sara]

OMFG indeed!!
We have all had a giggle at your expense mate! The views are pretty darn spectacular but I didn't appreciate just how scarey the walk would be on that bloody bridge - I'm not scared of heights but that would have done me! Good on ya guys!

[Chris n Lou]

Giggle away. I overheard many people up there saying "I'm not normally scared of heights, but...". So I was in deep do-dah.

[gillscott]

that my top
Hiya. boy that was a funny update, thanks for the laughs. Chris you reminded me of my Dad so much - we went to Switzerland on holiday as kids and while driving thorugh the hills on way to cable car he stopped the car got out and made mum drive while he sat in the back of the car with my shellsuit (that's how long ago I'm talking) top over his head. After arriving at the 1st cable car we managed to get him on and he did what you did and just sat clinging on to the chair (also with his head between his knees)! we couldn't persuade him to get in the 2nd car up to the glacier so just left him 1/2 way up. So I'm actually very impressed Chris (in fact that photo of the bridge does look a bit scary). Lou - i'm loving the animal tourettes and those deer look look harmless in that pic :o) Gill xx