DAY 118, Friday, May 12.
Langkawi, Malaysia
Langkawi is a coastal city near the border with Thailand. Some of the passengers went on excursions that took them up a cable car to a high pedestrian bridge with dramatic views of the countryside. To me, that tells me the city is focusing on the tourist trade, has the means to build impressive tourist-oriented attractions, but not much more. We took the port’s shuttle bus into town, hoping to change some US dollars to Ringit in the hopes of shopping in Panang, where we would be in a couple of days.
The shuttle bus dropped us off at a shopping mall selling mid-range home furnishings—and a huge, impressive aquarium. We were informed that showing our cruise ID would get us a discount there. We opted out of that, too. So all I could tell from this first contact with Malaysia is that it’s hungry for tourist dollars.
Across the street from the mall was a scattering of small shops—eateries, souvenirs, and so on. Also a Western Union that promised to change money, except it was closed.
Mary bought some colorful fabrics and we returned to the ship.
From the tender that took us into the port I saw some pretty islands that hinted at what we would see in the water once we got to Phuket.
DAYS 119-120 Saturday, May 13 and Sunday, May 14
TWO-THIRDS OF THE WAY HOME!
Phuket, Thailand
Phuket is known for its beaches, diving, and dramatic landscape—tall monoliths called karsts, that rise straight out of the water.
We signed on to an outing with some savvy fellow travelers that took us via speed boat to a well known area for snorkeling among those islands. The water was lovely, full of colorful fish and beautiful coral. The karsts were indeed beautiful, covered with lush forests, with dramatic vertical sides dropping straight into the sea.
I suppose I’m a bit jaded, because as dramatic as they were, were they as impressive as those of Khao Sok Park, a couple of hours’ drive from Phuket. Were they as wildly carved as the karsts of Halong Bay or of the Malaccan straits? or as charming as those along the Li River?
So, honestly, the most surprising and impressive thing to me was the meal we had on a floating restaurant. A Michelin restaurant!
I get a kick out of this cartoon-style signage in Thailand, and other countries in the area, as well.