15th-16th December - Rebak to "fjords" to Kuah

Sunday 15^th December

We are leaving the marina for a few days, to anchor near some of the beautiful islands - there are approx. 99 in the Langkawi group.

The ferry across to the “mainland” – in this case Langkawi; the bigger island is always The Mainland, I think – was speedy and great fun.  WHEEE!! 

I had quite a nice time in Kuah, although it was very hot and I had to trudge around quite a lot from one area to another.  Not long distances, only a kilometer or so, but when it is very hot and sunny, all movement takes a lot of energy.

I very much enjoyed walking out on the eagle jetty and taking photos from a few different angles.  This Langkawi Eagle is SO huge it can’t help but be impressive…

I shared a taxi to town (Kuah) and back with some people from Kazakhstan, who are staying at the resort.  This saved a lot of money (in yachtie terms…it is a $20 fare there and back…) and gave me the opportunity to meet yet more really nice people.  I also found out that the capital of Kazakhsatan, Astana is the second coldest capital city in the world!  The coldest is – Ulan Bataar, Mongolia.  Who knew??

Boro and Irina back at Rebak

On the ferry coming back I also met a very nice young Indian bloke who is on holiday at the resort with his wife and four children, from Penang.  The children are having the most riotously wonderful time.  His youngest son spends all day from sunrise to sunset in the pool or in a hammock and has to be bribed to come inside.

When I got back at 5pm Pete was no longer labouring at his computer.  He was, very sensibly, wallowing in the cool blue water of the pool.  We wallowed around together and chatted to more wallowers, leftover still from the rally, until it was time to get out, get changed, and go to dinner.  Pete had booked at the resort restaurant, for their International Buffet Night.

They go in for Christmas in a big way in Malaysia.  The resort is most beautifully decorated.

In Penang the Straits Quay complex had absolutely giant Christmas decorations, with Christmas music blasting constantly.  It was all very secular.  The enormous Christmas edifice at the foyer entrance featured, strangely, Rudolph and…Tinkerbell, larger than can be imagined. 

2XS has had one night of glory in Rebak marina, all lit up.  Pete clambered around to string up these lights; we were both slightly startled and highly amused when we turned them on at night-time and found how very frantically they flashed…

Monday 16^th December

Our trip to the “fjords” was just beautiful.  Breathtaking scenery.  I took dozens of photos.  We anchored near a lovely little beach, surrounded by jungle-clad hills, with Brahminy kites soaring overhead.  My only complaint – it was SO SO hot! Over 40 degrees in  the cabin… Pete is much braver than I am with respect to hot temperatures.  He was calm and happy… I was hot and bothered and I clambered in and out and in and out and in and out…of the sea.  It was very pleasant – warm and slightly murky, and a bit refreshing  even if the refreshment didn’t last very long.

This morning – a rainstorm!  Oh bliss!

We are now back anchored in Kuah harbor.  We went to the Yacht Club and replenished our beer, gin, tonic supplies, and now we are bobbing around gently with a merciful little cool breeze wafting through the hatches.

And – the internet signal seems to be strong.  What more could we want??