We're on Langkawi!

i really need to make this quick because i wanna get out in the sunshine! :o)

we ate middle eastern in kl last night. it was basically a tent with a homemade grill under it and some plastic tables and chairs lol jens got lamb kebab, i got chicken biriyani and we shared garlic naan- it was amazing!

then we got the night train to aloo setar- THAT was a bit harrowing lol first class rooms with beds were way too expensive so we got the 2nd class beds. picture a train car with bunks along the sides, one on top of the other...so it's like a hallway with beds in it lol we both had top bunks and let me tell you, it's a little difficult to climb up a ladder into a bunk bed when you're on a rickety train and sways back and forth lol the beds had railings and "seatbelts" going from the bottom of the bunk to the ceiling to make sure you didn't fall out lol it was fairly comfortable...the pillow was way too firm though. there wasn't much to do. we just ate some chocolate, read, brushed our teeth (which was a feat in itself lol the bathroom was tiny and gross and it was really hard to stand up in there. when the train would sway the cabinet door under the sink would fly open lol), read some more and went to sleep. we kept waking up all night due to the stopping and starting of the train and the announcements about where we were but overall it wasn't bad. better than taking an overnight bus where you just have a bus seat and not a bed. i think the best part was that we had a little window in each bed and when the sun came up we could watch the beautiful scenery go by :o)

we got to aloo setar at about 8am and the train station platform was too short so we had to hop off the train into the ditch lol fun times! we got a taxi to the ferry terminal and then we took a 1.5 hour boat ride to langkawi!!!

the boat ride did NOT make me feel sick as boat rides usually do BUT it was absolutely FREEZING! they had the aircon up full blast and we were of course only wearing short sleeves and shorts. i was really glad when we got off the boat and into the hot sun :o)

we're staying at zackry guesthouse and it's fairly barebones but i like it more than the number 8 guesthouse in kl...mostly because of the funny, friendly irish woman who works the front desk :o) we have a comfy bed, private bathroom, there's a kitchen and a lounge, a blow up wading pool lol and a big friendly dog :o)

we went to a place called cactus restaurant for brunch and got a big english breakfast, a banana pancake, coffee, tea and orange juice. it was an open air place with writing all over the ceiling from customers that had gone there before.

after breakfast we went back to the hotel and took a nap (didn't get much sleep last night lol). then we got up and walked down the main road checking out the restaurants and shops. we went to this chocolate store and this little chinese-malay woman took us around and gave us a sample of almost every single one of their 70 flavors of chocolate! lol it was funny.

then we went down to the beach and it's GORGEOUS! white sand, warm water, blue sky, palm trees, islands out in the ocean! can't wait to swim!

now we're gonna roam some more! :oD