Looking around Langkawi

The flight to Langkawi took a short 20mins from Penang and we land in this unspoilt paradise. For now it's largely untouched by development but it's only s matter of time and there'll be more. It's pretty laid back here and we get into the vibe immediately. 

We start with a private boat tour along the mangroves and out into the Andaman Sea. A truly relaxing experience in the rain.

The visit to the fish farm was amusing. Kinda felt sorry for the overfed fish in small nets. We asked what they did with the fish when they died (eyeing the restaurant next door). 'We eat them' he said lol. The tour continues with a visit to the bat cave and a nice glide across the sea. I love these kind of trips... so much to learn.

Next day and we head out to the cable car and sky bridge. She's pretty high alright, think its the steepest in the world I've read. Let's go before the wind picks up. View from the top is incredible... once you hop past all the compulsory photo stops... how many do they need hahaha.  The curved bridge is an engineering marvel and sits so perfectly into the land it's almost graceful. Very very cool.

It's a long way down

Rounding out our day with another aquarium visit... surprisingly this one was pretty amazing. So much to see in there from penguins to flamingos and even a few monkeys.  And the best thing... air conditioning.

Rounding out our time here with an island hopping jet ski tour. Our impressions of Malaysia are diverse. Malaysia... truly Asia rings true in many ways. It may not be as glitzy and glamorous as some places but it's rich in culture. The food is lovely too and it's naturally unspoilt in many parts. You can have an authentic experience here I believe. And best of all, they don't hassle you to buy here. A refreshing rest from the tourist pressure in other places.  We've enjoyed it all.

George Town, Penang

Cute little walking city this one. We flew here from KL, staying 3 nights.

We start our time with a trip up Penang Hill. It was very relaxing walking through the rainforest  but too much smog for a photo op.

Cafe vibe in Old George Town

The street art around here keeps us occupied and there's plenty to find. It's a quaint mix of old and new. I like it.

The cafes and laneways are pretty cool. Lots of cute wee places to chill out. We enjoy the best Laksa we've ever eaten as well as tasty desserts and snacks. Not all of the food here is to our taste... but if you like intestines and pigs ears, there's lots to eat. For us it's pretty offal hehe.

Q... Anyone for Frog Porridge?

Kuala Lumpur

3 nights in Kuala Lumpur seems like the perfect time to explore the night markets and architecture. We're staying in Bukit Bintang, right in the heart of the city and not far from the best food streets.  It's hot, really really hot. 

The food here is delicious and we chow down on all the treats, even trying deep fried durian for the first time. Yep, the smell is confronting but it tastes alright.

Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur

The view from the top is incredible, in every direction the city stretches out. 

There's the hop on bus, the aquarium and the canopy walk on the first day, followed by a trip to the Batu Caves on the next, lots of walking and large shopping malls to explore. At the Caves, the monkeys were everywhere but left us alone. Overall, if you're wanting a melting pot of culture and food, come to Kuala Lumpur. For a modern city, it's got a lot to choose from.

It's a hike up the rainbow stairs but worth a visit.

Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur

Melaka, Malaysia

We've started making out way up into Malaysia, catching a bus direct from Singapore. It's pretty good so far, maybe a little harder to navigate your way around but we're staying right near the Melaka old Town and pretty close to everything there is to see here.

We head straight to the Jonker Street Night Market and it's one to see for sure. Sampling lots of food and drinks along the way, this weekend market is buzzing with a good vibe and tasty treats. Walking around during the day is as enjoyable as night time and we check out some local cafes. The food here is a draw card for us.

Lots of colourful bikes and buildings beside the river. We board a boat for the trip around and see some lizard love in the water. The boat trip was great for the breeze... a bit like being at Disneyland for grown ups.

The mixture of old and new is inviting. Quaint little shops decked out with galleries and cafes give this town an arty edge. Well worth a visit and a nice little intro to the rest of Malaysia.

Marina Bay and Haji Lane, Singapore.

Ulu Watu Magic

Spending our last 3 days in Ulu Watu, right down south in a small guesthouse. It's a different vibe here, with plenty of surfers and I can see why. The beaches are ripe for it, the waves are huge and the choice is high.

We spend 2 days zooming around on the scooter, from beach to beach club and back again.

Morning coffee watching the turtles from the cliff edge.

Jimbaran Beach Fish Market

We've had the experience we wanted here, we've seen a lot of diversity and we've traveled well. It's a bit of everything here, chaos on the roads but once you get past all that and ignore all the rubbish and construction it's pretty chill. The people are friendly and there's so many tourists and kiwis here it kinda feels like home. Bye Bye Bali, see you next time.

Bali Zoo