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SEA GEM LOG
December 1, 1999
MAYLASIA
 The
rains come often and hard in Maylasia.
The sky opens, water falls in torrents and activities continue,
somewhat soggy but little interrupted. After Charlie had checked
out at the port we started into town. As we walked down the
road to hail a taxi it began to rain so we ducked into the immigration
area. We were not supposed to be off the boat after checking
out but needed to finish errands in town. We don't exactly
"blend in" over here. We had not had lunch so stopped
in at a snack area where they had the usual local dishes:
fish head curry, various meats in mystery sauces and there were
also some fried "soft shelled crabs." We figured
they had to be soft shelled for we have never seen fried hard shelled
crabs. Think again. We crunched our way through the
crabs. We should learn not to take things for granted.
The rain slacked and we got a cab into town to: go to the cyber cafe, pick up laundry and buy a few provisions. Tom Williams, of Rally Control, had recommended a Chinese restaurant, Twin Peaks,
located in the mall across from McDonalds. We had eaten there once and it was so good we decided to go back. The proprietor, the chef and staff are so
friendly and attentive. They have large prawns in their "special sauce" which are delicious, heads and all. We told them about our trip, gave them the web site address and told them
we would mention the restaurant. We hope they will check and find their pictures.We shopped across the mall from the restaurant and bought some of the popular local pants,
skirts and of course something for the grand daughters, left our purchases at the restaurant and went to get our groceries. Shopping is different without the convenience of a car and it
was a challenge to get everything back to Sea Gem dry, in the dark, after it had rained about two inches and partially filled the dingy. We had groceries, laundry and all the various
purchases to transport through the anchorage. We always seem to be lugging something to the shore or back but I will say it keeps us fit.
We left the anchorage in front of immigration and the ferry dock at Kuah, Langkawi the next morning and headed out to join Don and Lois Babson of Que Sera, Sera at Fresh Water Lake.
We rafted up to their boat and set off in our dingy to explore and find the park, the monkeys and the swimming area. You enter the park from a long pier where we tied the dingy. As we walked up the paved
sidewalk the monkeys appeared swinging through the trees and pretty soon were approaching us on the sidewalk. We had no food with us so they soon lost interest. After
seeing what happened to the next group of tourists I was glad we were not carrying food. A large family group was headed for the swimming area with an older man, probably the
grand-pa, carrying a bag of sandwiches. The monkeys approached. He did not give them any food and one monkey slashed the bag, grabbed sandwiches, and ran. The old man
managed to hang on to some of the lunch but it seems anything on the path is fair game for the monkeys. They do not seem to get out on the dock area, I think the attendants there
probably keep them driven away. The thought of getting bitten by an angry monkey in South East Asia is a frightening thought. Serious decisions would have to be made about
what course to take. Personally I think we will attempt to stay out of biting range of monkeys. The visit to the lake was wonderful. The water is fresh, protected from the sea by a narrow
band of rocky land. The lake is crystal clear and the park very clean. Attendants are there to rent small paddle boats, life jackets and play equipment to visitors. We just went swimming,
rested from the walk there and then turned around and went back through the monkeys to the dingy pier. They never bothered us, they knew we didn't have any food and that is what they are after.
After we released our lines from Que Sera, Sera and they weighed anchor we proceeded on toward Rebak Marina. |
