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So we left Langkawi to head towards the Perhantian island, east coast Malaysia. We wasn't expecting good weather here as it's monsoon season on the east coast. So we got on a boat which lasted 1 hour and 30 minutes. We got to another port called Alor Setar, mainland. From here we took a public bus which reminded me of a prison bus. This dropped us off in the middle of no where. From here on wards we needed to catch another bus to the main terminal. We asked the locals for about 20 minutes and know one understood us. Eventually some lad told us which bus to catch and from there on wards sounded simple. Reading the lonely planet books doesn't always help you. Our bus was due to leave at 9 pm so we had an hour to kill. After getting something to eat we eventually set off. 7 hours this was to take. On the bus was 6 swedish girls we knew who were also going to the perhantian so that was all cool. The bus journeys always take longer than planned as i have stated many of times. This is because the locals aboard the bus as well as the driver likes to eat about four meals during the journey. If it's not meals it's drinking or smoking. As usual i got no sleep during the journey. We arrived at another town and was once again dropped off in the middle of no where. Time to catch a taxi to a ferry port called Kota Bharu. From here we was to get a speed boat over to the Perhantian islands. I wanted to come here to do some diving as it supposed to be one of the best diving sites in Asia. So We had to wait four hours before the boat would leave at 10 am. Nothing to do and only one cafe opened. Not spoilt for choice.
After an epic journey we have made it here. Monsoon season,what are they on about?! it blazing hot sunshine here. We stayed at a place called Fatimah Chalets on Coral beach. There was no other tourists here, probably due to the monsoon season. No where was opened excepted a little restaurant next to us. We pretty much had a whole beach to our selves. On the other side of the island was long beach. This is where most people decide to stay when they come here. We decided to try and find it so we headed off through the jungle and got extremely lost. The jungles are not the most fun place to be in out, here due to the fact of Pythons, Cobra's, scorpions, huge lizards which are the size of crocodiles and for me spiders. So we got lost and was just walking through the bushes as there wasn't a proper path, well not what we could find. At one stage Marked jumped out of his skin as he thought he saw a huge snake about a foot in front of him. It was a tree vine with an army of ants walking over it. It was a bit decieving if i'm to be honest. After a few more wrong turns we finally find long beach. No where was opened except this one guest house and bar at the far end of the beach. Here was about 20 people staying. Mainly about 15 iraqie lads. We had a quick drink, enquired about what goes on here, (nothing) and then headed back. This beach is no where as clean as Coral beach. We giot pointed in the right direction and found the correct footpath to take back through the jungle. I was leading the way and almost trod on a huge lizard. I mean huge, probably about a meter long including the tail. It shot out in front of me and gave me the fright of my life. We made it back safely and checked in to our room. By now we was both shattered and slept the day away. We went out to dinner with the swedish girls andf our host Jimmy. Going to the only restaurant opened we went there. I was starving as i hadn't eaten all day so i was looking forward to a lot of food. We went to order our food and food and was told it's only fish and rice. Great, vegetable rice then please. Tomorrow a chef was turning up with the food supplies from mainland. On the island there was no alachol at the moment except from what the girls had bought from Langkawi. We went back to our huts and all sat aroung listen to jimmy playing the guitar seranading us all to sleep. After a few drinks and lack of sleep we all hit the sack.
Wakeing up about mid day and with nothing to do we just spent the day chilling on the beach and playing volley ball. Once again at night with nothing to do it was dinner, tonight i was treated to chicken and rice. Some local guys had cottoned on to us being here so tonight he bought a crate of beers in a cool box and sold them to us. 8 Ringgit a time, so i'm sure he is making a huge profit. After listening to jimmy playing and singing, playing cards we was all ready for bed once again.
Today we hadeventually planned to do something. We all went on a snorkelling trip stopping off at 5 different points. I would of preferd to dive but no shops were opened. Our first point was sharks point. Here we swam with Black tip reef sharks which was amazing. I have wanted to swim with sharks for years now. Some of these things were about 2 meters long. I won't say i was scared but i was certainly nervous about being in the water with them. After here we went to turtles bay which we swam with some huge turtles. These creatures are fairly cool. They bob around without a care in the world and let you get really up close to them, Aftere here it was coral gardens. Pretty fish and coral and i saw another couple of sharks. After here we stopped off at fisherman village. This is where all of about 2000 locals live. We stoped off for lunch and went to a newly opened restaurant. This village has loads of discusting sheep walking around every where and eating the rubbish. I had ordered spagettie Bolognaise for lunch and was really looking forward to iy. Just my luck that they used minced lanb and not beef so i decided to take the safe option of leaving it and settleing for some doughnuts. Leaving here not satisfied with my lunch we went out to the light house. A feqw of the girls were juming off from the top but most of us stayed in the boat. Our last stop was to be sunset beach. Here we was meant to swim with sting rays but the weather had changed and the sea was getting choppy so none of us bothered getting in. We arrived home and got showered and all webt out for something to eat again, had a few beers and listened to jimmy again.
This island has been the most relaxing place we have been since being away. It is definately what we needed after 4 months of partying. Perhantian islands are beautiful. Unfortunately we was here in monsoon season so the beaches wasn't all that clean and there was no where opened. Hopefully i will make it back here some day to dive and see what it's like when everywhere is opened.
Today we was to leave for Kuala Lumpar
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