For the past 6+ (almost 7) years, each trip back home is approximately 2 weeks, each time a whirlwind. I try to meet up with as many friends as possible and spend time with my family. Each time I plan a proper schedule and each day can be categorised into lunch and dinner slots, and who I am meeting. Yes, it's true. Now that I am married, I find the need to scale down on the number of people I meet up with since I need to divide up my time amongst two families and my friends. And baby Sarah who deserves a special category of her own :). It's a tough thing to do, but I've resorted not telling all my friends that I'm back now *sheepish look*. Or, if I come back twice a year, I will meet no-so-close friends every other trip. I always feel bad, and I hope all my friends understand.
For this trip, when K suggested spending 4 days in Langkawi, Malaysia, I thought my task of meet ups has upped another notch altogether. As much as the temptation was (sun, sand and sea to someone who has experienced winter for the past 4 months wrapping up in layers and layers), I found myself saying no to him giving him the reason that there isn't enough time to meet friends and spend time with families as much as two weeks can give. He has been feeling down at work and said he really would like to go somewhere to unwind for a couple of days. Plus it's his birthday next week. He even said he would go by himself if I really wanted to stay in Singapore. Whoa so insistent. What to do? I caved in and agreed.
It has been an amazing few days basking in the sunshine (at times it felt an overkill if I be honest; I had sweat all over - did you know there are even sweat glands on our eyelids??), enjoying the sea breeze (like today where it was cloudy and we could enjoy the sunshine without over-perspiring - phew). My fave part of the trip was doing a day trip out to Pulau Payar, the marine park which is a 1h ferry ride out from Langkawi island and witnessed overlapping emerald green and blue waters all in one. Actually you could also say my favourite part of the trip was the many massages we went to. It's probably not a good thing to do but we converted everything to GBP in our minds and suddenly things just appear so… well within means. K booked a really nice hotel for this trip after comparing the prices of a beach holiday in Europe.
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| The pool area surrounded by palm trees and plants |
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The hotel's private beach with a private dining area. RM550 for two people for a 5 course meal.
Of course we didn't try because we went for seafood dinner every night at their local kopitiams |
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| Instead of beach umbrellas, the hotel uses interesting shaped trees to provide shade to sun bathers. |
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| The empty beach |
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| Typical beach facing chalets. We had a similar one (4 rooms to a hut over two floors). |
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| The restaurant by the beach. |
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| This is the kind of dinner K envisaged - "eat like a king" was his motto for the 4 days here |
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| "Where do I start??" |
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| The hotel room |
This trip has been a real refresher for me. I have not been to Malaysia for so many years, not since I've moved to London. Looking at the emerald waters at Pulau Payar yesterday, I seriously thought it could easily match Sardinia in Italy, or Croatia. What a pleasant surprise it has been so far. Next up, Pulau Payar!
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