Thursday 7th – Sunday 11th

I had booked myself another day trip for today. A Boat trip around the mangroves. 

After yesterday’s trip, my expectations were low! Especially as it involved boats, which I don’t have a great history with, having injured myself twice last year getting on and off a long tail boat in Thailand! 

Things started badly. Pick up was from the hotel at 9.30, I was ready and waiting in the lobby by 9.25. The coach arrived on time with a fabulously psychedelic interior 🤩 we all then sat waiting for a further 25 mins for 2 late guests, who just sauntered onboard without a care! We then arrived at the next pick up, now 25 mins late, only to have to wait a further 15 mins for more, rude late arrivals, who were now 40 mins late! Why? WTAF. 😳 

It was a nice pleasant 35 minute drive to Kilm Geopark. Where we were getting onto the boats. 

I will just put it out there right now, my embarking and disembarking of the boat, numerous times, I might add, was majestic!! 😍 😊💪

I was very impressed and hugely relieved! 🥰

Our first stop was the Bat Caves, clues in the name! 

As we got off the boats (flawlessly 😍) there were lots of Macaque monkeys, who obviously figured out that people = food! 

Just before we went into the Bat Caves, I spotted a large monitor lizard in the shrubbery. Fantastic. 

The caves, were OK, nothing major, but interesting, parts of the caves become completely cut off during hight tide. Also large parts of the Mangroves become inaccessible during low tide. It must be a very large tide. 

After that Bat Caves we headed down the large channel of water towards the fish farm and the floating restaurant, where we were going to be having lunch later in the day. Once we were in the channel the captain absolutely floored it and we were going extremely fast! 😬😂 everyone loved it, even a little 15 month old baby, me, not so much! 😬

I did actually get used to it and it ended up being fun🤩

I wasn’t keen of the fish farm bit but the mangroves were amazing, we saw lots more monkeys at Crocodile Cave, so named as it resembles a crocodile, we were unable to go through the cave due to the height of the tide. 

We also spotted another monitor lizard swimming across the channel. 

Then we went to a spot along the channel that is home to lots of Kites and lots of Sea Eagles. Oh Wow! So many birds it was spectacular. 

They began nesting here many many years ago, as this spot was where the fisherman discarded their unwanted catch before returning home, over time the raptors realised that this meant easy pickings. 

I absolutely loved watching the birds, I tried to get a couple of pics, but no go, so I stopped trying and just enjoyed the spectacle. 

From here we moved out in to the open sea, hugging the coastline and had a quick stop at a small beach. Again I managed to get on and off the boat into the water with some level of dignity! 😂

I had put on my swimming costume on under my clothes so I was able to enjoy a beautiful, refreshing sea dip. 

On the way back for lunch we stopped just inside the mangrove area in a smallish bay to take pictures of the sign and I spotted a dolphin in the water, the captain and guide were a little dubious as they rarely see dolphins in that spot. But I was right! And there were 2 of them, they resurfaced and we stayed to watch them swimming for a while…it was magical. 

Once we were back at the fish farm for lunch, the guide came over and took me to the edge of the platform and there were 2 sea otters!! 🦦 OMG! So amazing. I could see them clearly, photos aren’t so clear.

The whole trip was fabulous. I loved seeing so much wildlife. It was definitely a winner. 

Since then I’ve had a couple of nice chilled days, just mooching, reading and also planning my trip to Cambodia. 

I’ve pretty much booked the whole trip, just the last week to organise, but I’m not sure where I want to go, so I’ll get to that after a bit more research. 

I did manage to book a bus for the wrong date, August 10th instead of September 10th 🤦‍♀️ Annoying but at least I only lost £5. 

I’ve really enjoyed my time in Langkawi and Malaysia but today, Sunday, I’m leaving for Thailand. First stop Bangkok for a couple of days then onto Hun Hin for a couple of weeks. 

Books read

Fatal Intrusion. Jeffery Deaver & Isabella Maldonado. Another thriller. Good.

Absolutely & Forever. Rose Tremain. I really enjoyed it, different to the books I have been reading as it’s a love story but really good. 

Thank you Tracey for the recommendation! 👍❤️

Have a great Sunday people.

Lots of love.

🧡🩷💙💚❤️