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We decided to take a small trip from KL (Myhotel at Sentral of course!) by train and bus to Port d*** on (PD) for 4 weekdays. PD is a weekend getaway for KL'ers. We booked a £10.50 a night apartment with pool some 9km south of PD near the beach. The cheap train and bus rides were slow, with waits between each leg taking us 4hrs+ for a 90km ride! When we found our 'Cocobay Resort' it resembled more of the old Liverpool tenaments rather than the Dubai Hilton... Unperturbed we made the most of the solitude... with around 300 apartment sand 5 blocks there appeared to be almost nobody living there. Car park was empty and pool deserted... To Sheryl's delight! The promised 'happening Hamptons' style eateries, internet cafes and lifestyle did not manifest itself when we visited the local Mart and a lacklustre set of 'streateries'. But stocked up with bread, choco-peanut butter, cereal and milk we were set for breakfast! We spent the next 4 days exploring; a couple of half days in PD proper to get a few pictures and to satisfy my craving for an XL Dominos pizza.... yummy! It also meant we could piggy-back off the KFC or local wifi as our apartment was internet barren, in order to plan our UK return. We also spent a day walking from our apartment along the empty soft sand beach (in 30+ degree heat). We scrambled across volcanic rocks and through the 'Blue Lagoon', again empty and into the Tantung Tuan national park (after a swift drink at the local 4 star!). It was lovely - and empty - we listened to the sound of insects and birds and walked up to the lighthouse and onwards to the - yes, you guessed it - empty beach below! Very refreshing, although there were swarms of mosquitoes, so we exited sharply. On teh return in teh upper tree line we heard and saw several beautiful 'Spectacled Langurs' - see front pic. I grabbed a cheap, but well presented and tasty fayre of mushroom soup with garlic bread and a burger, then we walked some 2km and jumped a bus part way back to get some AC and out of the even hotter 2pm sun! Sheryl grabbed a few dips in the empty but impeccably well maintaned and cleaned pool. The remaining day we spent walking the beach towards PD. It was bank holiday friday and it was packed with local tourists, mainly guys on noisy 100cc bikes. We were the only euros there. We grabbed some food and drinks and a ice cream and enjoyed the unique vista, with the Muslim bathing attire (ladies of course) consisting of leggings, t-shirt and an (often very bright) Tudung. Very different to say, Southport, yet very similar. We enjoyed trying something different and more local than the KL vibe which is very international. Our return trip was uneventful as we took an AC bus most of the way to KL for just 9.9RM (£1.95). Another great exeprience in Malaysia. Now to prepare for our return to the UK.
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