Arabian Adventures: Bangkok, Malaysia and Island Hopping

Bangkok is a bustling big city. Rapid transit was fairly easy to figure out, baring knowing north, south, east and west. Oh well, we saw more of the city than was planned! Given we were in Bangkok less than 48 hours and getting lost more times than digits on one hand, didn't establish a rock solid faith for Glenn. Hallas, cabs were cheap, so what if we only went two blocks!

buying chicken on a stick!

Our hotel, the Bangkok Loft Inn, was very comfortable and not in a tourist area. Our walking adventures were interesting, very little English was spoken and several wrong turns were made given all the hand gestures. Lunch was purchasing giant BBQ chicken wing on a stick, a bag of sticky rice and 4 steaming hot spring rolls with delicious sauce given to us in a small plastic bag. It seems many people eat and walk there. For supper, sharing an outside street table with a local over a bowl of chicken and egg noodles seemed to be the norm. By the time we finally found the night market, Glenn was not interested in more adventure!

simple and effective ferry to Koh Lanta

ferry landing - a little different than BC Ferries!

we are not in Saudi now honey - yummers sweet & sour . . . .

Koh Lanta, and island southwest of Bangkok, was quiet and relaxing. The Moonlight Resort and Spa was mid Island, away from the crowded beaches, was serene and quaint. Each guest had their own little stilted cabin. Ours was right on the river which proved to be a very interesting ecosystem. Various fish, mud skippers, frogs, birds, BIG lizards, small lizards, geckos, honey bugs and no snakes!

Having dinner on the beach, we saw the biggest beetle we had ever seen. The kitten wanted to play and the beetle actually hissed at it!

grinning like the Chestier Cat but not batting the big bug!

Moonlight Resort and Spa - Ahhhhhh . . . . . . .

Driving on Koh Lanta was interesting. Left hand side, passing wherever they want, scooters, tuk tuks, dogs, cows, big trucks, vans, buses, motorcycles and pedal bikes. We did get brave and rent a scooter for two days. Stupid or daring, we even drove at night! Motorcycle Man, aka Glenn, skilfully manoeuvred around one darting dog and one local who was coming straight for us in our lane. Whew!

Old Lanta Town, built on stilts. This was the port for trade in years gone past.

Our kayaking trip through the Mangrove forest was one of a kind. It was really hot and sunny and the inlets of forest were thick, with roots interwoven like multiple fingers gnarled together. It was lush and green. Signs were posted - no cutting! Stopping at "Monkey Point" was scary and overwhelming! Our guide told us monkeys love people with bananas. Boy do they ever! Paddling up to the site, the monkeys started chattering and jumping from tree to tree. Our guide threw a piece of banana into the water and the action was fast and furious. They literally dove from the high branches of the trees, swam to the boat and jumped aboard. I wish I had been more prepared to get it on video. I think we were lucky not to capsize! It was fun but a bit overpowering too. With wet monkeys jumping all over us, Glenn claims I screamed too much and scared the crap out of one. Poor guy, he needed to clean the "outhouse".

Come aboard, enjoy the banana and the ride too!

Although our days in Thailand were few, we enjoyed the variety of the spicy delicious food and the friendly and helpful people. The Thai massage was a retreat from the tropical rainstorm, intense, and similar to the massages in Indonesian.

Next we travelled to the northwest island of Langkawi, Malaysia. This is a quiet resort island with tourist sites and activities. We rode up the mountain in a cable car but it was so cloudy we didn't get a clear view of the surrounding islands. Langkawi is one of 99 islands in the area. Local folklore has it that Langkawi derived its name from the eagle or 'helang' as it is know in the Malay language. The story goes an eagle flew over, dropped the piece of limestone it was carrying and the island was formed. We hiked up to the seven falls, a natural waterside made from the rocks and water, tickled our toes in the black sand and Cheryl went on an Island Hopping trip. The motor boat stopped at Pregnant Maiden Lake, the eagle feeding area and a snorkeling spot with beautiful white beaches.

tropical jungle, riding the cable car up the mountain

black sand beach - north end of Langkawi Island

start of the MAJOR hike up to the 7 Wells - looking strong

thankful for the benches and little houses for resting periods - We think we can, we think we can . . .

7 Wells - brave people waterslide down through the wells.

long beautiful sandy beaches on Langkawi

Thunder and lightning storms brought short bursts of warm tropical rain. Fortunately, we were not caught in any of these downpours. The resident frogs in our motel bathroom obviously didn't like too much water either and surfaced each time we showered!

morning shopping in Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur was not so crowded

Staying in the heart of Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur was a highlight of our trip. Noisy, hustling, bustling vendors and hawkers were friendly, fun, and tried every trick they had to lure us into their rickety mobile store or restaurant. Knock offs of every kind were available for "very cheap". We ate mystery and delicious foods, strolled through the tranquil bird sanctuary, shopped, walked, and appreciated the history of Chinatown. We knew we were the minority when we were the only Caucasians in the subway car. The lone rooster which crowed when the doors closed probably felt the same way! We really could not look at each other without bursting into fits of laughter.