Cenang Beach cont..
Sat 18th Oct
Another lazy day. Tea, then coffee. By this time it was early afternoon. Back across town to Rainbow, then up to the street stall for a couple of samosas, followed by 3pm lunch. A total of 4RM…70pence…for food for the day !!
I tried to find short cuts back to the High street but kept coming arriving at dead ends. Before 15:30 I was back at Rainbow, but had to leave straight away to meet Kyle at Red Sky.
Then the communication set back began. Due to my phone being in my pocket there were too many login attempts and I was blocked from using it for nearly 2 hours. I reached Red Sky at 4pm, but at 4:30, 4:45 there was no sign of Kyle. I couldn’t use my phone until just after 5pm.
It turned out that Kyle had fallen asleep. He rushed over, in time for 2 drinks (I had 3), then we went by motorbike to Kalut in time for Happy hour. The 5 drinks at Red Sky only came to about 19RM..£3.50…okay, only 300ml glasses, but so cheap.
We got through our buckets and watched the fire show. On the way back to my room I bought a large packet of crisps to snack on.
Sun 19th Oct
I slept very well indeed. It had rained heavily in the night. I just missed more rain on my way to the coffee restaurant, but whilst I was there the heavens opened again. It was torrential for an hour and a half, but having wifi made time pass quickly.
I headed back to Rainbow, stopping at the tailor’s where I had dropped off my kikoi in the morning to be fixed. He was closed. I carried on to the top of the road and to the traffic lights for my lunch. It was after 2pm and the food was running out, but I only had my 3RM worth of rice and 2 side dishes.
I saw Kyle briefly then started my walk to Red Sky for our 4pm meet up. The bar tried to charge us for 7 beers instead of 6, but I’m sure it was a genuine mistake. We took a long route to Kalut on the motorbike which enabled me to see more of the town.
We had the usual bucket each and watched the fire show. I don’t know the reason but I felt quite drunk… I managed to get to the shop for some crisps and back to my room. I didn’t go out again.
Mon 20th Oct
I woke up to very heavy rain ; fortunately it had more or less stopped by 09:30. I washed a t-shirt, then went for my tea and coffee.
I walked through rice paddy/museum to my cheapy restaurant for an early lunch…1pm…costing 3RM. Back along the beach to Rainbow. I lay in my hammock for 15 minutes ; I had to test it out…very comfortable.
I went back to the beach for 30 mins before walking over to Red Sky. They were putting up Happy Diwali flags ready for evening celebrations. After 3 small beers each, Kyle and I went over to Kalut. We just missed the heavy but short rainstorm.
I was feeling peckish so I went to Jomakan for delicious 8RM tom yam soup. The first time I’ve had 2 meals in one day…total cost of 11RM or £2..!!
Over to Rainbow bar for 1 drink with Kyle, then to my room.
Tues 21st Oct.
I woke up early then struggled to get any more decent sleep. I passed my key over so that my room could be cleaned. I went for my teas, and Kyle had a breakfast. I then went to the beach for a short time before it clouded over.
Back to Rainbow for a short time and to get the key to my room. I thought my coffee place might be closed as it was last tuesday…but it was open. At about 12:30 I got a message from Gabriella to say the birth had happened happened a few hours earlier, but that they were in recovery after a very long labour.
Then another hour and a half later a message to say they are both doing well but that the baby was on antibiotics and oxygen to recover from a stressful delivery. She was close to having been delivered by C section. In fact she was taken to Dunedin by helicopter because the birth was taking so long. And the name being chosen is Hazel Elizabeth Earll. It’s got a nice ring to it.
I had a lot to think about. I went to the beach…the waves were very high and the wind was strong. Back at Rainbow I told Kyle the news about my granddaughter.
I dropped my new, blue shirt off at the tailor’s for another button hole to be added at the top. I didn’t like the gaping space.
I walked up the high street as it started to rain again; at least I had my umbrella. I stopped at the ‘Chinese ‘ shop for a small can of Tiger to commence my celebration on the birth of my granddaughter. Kyle came by.
We went on to Red Sky at 4pm. We had a few beers each, but in addition I had a celebratory expensive meal. A fantastic beef rendang plus rice/egg/salad/crisps…all for 32RM..or £5.50.
We sat inside as it started to rain. My treat…I paid for all the drinks as well…everything was less than £10. Amazing.
From there we went to Kalut for our buckets of chang. That was it. The usual fire show, and then back to my room just missing another downpour. A good first day of being a Grandpa.
Wed 22nd Oct
Torrential rain during the night…again. I went to Amani for my teas. Back to Rainbow, collecting my blue shirt along the way, which had another button hole added.
Along the high street for my coffee through a light shower.
I walked back along the beach and noticed the waves were particularly high. From Rainbow I went to the street restaurant and had a noodle soup for lunch. Back to Rainbow and more rain. It had been raining all day basically.
I took out my umbrella and headed towards Red Sky to meet up with Kyle. In fact I bumped into him at the chinese shope where I had a small can before hopping on his bike to go the rest of the way.
After 3 beers we went to Cinnamons just for a change. We figured that Kalut wouldn’t be that interesting on a rainy evening. I had a beer and a rum and pineapple.
During our time there, police and ambulances were going passed, and it transpired that 2 people had drowned in the rough sea. People underestimate the danger of rough seas/tides…how sad. A sad end to Diwali.
I went to Jomakan for a dinner snack. I had a chica…a beef sweet and sour dish. It was a bit overpowering but would be excellent with a rice accompaniment.
Back to Rainbow…and to the bar to await Kyle. Great music…80s hits. I had 1 drink and went to my room.
Thurs 23rd Oct
Heavy rain again in the early hours. After my teas I agreed with Kyle that we needed to go to Kuah. His laptop screen wasn’t working and I needed to see if I was able to get a whooping cough vaccine as Gabriella had requested.
It’s quite a way to Kuah…about 30 minutes. Kyle had good news; in fact his laptop was working again when we got into the computer shop. He only needed a little bit of work done to repair a small amount of water damage. With the heavy rain in the night, his laptop bag was soaking wet.
Kyle took me to the Govt hospital outside Kuah, but it turned out I needed the Govt clinic back in town. I paid 40RM to be registered and I was dealt with efficiently and seen quickly but they couldn’t help. They had no vaccines for adults, only for babies and mothers. I needed Pertusis…combination of tetanus and diptheria; so a Tdap from a private clinic. Tdap being pertusis,tetanus & diptheria. I’ve run out of time to find a clinic on Langkawi. At least I was asked to step on the weighing scales and I now know my weight is 72.2kgs.
We went to the Chuan bar in town for a sapporo beer and a snack. From there we called in at the Irish bar..Blarney Stone.. just for the experience. Driving around with Kyle I saw a lot of Kuah; I hardly saw any of it in the 2 days at the start of the month.
We rode back and reached Red Sky bang on 4pm…happy hour. I think the staff really enjoy our visits; Kyle keeps them highly amused. As the weather was so awful and there was no chance of a sunset, we skipped Kalut and went to Cinnamons. I had 2 rums and pineapple then walked over to Jomakan.
I had the same dish as the previous day, but with rice. Very tasty. Back at Rainbow we found out there was a music evening at Mola Mola just a couple of minutes up the road. Kyle and I went along. It wasn’t long before it started raining.
Kyle went back to do some work, but I was determined to hear some music. It started after 9pm, but I enjoyed listening to about 4 songs. During a little break I went back to my room; I was tired at that point.
Fri 24th Oct
Lots of rain again…in fact the rice field opposite had filled with water which overflowed onto the road, and the entrance to Rainbow was flooded. There’s a way around the back. Had my teas. By this time it was midday and I went for my coffee…but I walked mainly along the beach.
Kyle joined me at about 1pm. At about 3pm we went to a Japanese restaurant for cheap 5RM beers. I ordered a noodle dish; it was okay, but nothing special for 18RM..just over £3. Kyle said the tuna dish was awful and sent it back. We weren’t charged for it. Heavy rain…as usual..!!
Good planning…Red Sky was virtually next door. We could select some of our own tracks; I picked Tariku Gankisi ( the Ethiopian song I really liked ), and Africa by Toto, and Jerusalema.
We had a couple of drinks then went to Cinnamons. I was getting tired of beer so I had a rum and pineapple juice. Then Kyle bought me a Long Beach cocktail…made up of rum, tequila, gin, triplesec, vodka and cranberry juice. I’m enjoying the cocktails.
I met Kyle back in Rainbow where I had one drink and went to my room.
Sat 25th Oct.
I washed my new blue shirt. I went for my teas. I walked along the beach to my coffee place. Eventually I met up with Kyle. I returned to Rainbow, then back to Cenang view (my coffee place) through a torrential downpour; I had to stop half way and wait for the wind to die down so that I could put my umbrella up.
In the meantime I called in on the barbers just off the high street and reminded him that we had agreed a 15RM hair cut …down from 25. The number 2 has left me virtually totally bald…oh well.
Back to Rainbow briefly. Then a brisk walk along the beach to meet Kyle at Cenang view. We reached Red Sky a bit later than usual…at 16:30. Kyle had won about £500 gambling on his phone, so he was feeling very generous.
So, we drank at Red Sky…playing pur selections of music on the TV. Then again at the Rainbow bar. I went across to Mola Mola, thinking there might be music there. Meanwhile back at Rainbow Kyle persuaded me to go with him to Red Sky to listen to a good guitarist. In fact he really was very good; there was a lady singer with him but mainly him on his guitar. And then back to Rainbow bar.
What a day…backwards and forwards across town. I was looking forward to my bed.
Sun 26th Oct
A ‘usual’ start to the day. Oh, except there’s a little bit of sunshine for a change. Teas, then back to Rainbow to do a FB post. The huge puddle on the road at the entrance to Rainbow has dried up.
I walked along the beach to get to Cenang view for my coffee. Strange to be reminded that there is a beach and sea just there; hardly seen it in nearly a week.
I went on the beach for half an hour then back to Rainbow.
I saw Kyle briefly. I went up to the main road to the food roadside stall. I bought 2 ‘samosas’ and a crum crusted/coated sausage. I relaxed and showered. I chatted with English neighbours; I initially asked about check in times for domestic flights.
I spoke with Afnan to ask about her new job in Diani. Still no sign of Kyle, so at 16:45 I walked across town to Red Sky. I was feeling the heat and needed somewhere cool to sit.
Kyle arrived around 18:00. After a beer and a G&T we went to Cinnamons. The staff are funny there, making it a good place to relax. I drank a rum & pineapple and a Long Beach cocktail. Of course the cocktail is much more expensive than the beers, but at 30RM…or £5…it’s not too bad.
I bought a packet of crisps to snack on in my room, then met Kyle briefly at Rainbow before retiring for the night.
Mon 27th Oct
Woke up a bit earlier than usual. I washed my zebra shirt. Went for my teas. Went down to the beach for a short time, then on to Cenang view for my coffee.
As I was down at that end anyway, I went to the other beach which I had only visited once. It starts opposite where Red Sky is, so it isn’t far. The loose sand is not easy to walk on and there wasn’t much to see. Although it’s nice to see the islands from a different angle. The tide was in so not much to see. I walked back through the chalets…nice looking accommodation.
I saw Kyle outside the Chinese shop. We chatted for a while then I went to Amani (morning teas) for a lunch of rice, vegetables and a fried egg…6RM…just over £1. I showered then made my way slowly along the beach and on to Red Sky.
I had 2 beers. Kyle was suffering with his stomach so didn’t join me. I left to go to Kalut bar and ordered a bucket of Chang. Kyle joined me eventually and we had a good evening, including the fire show.
That was the day. At least the weather had improved dramatically. I went straight to my room at around 9pm.
Tues 28th Oct.
Morning teas was followed by a visit to Uan the tailor to have the shoulder part of my zebra shirt strengthened. I bumped into the Indian girl and bought a takeaway rice,beef and cabbage for 6RM.
A quick march to my coffee place, then a slow walk back to Rainbow. About 10 minutes away is the Eco shop where everything sells for 2.80RM…50pence…ridiculously cheap. I bought toothpaste, a pair of flip flops and a packet of peanuts. I wanted soap powder but the packets were too big. I bought a couple of ‘samosas’, and didn’t eat again that day.
I chilled outside my room and posted on my blog my time in George Town. I walked to the Chinese shop to meet Kyle, collecting my zebra shirt along the way. A short motorbike ride and we were at Red Sky. I had 4 beers..one too many really.
Then over to Kalut for our usual bucket of Chang.
A group of 4 or 5 ladies sat to my left and I just had to ask where they were from… Amazing from Kenya for a holiday. I had a fun little chat with them. After the fire show I went straight to my room.
Wed 29th Oct
Cloudy start to the day. Went for my tea and said goodbye to the guys. On the way back to Rainbow I bought a small container of spicy noodles. No sign of Kyle so I went back into town. I drew out 1,000RM from the ATM and just made it to Cenang view coffee as the heavens opened.
Back to Rainbow. I started thinking ahead to packing. I went up the road to the cheap restaurant, and lunch cost 3RM. Kyle messaged me when I got back to Rainbow to suggest we go on a toad trip to the north of the island. Perfect, that was the one thing missing from my Langkawi visit.
Just passed the airport he had to get some passport photos done. Then to a pretty bay with islands not too far away. We passed the Skybridge cable car starting point. Not a good day for viewing from the top of the mountain as there was a lot of clouds.
We went all the way to the top, as far as Rhu. Passed one bay then Rhu itself where the mangroves are. The beach itself was nice but not as spectacular as in the pictures because it was a dull day. A number of exclusive/expensive hotels.
It rained a little. We stopped for a roadside snack; I had 3 samosas. Then it was straight back to Cenang and to Red Sky, arriving at 17:30. We had 3 beers and I said my goodbyes. Then on to Kalut so I could say my goodbyes and enjoy one last bucket of Chang.
I went back to my room feeling very tired but having really enjoyed my last day on Langkawi.