Langkawi - Day 3

After lazing about for most of yesterday, we were up and at 'em this morning. Again we woke in time for breakfast to be delivered and then we headed straight out to the water sports area to hire kayaks.

Having donned our wide brimmed straw hats (provided in our villa), we jumped in the kayaks and began to paddle out to the next island - perhaps a kilometer away. We crossed the shipping channel with no incidents and there was little wind so it was relatively easy going although it did take a while for the shoulders to warm up.

Once we were over at the island, we paddled around the coast until we came to a small sandy beach where we stopped to stretch our legs - and shoulders! We passed a family that were fishing from the beach - at least that's what I think they were doing. Not sure if they lived on the island but I couldn't see any means of transport that they had. We walked up the beach a bit and came across some monitor lizard tracks. By the looks of things, he was quite a big one with a claw span of maybe 10cm. Shame we didn't actually see the beast though.

Back in the kayaks, we turned the 'corner' of the island and paddled in the open water for a while before coming to another 'corner'. We actually thought that we were already back on the other side but we soon realized that the island was actually shaped like a U. So we paddled into the U-shaped bay where there was another stretch of beach - much bigger and nicer this time - to take another break and go for a swim.

Obviously people had been living on the island at some points as there were remnants of buildings just up from the beach. Someone had even put a plastic desk chair on the sand. It was so peaceful there - nothing but the sound of the lapping waves and birds in the rainforest - gorgeous!

We jumped back in the kayaks again ready for our final stretch home and feeling refreshed. We came out of the U-shaped bay and around the corner again and by this time, the wind had picked up. As we paddled around the coast, we were soon in the shipping lane again and we were definitely finding it tougher going with the wind and waves against us.

As we were paddling, a ferry sailed past and added to the challenge by providing us with plenty of waves from its wake. As we got nearer to the headland, both Ross and I were really digging deep to make headway. Once we rounded the headland though it did get a bit easier although we were still working hard. From the beach, the distance to the island didn't seem very far and we did the trip out pretty quickly and easily. Heading back it seemed to take for ever and the beach at the resort never seemed to be getting any closer. But we eventually made it back in, a bit exhausted but more really energized by the morning trip.

We jumped straight into the splash pool to cool off and not long after the rain started to come down. Luckily we weren't still out on the water as it was really choppy now. After a shower, we decided to take the free shuttle bus to the mall just down from the resort to see what we could have for lunch. We jumped in the van and were dropped off outside the biggest mall in Langkawi - really it was pretty small. We walked around for about 15 minutes before deciding it really wasn't what we thought so we walked down the street to the ferry terminal where we had seen a Starbucks. The terminal also did not provide many healthy eating options (plenty of fast food though) so we drank our Starbucks and jumped in a cab back to the resort.

We were starving by this time so we ordered a quick bite and again started to watch a movie but fell asleep. Just like yesterday, we woke up in time for happy hour so we headed up via golf buggy to the bar for another free martini - pineappletinis this time. We stayed for another drink (I had a melontini and Ross had a Flirtini) and by this time it was 7.30 and we headed down for our secluded, romantic dinner on the beach.

Our waiter was there waiting for us and we ordered a bottle of white wine we sipped as the sun went down. Despite a bit of a shaky start (the pre-appetizer a little red octopus each!), the rest of the meal was fantastic. We both had fish for the main course and it was just beautiful. We were so stuffed after appetizer, soup, sorbet and mains that by the time dessert came around we could hardly fit it in... but we tried! Ross had white chocolate cheesecake and I had the chocolate indulgence. Despite how good it was we simply could not finish it.

We were completely stuffed (and a bit sweaty!) by the time we finished the meal but it was a beautiful setting and we really enjoyed it. We had to stay up for a while just to let all the food digest!

Day 2 in Langkawi

This morning we woke up in time for breakfast to be delivered to the villa. After breakfast we relaxed in the villa and lounged around outside in and out of the splash pool. Finally we headed to the main pool for a while before getting hungry again and heading back to the villa for room service lunch. Just as we stepped inside it started to rain so we were glad to get at least some sun. After lunch, we tried to watch a movie but both fell asleep before the end.

We woke up a couple of hours later and remembered that happy hour started at 5.30. We showered, dressed and rang for the golf cart to take us up to the lobby (we didn't want to get all sweaty on the walk up there :-)). At the bar, we enjoyed our complimentary cocktail and canapes before we headed down to the restaurant by the pool for a light dinner before our spa appointment.

We shared a great beef Caesar salad and some duck rice paper rolls then walked down the beach to the 'Heavenly Spa' for our ‘Mahsuri & Darus Romance’ treatment. The treatment was in one of the rooms at the Heavenly Spa Villa - a private beachfront property specially reserved for couples. The website describes the treatment better than I ever could:

"The treatment honors the legend of the love affair between Mahsuri a beautiful maiden and Darus, warrior and the son of the headman of the village and Chief of Langkawi. The three-hour experience includes a vigorous soap scrub that is given upon a stunning outdoor heated marble plinth inspired by the Turkish Hammam tradition. Included are sensual soaks made with fragrant flowers of Water Lily and Hibiscus and the Mahsuri Massage that is a strong yet soothing warrior style massage that comprises of traditional martial arts techniques."

So three hours later (and at 10.30pm) , Ross and I floated out of the spa and wandered back up to the bar for a night cap. Ross ordered a chocolate martini while I had a Capriyanha cocktail and we watched the entertainment (three female singers with a bloke playing a synthesizer - they were pretty good!) for an hour or so before we got too tired and went to bed. What a relaxing day!!

Off to Langkawi

This morning Ross and I were up early to start our journey to Langkawi. We left the house by 7 and wheeled our suitcase down the road to the Traders Hotel to catch a taxi to Sentral Station. At the train station, we boarded the Skybus to go to the airport. The flight was pretty painless and uneventful and in an hour we landed in Langkawi.

A short taxi ride from the airport and we arrived at the Westin Resort and Spa. It felt hotter and was definitely sunnier than KL. While we waited for the paperwork to be completed, we went to the bar for a drink - a good start to the holiday! The view from the bar was amazing (see photo). The front desk staff brought over our rooms keys and we jumped on the golf cart to take us to our villa.

The villa was stunning! Lounge/ dining room, small kitchenette, king-sized bedroom, massive bathroom and dressing area. Outside was a 4ft deep splash pool - also a desent length - two sunloungers with an enormous umbrella and a gazebo with a day bed. The view looked directly out to the beach, ocean and islands. We were gob-smacked!

We ordered some lunch and spent the afternoon in the splash pool. We moved to the main pool and whiled away the afternoon with a cocktail or two while looking out at the ocean watching the boats go back and forth through the islands.

By about 5 o'clock, we were well and truly pruned so we left the pool and headed back to the villa, walking along the beach. We spent the evening drinking white wine in the gazebo, ordering an amazing Indian pizza (with banana, tandoori chicken, mango chutney) and lazing in and out of the splash pool. We fell into bed exhausted but so happy to be in paradise!