Return to USA

I departed Saigon on Saturday, March 17. After almost 30 hours travel time and 10,000 miles (16,000KM), I arrived at IAD (Dulles in Washington, DC) on March 18.

There were many sad, long "Goodbyes" during my last week in Saigon. The most difficult of these were those with the "Phamily" <-- Linh, Long (11 year old brother), Thuy (mother) & Vinh (father) Pham. They are terrific people and I thoroughly enjoyed all the time I spent with them - Tet trip to Long Hai, week-escape to their first trip to/experience with a democratic country (Phuket, Thailand), playing Phom (a popular Vietnamese card game), and sharing many fabulous meals prepared by Linh and her mother. I will truly miss them all.

At the moment, I have no future travel plans - not yet anyway. I will let you all know when I do.

Saigon Street Vendors

I bought "waffles" from this vendor everyday. On the left is her charcoal grill/"waffle iron) used to make the waffles, on the right are cooked & packaged waffles. All portable and can be carried away in seconds!

Saigon Street Vendors

This lady sells/delivers styrofoam containers to other street vendors who sell prepared food!

Saigon's Vibrant Street Vendors

One of the things I will miss most about Saigon is its vibrant street vendors. As I have said before - youi can find just about any products or services on Saigon's (or any major city's) streets. This is a bicycle vendor selling many varieties of brooms/feather dusters. I saw him almost every morning. Although I never purchased anything from him - we would always greet one another with a smile.

Back to Saigon

After 11 hours travel time and 1500 miles (2400KM) I made it safely back to Saigon. I'm pooped.

Goodbye Langkawi Island, Malaysia

This morning I leave Malaysia and return to Saigon. I truly enjoyed my experiences on the island and would return. My abundant, ever-present friends (like the one in above pic) bid me fond farewells.

Questions re Malaysia

Here are questions/answers to most of the questions many of you have asked about Malaysia:

Islam/Muslim? Yes - most Malays are devoted Muslims. Temples & calls to prayers are common. Only odd experience (like that I experienced in Indonesia) is seeing Malay women swimming (at pools and beaches) fully clothed - including head coverings!

Chopsticks? No - Malays do not use chopsticks. Most eat solid foods with their fingers. They do use spoons for soup. Fortunately, most Malay restaurants offer forks!

Diving (SCUBA)? Because Malaysia, especially Langkawi Island, has many "protected marine parks" - I wanted to dive here. But, I was discouraged from doing so after speaking with some German divers who told me visibility and sea life were poor. I was really bummed.

Weather? This is Malaysia's dry season and therefore their tourist high season. Temp highs were low 90sF and lows in the mid-70sF. There are intermittent brief showers everyday. Yesterday it was cloudy/showers all day & appears it will be the same today - bummer. I hope the weather clear up soon - I return to Saigon tomorrow.

Tanjung Rhu Beach

I finally found what is regarded as the best beach on Langkawi Island = Tanjung Rhu - a 40 minute drive from my hotel. There are 2 resorts here. One is the Four Seasons - I was going to stay there but the cost was too steep (least expensive room is $400+ a night) and it is located very far away from anything! I spent the entire day on the beach eating lunch at Four Seasons ($85 for a delicious soft shell crab & iced tea). As you can see from this pic looking west - I had the beach all to myself! Beautiful white sand and water. Mountain in background looks a lot like Diamond Head!

More Tanjung Rhu Beach

This is a pic of the beach looking east. More mountains, white sand and turquoise waters. Again - I had the beach all to myself!? Four Season staff told me that the hotel had very few guests - rare event for their "high season".

Tanjung Rhu Rocks Meet Jungle & Beach

This sheer rock wall was very thin - probably less than 25 feet. Its was awesome how it jutted up from the jungle at its base and the jungle lined the beach. I watched several "sea eagles" fish just off the beach from here. I assume they were nesting or hanging out on the cliff.

Last of Tanjung Rhu Beach

There was a boat shuttling people to the nearby islands in background - so I decided to explore them. Wasn't worth the cost - just rocks/jungle and no photo ops.

Four Seasons

I thought that the Four Seasons deserved at least one pic. It was recently purchased by a member of the Saudi Arabian Royal family. This is their lobby area. Grounds were magnificent and service/hospitality fabulous - and I was only a visitor!

Durian Perangin Waterfalls

This multi-tiered waterfall has water all year. This is a pic of its highest tier - almost a 2km (1.2 mi), 800+ feet vertical climb to get to it! I was the only person there! I was hot/sweaty from the climb so took a dunk and meditated on a rock. Note thick, virgin jungle. This is the last waterfall I will be visiting on Langkawi Island. Tomorrow - beaches!

Jungle

This is a pic of one of the waterfall tiers with the thick jungle surrounding it.

More Jungle

This is a pic of some of the jungle taken on my trek going up to the waterfalls. Beautiful and serene. AND many monkeys - very shy so no pics of them.

Mountains

There are many "plateau" type mountains on the Langkawi Island - but most are too difficult to photograph (at least with my BB). This pic is an example of what I'm talking about. Btw - these mountains are primarily sandstone and granite.

Temurun Waterfalls

Temurun Waterfalls is the tallest (about 600 feet) on Langkawi Island. Unfortunately, this is Malaysia's dry season so there is little water falling! It is a 3-tiered waterfall. This is a pic of its tallest tier.

Langkawi Island Jungles

The island is noted for its mountains, wildlife sanctuaries, and abundant forests. It is very difficult to get good pics of a "jungle". But the huge trees shown in this pic are evidence of the fact that they have not been timbered.

Langkawi Island "Car Vandals"

Most of the parking areas for the Langkawi Island's parks are patrolled by monkeys who break into cars - primarily looking for food. This guy (a large male) was checking out my rental car - he felt it was his! For several minutes he wouldn't let me into it!

Langkawi Island Traffic Hazards

All the roads on the island are narrow and go up/down hills with many curves (maximum speed limit is 36 mph - 60 kph). Water buffalo (like those in this pic) and other "cattle" freely roam the roads - one can't be sure when they will suddenly decide to cross a road. Legally, they have the right of way and there are serious/substantial fines for hitting one! Note thick vegatation in background.

Langkawi Sheraton

The rooms here are clustered into "quads" each room has its own private entrance and nice "decks/porches" with table/chairs. Rooms are very comfortable and very private/secluded. This a pic of my "room" quad.

Sheraton "Wildlife"

Langkawi Island is noted for its wildlife. However, I was surprised when I saw so many monkies roaming around my room and on my deck! They were all very well behaved and there were many babies - making monkey watching relaxing and enjoyable.

More Sheraton Wildlife

This is a pic of some adolescents making themselves at home on my room deck.

Langkawi Cable Car

Langkawi Island's cable car is world famous - length = 1.3 miles (2.2Km), incline = 42 degrees, vertical climb = 2310 feet. This pic is from bottom looking up. Destination is top of the far peak! Amazing views.

Langkawi Cable Car Nears Peak

The steepest part of the cable car ride is just before it reaches its peak - this is a pic of that last steep climb! Btw - there are really 2 separate cable car systems and a total of 4 different overlooks.

Telaga Tujuh Waterfall

This is a famous waterfall that can be viewed from the cable car. This is Malaysia dry season - so there is little water. Note that all the mountains are covered with virgin jungle.

Suspension Overlook

The Langkawi Cable Car is known for its "overlooks". This is probably its most famous and photographed - it is a complex suspension bridge!

Langkawi Mountains

This is a view of some of Langkawi's famous mountains with the Andaman Sea in background.

Langkawi Islands & Beaches

This is a pic taken from the cable car (note cable) of some of Langkawi Island's famous small, uninhabited islands and beaches.

Saigon, Vietnam to Langkawi Island, Malaysia

After 12 hours of travel time and 1500 miles (2400 Kilometers), I arrived at my Sheraton hotel on Langkawi Island. It was a long day of travel - especially the 4+ hour layover in Kuala Lumpur. And, like all of my "commuting sojourns", I am thankful that it is over!
Everything I read about Langkawi said to definitely rent a car at the airport. So I did - very inexpensive = < $20/Day including insurance. One problem - they drive on the wrong side (left) of the road here! Guess that I have to be mindful/cautious!
I arrived at my hotel at 8PM - too late to explore anything but the hotel itself - it is sprawling over 48 acres on a hillside! They run a shuttle service - couldn't survive without it.
Langkawi Island is known for its beaches, marine and wildlife sanctuaries. I look forward to exploring this island tomorrow!