The accidental Langkawi skinny-dipper

An uneventful trip via KL got us to Langkawi early afternoon. The sun is shining and the tiredness and worries of JB quickly disappear behind us. Check in at the Frangipani Resort is slow and methodical but we get a little apprehensive when they say our room is not ready so please wait at the bar.

One of the "JB two" enjoys his escape

Never one to refuse an offer of a drink, we troll along to the bar which over-looks the sea and partake of a few beers and chat to a Dutch couple who live 6 months of the year in Asia and 6 months in France – Lucky buggers.

Our room is soon ready and we throw the bags in, change into our cossies and hit the beach.  Big wow factor - the waves are crashing onto the beach making a fantastic vista with sand which is almost white, a rich turquoise blue sea and  the sun shining.  We are two happy bunnies.

From the prow of an abandoned boat that forms part of the bar we watch the sun setting over a small island.  An enormous liner slides out from between the islands heading back to Bangkok.  We’ve chosen a quiet part of the beach and although the resort is busy there is plenty of room.  We find a spot under the shade of swaying palm trees and enjoy the cool breeze which blows in from the sea.

We wander up the street to shop for essential supplies (crisps and wine) and we find Sagars, a little Indian restaurant which serves excellent food.  The chicken tandoori, nan bread combination is supplemented with a tasty mutton rogan gosht and we relax further into Langkawi relaxation mode.

We make breakfast about 10am and as newbies learn the ropes that the tactic much adopted by Germans is in full force here.  Sunbeds and tables are reserved by towels – but when we hit the beach there are still plenty of prime spots available.  The waves are bigger than yesterday and thunder on the shore.  We have to brave the breakers which range between 4 and 8 feet in height to reach the calm sea beyond.

Now there is a right way and a wrong way to get through the breakers.  Get it right, and just before they break the wave gently lifts you up in drops you softly as it passes.  Get it wrong and you end up experiencing the turmoil that washing machines wreak on clothes in a fast spin cycle.  I get it wrong, badly wrong!  The big breaker smashes over me and I spin and tumble head over heels gasping for air.  I emerge like Botticelli’s ‘Venus emerging from the waves’ – as I struggle to my feet my pants are round my knees and full of sand and my bikini top is in the middle of my back. When the next big wave hits I am left completely undressed expecting my bikini to be floating to shore.  John who has a better footing protects my dignity and we dissolve into fits of laughter.  I struggle to regain my modesty but luckily I am not to my knowledge observed by any other on-lookers and don’t therefore expect to appear as a clip on YBF.

The days pass gently as we soak up the rays and enjoy the time to relax. After so much walking and site-seeing over the last few weeks the furthest we now venture is the beach bar for cool beers and cocktails.

We enjoy the peace and quiet broken only by flocks of mating birds which are jockeying for position.  We also watch the sea-eagles soaring above the island and one evening whilst sitting on the veranda, we’re joined by a pair of hornbills who sit in the adjacent palm tree.

We feel the holiday is almost at an end – and too soon it will be time to head back to Thailand and the long journey home.  Join us soon for our last post….