Langkawi!

So I went over to Langkawi again, another 2 hours of ferry trips for about $12AU (18RM each way). This time the chairlift was running so I could actually do the thing I wanted to. So it was a $13AU (40RM) taxi ride from one side of the island to the other.

The scaffolded eagle, next to the jetty 

 It's about 30km from the jetty to the cable car. I'm not sure how that all happened, they have one small town for shopping next to the jetty on one side of the island, then not much in the middle, and all the beaches and more expensive resorts and things to see on the other side of the island. Even the airport is on the other side. It also seems odd that given the distance between the main things to look at there is no real public transport. As soon as you get out of the airport there are Taxi drivers and people offering rental cars constantly. There is a taxi stand further out (next to KFC, if you're looking for it) which is where you're supposed to get a Taxi coupon for a fixed price to the destination, and then you are given a driver from those waiting in line. But I guess over the years the drivers got bored of waiting in line and started creeping closer and closer to the exit from the ferry until you have to fight through them to get out. It gets rather annoying, if you happen to be walking towards the ferry no one says anything, but when you turn around: "Taxi?" "Taxi?" "Rental car?" "Taxi?" "Motorbike?" "Taxi?".

Next to the Jetty is the Legenda Langkawi park. It's a theme park with all these odd statues through it.

The entrance, with a model of all the islands in the group. 

The beach next to the park. 

An odd statue... This one was giants fighting. I seem to recall that being a famous story, with one using the swordfish bill.

Parking, again it's whatever goes here, this time in motorbike spots. 

Or just the middle of the carpark...

Anyway, it was out to the cable car! At the bottom there is a little shopping area called Oriental village. Souvenirs, chocolate, alcohol and tobacco mostly. I did have the best Chicken Rendeng I've tried while wasting time for the clouds to go away. It was from the place on the right as you walk in.

The best toilets ever!

So then it was time for the cable car! Another 30RM to go up ($10AU), costs are starting to add up. I didn't get any pictures of the first little leg going up because the card in my camera was full, but here's where it starts:

From the top of the first section looking back down to Oriental village  and the coast. It's quite steep.

More islands, as seen from the top.

The curved walkway! covered in cloud.

The top!

The really really really old rock.

More cuved walkway!

I followed a little path down to here. It keeps going down to the base of the central support there.

Another view of the walkway.

WE HAVE TO GO DEEPER!

Looking out over the coast again.

The view from inside the cable car before it heads down... It accelerates just as it's going over too.

Looking out over the drop off.

And back up towards the top.

So after that it was another $13AU taxi ride back to the ferry terminal.

I sampled this while there too! About $16AU for 50ml. Totally worth it.

And after another hour on the ferry back to Kuala Perlis, of course it was time to take more photos of the sunsets!

Yesterdays example. [this is now my background!]

This was the sunset from the day before.

The western digtial bus! They have a shop too.

And now it's time to get my free breakfast, pack up, and then deal with paperwork as I cross into Thailand!

More sunset photos from Kuala Perlis

I went down to the jetty to check out what it looked like in proper daylight, saw this storm approaching slowly. I figured I had time to get to the shops to get some food. But I was wrong... On the way back I got quite damp. It didn't last for long though.

Oh yeah, this is where I am, and that's a horseshoe crab, although, I haven't seen anyone serving them. Or crabs really. Lots of fish, prawns a and squid.

PROTIP: If you don't like eating around bones, or chewing on them, or eating prawn shells and heads, start eating Sotong! Sotong is the generic name for Calimari, Squid and Cuttlefish (I think...). But no more picking bones shards out of what you're chewing, or bits of prawn shells from in between your teeth later.

Now for some sunset pics, out of order too:

Today I was on Lankawi Island, but it turns out it was one of the two days of the month that they shut down the cable car for maintenance. The entire reason I was over there was for the cable car and the sky walkway at the top. So now I either go again tomorrow, or forget it and head to Thailand. Staying and extra night here will cost a bit however. 

It wasn't a wasted trip however, I managed to find some new long pants that pack about 1/4 the size of my jeans, and much cooler in this weather while also keeping the mosquitoes off! And I also managed to get some duty free alcohol! A small 50ml bottle of Hennessy XO coniac for about $13AU, and a 200ml bottle of whiskey for $4AU. It's very very cheap, you can get 2L of gin for about $16. I could only bring back 1L to the mainland though, so I'll save my excess alcohol buying for the duty free shops at the Thai boarder :)

Kuala Perlis

Some photos from yesterday. I left Alor Setar at my usual 11am time and I started to head towards the coast for the ride up. It wasn't far at all.

The road along the coast, rice paddies on one side, the sea on the other.

Between the above photo and the next one I made this video! Virtual ride time!

An odd little park along the road.

Some of the clouds yesterday. Langkawi is on the left, Kuala Perlis on the right.

I was worried about accommodation in Kuala Perlis, I couldn't book anywhere online beforehand and the information I could find online was a bit lacking. I got there earlyish in case I had to go up to Kangar for a instead. The Lonely Planet guide has one paragraph on the town and only mentions one hotel (which I couldn't find). I knew there was one hotel in town that was decent on price and cleanliness, called T Hotel, they had a website and it's right across from the ferry terminal. It was on Agoda but I wasn't able to book for the dates I needed. The lonely planet guide mentioned Pens Hotel, but I couldn't find that. There only seemed to be one hotel on the street in the guide and it's far more expensive than what they've quoted.

So I gave up trying to find anywhere else and tried T hotel, and they had a room for 79RM a night with breakfast. Not bad. I was worried I'd have to go up to Kangar to find a room. So I've booked this one for 3 nights to plan my attack into Thailand and to visit Langkawi Island (tomorrow).

Kuala Perlis is apparently famous for the local version of the laksa. I tried it from one place and it was ok, but nothing special. I need to try somewhere else to see if it's better!

And then it was time for sunset...

Clouds over Langkawi

Rainy cloud coming towards me.

The sky!

Closer sky!

The Mosque on the waterfront. They were using it but it was still being built. And it wasn't offensively loud like others. 

Today I'm trying to find somewhere to book in Thailand. Then Tomorrow, it's off to Langkawi to waste my Malaysian Ringgits.