The itinerary goes something like:
Sydney to Langkawi. Living it up in The Sheraton Langkawi for a few days.
Ferry to Koh Lipe over the border in Thailand for a week or so, initially booked in to Serendipity.
Island hop to Phuket to board the live-aboard dive boat, 'The Junk'.
New Years in Phuket perhaps or one of the more quieter islands.
Island hop back to Langkawi, on to KL for two days at the Shangri La, and return home to Melbs.
Can't wait!!
:-)
Days 1-4: Langkawi
After suffering through KL Domestic, the second worst departure lounge on the planet behind Tegucigalpa, we finally arrived after a completely non-service connection to tropical Langkawi International. After negotiating the non-system outbound taxi rank to find a ride to The Sheraton I realised it had been some time since I had experienced the non-Western world.
The Sheraton Langkawi was as expected for a tropical Sheraton. Our room had nice views through the coconut palms to the sort-of blue water. On the second sunrise a troop of local monkeys dropped by the balcony to say hello looking for breakfast. Very curious little critters and just one short leap away from jumping into my bowl of fruit.
As always, a hotel can be judged by its Club Sandwich. As a reminder, a Club starts with a score of 10 and loses points for errors.
Score:
Sandwich cut into halves not quarters: -1.
Due to the above, not able to be arranged in the correct fashion. That is, quarters on side forming a cross with the fries positioned in the centre: -1.
No tooth picks holding the sandwich together: -1/2.
One extra layer of tomato: -1/2.
Above average hot crispy chips (planks) +1, but served on the side and should be thin fries: -1.
No cheese: -1.
No mayo: -1.
The Sheraton Langkawi scores a 5/10.
Overall, Langkawi is overrated and I hadn’t really rated it, which puts that in perspective. The beaches are off white compared to Bondi and powdery in places between the smashed coral and shell parts. The only place worth staying would be Pantai Cenang, which looks lively, but you need to be careful dodging the obnoxious European jet skiers running amok in the bay.
Day 5-10: Koh Lipe
Took the morning speedboat to Koh Lipe just over the border in Thailand for a real tropical island experience. Loh Lipe is yet to be overrun by hippie wannabes as the travel boards will try to convince you. It has a handful of new upmarket resorts but it’s still a ferrel dread-locked smelly backpacker haven.
I chose the non-backpacker option and booked into Serendipity. Wifey quote, ‘this is the best room I have ever stayed in.’ For a boutique small tropical island hotel I have to agree. Absolutely amazing place and highly recommended for anyone travelling through with some spare cash. A little above ferrel backpacker rates at around $200 a night.
You must visit this place!
Went diving with Castaway Divers which was recommended by the owner of Serendipity but we chose a poor day for a Thai Long Tail boat operator. There was only a relatively minor swell on the day we dived but enough to cause the little Long Tail great hardship and even greater hardship for us passengers as we were battered by the little waves smashing over the sides during the one hour thirty transit between beach and dive sites. Stay away from Long Tails in anything above glassy seas.
The diving was average compared to a Great Barrier Reef, or a Cozumel, or Red Sea, or just about anywhere else for that matter. Average visibility, ordinary corals, and very few marine life highlights apart from one gigantic Green Moray and a rare pair of friendly free swimming Lion Fish. The Divemaster did his best to bore us to death during his dive briefings and would have succeeded if not for the roller coaster swell. Probably thought he didn’t have to work us up since we were Divermasters, but just a little enthusiasm wouldn’t have hurt. I think he must have had a big night.
Diving Koh Lipe should be taken off your around-the-world must-do diving experiences.
Off to Koh Lanta......
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