Marvellous Malaysia

A mammoth transport mission from Cambodia to our final destination of Cherating, Malaysia. (Tuk Tuk to airport, flight to KL, metro and train to bus station, bus to and Kuantan then local bus and walk to Cherating).

Arrive Cherating in the cover of darkness and make our way to Payang Guest House our home for the next four nights. Cherating is a laid back surf town (though there is only surf in monsoon season), half way down the east coast with a lovely beach and jungle river inlet. Spent the next day reacquainting ourselves with the sun, sea and sand. Got a little too familiar with the sun and managed to burn ourselves right royally for the first time on our trip.

We spent the next day hiding from the sun so decided to hire a bike and head to the next bay, home to a Turtle Sanctuary. Think they were possibly the crappiest bikes in the world and it must have provided a few laughs for anyone watching us attempt to make it down the road. After some slight mechanical adjustments (Colin unclipping the brakes and straightening the wheel with an aircraft engineers swift kick) we were at least able to make it there - albeit very ungainly. Turtles were cute but we were shocked by their carnivorous attempts at munching each others back flippers.

Did a boat ride up river through the jungle of mangrove swamps to try and see some wild life - caught sight of some monkeys, monitor lizards and jellyfish but was not a lot else around - far too hot. Did see some other animal action - though think we would have preferred not to. Cute little puppy who we had fed an ice cream the previous night, reappeared the next day and as Colin was attempting to give it a pat another dog - no wait a minute, a monkey approached from behind and proceeded to traumatise the puppy - very funny but not at all natural.

Did a night trip up the same river however to see the fireflies and we were transported to a time where we were kids.... cue lots of excited oohing and aaahing as the fire flies come towards you like little fairies all lit up and fly around you. Very cool!!!

Headed further up the coast to the Perhenthian Islands and picked up a wee Irish friend, Shaun along the way. Bus to Jerutah for lunch and load up with supplies before catching the ferry from Kuala Besut to the islands. Bone and baby shaking 40min ride (RJ holding on for dear life) for some more sun, sea and sand - the last stint of our Asia travels. The beaches on the island were amazing - the best that we have seen all trip and probably at the top of our all time favourites. Spent the first three nights at D'lagoon which was a little place with its own beach at the northern tip of the island - an hour walk from the main tourist beaches. The first night the turtles were laying on a nearby beach so we were able to walk across and watch - quite magical but I am sure that i definately don't want such an audience in Sept! Made the most of the beaches - in between some impressive tropical thunderstorms, with plenty of reading, snorkelling, sunbathing and sand castle design. Headed for a change of scene to the main beach for the last few days before packing away the togs and making our way back to the mainland.

The next night in Khota Baru meant we finally had a chance to sample some real Malaysian cuisine at the local and night markets. Unfortunately we were there on a friday and most muslim towns seem to come to a complete standstill and close everything down so it was a day of eating, blog updating and watching a movie in the backpackers before heading to the station for our overnight train to Singapore.