Today, accompanied by Alex and Liam, our destination was Gunung Raya. However, in the afternoon, I needed to return to Penang. After waking up, I swiftly showered, packed my backpack, and collected my freshly laundered clothes from the diligent laundrywoman across the street. The clothes were not only clean and fragrant but also neatly ironed and meticulously wrapped in plastic—an unparalleled service for a mere 2 euros. Meanwhile, Alex and Liam were busy picking up their mopeds from the supermarket. Our plan entailed heading north to explore a national park that sees minimal tourist traffic.
Today, the pleasure of the ride surpassed yesterday’s experience. I had grown accustomed to my moped and learned to navigate through the strong winds confidently. Our first stop was at an unfamiliar beach where jet skis were available, though their prices for a 30-minute ride were too steep. After a ten-minute walk, I realized I had left my key in the moped’s ignition. We retraced our steps, retrieved the key, and decided to proceed, venturing into the Kilim Geoforest National Park.
Pantai Tanjung Rhu
A local in Penang had mentioned that these beaches would be deserted, as the national park imposes a limit on the number of visitors. Eager to explore, we decided to check out the beaches, starting with breakfast at the mangrove tour dock located just 50 meters from Tanjung Rhu Beach. Following our meal, we headed towards Pantai Tanjung Rhu, an expansive beach stretching wide and long, completely devoid of any people. The section of the beach in front of the resort on the left was restricted, so we strolled to the right for a leisurely walk.
Across the river, there stood an unusual lighthouse, and behind it, a trail led to the summit of the hill. Excited about the potential view, Liam, Alex, and I tried to attract the attention of passing boats by waving and shouting. However, our attempts went unnoticed. Upon zooming in with my camera, I discovered a sign indicating that the hill was a restricted area.
Gunung Raya
We returned to our mopeds and headed towards the central point of Langkawi, making our way to Gunung Raya, the island’s highest mountain. Despite being informed by the supermarket lady that it was prohibited to ascend Gunung Raya by moped, Alex and Liam persuaded me to give it a try. As we ascended, I complained about my nearly empty fuel meter, but according to Alex and Liam, it would be sufficient. The journey was breathtaking, offering spectacular views. After 20 minutes, we reached the summit. Unlike Cameron Highlands, the weather was perfect this time! At Gunung Raya’s peak, we entered a building, each paying ten ringgit to take an elevator to the viewing platform, where we enjoyed a magnificent panorama of the island.
Following a brief visit to the platform, we descended and made use of the toilets located next to the pool. Then came the enjoyable part – descending Gunung Raya without running the engines of our mopeds. It turned out to be even more fun than I had anticipated, relying mostly on our brakes during the descent.
As we passed by two adorable girls capturing moments along the road, we mimicked engine sounds ourselves, shouting, ‘Wrroeemmmmm, wroemmmm’! The expressions on the girls’ faces were priceless – a mix of confusion and amusement, like ‘WTF?’. It was absolutely hilarious! The descent downhill provided so much enjoyment. We stopped at various points to capture some pictures. During the first stop, we even ventured down a trail. Although Liam was eager to explore further, I reminded him of the time constraint, so we climbed back up and returned to the mopeds. It was quite an exhausting adventure.
Lunch at Baron Bay
For 30 minutes, we descended the hill and then returned to the hostel. By around 2 pm, we were back, giving me some time to spare. We decided to have a late lunch at the Baron Resort, conveniently located right behind our hostel. Liam opted for a delightful bowl of mushroom soup, while both Alex and I ordered fish and chips. However, our plates arrived 30 minutes after Liam had finished his soup. During our meal, we engaged in extensive conversations about Australia. Liam and Alex shared many insights about the country, fueling my desire to visit. Although I longed to go there immediately, patience was key, and I knew I would get there eventually.
After lunch, we strolled around the resort, discovering its breathtaking ocean view and a delightful swimming pool. If only I had known about it earlier!
I bid farewell to Liam and Alex, leaving the hostel. This time, I headed towards the harbor and arrived around 3:30 pm. The walk proved more challenging than anticipated, and a kind Malaysian man may have noticed my struggle. He pulled his car over, persuading me to hop in as he offered to drop me off at the harbor. The drive took only 2 minutes, saving me from lugging the 28-kilogram backpack for an additional 10 minutes (I know, the weight is crazy). I expressed my gratitude to the man and inquired if he wanted anything in return. Although I didn’t ask for his name, he revealed he’s a math and science teacher living in Langkawi. Hopefully, he comes across this one day, as to me, he represents the kindness of the Malaysian people. So many locals have helped me out thus far.
Back to Penang
The boat departed at 5:15 pm, taking me back to the place I had departed three days ago. I managed to catch an hour of sleep on the boat, and during the remaining two hours, I dedicated myself to typing some blog reports on my laptop. Upon reaching my destination, I snapped a few pictures of the port. Exploring Penang, the food capital of Malaysia, is a future aspiration, but regrettably, my stay in Malaysia was short-lived. Fueled by the impending deadline, I have rushed through Malaysia, with my next flight on the horizon.
I strolled from the harbor to Roommates, the hostel I lodged in three days ago. Luckily, I secured the same room and bed, but this time, I had actual roommates. The room felt a bit cramped with four people and their luggage, but it was acceptable.
During check-in, I was startled by a loud British-sounding scream behind me: ‘Marten!!?!?!?!?!’ I turned around to find the cute British sisters, Milly and Jess, standing in the doorway. Surprisingly, they were also staying at Roommates. We shared a laugh at the coincidence, marking our third encounter. Our paths had crossed previously in Taman Negara and the Cameron Highlands.
I inquired if they were interested in grabbing some food, but they had just finished their dinner. Later in the evening, we gathered in the lobby, engaging in conversations on various topics. There was a hostel staff member who seemed quite taken with Milly and Jess. The way he blushed and interacted with them provided some amusing entertainment. Despite his invitation, they politely declined his offer to join him.
After taking a shower, I headed to bed, gearing up for another day of travel as I was about to embark on my journey to the next country.
