Langkawi
Tues 28th Apr.
A lazy start to the day. I went downstairs for coffees. The shirt I had washed the previoys evening, had dried…so hot here. I checked out after 09:00. I had an egg roti down the street, costing 50BTH, the exact amount of Thai money I had left.
I sat in the Varin Resort reception before going to immigration…air con !!!
I got my boarding pass; got processed and then had to wait an hour and a half before boarding, but it was better to be safe than sorry. I knew what to expect this time…floating gang plank, transfer to ferry, hoisted aboard… We left bang on time…12:30.
I was in the lower area…spacious and comfortable. The journey was a bit quicker…about an hour and a quarter; good conditions I suppose. We arrived before 3pm due to the 1 hour time difference.
We were given our passports on the boat, so after collecting our luggage and 15 minutes queueing at immigration, we were through. Phew..much simpler. Addy was there to meet me and drive me to Rainbow.
Ida gave me room no. 7 again; she tried to charge me an extra 8RM but I reminded her I’ve been paying 48RM per day.
I went up the road to the junction and had a chicken, soup with flat noodles…delicious. I got talking to Nick and we seemed to focus on how to deal with a blocked ear. I got a bit carried away with the ear buds at Sang Chan and my right ear is uncomfortably ‘blocked’. Something else to sort out.
Back via Rainbow and up the main street. It was gone 4pm so I popped up to Liquid Valley to enjoy their a/c…oh, and their beer. I then decided on Kalut for their cocktail happy hour. After walking along the beach I found that it was 18:30 and I was too late because my phone was still on Thai time and said it was 17:30….Grrr. I had one cocktail anyway.
I bought a packet of bombay mix on the way to my room. Oh, earlier I’d bought 4 chang cans from a duty free shop, and that was my relaxation for the evening.
Wed 29th Apr.
A good sleep, and woke up reasonably early. I popped down to Armanis for 1 teh, then back to the room, only to return for my 2nd teh. I said my goodbyes in case I didn’t have time to see them on my leaving day.
I went up the main street, on the off chance of seeing Alex. Nope. So I went onto the beach and walked right to the very end, and passed the moored boats and to the little peninsular.
The roti restaurant was closed unfortunately. There was a newly opened restaurant near the Smiling Buffalo, where I had a teh….I’d walked a long way !! I walked back to Rainbow…very hot and sweaty. I had a chat with Kev and retrieved my 2 shirts. In my room I washed my sweaty shirt and shorts.
I stayed there until about 3, waiting for my clothes to dry. And in the meantime I had 2 showers !!! I went up the road, not sure if my good restaurant would be open…but it was. I had Bihun Biasa…Thai soup with vermicelli and chicken. I think she undercharged by 1RM…or 20 pence. Lunch cost me 6RM…or about £1.10.
So, I walked back passed Rainbow and up the High street. I popped into the Cenang Mall and from the Guardian shop I bought 100ml tube of their home brand factor 50 suntan lotion. By putting off buying it, I got a price of 25RM, down from 31RM…so it cost under £5 and I saved a pound.
I relaxed outside on a bench for half an hour, then after 4pm went into Liquid Valley for their, 3 for the price of 2, beers. That works out at over 7RM each, whereas the RedSky same size beers are half that price…no wonder I liked RedSky !!
Then down to the beach and along to Kalut. I went for the 3 for 2 cocktails. I chose a vodka based one this time…I paid 60RM…so, 20RM each…so, less than 4Gbp each. There was a strong glare from the sun, but the cocktails were very refreshing.
Back to my room where there was some bombay mix and 2 cans of chang left. My last day in Pantai Cenang and my last night at Rainbow Lodge.
Thurs 30th Apr.
I packed. I showered. I shaved. I saidnmy goodbyes to Tonni, Kev, Ida and Addy. I phoned Grab from reception, and he arrived in 5 minutes. Before 09:00 we were on our way, arriving in Kuah around 09:30.
I was dropped off at Baron Hotel…where I stayed at the end of September. The room rate was 71RM, but I couldn’t check in until midday. I went up to the covered market for breakfast. The roti guy had a day off, so I had a pancake with curry sauce…very similar to roti.
I walked over the bridge into town and had an iced coffee. I then went to the MAHA tower which looks a lot like the Eiffel tower, but is a lot smaller. A nice view of the harbour/port/bay from there.
Okay, I was told in Cenang that the Blarney Stone ( Irish pub !!!) had closed down, but I had to see it for myself. And sure enough, after about a 20 minute walk, there it was …Closed. Shame, I visited it once with Kyle, and it had a lot historical artefacts and character.
In town I called into the Cellar Bank to ask if they had a happy hour; I was planning buying my ferry ticket, having lunch, an having a drink. In Cellar I got talking to Brendan and Alan…an Aussie and Kiwi…and they bought me 2 beers. We had a good chat.
Back at Baron I booked my ferry ticket online; a little confusion in that the ticket says the trip takes 2.5 hours, but I know for a fact that it takes 1.5 hours…we’ll see !! I had a shower.
I went up to the covered food market for my laksa. The first place was where I was this morning…no chef, no laksa. Another food outlet had sold out of laksa. I went out and over the bridge and the first restaurant I got to, had laksa. So that was my lunch for 7RM, at about 16:00.
I went back to the Cellar Bank …more expats, but I kept myself to myself. I had a few beers and played sudoku. The array/choice of spirits and wines was amazing. Fortunately I can’t be tempted as the slightest extra weight would make my pack very uncomfortable to carry.
I needed a small snack in the form of a fried rice dish at a restaurant 100mtrs from the hotel. So that was my one day in Kuah. Exceedingly hot again. But I have a very nice room for less than 14Gbp. I don’t know why this hotel is so cheap, but I’m not complaining!!