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Hello once more from Malaysia.
Since we last checked in, we have kayaked in a mangrove forest, seen the world's largest flower, and bathed with an elephant. With a healthy side serving of lounging around, drinking cocktails and eating even more good food. We like to be thorough.
Our next stop after Georgetown was the beautiful island of Langkawi, off the north west coast of Penang. Our hotel was brand new, only open two months, and was called Tubotel - we did in fact sleep in tubes. Modified, pastel coloured concrete tubes with full length glass doors overlooking the sea and the sunset. Perfect. Highlights of Langkawi include drinking cocktails in the street, mini cable cars, and befriending our European neighbours who then dutifully got Mike drunk on vodka his birthday eve.
We then kayaked hungover (hardcore) through mangrove swamps where we saw a water monitor lizard, a viper & a python, eagles and monkeys. The kayaks were the perfect way to see the trees, as the channels were only just wide enough at points to allow us through - sometimes we were pushing ourselves along from the tree roots rather than paddling.
After Langkawi, we headed to Cameron Highlands - the home of Malaysian tea! Also, mercifully cooler, so no air conditioning required. I even wore a jumper in the evening - getting me slowly used to England...
We had a jam packed tour day in CH, which included a jungle trek to the world's largest flower (very much looked like Seymour) and a swim in a waterfall on the way back. Finally got something resembling a decent brew at the tea plantation, and also the most amazing views across the hills. All of this was made more exciting by Old Faithful, our broken, beat up Land Rover that could only do 20km when full of people, and couldn't manage the dirt roads at all. Hilarious.
After a day to recuperate, we headed off further into the jungle with a visit to Taman Negara, one of Malaysia's National Parks. We chose to get a bus most of the way, and then a boat upriver into the park - this was the best idea ever. The boats were long and wooden, sat two people next to each other in a little booth, and were really low to the water. Such a relaxing way to travel, staring at the cows grazing on the riverside.
Taman Negara was again a good spot for spying wildlife - on our own (inadvertently long off road) jungle trek we saw more lizards, massive beetles, 2cm long ants (!!), big blue butterflies. Decided to go on a night safari too, which was fun just for the fact that we got to sit on the roof with the guide, bouncing around through a palm oil plantation (no Mikes or Weezies were hurt in the duration of the safari). The animals were a bonus and included palm civets, leopard cats, wild boar and neon green kingfishers.
Our final wildlife related anecdote is based in Jerantut, where we got to feed, ride and bathe with elephants. Amazingly gorgeous creatures, the bathing was the best as we got so close, and used sand from the river bed to scrub them (tourist staffed day spa not too shabby for the elephants) We also got soaking wet from the keepers starting water fights.
That's about all for now folks, next time Mike will be asking the all important question - who wins for food, Penang or Melaka? Exciting.
Lou and Mike xxxx
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