So the transport from Koh Lanta to Langkawi (an island West of Thailand/Malaysia mainland) was long but easy going. We left at 8am and arrived about 6pm including the 1 hour time difference. We travelled on a 14 seater minivan that took the ferry across to the mainland where we then waited for over half an hour showing our tickets about 10 times to prove that we had paid for our ticket to Langkawi as we had 13 people and only 12 seats - overbooked, ops! Eventually we left leaving one lady behind who had only just paid for her ticket, our bags stuffed between the seats filling every space possible. Again no health and safety in Asia, we would have had no chance if there were a fire or crash. We would be stuck and burn to death! I guess at least there was padding for us if we were to crash ey!

We had to wait about 2 hours at the harbour to get our passports checked and stamped to enter Malaysia and then we hopped the ferry to the island. It took about 2 hours. I can't believe how easy the visa was to get, you really wouldn't know you were leaving one country and entering another it was that quick and easy!

We had booked a guesthouse called Soluna so jumped in a taxi with a German couple. I didn't realise how big the island was, it took about half an hour to get from the harbour to where we were staying which was the main tourist area. You can't barter here with the taxi men, they have a set price and they must stick to it, so it's really nice knowing you don't have to try to haggle and know that you are not getting ripped off by them. It was 24 ringgit to our hostel which took about half an hour. We got excited as we read up that Langkawi is a duty free island so started planning what alcohol we were going to buy J

Soluna was in a great location, just set back from the main road where all the shops and restaurants are and the beach is just behind them. So it took 5 minutes to walk to the long, wide sandy beach and enjoy the views in a cafe or bar. We had our own room for 55 ringgits, which was $17, so not bad to split between the two of us. We had our own shower, the wi-fi reached our room and we could order a drink and bring it into our room for just 2 ringgits. Great! The lobby was small, not really a lobby really as it was just a bench and a couple of sofa chairs with a bar bench/reception area outside. It was cute but very quiet, and the only people we saw there during our stay were a load of old men, no youngens! The bed was comfortable though and we got our own towels (oh the things that excite a travellers these days!) You really realise what you take for granted when you come travelling. There are so many things I will be grateful for when I return home including soap by a sink, toilet roll, a big duvet....a great cup of English tea...oh I could go on.

Anyway, that evening we took a stroll along the main road to find some dinner. We ate in a local place called Tomato (don't worry it didn't serve tomatoes!) It was open 24 hours a day, served great cheap food and cheap drinks too, including Tea Tarik which I have now come to LOVE! It's a bit like normal tea at home but they add condensed milk which is really sweet, it's so good and you can get it for 1 ringgit in some places (20p). I was also introduced to Roti, which is a pancake-type bread thing! You could have it sweet as I did this morning with condensed milk on the top, or a savoury style. We enjoyed a Roti almost every night on the island with some Butter Chicken Massala and rice. So for our first evening we had 2 drinks each, a Roti to share, a bowl of rice to share, a Chicken tikka and a Butter chicken massala...and all this came to a grand total of 24 ringgits (£5 - that's £2.50 each...oh Kelly heaven!)

After feeding ourselves to the max, we went to a bar called Babalon as we were told by the receptionist that this is where everyone goes in the evening. It was a really cool bar, with a live band performing. During the day they sold tea in the balcony, so we tried that too. They had cushions on the sand and wooden benches to chill on. It was a really good atmosphere so hung out there until we couldn't keep our eyes open any longer so headed back to the guesthouse to crash! Unfortunately we arrived back to our room to find that there were billions of bugs outside our room...we may have forgotten to turn off the outside light! Not happy! Somehow we managed to flick a few bugs out of the room and killed the rest. A lesson we have learnt and a mistake we are sure not to make again.

The next day involved....hum lets think, maybe a bit of sleeping, reading, eating, oh a little more sleeping, reading, researching and oh a tad more eating J It was day we both needed as we hadn't really stopped and caught up on sleep for quite some time and the black shadows under my eyes were getting bigger and bigger, I was beginning to look like I had been beaten up. We went for dinner at Tomato. On our way back we searched for a guesthouse called Gecko as the Lonely Planet had mentioned it was lively there...it did have a better atmosphere in the bar area with music playing, a nice bar tender and there were some young people chilling out there too. We managed to make a reservation for the following night with the manager so in the morning we checked out of Soluna and went straight there.

We were a little more adventurous on the 3rd March. We hired a scooter for 35 ringgits for 24 hours ($10/£7.50), and went to the famous cable car which was another 30 ringgits but well worth it. The views at the top of the mountain (the second highest mountain on the island) were incredible. We chose a really clear day and could see all the islands around us, and the greenery on the island itself was beautiful. We stayed on the viewing platform for over an hour taking in the views and trying to get a decent photo (I couldn't quite grasp Cassie's camera so took about 100 photos before I got a picture of her as well as the scenery in the background. Every time I took a photo the background would disappear or Cassie would be like a silhouette. I may have got one good one of her after all. There I was in my scabby t-shirt (I was expecting to be cycling that day, but plans changed!) surrounded by Cassie in her pretty outfit and a load of Chinese who always dress up whatever the situation. I really did feel like a traveller then, and a scabby one at that! Hey, who cares, I enjoyed the view which is why I went there. You guys just get to see the ugly view with me in the photos too, haha, hard luck. Just below the viewing platform was the sky bridge which was closed but looked impressive with just one pylon in the centre. Quite impressive.

I had mixed feelings in the cable car because I was enjoying the views and had good company with Cassie, but felt like I should be looking out at snow with my ski gear on, holding my snowboard, putting on my wrist guards and gloves and wiping my goggles from the snow. I do miss skiing and I will go soon! I am so lucky to be travelling and don't get me wrong I am loving every day...but I still don't think anything will beat the freedom of skiing down a white mountain at the speed of lightening J

After the cable car and a bit of food from the food court we headed to a waterfall nearby. We had to climb about 300 steps to reach the waterfall and mini pools but it was worth the climb, and fun making fun of Cassie who was struggling with the climb- although she was feeling a little dodgy before so I'll let her off. As soon as we reached the pools it started raining so we chilled under some shelter and looked out at the scenery. Cassie cooled off in the pools whilst I just cooled off in the rain as I forgot my bikini.

I'm not sure where the day went but it was half past 5 when we started heading back to the scooter and tackled the 300 steps down. I was worried it was going to get dark so we had a quick wonder around one of the night markets on the way back, tried a few different bits of food (a pancake type thing with sweetcorn and juice, sugar and something else - weird, , grabbed a yummy Tea Tarik (yes I might be addicted to them right now) and then went back to the guesthouse. It was about 9pm before we went to get some food at another local just down the road from Tomato. We spent the rest of the night in the street restaurant people watching, chatting and playing cards.

The following day we were up and out by half 9 - 10am (which is good for Cassie)! We scooted around the entire island stopping off at beaches and cafes. I think we actually went on every road on the island...it took us all day. We didn't quite realise how big the island was I don't think. By 8pm we were starving as we hadn't had any lunch so went straight to Tomato and then chilled out back at the guesthouse.

In the morning, I went for my second jog in Langkawi. I didn't get up early enough to avoid the sun L so it was really hot! I also did Davina legs and stretches back in the room whilst Cassie was lying there fast asleep. We sorted out the ferry to Penang and went for our 2 ringgit breakfast down the road. I bought some Milka from the duty free shop (couldn't resist) and then we went to catch the 2.30pm ferry. It took two and a half hours to Penang. Cassie and I watched An Idiot Abroad on her laptop as we were talking about visiting China so watched his trip to China! It took about 20 minutes to walk to the hostel from the ferry. This place is no hostel, its like a hotel! Amazing 6 bed dorm, really posh! I'll take some photos and you will see for yourself. It's called Red Inn Cabana and it only cost us $7 for a night! I could get used to staying here J Free tea and coffee and breakfast too!

We are just off out for some more food - we fancy Indian and hear that there is a good place around the corner...bring it on!

Lorra loves xx