Woke up reasonably early (for us), opened the curtains and wow – dozens of small tree-covered islands set in the shimmering sea.
Amazing view, and one of the benefits of cruising, places like this that are hard to get to otherwise.
Went up to breakfast, took photos from the back of the boat, then down for coffee.
It’s very hot again, so we didn’t book any excursions and instead got the shuttle bus into the small town to have a quick look around. It’s just too hot and humid to sit in a small boat for an hour on an excursion, some of which require walking. Compared to a lot of people we’ve seen on the boat, we’re fitter than most but still don’t fancy it.
There is a shopping mall on the map near where we get dropped off so we can seek refuge from the sun if we need to.
Got the shuttle bus which took us to the end of the pier – a bit confused, then walked a bit to the proper bus that took us into town. The handout on the boat said it was a 30 minute trip but it was only 10.
Got off into the heat, then walked up the road to the shopping mall, past smelly bins, rubbish, big holes in the pavement, stray dogs, people whizzing past on scooters, and taxi and tour touts.
The mall was very sparse but was air conditioned and had a Starbucks. I ordered a coffee, but not before having to wait for the person in front of me – why do I always get behind the person who has to ask 100 questions when all I want is a bloody latte?
“What muffins do you have? (They are on display).
“Will they keep until tomorrow?”
“Does that one have nuts?”
“Do I need to keep it in the fridge?”
“Do you have croissants?” (Also on display)
“I’ll have a croissant and 2 blueberry muffins”
“Can you toast the croissant?”
“Can you put the muffins in a box?”
“Is there any butter?”
“I’ll also have a caramel latte”
“Do you have non dairy milk?”
“Can I have it hot?”
“Actually I’ll have the iced latte”
“Can you not put too much ice in?”
She hands over her credit card, which of course doesn’t have enough credit so she digs around in her purse for a couple of minutes for the cash.
Me: “Medium hot soy latte thanks, here’s the correct amount.” 10 seconds.
I hate people sometimes.
Song went shopping while I enjoyed my coffee, but there wasn’t much to buy.
I was wrong, Song came back with some shopping bags with Langkawi on them (gifts for someone), a fridge magnet, and some bookmarks with cats on for the person looking after our cat.
Deciding there was not much more to see here we walked back to the bus stop to go back to the boat.
Back on the boat, just lazed around until lunch, then more lazing until dinner, watched a couple of episodes of the latest Reacher season.
We opted for the Chocolate Sphere for dessert at dinner. It’s worth mentioning because it was spectacular – the waiter delivered a chocolate sphere (think Easter egg), then set light to a sauce dish of brandy which he poured over the sphere. The blue-flame melted the sphere to reveal a chocolate cake topped with ice cream contained within. Pretty amazing.
Unfortunately it was just too much and neither of us finished it – the other people who ordered it also left a fair bit, it was really big enough for two.
Very full, went back to the room to watch the remaining episodes of Reacher but will have to wait a week for the last one.
