Tuesday, February 26, 2019

*Langkawi, Malaysia Day 1-2

Dear Diary,

After looking at our travel expenses, I actually decided to just stop at Krabi, Thailand but then again, it's not that we are that tight on cash right now, Alhamdulilah. And I too, had to clear leave. My current company doesn't allow us to carry many leaves over to the next following year. Plus, I don't like to take leave staying home doing nothing. So, I was thinking of another "budget" place to travel and......we're back again on Langkawi, Malaysia. Hehe! I know we went just Langkawi last year but it was too short for a trip and we didn't get to explore more except the Langkawi Sky Bridge.

After Korea, I'm a little bit braver to venture more. Hehe! So anyway, we decided on a 4 days 3 nights itinerary this time.

Day 1 - 11 November 2018

We scoot our way to Langkawi. I must tell you, Scoot is my favourite flight to anywhere second to SIA. I know it's a budget flight but I can't afford SIA if it's not on promotion 😅 and Scoot has been making my dreams come true to travel to places.


Hot chocolate first before flight.

Sad sad sad.

Better this than nauseous feeling.

But did I tell you? I had some sort of a crazy phobia before flying and I even wanted to cancel this trip because few weeks ago, the incident of the Lion Air crash happened. I had some kind of crazy phobia of flying! Even though it's not the same flight but yahhhhhhh, I was still terrified. But Alhamdulilah, all praise to Allah SWT. We're both safe to and fro. Haiz! These kind of stories never fail to scare me and always make me so so so so afraid to fly. 😖 I truly salute air stewardess/steward you know. They "risk" their lives everyday to do their job. 

Anyway, it was an hour plus flight to Langkawi. Upon reaching, we knew what we wanted to do. Rent a car, buy prepaid cards. Just a year ago, you'll see people standing near the arrival hall asking if you wanted to rent cars but apparently this time when we arrived, nobody stood there asking. So, while buying prepaid cards, the lady asked us if we wanted anything else or if we wanted to rent cars. I told her I'll ask around outside (I was afraid the ones near the arrival hall will quote us expensively) And she said, we have to rent it here now since there's no one outside that could help us. I wasn't sure if she was telling the truth but anyway, I just followed her where she brought us to rental car service counter. The "lady" (man actually. Hehe!) brief us on the different cars that they have and suggest us to take the RM50/day since it's just two of us. We don't carry big luggage as well. But D being D, wanted a better and slightly newer ones. So, we settled for the RM60/day. Still quite affordable. We paid RM180 for 3 days and paid a deposit of RM100 or RM200 that and will be returned once we return the car.

Words of advice: Please change more RM if you're here. Because renting cars require some deposit and so does the hotel. We change just enough but end up having to cringe money a little because the money all end up being on hold for deposit. Tsk!

Oh I forgot to take picture of our car. Hehehe! Anyway, we drove to our hotel but stopped by Cenang Mall first to buy KFC because both of us were starving! The order took quite a while and I was already nervous for our activity pick-up that was like in 30 minutes time. Plus we haven't check-in yet and I'm sure, check-in will take some time too.


So, this time we tried a different hotel despite wanting to go back to Meritus Pelangi Resort badly, but because expensive 🙊 and also we wanted to try other hotels too. We stayed in their latest newly built hotel while the prices were still affordable.

Camar Resort Langkawi, Lagoon Room.

Love how the pools were just outside our room, which means I could have my dragon float out in the pool so easily. This time D no longer have to worry about infinity pools anymore. Lololols! After check-in, we immediately, just "threw" our bags and quickly change to our swimming attire. We even had the most quick bite ever. The KFC fries was soooo nice and I'm like torn between our activity and the food. Lol! I even had to a super quick tour for our room. We then, quickly left to our hotel lobby to wait for our pick-up that came 5 minutes later. Phew! 😰

Sunset Cruise

I have seen many people actually did sunset cruise and practically it is always at Langkawi. I have never been on a yacht my life before because it's expensive and can't wait to be on one. Anyway, my budget trip became a really not a so budget kind for us anymore. Hahaha!

I book this from Klook itself. There are two Sunset cruise activities in Klook but I think ours was the slightly more expensive one because they had better reviews than the slightly cheaper ones. The price range wasn't much of a difference though between the "cheaper" and "expensive" ones. The "cheaper" one was $80 something and the "expensive" one was $90 something.

They had Instagram.

We didn't know our pick-up was kind of a "private" pick-up. Hehe! Actually it was not but probably because we were the only ones that stayed in a hotel that was further away, they sent a car to pick us up. Do take note that areas out of Cenang will require an extra fee, check this on Klook to confirm again.

It was close to 40 minutes drive that we finally reach our destination.


The funny thing we saw our yacht captain since 10 minutes ago, they thought we were someone else and confused us for a Chinese couple. (They took down our names few days before via Klook, so they know we were Malay) But we, on the other hand, didn't know that they were our yacht guide. He finally decided to approach us and asked if these were our names because we were seated there for a good 10-15 minutes and I was getting slightly restless. Lol! Din & Azie. We confirmed it and he was like "Adoiiii, saya fikir kamu dua ni Chinese couple. Rupanya Melayu. Sebab tu saya tak panggil." Funny thing. He also look Chinese himself only to be introduced as Muiz.



We saw many beautiful yacht and were hoping the nice one was ours. Hehe! Anyway, our yacht wasn't so bad. It was spacious and nice even though it wasn't that grand but I'm still happy having to be on one.

When the yacht sailed off, the yacht guide played some music so that the journey wouldn't be so boring, while the "chef" started bbq-ing and preparing food for us. Drinks were served on the table. We were on board with people from China. Heeh! D and I were the ONLY Singaporeans but we look like Chinese too, so we blend in. 😂 Everyone made themselves comfortable on board, taking photos etc. And I love how our yacht guide on board were so nice. They don't restrict us of our movements, never telling us this cannot or that cannot. Everything can! Hehehe!

It was about at least half an hour ride to the center of the Andaman sea from the shore and our guide asked if we wanted to swim. Well, nobody wanted initially. Some didn't even had swimming attire, probably didn't think that they are allowed to. But after Krabi, I became brave and I really don't want to miss another chance to be in the open sea! We paid so much for this, so gotta try everything. Hehe! Since everyone didn't want to, D and I decided to be a good sport and went for it. It's okay if you can't swim, the life guard is always around with us to make sure we're safe and okay. And you need to wear a life vest before going in the sea too. No life vest, no swimming. That's what our yacht guide kept reminding us. Hehe!


So while both and I were in the sea, the life guard told us to get inside the life buoy that was tied to the other end of the yacht. After we did that, the yacht started to sail off, it feels like as if I was doing some water sports seh but the lame kind. HAHAHAHA! Still, it wasn't that easy, especially to control your body from turning in circles in the water. Lol! But my goal of living my mermaid life in the sea with my merman seems like a dream came true. 🧜‍♀️🧜‍♂️ Hahaha!! But I do fear if there was any sharks 🦈 around. I guess it's safe.

More pictures with the rest of us.




This is our yacht guide! Hehehehe! He was soooo into taking pictures using my phone, so that I could keep all the pictures for memory sake. It was really sweet of him.

After which, another PRC couple, the husband decided to dive into the water. My yacht guide even helped D and I took a video of us diving inside the water from the yacht. A chance we didn't get to do in Krabi. We swam in the open sea for at least almost 1 hour plus to 2, before getting ready for the sun to set. This time dinner was ready for us to eat and we were hungry too.

Food is not bad. Wouldn't complain.

The music continues as we had our dinner and watch the sun set. Such a beautiful experience. Enjoy these pictures with me.















Soon after the night came  and we get to see the iconic Langkawi's eagle statue light up. Beautiful.







It was almost 8pm and all of us were already tired and ready to head home. It was finally time for us to bid goodbye to each other. Funny how we became "close" within that short hours together. We even exchange numbers to exchange pictures. Hehe!

The boat captain did this for us. Look like a real grasshopper that many times, it freaked me out. Hehe! I left this at our hotel room, nope, not bringing it back to Singapore. 😅

Our pick up came on time to pick us up and sent us back to the hotel for us to finally sleep and rest.

Day 2 - 12 November 2018

Headed for our breakfast in the morning. It's about at least a 5 minutes walk to our breakfast place, because the kitchen & dining area was near the beach instead.








Full.

We went back to our room and changed into our swimming attire for today's half day island hopping activity. I have always wanted to see what Dayang Bunting (Lake of the pregnant maiden) looks like since I've only read about it online.

Discovered a Langkawi bug. Hehe!

Our pick-up was late. We thought we missed the pick up since more than enough time to have breakfast. I asked the staff at hotel lobby if there was anyone who came for us and he said, so far none. The pick up were at least half an hour late! But the staff did tell us that the island hopping guide will usually pick up slightly later because the sea is always much choppy in the morning and only gets calmer afterwards. True enough, our pick up came later and off we went for our island hopping.

When we reached, we were given our own life vest to put on and rode off in a speed boat. I find the speed boat very small and squeezy 😩 VS the one in Krabi. I didn't even get to sit with D (he had to sit in front of me with another couple). Plus they need to "balance" the boat that kind. You cannot have one side of the boat seated with more people than the other. Feels like the boat can capsize anytime. Lol!

It was at least 15-20 minutes journey before we finally reach Pulau Dayang Bunting (Lake of the Pregnant Maiden). The guide stopped us here to let us admire this view. We could really see the shape, it resembles a pregnant lady. You can read up the legend, where it got its name and why. Anyway, the guide couldn't really speak English, lucky for him, I could help him translate to some of the tourists. Heeee! 😁




5 minutes later, we finally reach our destination. But that's just not it, you have to keep walking all the way in, at least another 10-15 minutes journey before you finally reach the other side of the pregnant maiden lake to swim. Before we left, our boat guide said there is a new place that was just recently open but not yet to the public. We could see real sea animals and even touch it. If we go, we are the first one that get to see it at a discounted rate of 15RM per person. He said he is not forcing us to go BUT funny thing, his action seems otherwise. Heck! We all decided to just pay up. No harm going.









So many stairs to climb down, but the problem is when we go back, we have to climb up. Plus the stairs are all quite steep and there were a lot of monkeys 🐒 🐒 🐒 🐒 🐒 around. My gosh! Just so many of them and I fear monkeys! Some will really chase after you. One tried to and I hid behind D, while D tried to scare it away. Can you imagine the fiercer and braver ones? Luckily, we didn't bump into those kinds. I even saw a little boy screaming for his life while one of the monkey chase after him. 😫 I don't know to cry or to laugh seeing that. 

Finally here. We had to pay an entrance fee and even pay for the life vest. 🤦‍♀️ Money again. No life vest, no swimming. 


But thank God for the life vest because apparently, the lake is deep. Lol! Why do I had a feeling like it was shallow. It's a sea for goodness sake.

We get to stay here for an hour but only get to swim for 30 minutes. How I wish we get to enjoy it longer. It's a relax and nice feeling you get when you're here but sadly, time doesn't permit. Plus it's another 10-15 minutes hike up back to where our boat was. Again, I made some friends with other tourist. 🙊 But not really a tourist, since those girls I made friends with were also from Malaysia. Other parts of Malaysia.








Then off we go to the place where we were rip off. HAHAHA! But even though they tried to rip us off our money, we still get to hold puffer fish, turtle, feed fishes and touch a sea urchin. I mean it's not bad either, plus we weren't rushing to go back.

Sea urchin is not that sharp as I think it will be. Still, I was scared to touch it. I'm afraid I might get prick. 

Next, was the place where we got to see flock of eagles flying around the sky. I wonder how eagles chose it's place and why is it Langkawi. So many of them flying around and again it was such an amazing view.


Lastly, we were then brought to,


Where we get to enjoy the beach and had another last round of swim. The weather was so hot and there isn't anything much to do besides swimming while waiting for the boat to pick us up again to send us back. 




We were done by 2pm and were sent back to our hotel. and I showered and had a hard time deciding where to go after this. We were starving and wanted to eat at some langkawi's interesting food places but most Halal food places are close at 3-4pm and will only re-open again at 6pm for dinner. I thought we could have lunch and then head out for some other places of interest but even so, those places of interest will also be closed by 6pm. If we were to eat lunch, I doubt we have time since we were struggling to find food places to eat.

Luckily, fast food restaurant remain open. We happened to see a Secret Recipe and since Singapore doesn't have much of these outlet around, we decided to dine here. Besides, I love their cakes too.





We sat down and just talk to past time and eat till we were so full and couldn't eat anymore. Hehe! I started doing some research on places to go. Most places were so far and it will at least take an hour to drive there. By the time, it will be close when we reach. The nearest place from the place we dine, was Underwater World, Langkawi. I wasn't keen to go for this but I don't mind either. So D suggested to go here since this the only place we can go to just to kill time before we head back to our hotel.

We bought the tickets at the counter. The counter staff thought we were Malaysian. Lol! Until I had to tell her that we are foreigners. So we had to pay a different rate VS being locals. Anyway, I'm glad we came here because it was not so bad after all. I should have list down all the underwater world I've been to over the world. In Busan, Langkawi, Singapore. Should have collected magnets as a souvenir! Why didn't I think of that eh? Hehe!







Did I tell you the penguins are so cute? They literally follow you around! Hehehe! You can see D enjoying it as much as the penguins do. Hehehehehehe! We went over to another mall and I discovered this 3-in-1 chocolate drink which I fall in love with. I will definitely come back to Langkawi for this again.

We pack dinner from Secret Recipe (not forgetting buying the cakes too) and headed back to our hotel. It was 6pm and I bet all places of interest were already close. Since it was still early, I thought we could go for a massage together since we had a complimentary massage from the hotel. D have never been to one too and I kinda needed a massage anyway.


When we reach our hotel, I chance upon this leaflet and decided why not do the full massage too since we have nothing else to do and they had promotion for couple massage. Although, I'm not fond of the idea of a woman massaging D and so was D not feeling too comfortable about it but...where do I find a man to massage D? Lol! I'll rather a woman massage D & I VS a man massaging D & I. Errr! Plus I'll be in the same room as him too, so he'll feel a little bit less uncomfortable and I will keep my a lookout. 👀 LOL! Entah-entah this boy action takut and tak suka aje but dalam hati suka eh? HAHAHA! Kidding lah. 😅




Anyway, there were 2 masseuse. The older one massaged and the younger one, massaged me. Hehehehe!


Massage feels good but D complain that his body seems to be aching. So I told him, that's normal for someone who does massage for the first time. Since all the knots in the body began to untangle and air release. Hehe! I was like that too before but frequent massage over time, I don't get aching after massage anymore.

Came back to our room and it was nicely made. We enjoyed the pool view while watching TV. Had our dinner and then off to bed.



Stay tuned for the following days of our stay in Langkawi.

XOXO,
Princess Azie Anni 

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