Malaysia - two weeks through city, jungle and sea

2 weeks between the skyscrapers of Kuala Lumpur, the savage and primitive jungle of Taman Negara, and the archipelago of Langkawi with its 99 islands.

For all PHOTO and the full story, visit my site:
www.ivanweb.net

 

Cagliari - Roma - Dubai

Our preparations are concluded with a backpack for hand luggage and a bag / trolley medium
size each. We have been good. 11.00 part our first flight with Air One
from Cagliari-Elmas, who landed in Rome after an hour exactly. Pending dell'Internazionale
stop in Rome Terrace, an area of Fiumicino and Ste I now know by heart. Here
buy what will become the mascot of our trip: a chimpanzee who figures
nicknamed umpair Lump.
At 16.55 off our Emirates flight 93, a Boeing 777/300, and after 5 hours and a half and 4328 Km
lands at 24.05 (local time) to Dubai (DBX). We are curious from this airport that does not disappoint
all expectations!

Dubai - Kuala Lumpur. Concorde hotel. Petronas towers.

We remain a few hours walking through the huge corridors of the airport: beautiful, shiny, and
especially is incredibly vital despite night. We need to walk almost a thrust;
sounds like the rush hour but it is the one night ... Italian airports are deserted at this hour!
3:10 off the Emirates flight with 343 changing our Boeing 777/200 which is becoming a more
big and long as the first. Other 5533 km and 7 hours by plane to land at 14.00 passed in Kuala
Lumpur. Here we change just a few euros at the rate? 1 = MYR 4.43 (Ringgit) and take a
taxi to arrive at the Concorde Hotel. The airport is about seventy kilometers from the center of the capital and
Our rates Deva name establishes a fee of MYR 90 in a minivan. On the way explained
some interesting things (including the basic words of Malay). E 'molto gentile e simpatico. The motorway
is in perfect condition, and large sliding. It rains a lot, but it was granted. The exciting
first sight of the Petronas Twin Tower from afar, even before entering the traffic of the city, which
just becoming a little more intense.
Arrived at the Concorde, 3-star hotel, got the registration formalities. Oddly note
only my passport and any document and Erika Stefania, taking a deposit
MYR 400 deposit! But if the room is already paid for is really necessary? "Paese che vai, customs that
are ... "is immediately think ... Our superior room is the executive in 1216 to No. 12 plane, with
splendid views of the Petronas Twin Tower and the pool below! Unfortunately you can not open the window
in no way to break ... the room is pretty spacious, the bathroom very nice and a great
shelf in marble for all the support required. The 3rd bed is brought together with the latest
bags and it is not just a much ... Erika is sacrificed for us and choose "voluntarily" to sleep,
However, after claiming to have as company umpair Lump ....
After an arranged try our first walk in Kuala Lumpur. Are 19.00 and the rain is
incessant. Fortunately we chose well, because the Concorde is in the center, and much closer to
what we thought to Petronas. Begin a path in a clockwise loop stop the Tourist
Information that is adjacent to the right side. E 'open, but there is none. There is a typical
Cantilena Muslim suspect in the background and are all praying. Come back tomorrow.
Continue until you reach the Petronas. A real spectacle to be admired in open mouth! Huge,
very high and very well lit! Much more fascinating at night that in daylight would say ...
enter at Suria KLCC, huge shopping mall at the base of the towers which occupies the first 4
plans. Teems with people and is truly immense: a glance! It 's quite
Americanization and could not see the character of the Malaysian in the streets I could think of being
quietly in a large western city. Let the Petronas and return to the hotel
from the main road, which Deva told us to be the area cafes and restaurants. In fact, for the dinner we
suffered from Italian inspired "Modesto's". A very nice and well cared for, where we take 2 pizzas and
pasta with three coca-cola at a price of MYR 130. We take this as a reference price for a
class restaurant. There is time to eat oriental cuisine!

Skybridge at Petronas towers. Chinatown. Merdeka Square. Little India.

As suggested by Deva, leave early to 7.00, before breakfast, to be able to take the
tickets to visit the Skybridge (the bridge that joins the two towers) of Petronas. Tickets are
free, but the daily visits are limited in number. In fact we get that there is almost no one and
the damper of the ticket office is still closed. People do not take long to arrive and in no
you say you form a long tail coil! The visit lasts 15 minutes and ours is booked for 9.00.
Waiting on the spot watching the documentary of the adjacent room. The Petronas are
still the highest twin towers of the world, reaching nearly 500 feet high. The
skybridge is the only place open and is located "only" at the 41st floor at 170 meters. In all there are 88 plans
tower in the offices of large multinational companies: just like you see in the film Entrapment,
that can not come to mind going up the towers! The view from above is impressive, despite
This is a lot of mist and the sky completely overcast. It sees much of the city, many
skyscrapers, the park and the mall below, while the intense city traffic appears
little ones moving dots that are the vehicles! A flood of pictures and movies rite and finally
We have earned a buffet breakfast of Concorde at 10 am ...
After a brief tour of discovery of our hotel at 11.00 am we Tourism Information Center
where this time a Malaysian cordialissima girl calmly explains all the possible excursions to do in
area and outside the city is buying packages organized and moving it themselves. Following his
advice, we decide to visit the city starting from Chinatown, to the south To get there take the
Monorail, which has a stop just to the right office. The ticket costs just 1.60 MYR and journey
is funny, considering that this is a train that goes suspended 40 meters above the
traffic in the city! Our stop is Maharajalela entrance to Petaling Street with the adjacent market
on the road. The landscape changes radically from skyscrapers and technological switch to 3-storey houses to
up with the traditional street stalls, which sell all sorts of objects,
clothing, and so on ... Piove always hijacked and despite the partial coverage to the roof
wisdom recommends as a first purchase a useful umbrella Malaysian .... we all
road, go up the escalators and other markets are continuing to spread everywhere.
For lunch we chose a super fast and economic spending McDonald MYR 20 in three. Then
we continue our walk through the town from south to north, visiting the Central Market, Merdeka
Square with the great Palace of the Sultan Abdul Samad and the flag highest in Malaysia (including
this is very American and recall nationalism because there are flags everywhere!).
Last stop is Little India, Chinatown smaller and even more (so to speak) "earth".
This area of the city makes it a good idea of the suburb, although in no case reach the levels of
squalor visa in Bangkok ... From this point of view of Kuala Lumpur (one center) is on another
planet much more orderly and clean (although some may consider it more likely
impersonal and too westernized ...).
Buy a phone card for international MYR 30 and return to the hotel on foot. Always
feet, to finish in beauty, let's go to the KLCC 19:45 Tower, opposite the
Petronas (the Concorde is located exactly halfway between the two). You enter a park and climb a bit
until you reach the base of the tower: quite impressive I must say! The ticket is MYR 60 and
can go up really high at 400 meters above the ground (mooolto higher the skybridge !!!).
The lift the rocket with a velocity somewhat "annoying" for the stomach ... The night view
from above is great, full 360 ° and very worthwhile, especially the side that turns the
Petronas. To think that a plan is in the restaurant: it must be fabulous dinner with this view! There
are the binoculars for "zoom" points of interest of the city and driving headset, but more interesting
of all is the photo that is done on time by a photographer equipped with stands and Nikkon digital
printed immediately. MYR 33 to take home a really nice memory!
Leaving the tower in the center come back and we dinner at Japanese restaurant "Hanabi", where
various sushi dishes and spend MYR 176. Also this restaurant certainly a remarkable and
worthwhile. Quite challenging for me since she never tried a Japanese and considering the
effort of eating with chopsticks ...

Guided tour in Melaka (Malacca).

After breakfast descend into the lobby waiting for pick-up that will take us for a tour
day in Malacca (lasting 8 hours), booked by the Tourist Information center for the price of Myr
360. In fact, the van that arrives at 8:45 next door at the same Tourism Center (where we could
come walk calmly in 2 minutes) and wait until 9:30 for the real bus
the trip. The worst ever in my life so far! The shock absorbers are non-existent and our
seats on the back are tremendous.
Walk two hours to jump between annoying and continual shrill, until finally we
foot on the ground for the first stage: the oldest Christian Church still in use in Malaysia. Is in
Faced with a beautiful colored square where the singular characteristic "taxi" bicycle with 3 wheels
beautifully decorated with fresh flowers and lively, take tourists around. Among other things this is the first time
we see the sun: it was now! Visits flowing a little too fast. Our guide says it is
difficult for the whole group feels: We are many and there is (rightly) who stops a moment to do
at least two shots being back ... At least we have our yellow sticker adhesive does not
confuse us in the crowd ...
We climb up a hill to see the Sultan's Well. It has a discreet landscape with a beautiful shot
an eye on the red roofs of houses near the port and bizarre buildings built to the same heights
increasing (Chinese boxes seem really, one could stay inside the other ...). Some old ruins
gun and European colonization of the former makes it more interesting place, with old trains,
airplanes and cars that make the joy of any collector. Visit the Porta de Santiago and the
Portuguese Settlement, then the ruins of St. Paul's Church.
Our lunch is eaten at a local restaurant, with cuisine Malaysian. A nice place where you
eat well, even if we avoid the chicken for the period of this phobia dell'aviaria (probably
unjustified in these parts since I do not even have been cases reported). The tour ends
with a bit of shopping in Chinatown, where we finally let loose even for a short time.
Scacciaspiriti buy some of the chains and postcards, but there would have to buy so
many of these items .... especially those things that we are to cost 3-4 times as much as the
water fountains, vases and candle holders. Unfortunately, heavy stuff to carry in a suitcase ... We also
quick look at a Buddhist temple, where Stefania and Erika are literally "caught" by a
elderly man who tries to instill his spiritual theories (of which they understand, however, only half
of the harsh sentences given spoken English ...).
Finally we return to the bus with two hours of the massacre of the spine being
back to the Concorde Hotel. The fate has it that once set foot in Kuala Lumpur is
Cloudy all new! An interesting trip because Melaka deserves to be visited, but the guided tour
is perhaps a little disappointing and too hasty. Was better organized to visit it alone.
In the evening we go out to the Petronas and do another lap for the shopping center. For dinner you go
Argentina Steakhouse Maredo's, nourishing the body with a steak lady and a little
salad.

Batu Caves guided tour. Lake Gardens at K.L.

Same scene yesterday morning. For the Tour of Batu Caves for half day (booked at a cost of MYR
150), the pickup moves to 8:45 in the hotel to bring the Tourist Center in walking distance. Pending
three quarters of an hour when we could be there in a few minutes walk ... Today I have a terrible sore throat
due to a sleepless night and a classic shot of cold for the sudden changes in temperature
condition .. This time we have a lot fewer people and the bus is not as invalidating the
yesterday.
The tour party on time at 9:30 and the first step is the manufacture of pewter. And 'the largest in the world and
visit is very interesting. It 'a big open yard where hundreds of people work
even hand-crafted material that looks like a mixture of steel and tin, creating the
wide variety of items. It usually ends up in the final room of the shopping, with prices a bit expensive but with
Items unique to the world in general. For example, the set of Lord of the Rings: A
custom board with the players good and bad of the story, cups and glasses on, etc..
etc.
Our second step is always inherent in the craft, this time of batik. Ottimi sarongs, clothing and
cubes. They buy two of the dogs for MYR 150.
We arrive at the third and final stage: the Batu Caves. We are free to visit them, we just have to respect
obviously the time to return the bus. A long staircase very hard to port over the warm
up to the caves. E 'un bel colpo d'occhio. Above all is chock full of macaques that emerge everywhere
and from which we must be very careful because of their skill and boldness in stealing envelopes and
items for tourists. We see several robberies in poor children unaware of the fact ... A huge cavity is
opens in the middle of the mountain and comes out just below where it was built a Hindu temple. The
everything is distinctive but not because these monkeys who are the real attraction of Batu
Caves. E 'bellissimo observe mothers with small daughter in the most affectionate attitudes or
extravagant. And finally, something to risk returning too, descending the stairs with my beautiful
package of crackers and a macaque attacked behind ready to rob!
13.00 We are back at the hotel. Petronas to have lunch in an area dedicated to each type of food
existing on earth, with several restaurants and fast food. In the afternoon we take the Putra LRT to
Chinatown and take a long walk to the Lake Gardens. We have underestimated the
distances and especially the fact that the road is completely up! It was definitely better
take a taxi ... Among other things, you enter the park, which is much larger and the dispersive
expected, we find that all the kiosks are closed because of Ramadan. We're dying of thirst! To
end we discover that you can buy a bottle of water in the bathroom for a fee, where Mrs.
to keep drinks cool in the emergency ... The park is beautiful, huge, divided into many sectors and
paths, impossible to see in a couple of hours. Return exhausted in a few taxis to use
minutes and road spending barely MYR 6! Erika and I go shopping at a 7 eleven
near the Crowne Plaza, the hotel where the tour party for Taman Negara tomorrow. Ten minutes
way to go to Concorde but we fall so tired that we take a taxi anyway
since un'inezia coast. We find, however, as a Malaysian driver eccentric who seems to truly be a
drunk in the way of speaking, gestures e. .. in the drive! You probably think that I am
Bangkok, where the tuk-tuk sfrecciano and compete in the anarchic traffic ... but here we are in K.L. and things
this kind had not yet seen! After several hysterical laughter and saving for a breath of
some pedestrians escaped a few centimeters to the bonnet of the taxi, at last we return all the integers
Concorde ...
For dinner we are new to Modesto's, the only restaurant that truly merits the bis. Moreover, better
Italian food today because in the jungle of Taman Negara we do not know what awaits us! This time
Our table is open, with excellent live music of a very talented duo. The pasta with
clams do not disappoint all the expectations ...

Travelling to Taman Negara

Reach on foot with our suitcases, the Crowne Plaza Mutiara Hotel. I booked here (from the website
Internet chain Mutiara) the Explorer 4gg/3n Packages to Taman Negara, including practically
everything: accommodation, meals, excursions, transfers to and from Kuala Lumpur. At 8:45 a
She presents the lower lobby for registration and shows the bus. We are very few.
We wait a few minutes, watching the amazing luxury of the hotel lobby, load bags
and depart at 9:00. The bus is new and comfortable and the trip runs quiet under the music
headphones for my mp3 player ...
After two and a half hours, at 11.30 we arrive in Kuala Tembeling. Here we operate a fast
Registration for the Taman Negara (paying MYR 1 each) and the Mutiara Cottage (5 per MYR
room). We have to wait till 13:00 the arrival of the wooden boat (the boat
Typical local wood). There is no much to do or turn in effect here. We are in a sort
outside of house, with a restaurant and a spartan wooden pier reached by steep
stairs, while on the road in front of us are just a couple of the first to market needs. It is very
hot. During the wait we meet the first two Italian journey, and come with our immense
Cagliari surprise that no less! Almost unbelievable coincidence, given that there are ten tourists
this place ...
Boarding on the wooden boat is a whole program ... The experience begins to take on characteristics
adventurous completely different from the city! We leave civilization to enter the nature and there
Quick to make in 2 hours and a half-lifts over the river on this boat (fortunately a
engine - there was not only rowing ...). Two other boats have lots filled just before the
ours. So fortunately for us we can enjoy the journey in five Sbragia inside a hull
twelve people. The arrival at Mutiara you want ...
Finally there eccolo appear after the last bend of the river! Landings on a wooden pallet
craft, a beautiful climb steep stairs and we are in the heart of the resort and Taman Negara. E '
carinissimo! Very special and fascinating. Also unique because, besides being considered the
better accommodation of the place is located on the left side of the river alone, while the rest of
floating village with restaurants, housing and other small shops are located on the right.
Obviously there is a service of a paltry crossing from one bank to another. The beauty of
Mutiara then is to have three rows of chalets in the most external full contact with the jungle. From
receipt is given us the room No. 65, which unfortunately results in the row between the central and other
at the farthest ... perhaps the macaques will not be knocking on our roof - pity!
The place is nothing short of wonderful. We observe all mouth wide open as our first real
experience in the jungle. The chalet mountain huts seem entirely in wood, some raised by
surely land to prevent danger of flooding. The village is in fact slightly down towards the
river. Just to stay on course and trekking rains expected tonight is likely to be
compromise. Could arouse laughter cartels in the path marked "Crossing monkeys", or
"Crossing snakes" and "Varani": instead it is true! The test is the middle lucertolone
meter which is under our feet hidden nell'erba ...
Our room is obviously the most Spartan of a city hotel, but the essentials. Lacking only
hairdryer (which intelligently as a precaution we brought ourselves), the mini-fridge, and the third
bed (again!), which is added later. The latter is bruttina: in a few words
flimsy mattress thrown on the ground! The first fundamental rule that we impose is: do not leave
never open the door and windows to prevent an invasion of nasty insects!
After a fast and arranged a general dose of repellent, we return to the reception and meet the
Our guide Azam: a calm and thoughtful. Beyond all pleasant anticipation, we always will follow him
for all three days spend in the jungle: everything just for us! This means that we
each trip alone and we are totally independent with no other visitors to decide for us. E 'un
excellent start!
There we meet at 20:30 at night for the trekking, then let's look at the Minimarket
village. E 'tiny, has right of first need something like food, clothing, repellents,
etc. Dinner buffet at Tahan Restaurant, the only restaurant at the Mutiara: outdoor (but
obviously with the cover on the roof), nice and spacious. The choice is not huge but we eat
discretamente.
To 20:30 o'clock encounter Azam night for the trekking. Is simply flood. We
equipped with ponchos and umbrellas but the shower is ensured ... We really do only
few steps and reach a wooden platform in a two-storey deck, where, equipped with battery for the total
lack of lighting, look at the jungle in the rain and darkness. Unfortunately there are no
insects (which were the real purpose of trekking at night) because with the rain retreat. We see instead
deer asleep in the universal deluge does not touch at all ... For the rest you breathe
however, an extraordinary! Just turn off the torch and stay in the dark listening to black
only the rain and thunderous noise of the jungle. There are no words to describe the emotion to
eyes of a citizen. Mezz'oretta and expect a return. Azam sorry but it seems the rain
no mention to decline. Suggests, however, try tomorrow. Arrive rather
Zuppi in room and in the meantime is no electricity in the entire village, after a series of
thunder Guinness Book of Records ...

Jungle Trekking (Bukit Teresek). Canopy Walkway

We can forget the ending of sleepy Kuala Lumpur. Breakfast here is to 7.30 for use
full hours of light. At 8.30 we start with Azam for trekking in the jungle. Just a few meters
beyond the village disappears every sign of civilization. The trail leads to a climb on the hill of Bukit
Teresek. A nice bunch of the crazy humidity and steep climb (sometimes there are even strings
held, given the slippery ground). The sounds of the jungle are amazing and sometimes a little gloomy. The
path of the rest is entirely in shadow, first because the sky is cloudy and second because
we are still covered by dense vegetation shade. Azam says a bit of flora and fauna and
warns about the dangers leeches, that after the rain of last night come out into the open. For the rest
is not a chatterbox. Often we must make him the questions. Without doubt it is a
true man of the jungle. He has the courage not to take the shadow of a pouch below, or a
umbrella, or a drop of water. We are gutter and Boccheggiano, burdened by backpacks and
tired, and he has not even a drop of sweat in goggles ...! E 'perfectly "intact" as
from the first moment we met that morning.
Fattostà even nominated leeches and this is the first on the offensive! And 'different from
as imagined. In the film you are always large and round, but they are little more than
elongated soft vermicelli and jumping. It 's just that when you attack and suck the blood that is
swell alarmingly. Unfortunately, just as the mosquitoes, it is impossible to realize their
presence if not by sight. And from now on comes the "phobia" leech! Everyone looks
the legs of trying to prevent unpleasant surprises ... thank goodness that we are equipped with
high boots, socks and long pants.
It takes a couple of hours to reach the top of the hill, which claims to be Azam 330
meters. How? Only 330 meters? It seemed to have climbed something more substantial here .... The
landscape that can be seen is very beautiful and has every type of green imaginable.
A few photos and go, taking a detour to the Canopy Walkway. These are the famous
rope bridges suspended between trees which we have heard much talk. Are a must for those who reach the
Taman Negara! Azam leave us alone. Since the eight bridges make a ring around him we will wait
directly to the exit. Advised to stay at least 5 meters away from each other and for no more than 4
people for the bridge, and obviously not swing too ... The crossing was initially hesitant but
becomes very fun. The sense of emptiness is limited by the underlying vegetation, except
over the bridge that reaches the maximum height of 45 meters above the ground!
Return to 12.30 in room tired and dripping. At 13:30 to bring the laundry service
Our clothing most unfortunate who have suffered the devastation of the jungle. Lunch and
we are ready to 14.30 and again pimpanti for a nice boat ride. Even a few minutes of Lifts
of the river and come back wet again, this time for the bucket of water coming from the rapid
which our navigator can not escape ... General laughter among descend to the ground and after another half hour
trekking to reach Lata Berkoh in a stretch of the river full of waterfalls. Unfortunately it is impossible
take a bath because there is too full and the current is very strong. Azam (who had the courage to
come with open sandals) is a leech and the foot off the continuing anyway
bleed for several minutes ... the real danger of having attacked many, in fact, is to
risk of bleeding because the wounds take a long time before marginalized. We are
some on-site and return at 16:00 to Mutiara completely wet, for a change ... beauty
is that you are not yet seen the sun and dry the moisture with this stuff is almost impossible!
We need to use the reduced hair dryer ...
Dinner is at 19.00 and at 20.30 to begin to divert rain. Still lacks the power and consequently
given the weather conditions, skip the second attempt trekking in the jungle night.
Patience is not destiny! We're a little restaurant by candlelight in a magical atmosphere and
go back to the room to sleep.

Cave Exploration. Local tribe. Rapids

At 9:00 we meet with Azam receipt. It 'always punctual. Expect
few minutes of our wooden boat in the floating platform, which then leads us to a brief crossing
on the river about ten minutes. Then begins an adventure of 45 minutes of trekking in the muddy jungle.
With the deluge of last night, the ground is a slippery morass. We go forward with trying to slow
put your feet on the roots of trees that form an intricate labyrinth. Among other things, we always
tarlo head of leeches, since, on the advice of Azam, we are now in shorts
shorts ... it does not take long to present one on my hiking shoes jumping merrily to
joy!
We arrive at our destination: Gua teling and Ear Cave. Azam enters a moment to see
conditions of the cave and comes out a bit sorry ... the water level is high. Which means bath
full height to the thigh, or perhaps worse ... leaves the decision to us: we can enter or return
back for him is the same. We ask if there are dangers, but his answer is negative. Is not
dangerous: there are only several spiders and bats, maybe some snakes ... administration to normal
the jungle but perhaps not for us city dwellers ... observe the entrance of the cave that is not
all nice and reassuring and put to the vote. Erika and I are very puzzled why
wet shoes trek in is a tremendous hassle not dry anymore! Stefy
instead improvised our Rambo and urges us, but how far we have come here and not go
forward? Joke? In men who do not say we are therefore in a narrow corridor of all dirty
mud with our Pilette linked to the left hand, while we have the right to snatch
some spike ruzzolare not to ... two French with another guide are immediately behind
us. Some traits are so strong that I must take off the backpack and have it crawl forward to me. By the way
the backpack, I brought only myself and I made a choice azzeccatissima from home by choosing to put
this mythical bag waterproof bag (those that are used for instance for both kayak) to be
decrease depending on the space and is perfect to keep dry and expensive equipment
Spare heads. The only new to this type of grants is that they are not comfortable to carry by hand, but I
I have surpassed the problem by attacking two carabiners and backpiece to use exactly
as a knapsack on his shoulders.
Our route continues slowly and cautiously on all fours. Drips everywhere and we are full of
mud, forced to crawl between the walls four feet, but so far we have not even wet the
shoes. The greater the emotion we reach in a hole full of bats flying
everywhere in a circular path and touching our heads. Azam ensures that no
attach to the hair and those who are legends of film. Fattostà that, taking the Pilette and pointing
on the wall to the left (I can easily touch both with the hand is close), I see hundreds of
bats attacked one another in their classical vertical hanging position draculesca ... and makes a
great impression! We can just look in the eyes, those with their shots a little disturbing
epileptic! But yes ... suggestion is not the only dangerous animals ... we want to talk about the spider
like a hairy tarantula that Erika was about to crush with your hand? But yes ... Stereotypes are
of fear instilled in us civilized! It's OK: just do not panic of claustrophobia
and the adrenalin is guaranteed!
We are the last meters of the cave and behold the expected catch: we have to cross a river of water
high and the bath is required! Send out the French to check the water level and be better
of what seemed "only" the knees! Farewell hiking shoes ... there is no escape and we
these few meters with the strange sensation of seeing the slightest where you put your feet and what
there is below the knees. Now I feel really mean to be Rambo in the first episode
while walking in the tunnel with water to the throat, torch in hand and the vampire bats. Only
the mice ... At least Azam well advised to bring shorts, otherwise it would have been worse ...
One last effort to leave the river in full and there is a flash of light outside. Climb
some rock and we're out in the open air, in indescribable conditions. Azam says that we
path just 80 meters of the cave ... incredible! An unforgettable experience that unfortunately will not be
documented with photos or movies because it was impossible to open the bag in the cave (and in any case
nobody would flash a hazardous risk to unleash the wrath of bats !!!). Now the
fun is back, walking half an hour with the hose that sciaquano brutally in shoes
soups ... among other things, we have chosen to integrate our day with a visit to a local tribe (the only
excursion is not foreseen in the package Explorer Mutiara) that Azam was inserted before making the
quick ... we just resign ourselves to a day long and very "wet" ...
So we come to the village of the Orang Asli (original tribe of Taman Negara) consists of
a few huts and some family. They have no electricity and no service. Women and
children are very shy and remain on the sidelines. We are in the company of some men who
speak with Azam and gives a demonstration of power on the fire with wood, although the
proximity to housing of the park and their civilization have been taught the proper use dell'accendino (very
more convenient). See a tree on the unique animal called Slow Loris, of which I have not
clear the translation into Italian. It moves very slowly and it is rare to find it. Then we shall try with the shot
the cerbottana. They say you can hit a small prey up to 40 meters away: mica male ...
We return by boat to the final stage today. Are 13.00 and we have to face the rapids on the River.
It Heading in a nice stretch, watching other people swim, probably even some tribes
more "original" than that seen by us. In quick laughter and dry but there is not
be a novelty in this wet stay in the jungle ... After returning to rain starts to divert,
few centimeters in the case of our bodies were accidentally dry.
Landings at Mutiara completely soaked just right for lunch. Azam salute, which is
truly prepared and very nice: a good guide! We give the deserved tip. Let
the afternoon to rest. We are three days in the jungle but we did so many things focused
that seems to be here for a month! A little walk through the village and see a dusk
pack of macaques in search of food (or bags of peanuts, crisps and anything edible
you can steal the race of Homo Sapiens). Strike a little fear, seem to the masters of
place (and probably they are for real, here to witness that the nature has complete dominance
humans). A cocktail at the bar to celebrate my birthday is the least we can do.

Mandarin Oriental hotel.

Let our chalet with profound regret. The Taman Negara was an experience above all
expectation. Extraordinary and captivating, and far fewer tourists than they thought. I thought I
find much more crowded, but it seemed that the village was all for us. Probably
also the off-season has been our good fortune. We have entered by civilized and we are going out
by Rambo. It 'an indescribable feeling ...
After the reception we chekout breakfast. 9.00 expect the boat to return to
Kuala Tembeling, where we reach after two hours of descent on the River. Lunch on the spot with bread and
a sort of idea of buying in the market opposite the road. At 12.30 we are on the bus to Kuala
Lumpur and after almost three hours we are in front of the Crowne Plaza hotel.
Take a taxi to the Mandarin Oriental, a short distance, just opposite the Petronas.
We booked a night of luxury in this 5-star hotel offering using Expedia.
From outside the structure looks sensationally dull and insignificant, similar to a hospital, but
On entering the entrance radically change the inside! In addition to being beautiful and perfect
Oriental style, was served and revered throughout. Dall'istante when you open the door of the taxi will have a
that accompanies the entrance door, the lady who brings welcome to the reception, and
that which accompanies the lift and the room showing the operation of the hotel. E 'un pò
embarrassing for those who are not accustomed to such luxury ... Our deluxe room is the No. 19 to
nineteenth floor. In a word: beautiful! The bathroom is stratospheric: all marble with taps
golden, beautiful bath, telephone, music, opportunities to hear the sound of the TV and trifle of that kind ...
The room is very spacious, equipped with all the wide and luminous stained glass window has a breathtaking view in front
to Petronas! The only flaw here is the third bed, which with luxurious furnishings stone.
Inez. Do not waste time and donned the costume run at 16:30 to try a warm bath in
Jacuzzi, next to the terrace where the amazing outdoor pool seems to end up in a vacuum (and in fact is
really the case because the cascading water falls in the park below.)
18.30 walk to Suria KLCC (the shopping center of Petronas) and connected directly
in Mandarin with walking corridor. Dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant very nice. We are
dying of thirst and water order "no ice", but we are reaching the boiling water just as it was
success at Concorde! The water at room temperature does not exist? Then we order a mixed appetizer
where it is impossible to tell the origin of what you are watching. We ask the waiter if
there is chicken somewhere and the answer is: "On almost everything !"... Perbacco so we were careful not to
eat these days ... patience to the maximum we will put in quarantine when we return in
Italy ... The evening finally ended with a walk outside the park and a little music.

Langkawi Village Resort.

The alarm is early morning. Deva, the taxi driver who accompanied us on the first day and we have
called yesterday for the transfer to the airport, is to lobby on time. E 'ancora buio pesto but the dawn
not to arrive late and leave the capital behind them sleepy. At 8:00 our flight takes off
Malaysia Airlines No 1430 for Langkawi (LGK). There are 431 kilometers of the journey of life
exactly one hour.
At 9:00 the plane will land them in the existing runway. It is also the one and only this plane! As there was
imagine from the airport of this island is very small although there are some
international flights. Stop an hour at the bar for breakfast and take a taxi to reach the
Langkawi Village Resort ***, in the south-west of the island just ten minutes. Several resort
and there are restaurants on the main street that runs alongside the ocean with beaches facing west,
to reach this resort that is one of the last of the succession. A little further on there is the Holiday
Villa on the promontory that ends, after which the road turns east and the beaches are directed towards the south.
Upon receiving all seem very slow and relaxed, and saw that our room would not be ready before
another time, leave your bags and go to reconnoiter the area. Going to the left on
main road we have just a few steps to the market "Gecko", large enough to provide any
good of primary necessity, including a room of various handicrafts and souvenirs. Later follows a long
sequence of restaurants and shops scattered. In ten-twenty-minute walk you have almost everything
reach.
Returned to the reception we are given a standard room with garden view n ° 127. It is found
at the other village, which requires good five minutes walk to reach it!
The structure of the resort is quite simple: the reception, restaurant and pool are at a
extreme of the village, and from there follow three parallel rows of bungalows, separated by a beautiful garden with grass
(those nearest the sea are the superior rooms and un'inezia cost more, but unfortunately were not
available at the time of booking ...). The row farthest from the sea marks the boundary of
village and give back to a pond where the run Varani. In addition to the bungalows
the latter are on two floors (ours is upstairs). The room is spacious, clean, with table,
TV, minibar, wardrobe, a nice balcony with panoramic views and a good bathroom. We are far from luxurious
Madarin of Oriental but everything is nice and perfectly functional.
Let us take an hour of sun loungers on the beach. The coast is beautiful and evocative. The Lawn
Green closed with the tall palms on the golden beach, wide and spacious. On the left the village ends
in a cape that hides the beach dell'Holiday Villa, easily reached by passing
some rock. On the right hand stretches the coast and in the background can be seen throughout the Gulf to the west
the island. It is noted occasionally landing a few aircraft that seem to fall into the sea! Facing a
island green seems to invite a visit with a beautiful white sand where you make out of
kayak. Lunch at the kiosk / bar on the beach at the poolside and enjoy the two beautiful
Jacuzzi tubs with hot water tub. This will be our relaxation center, but little is safe!
We request the receipt for information leaflets on various excursions in the hanging wall, but the
children fail to be very exhaustive and is rather clumsy and unprepared: very
kind but also very slow. Here life takes place at different rates, I think you have to take a
right!
He spends the evening at dinner and leave the main road in search of a restaurant. It
various series, including many Chinese, and almost everyone on the beach. We are attracted by a certain "TJay's",
Anglo-Italian restaurant in front all'Underwaterworld. The owner is a nice lady
with typical English fare and kind, with which we maintain a cordial dialogue. There are
a few tables outdoors and it is almost empty. We think it is the fact that this restaurant is not on
beach but in fact the owner claims that the coast is semi-desert: we are still low
tourist season and in turn we do not see many. Order pasta salmon lasagna and all, to say the least
just divine! The account is MYR 120, the equivalent of our 27 euro. Not bad for having eaten
well in three!

Seven Wells. Oriental Village. Cable Car.

A breakfast buffet is held outdoors on wooden tables in front of the beach (but fortunately there
are also at the restaurant closed in case of rain). Then spend a significant amount of time
interminable receipt trying to book the tour and the canopy mangrove kayak: it seems a
joke but you can not own! The girl is divided between the reception and tour desk and moves into
continuation. Then comes another guy and we start all over again. In the end we are
tempted to take a taxi to take us directly to the seat of the tour operators. But desist:
seems that at least the end of the canopy has been booked for tomorrow ...
Are 11.30 and take a taxi to the Seven Wells, located in north-west of
Langkawi. The race is MYR 22 and has a fixed rate. This part of the island is mountainous and wooded, more
wild south of the flat and cultivated. We are very close to Mutiara Bay, which was the second
resort in the list after the Langkawi Village if we had not found the place. The taxi leaves us to
Faced with some souvenir shop, where a path in 15 minutes of steep climb
leads to the beautiful waterfalls. We are in the midst of a forest lush and green. A pause
pochino and continue for another 20 minutes are an infinite number of steps that lead up to more of
fabulous emerald lakes. They built a tower, a structure for change and
swimming, and have created hiking trails for advancing in the jungle. Unfortunately not
we have the time to travel because the background in the distance, there is a spectacular cable car
that rises dramatically in the mountains: it is there that we want to go! Let's go back to square one and
buy some souvenirs, then rest on a table outside a refreshing coconut drink
cool. We know a certain Mr Mie, likeable spigliato, which offers trips to marine park
at a much lower price than the brochures found in hotel: we care.
At 14:30 we walk a stretch of road that leads in a few minutes all'Oriental Village.
There are blissfully sull'asfalto macaques lying as usual. In fact you do not see the shadow
of a car: The road is desolate. We arrive all'Oriental Village, which is a typical village carinissimo
created especially for tourists, with several shops, restaurants and a beautiful pond with fountain attraversato
by wooden bridges. Then "take off" (it is better to say!) The Cable Car, which according to the brochure
presents the longest arch in the world. The ticket is MYR 15 per person. We are told that time is
partly cloudy at the top and you may not see as much a landscape. We run the risk. The
first part of the journey is exciting, with the view that dell'Oriental Village from becoming
smaller, the falls in the middle of the jungle, the ocean reveals that as dozens of drugs
islets. A sudden climbed steep vertical leads to a stop at 650 meters from the level of
sea with a beautiful view facing south to the islands (you can see the beach from our
resort!) and a science fiction view of the summit turned into a semi-space covered by
clouds. The second part of the trail is quite spectacular and reaches over 700 meters, at
base of the flying saucer. Here the stairs leading to the top where lunch with only three hot dog
remained in the small refreshment point. In the meantime, enjoy the view is breathtaking: you see almost
across the island from side to side and Thailand to the north. But it is not over. Underlying underscores one can
another on foot - is to be said - marvel: a suspension bridge and into thin air
governed only by the cables, the overhang under the feet is almost infinite and dizzy! Make
success with this adventure and go for the cable car up to go back all'Oriental Village.
Walk for a worthy buy some souvenirs, and at 17:00 we take a taxi to
return to Langkawi Village.
A stop to the jacuzzi is a must to relax and watch a spectacular tropical sunset
the ocean. For dinner we are inspired dall'Oasis, an Australian-Indian restaurant cute and charming
with the tables on the sand lit by candlelight and good music. The waves of
sea complete the magical atmosphere. Excellent steaks (ribeye steak), salmon (salmon filled) and
cocktails for a cost of MYR 112.

Canopy Air Trekking Tour.

At 8:20 am in a hotel pickup passes to come and take. And 'our first guided tour here
Langkawi: the Air Canopy Trekking. Among other things one of the most expensive: MYR 180 per person. The brochure is
quite impressive, and shows for tourists in climbing a rope to hang while launching.
Highlights of our experience in the jungle at Taman Negara and the fact that among the requirements are talking about a
tour suitable for beginners and children over 12 years, we assume that this will be
un'escursione still feasible and tourism. The illusion lasted only a half hour journey to
reach the center of the island, where our "leader" Jurgen's up to you is far beyond the beyond
limits of adventure, preserving the spirit of the extreme sport of innate German tradition. He and
what we believe is the child will lead us in this madness. His tone was playful but now
same time very authoritarian. Van shows off the equipment and start the harness. The
we are poor victims three Italians and a pair of German tourists who have already some experience
base. As we are concerned we have never experienced what it means climbing and climbing. "
It reminds me to laugh just to see me with him all these things, the helmet and gloves and wet bucati.
We enter a beautiful park and mountain deviamo in a path with a steep staircase (also
today! this is the trip of endless steps ....) where we continue with a trek of twenty minutes
in the middle of the jungle at a constant pace. Jurgen does not stop one second: here the bursts
heart!
We come to the true point of departure that we are already desperately tired and sweaty. Listen
the epic briefing where Jurgen sfodera its overall quality. And he can decide whether we believe in
grade or less to address the "final", and at any time suspend the tour if the
time is committed. His legendary military gesture and the phrase: "The tour is over" will remain in history. E '
a very singular character. We do some testing climbing into a big boulder where the
Our "chief" explains briefly how to behave, how to slip the rope to descend,
which approach to take, etc.. But the most important thing of all to bear in mind is always a
of the two carabiners attached somewhere. To move forward you release only after
others engaged in a succession chain, because soon we will be on a platform suspended in emptiness,
with no safety fence. And you do not want to risk falling right? Maybe for this reason that
we signed the form we have complete responsibility and insisted so much for our
passport number?
The first impact with the canopy is almost terrifying. Climb on a rock, from where a ladder
which leads to a wooden platform on the face. From here comes a long rope to another platform
on another tree. Jurgen's son goes on first because you expect him to there, showing
in the meantime, what awaits us. She sits on the floor and launches a speed rope attached to the crowds ...
we really do we? E 'uno scherzo? German goes on first and then is my turn.
Are now in two other side to expect that consolation ... Jurgen hook my
karabiner and explains step by step the procedure. The core principal to which the whole is
do not ever give up the rope that is held with the right hand because that is our "salvation." When
I'm going to get there, I will have to pull to curb strong otherwise arrive too fast. I am
So sitting on the wooden platform with their feet to stroll in a vacuum but I'm still asking that
heck am I doing here! Get nod to go but spend interminable seconds before deciding
to launch into anything like a parachutist launching from an aircraft. Adrenalina a go-go and,
as Scean Connery said: "If you do not feel alive now, not ever will." I can not
really enjoy the crossing being concentrated look at the tree in front where it seems that I am
going to crashing ... shooting the rope too soon to stop and I turn transversely, but in the end the
Germans take me to the "flight" (in the literal sense of the phrase). How upset? And everything is
lasted only a few seconds. Hang up and release the carabiner and here I am on the platform waiting Ste
who runs with much less hesitation for me! It is up to then but desists Erika: suffering from dizziness,
when ever can do something similar? E 'which has already addressed the Cable Car yesterday! There
reach with an alternative route on foot accompanied by Jurgen. Arriva the other German and we are
complete, ready to make another launch on the second canopy. This is shorter and the flight is
friction stops halfway, where we picked.
Erika joined by Jurgen and continue the route, which requires crossing a chasm
passing with the feet on a single rope stretched, as the balance to the circus (from course
we are always hooked to the rope of safety). This is hardly feeling of flying, because it is
forced to watch where you rest your feet and their gaze is inevitably lost in the void
below. All operations are carried out with due calm and security, but the tension
physical and psychological is to the stars!
Soon after work on a short rope down a rock placed vertically. Jurgen warns of
stay on the right as the wall tends to move the rope on the other side and ends up on empty
where we can not support your feet. That done, we all casciano and comes seriously into German
difficulties ... Followed by another descent rope, longer but less complicated, until you reach the point
basis for the final canopy. And here it becomes really serious! Jurgen is a beautiful and precise discorsetto
effective if one did not feel it is better not to go because the canopy is 140 meters long, it flies to
a height of 40 from the floor and if you stop in the middle is a nice casino to come to retrieve the poor ... not
only: the real problem is that there is no alternative route to descend from that
come only with a vertical drop, for those who are beginners, it can be very
difficult and demanding. In fact, speak clearly, there is no real danger of falling:
what Jurgen wants rightly made clear is that if someone is a panic attack
there is trouble and you can do wrong ... very bad! Erika is not the first to not having even
the canopy, and Ste desists under the suggestion of the head which is not really able to believe
"fun". In fact, we paid the tour also why not? I am just me, I accept that after
one thousand thoughts, and the two Germans. They go first. I see them floating in the long
flight that is lost in the greenery of the jungle with their cries of vent. Jurgen and his son on the side
opposite communicate through walkie talkie, and he has the courage to joke to defuse.
He knows many words in Italian and we call for nicknames. "Pippo's coming!" urla after
avermi repeated verbal authoritarian everything that I need and not have to do. Already! Pippo's me and it's up to
me! Erika

Pulau Payar Marine Park Tour.

The bus arrives at the hotel at 8.10 for the tour at the Marine Park of Pulau Payar. Excursions on the sea is
found a little everywhere. There are also guys on the beach of our resort that organize
every day. But we have booked through Mr. Mie known to Seven Wells, who proposed
the same trip by boat other brochures and lunch in a restaurant at a price significantly below:
MYR 130 per person instead of 180 and, in some cases, even 220.
After just a minute we are on the apron of ASEAN, a very close to our hotel, but not located
the sea. Here we must take the bus to reach the largest Kuah, the capital of Langkawi,
where ferries depart. Together we sale a large number of Chinese group. Mr. Mie you see for
a moment, take the money of the tour and also an advance for the Island Hopping that book tomorrow.
After the bus mezzo'ora us to Kuah. Starts to become all a bit confusing: the descent from
bus, queuing for tickets at the port, waiting. There is an impressive crowd and we have a guide
therefore not to lose trying to follow the stream of Chinese in our group assigned
the same sticker. Boarding the ferry is equally critical between thrusts, narrow spaces, warm muggy. As
usual crossed the entrance door to the sudden changes in temperature in less than 10 degrees because the air
conditioned on all spying. Here is the scarf! The attempt to stay on the bridge is open
entirely in vain: it is invaded by the Chinese!
We leave the port, passing between the various islands of Langkawi and after an hour we arrived at Pulau
Payar Marine Park. Landing turns into nightmare with the horde of Chinese are crazy about
wharf, and a lord of the place, looking relaxed our faces from Europe, realized that
that we have not grasped the spirit of this fast-paced tour. Pregnancy, almost sgrida us, to stop
observe the beautiful landscape and move gambette to go and make masks and fins that not
enough for everyone. Are saying seriously? We have paid! As would be that there is no equipment for
all? Through the pier and making way between the Chinese crowded on two boxes (one for the masks and
one for the fins), I try and try again in the confusion to find the right number of fins and a few
decent mask. It 'an impossible task, because many things are broken, missing boccai, there are
fins folded, there's dirt and even insects inside! We esterefatti astounding and while the Chinese
have now left only scraps. Not only that, within a couple of minutes on the wharf is no longer there
soul alive unless we are all already in mass swim. Two Malaysian guys who work on site
Noting the approaching our total concern. Erika comes on all the rage and sbotta but they,
of course, can not do much and say they blame the organizer. Ahi Ahi Mr Mie,
ce l'hai its great combination! The boys are in fact also very kind, and say,
willing to lend their personal masks, which are at least new, clean and well maintained.
Initially Tentennano but not totally ruin your day at the end we accept. The place of
the rest is truly beautiful: the water is clear, the weather is great, and this seems indeed a
postcard from paradise.
We come to almost ambient temperature that is 11:15 and immediately next to the pier one of the boys
Malaysian it is noted with mask and fins. He beckoned to follow. So now we have our
personal guide! We leave behind the cloud of Chinese human remains all in the same place
in a circle, and a bathroom in an hour doing a wonderful snorkelling. We see lots squaletti, fish
butterfly, bannerfish, parrot, trumpet, rock, while our experience guide sees a barracuda
huge fish and a ball larger than a soccer ball. We also see little further than the platform
floating advertised in many brochures Pulau Payar. But all things considered is not very different from
wharf. We would have paid more and end the speech would not be changed: the crowd is the same!
Leaving from the snorkelling in Malaysia is really a great tenderness, with an English saying
elementary that they want only the best for us and that tourists will enjoy.
E 'noon on the dot and barely set foot on the beach we notice that others are already seated at all
table to eat. But the lunch was at 12.30! And that is the famous restaurant? Of
wooden benches on the pier with a small plastic tray on the table with a handful of
rice, a tiny coscietta chicken and an egg hard. Great! Ste and I barely eat rice
Erika pods while opening the eyes while the cover was a big hair in the bucket.
Incidents of the route will eat you ... to return the lunch is better to skip it today diet ...
In the meantime we consume the lavish meal, the boys begin to Malaysian food to the sharks and
barracuda among the crowd of Chinese in delirium. And here we can rest. E 'uno spettacolo, hundreds are coming:
something never seen it! But many end up then poured into water screaming excited with a gentleman who
gives food to the sharks in the midst of their legs. If you do not see us not believe. As harmless
may be this kind of sharks are always sharks. If by mistake someone irritates you (what
who does not seem so unlikely in view of the toys that do), a bite of a shark too
Small ago ... I feel pretty bad or not? I was limping a week for a trivial cut of a
surgeon fish to one foot a few centimeters, let alone have a nice dentino of this predator
joy in the leg ...
We still have a couple of hours before returning, so we spend the time to take a walk in
Wooden walkways along part of the island. The landscape is beautiful, and it seems incredible that
there is none. The Chinese are still stored there and no one individual takes the initiative to
explore alone something more than this place. This thought of the experience with me today
they reflect a lot about the gap between our cultures. It is not a criticism, indeed. E 'fascinating.
It 's just a way of thinking and conceiving entirely different from ours. They have a concept of
community and union rooted that we can not understand in our individuality and,
probably western selfishness. We feel 'for the individual' they think 'the mass'. Are
My personal of course ...
At 14.45 and go up on the boat with the same tram-tram journey we find ourselves in 17:00
jacuzzi of Langkawi Village and tired, despite the lack of this excursion,
completely satisfied. Indeed, in the end our little luck we were really laughing.
19.00 Eri Ste try and massage the feet in the center yesterday, and at 20.00 I go to
them to go to dinner in a pub / restaurant on the beach called Red Tomato. E 'molto carino,
also like the other with tables outside on the beach and a magical atmosphere. Order
pasta with tuna and two pizzas salmon.

Underwater world.

The good days we can see from the morning: to divert rain and the sea is rough! We have not seen much sun
so far in our stay in this ... is why we call it 'low season'? We
assumed that the tour for the Island Hopping booked yesterday with Mr. Mie jump to afternoon. So I
They told the boys who book the same trip on the beach, assuring that if the morning
rains, the tour was postponed in the afternoon. At 9:20, however, we are called by the receipt in
room with the warning that the bus is waiting for us ... but by! Truly, we must make the turn in
boat between the islands with the flood? We reach the entrance to the resort for an explanation, but the driver
the pickup does not speak English well. Suddenly takes the feet and leaves without saying a word
leaving us stunned! Erika part again in a fifth call to Mr. Mie fuming with rage while the
children of the reception, always friendly, ask me if there are problems. They have a little tail between
legs for their various shortcomings during our stay. For example, forgetting to put the
towels in the room, not deliver the confirmation messages of the tour, and so on a long
list ... now we take everything as a joke because nothing can be done! Also why are so
gentili and tenderness that make it unnecessary to take it.
Erika closes the phone with the order to Mr. Mie imperative to come immediately to give an explanation. In a
couple of minutes arrive at the reception all sleepy. Before you start talking, the two boys
approach with the advice of a tour booked through him, saying they are waiting for pickup by
half hour and no one has yet seen. Mr. Mie remains to observe the package sfarfugliando something
incomprehensible, responding to children who will ask ... what about ... has combined another of
her! Erika and I still astounding: this here is an agent with the flakes! Opens the door
the car and shows the wheel bored, apologizing for not coming to take him. Then take
a calm debate, in which Erika, after a complaint for the trip yesterday,
tries to explain to Mr. Mie tourists that we are here to have fun and can not ship to Iceland hopping
with the universal deluge. He remains head down and seems sometimes even absent. Who knows ... is perhaps
still thinking what happened to the pickup of those guys ... In the end we will return the deposit to the past
without batting an eyelash, and he goes after one of the many criticisms of which I believe now in effect
accustomed.
In order not to remain without doing anything the whole morning we go to visit at 11.00 the Underwater World.
At least you covered! Entrance costs MYR 38 per person. The aquarium is not so big and is divided into
areas. The first is the Rainforest, with various animal species typical of the tropical (not only fish,
but flamingos, parrots, and the anaconda capibara - the largest existing rodent on earth).
Then he goes to the artist, with the interesting hall of penguins and sea lions. Here is a little row
to enter the 3D Theater, which in fact (perhaps because the goggles) does not know much tridimensinale ...
Finally we cross the final room with tons of fish and, at the store shopping ritual.
But we spend our money more than the market sector in Gecko, buying some
exhilarating statues of macaques in the sequence 'I do not see - not hear - I do not talk' and so many cards
by surprise even the cashier.
Lunch at hotel restaurant, which no doubt is the best department of Langkawi Village. E '
very nice and above all functional. Rest in a little room while the bad weather does not give truce.
Just to talk about the mishap that the Langkawi Village today, the girls cleaning
sistamare arrive in the room at 18.00 ... say a little delay ... and before you leave and close the
door of the bathroom key from the outside! I notice in the case because, given the experience of yesterday, I wanted
check whether they had placed towels spare ... and can not log in! Ahiahi ... each
days there is a new journey seems fantozzi ... After having chased the girl and have reopened
the door to the bathroom, we have forgotten that even the envelope in the laundry room with
our backyard. No comment. We are too unlucky or they can not make their own?
Shortly after hearing knocking at the door and wonder we face Jurgen. E 'come up to
Our room in person to confirm the tour tomorrow, although I left the paper to
receipt! Too serious! Legendary too! Other than Mr. Mie! Us to die laughing with his jokes
and recommend what to bring for the trip tomorrow.
Let's go again to do some shopping in a great store of clothing, shoes and backpacks,
called "De shope region" where to buy un'orologio MYR 36 and some rid shirt. In
Meanwhile it is time for dinner and we move from T-Jay's taking a pizza with salmon. Excellent but
I must say very heavy on the stomach. Then come back even from Gecko to buy 42 stamps (but
we serve more!) of our postcards to 50 cents each. The cashier was amazed: so
we have taken away all ...

Mangroves kayak & caves Tour.

Today is the fateful day of the Tour and Safari Mangroves Secret Caves by kayak, from which we expect
of the great emotions, having done a similar one in Thailand in 2002 in Krabi, which lies just over
north of Langkawi. Most agencies offer tours by boat, but we are convinced
that the kayak offers more immersive experience allowing you to enter the maze and hidden
have a more intense and ecologically with nature. The fatigue of two strokes is a lot more
satisfaction and is certainly well rewarded.
The 'head' Jurgen offering at a price dear, MYR 220 per person, but we are sure of its reliability
professional and is practically the only one to organize it. Arrives with his van on time at 8.30am.
With us there are two Germans Ragazzoni dell'Holiday Villa and a tiny pair of Hong Kong
Pelangi Hotel that I do not know the motivation, improperly called the 'Japanese' as if
Japanese were wrong. Spend 40 minutes to reach the north-east of Langkawi.
We covered the island from side to side because the area of mangroves, which is the wildest and
uncontaminated, is located north-east while the Langkawi Village is south-west. Arrive at a pier on
a river where Jurgen prepares the equipment and perform the usual briefing. Asked if we swim
and, although the answer is yes to all, he insists to wear a life jacket to
girl in Hong Kong. We must have already placed her and realizing that the boy does not have much
familiar with the paddle.
Aboard a small boat with the kayaks tied in the tail, in twenty minutes we reach the mouth of the river
and follow a short stretch of coast up to a strip of sand in a small cove
where landings. We're barely us and the four double kayaks. The weather is excellent and the sea flat.
Jurgen chooses pairs: he and the 'Japanese', and I ste, erika and a German, the 'Japanese' with each other
German. Kayak and climb in the adventure begins!
We twenty minutes in a sea smooth as oil, following the coast until you reach a 'secret
quarries', or a hidden cave that is revealed only at low tide. The cross passing
under and emerge the other side in a collapsed doline discovered by Jurgen himself during his
exploration, both of which must be proud. He earned a million points with this place is fabulous! The
walls are high, vertical and ingrovigliate a dense vegetation: Failed to get here by land. And the
Being inaccessible even by sea with the high tide which hides the cave, gives a fascinating
and mystery of its own! The landscape is beautiful and very much recalls the wonders of Krabi,
even if it is a little less bizarre forms. The great Jurgen leaves us open mouth once again ...
A big unexpected however the doors: you hear a sudden howl of the walls and the water is stagnant
ripples quickly between the strong gusts of wind. The face of the 'head' becomes gloomy and serious: we must
exit from there and return to the cove. The time incumbent. This fact, in two
counted the minutes wonderful day becomes the Book. And starts to flood the cave
outside pressing in order to see that make it difficult to exit. Once out against us,
the waves arriving in the face to dry along with the thunderous rain and over the risk of
reversed is that of not being able to go forward one centimeter. Me and Ste are forced to give us
inside with all our energy and stay focused to keep panic at bay and sea sickness.
Synchronize the paddling and we finally reach the beach trying to push the
kayak as much as possible in order to avoid absorption of the waves. It seems incredible and surreal all
because few minutes ago seemed to be in paradise and it was a wonderful day! The backpacks of
others are completely Zuppi, but I luckily I have the unique waterproof bag that saved me
also at Taman Negara. E 'is greatly appreciated even by Jurgen notes that with care and some
envy giving compliments. Probably we do not have or is difficult to find. Meanwhile
await the boat that will take care of our 'rescue' and in the rain we remain concerned that
the tour is already finished that beautiful. But the president can not disappoint them: on the good General has also a
Plan 'B'.
Tying the kayak to the boat with serious difficulties, including flights of the most worthy stomachevoli mountains
Russian (thank goodness I made the Xamamina!), falls into the river where the water is calmer.
Jurgen says not to worry: we'll do that for which we paid! And here's how volevasi
show our plan 'B'. After some meandering of the river, the water and oil return
even the rain stops. Get the kayaks to the edge of the boat and go up above so a little
clumsy with some risk of reversal.
We continue the adventure by exploring the mangroves in ravines and maze that meanders
require a bit of familiarity in the government of the kayak. And here we Jurgen loses several points
for the first time, having changed the couples and by placing him with the German and the two 'Japanese' in Hong
Kong together. Very bad because the poor are everywhere to beat failed to operate,
powerless in front of me and ste that we are behind them. This is very dangerous because the first
lesson on mangroves is to prevent contact with the branches from which they can emerge and spiders
poisonous snakes. In the end we implore the aid of the head that comes to mind immediately rush to a few
trouble! Following a good basic explanation on how to move and use the paddles, then the two
able to gradually improve and get by, while we enjoy the absolute peace of this place
thick and gloomy shadows of the mangroves. It 'beautiful and relaxing because I do not know how
witchcraft, there is always the trend in favor. Even when we return back from the same point
with a reverse "U" of 180 degrees. How is this possible? Jurgen explains everything in its immense
wisdom and knowledge of these places is really the Indiana Jones of Langkawi! We arrive at another
cave but the tide is too high and you can not go inside the kayak. Just visit
the entrance. From here we see the boat tour of the mangroves on the passing away of showing tourists
crowded the cave ... I feel sorry for those who have booked but the kayak and Jurgen is something else!
Among the maze of mangroves, we continue slowly cautiously observing a poisonous snake
kept at a safe distance. Are past 13:00 when we arrive at a quiet bend where the head
orders to wear the shoes. Now is the time to do some trekking. It arrives slowly to
one by one in an awkward among a group of slippery rocks, trying not to put its feet in
muddy. Meanwhile tying the kayaks with one another while Jurgen was forced to take a dip to
retrieve a bag fell on the river ... Perched on a steep, just a sketch of the path
covered with slippery mud, leads to the cave today. E 'a place that knows only Jurgen both
to change. Pulls out of her backpack the PILETTE attached and assigned to a head. We enter
exploration with adrenaline a thousand, trying to be careful.

Island Hopping & Eagles Feeding Tour.

During the night the storm forces to open their eyes several times with thunder that are shaking the
floor! At 8:00 we are standing for breakfast, while still Drizzle and the sea is a bit
moved. We are also uncertain about what to do today for the trip in Iceland Hopping, this time we
not booked by Mr. Mie but marked by a gentleman every day with the umbrella and table
Langkawi Beach Village. I go to find out and answered that if the conditions are very bad
the tour we can move in the afternoon.
The pickup, however, comes at 9.35 am and in the end we decide to go, because today is the last chance
remained: either way or nothing! Within minutes we arrive at the marina just to the south where, with our
amazement, the sea is much more sheltered and almost flat. Here we get the usual sticker from the tour
attack on the shirt. There are Chinese who frotte all'arrembaggio rise of small boats, but
To our good fortune for the past and expect Sailing on a boat with another group of only three
Chinese girls: what luck! The girls wear the life jacket and immediately enter into
delusion: it seems to be the first time you see the sea ... Our 'captain' delivers them to us and
opposite to the initial refusal to put them (as the sea is calm enough to swim and we know), he
as imposing order! It is absolutely right because shortly after leaving port from entering a
open stretch where we start to miss terribly! But let us leave by sea sickness and
we laugh with the Chinese in front of us who shout like crazy in most of
roller coaster of Disneyland ...
The journey takes about 20 minutes, and while we admire the wonderful landscape created by many
islets that dot the islands, we left one of the most famous islands where there is a legend
the princess who seems cursed Langkawi for many generations. We have an hour to
visit. Come down on pier surrounded by an army of macaques looking for something to steal
tourists. The island is uninhabited and then make them the masters in these parts ... also a great sign they
the hazard warning and points the way inside the island. With a long reach of steps
in ten minutes, the princess of the lake surrounded by an extraordinary, surrounded by high walls
green and dense vegetation. Swimming breathlessness in heavy water, which makes it very sweet
difficult to remain afloat. Legend has it that drinking this water gifts properties fertile. Are
many tourists present but no one moves away from the platform, which is the only pretext, since
that the bottom is very high and does a little impression the dark (almost black) that does not allow any
visibility below. There are also those who, instead of water, prefers to rent a skid for a
relaxing scenic ride.
Agreed to return at the pier, but our companions are Eastern wait for more than 20
minutes, when our boat was now virtually the last anchor. In ten minutes
reach a sheltered cove where our captain stopped the engines and begins to lay the fish in
water. In unless you arrive say hundreds of sea eagles hungry that they initiate
a very elegant fish for their lunch! Here they call him Eagle's Feeling and is practiced by
Because eagles are the symbol of Langkawi. Do not believe how many are: it is magnificent!
A unique opportunity to take pictures with a unique teleobbiettivo, despite the difficulty in
follow their beaten and fast wave of the boat ... Fascinated admire this unusual event
and outstanding until the end and the fish eagles slowly disappear.
We continue towards the final stage which is the island of Beras Basah. This too is uninhabited but is
at least one kiosk for drinks and foods. Landings in front of a beautiful beach
white dove are parasailing and speed boats bananone with the crowds that come to speed up a few
meters from the shore and the bathers! We always have an hour of free time. Meanwhile leaves a
desired and awaited hot sun bearing a remarkable sultriness, easily defeat remaining spring
calm and crystalline water.
Finally, the time passed, we return to the small characteristic port of Langkawi and from there to our
resort at 13.30. We are more than happy to have made the Island Hopping is going well!
Lunch at the pool and spend the entire afternoon at our resort in beds under a scorching sun:
it was time! I take this opportunity to stroll the promenade until you reach the beach dell'Holiday Villa,
few hundred meters further south. E 'is one of the hotels selected catalogs of tour operators
Italians. Incidentally, it also has a restaurant-pizzeria called "Da Mario" inside ... The beds are more
convenient and confidential, but the beach is closer and less typical hotel (there are bungalows but
classical multi-storey apartments). Overall I feel much better position and the appearance of
Langkawi Village (of course I can not judge but the service and quality). Back to
our pool where we cocojam a cocktail and enjoy the beneficial properties of the jacuzzi.
This is the best way to spend our last evening in the sea of Malaysia.
For dinner we go to the Lighthouse Restaurant in a back and a deluge. We order a good soup
tomato (tomato soup), tunasteak (tuna steak) and coconut crepe (crepe fabulous coconut!).

Langkawi - Singapore.

Last breakfast Langkawi, still and always in the rain. Fortunately after an hour
comes a bit of sun and while Erika stays in the pool for sunbathing, and I go to Ste
buy our last souvenirs. Our return is cloudy all over again! Close the
bags and lunch at 12.30 at the restaurant. We pass a long, slow check-out of receiving and
book a taxi for the airport. You touch the tears distressed by strong
melancholy: Despite the weather not been lenient with us, we spent a
weeks full of incredible experiences extraordinary day by day ... Langkawi was
magnificent island that gave us unforgettable memories and exciting!

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES ON
SINGAPORE on this site
OR ON MY WEBSITE
www.ivanweb.net
WITH ALL RELATED PHOTOS