6:18.11N 99:51.01E Thursday 28th October 2010 Langkawi 
Here comes the thurnder storm, just as we arrive. The weather deteriorated from then on, we did not see the sun again for another 2 weeks! 
Ian and Elizabeth bat us into the berth alongside their boat, Adastra What a great welcome, we had been sailing with them in the Caribbean in 1998, and finally Kanaloa comes alongside their boat all those years later... 
The sense of relief that we were finally home and dry in a berth at the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club, where were could relax at last was simply wonderful 
Royal Langkawi Yacht Club has a great view from the restaurant and lounge. 
We celebrated our arrival with our good sailing friends who had given us a lot of help by email along the way. They happened to all be in Langkawi at the same time as us, George and Claude from Cariad and Di and David from Amoenitas who came over from Rebak Marina and resort, where they are on hauled out to get work done. Ian and Elizabeth met those friends for the first time. Their boat has been at at Royal Langkawi yacht Club for the past 5 years now, and they rarely meet people who are in other marinas. 
We were joined later in the evening by Tony and Serena and their friends from Oz who were staying wth them at their house here in Langkawi. We just had time to enjoy bubbly and nibbles before rain stopped play, and off we went to the ‘Wonderland’ restaurant in Kua. The Chinese owner found us a huge table (there were 15 of us by then), and served non-stop wonderful food of his choice and beer. How civilised to be able to say to the chef ’feed us’, and enjoy the all time Chinese food favourites from his kitchen. Ollie thought the beer must have been on the house, all he had to do was dish out one ‘Tiger beer’ after another to our friends from the ice-filled bucket placed next to him! One for you, two for me says Ollie 
Two days later, we joined Tony and Serena with their friends to do a tour to the Kilim Karst Geo Forest, in the N.E. side of the island. This area is a great mangrove rainforest area – perfect for boats to be left on moorings during the stormy rainy season at very little cost whilst the owners go back to Europe. There are plenty of fish farms to inspect – and look at the huge fish they keep in pens for the floating restaurant nearby. 
The tour boats with their outboards are a lot less noisy than the ‘long tail’ boats that are used in Thailand, to go out to the similar looking ‘karst’ rocks like ‘James Bond Island’. 
Bill and Lorna look in anticipation as we just managed to fit under this ‘hole in the wall’ at low water.  
Cave bats galore are on the ceilings Stalagtites and stalagmites too 
A whole flock of Brahmin kites grab the food that is being thrown for them, there must have been almost a dozen birds... but we’re told of course, that they are so used to being fed chicken, that they are not getting the correct fish diet their body requires, and soon die of disease, but they are reproducing fast – so maybe that makes up for it? 
It’s a perfect area for kayaking of course, such calm waters 
Spectacular scenery, reminds us of the Marquesas in the French Pacific Islands – this is the entrance to the mangrove area from the N. western sea passage. 
This little ‘dinky toy’ car we manage to rent for just $10 US a day serves us just nicely to get about, and fill up with ‘duty free’ whilst we are here. 
Curry served on a banana leaf? Yummy – maybe we should do that at home! Lorna and Bill, Serena and Tony’s friends from Oz enjoy sampling the vegetarian curry and sauces with fried chicken – no menu required. Malaysia has a good proportion of Pakistani and Indians living here, but sadly they are treated as second class citizens unless they qualify for a Malaysian passport, which I think the 3rd generation finally obtain. 
Serena and Tony’s house, with their pool which overlooks paddy fields At the back. Otters and water buffalo are frequent visitors! 
Their two doggies, Sheba and Betina have good sport chasing them 
It’s so nice to sit and relax ‘at home’ with friends after having been on the boat for 9 months! 
Both Tony and Serena have been through the wars – Tony had a stroke down side of his body about 15 years ago, and Serena had a brain tumour removed just last year! Goodness, aren’t we all glad to be alive and kicking still! They sailed to Langkawi from England also, and sold their boat last year. Tony is currently rebuilding a small motor boat to enjoy some R&R amongst the huge selection of anchorages available in Langkawi. 
This picture gives you the idea of how many islands there are in just a small area on the S.W. Coast of Lankgawi, taken from the cable car. | 