Pulau Langkawi May 2016

Having arrived safe and sound and trouble free at our destination, we settled in.

https://youtu.be/nxzyMv0IvKE

Tourist activities. Hired a car from the gazillion choices at the ferry terminal, a mere 5 mins stroll from the marina. Macaque monkeys abound, using the telegraph wires much as the possums do in Oz to get across roads etc. They also just use the road, and the footpath if they feel like it. Warning - they love plastic bags, especially clear ones- window shopping for them, I guess!

Drove around the island , inspected Telega harbour , sussed out berthing options -zero! It's a small harbour on the SW side of Langkawi Island.

My initial plan had been to try to leave K'Gari at an even more isolated marina on Rebak Island, for my impending return  to Oz. For months they had been replying "no room". It appealed to me, as it was remote. Located in a basin on the SE side of an island (under the flight path...more on this subject later), and to my mind perhaps more Tsunami proof than either of the other options.
However now I was here, I didn't even bother to ask again. They could have had my hard earned cash for 3 -4 months, but didn't seem interested, so nor was I.

So Telega was out, Rebak wasn't interested and I wasn't really interested in 3-4 months at Royal Langkawi. As it's minutes from the ferry terminal, it's also minutes from their wash. Baffled from the  wash  by the marina walls, it would be 3-4 months of perpetual surging on the lines as the boats engaged umpteen times a day in the "Royal Langkawi Rhumba"

https://youtu.be/GnQvsxhzv3Q

 A new plan formulated- possibly  a return trip to Admiral Marina. This would be achievable, as in late June I would have  family arriving and hence a pressganged crew on hand. The other alternative to mull over, was leaving K'Gari out of the water on the hard, for the duration of my absence ,in one of the yards that could accommodate a haul out. Decisions decisions.

 Having basically decided on a plan of action , Peter then showed me some video of Telega harbour when the Tsunami arrived! He hadn't wanted to influence my decision! Thanks Pete!

A definite highlight of the island tour, was Langkawi Craft Works, or, as every sign says, Komplex Kraf Langkawi- and on an island, all major intersections have a sign to it, believe me.
This is fascinating place, an all in one huge complex which contains , museums explaining the cultural way of life, live demonstrations of local arts, batik and glass blowing, weaving etc.
A  quick detour to Jetty Kilim which is in the Geoforest Park followed,

looking back to the sea

(after trekking up and down the same bit of road several times looking for the turn off). Peter negotiated a boat trip and we went to look at "the Hole in the Wall", an anchorage they had not been to themselves in their travels, but one which is highly recommended as weather proof from any direction. After entering from the sea a branch off to the left and then further up another  branch is found, upon which are located a couple of floating restaurants and our very obliging guide pointed out the number of yachts on moorings, many having not been seen by their owners in the last 10 years.
The geography of the region is breath taking. A gorge carved out millions of years ago, with towering cliffs either side.

photo probably doesn't do it justice ,but that's what you get on an i phone

In fact ,all of Langkawi is the beginning of the new and spectacular scenery that will stretch from this point, north and into Phang nha Bay in Thailand. Geologically very similar to the Glass House Mountains in Qld. Ancient volcanic plugs- the only difference being, these are still surrounded by water and rise spectacularly from its depths.

2nd fork: restaurants and " Hotel California" on moorings

It seems that Langkawi is the "Hotel California" for many yachties, for whatever reason, the dream dies ,or perhaps they do, or divorce seems to be a reason in some cases. Close encounters  with each other in a confined space becoming too much. Who knows, but there are many many sad and lonely boats in Langkawi, more than anywhere else I have seen to date.