Adventures in London: Issue 196

The holiday in Langkawi continues. This week was lovely!! We started the week in rain forest Langkawi and ended it in Singapore for the most beautiful wedding :-) 

Monday, 30 April: We thought that the holiday hiccup was behind us with Chow Kit Market and the monkey trying to steal my skittles at the Batu Caves....but we were mistaken. There was more to come. On Monday we decided to rent a scooter and drove around the island. It was a brilliant idea and way to explore Langkawi and appreciate the city for what it has to offer. We stopped at Pantai Cenang for lunch, shopping (warning do not purchase £3 Oakleys and not expect them to break in less than 24 hours) and later Parasailing! I have always wanted to parasail, but have been scared. We decided why not and I am so pleased that we did. What a great experience!! We drove through Kauh, stopped for ice cream by Eagle Square. All was going well... until our drive home. We stopped by the black sand beach and whilst leaving the parking lot we hit a patch of mud and the scooter just went from underneath us. Mands banged up her left side; foot, knee, forearm, and shoulder (we later learnt that Mands cracked her rib). I nicked my hand and landed on my face (thankfully no scar or damage)!

Tuesday, 1 May: You would have thought that the spill from yesterday would have slowed us down, but it did not. On Tuesday we were scheduled for a 3 hour rain forest hike. I am so pleased that we did as the experience is one that I cannot replicate. It was such an experience with the guide to discover the trees, plants, herbs of the Malaysian Rain Forest. He was in his late 40s and has never been to the hospital/ doctors for sickness as he has lived off the medicines of the rain forest. How cool! What was not cool was the number of leeches that attacked us. Those things are insane!! Buggers attack the worst places and once they get you taking them off is tricky as their teeth are in you. Gives me shivers just thinking of them. Helpful hint, if you are going to the rain forest; wear socks, do not wear trousers and if you are light skinned you are guaranteed to get attacked. 

Wednesday, 2 May: The adventures in Langkawi continue. We spent the last day in Langkawi squeezing in the remaining sites. We started with the Telaga Falls. We had heard that this was the site to see. We climbed the 300 stairs to the top and were a little underwhelmed by what we saw so we continued on the jungle trails for 2 hours thinking that the seven wells were further up. For a sense of what I am talking about - - see that red dot, that was the location after the 300 stairs. We climbed to the top of the photo...

That red dot was the seven falls and the waterfall below
was where we were meant to go - - OOPS

The poor ladies who had to do my pedicure after the hike...
...those cotton balls mark the number of leeches that got me on the Seven Falls hike

 Being the crazy creatures that we are, once we were finished with the mani/pedis it was back to the southwest part of the island; except this time were took the Cable Car in the Oriental Village takes you to the second highest peak of Langkawi. Once we were finished with our back and forths to town, we enjoyed a beautiful dinner at the Datai Resort (a sister resort of the Andaman) of soft shell crab, lobster samosas, tandoor meats, malaysian roti... makes me hungry just thinking of it :)

Thursday, 3 May: We had to say farewell The Andaman resort and Langkawi and head to Singapore. Singapore marked two things for us. The last stop of our trip and the reason why we came -- Brenda & Silas' wedding! We didn't have much time so we had to make the most of our time here. We started off going to Chimes and dined at Senior Taco (I know, but after a week of Asian, we needed something different). It was here that we ironically bumped into Corrin (a friend from London who recently moved back to NYC). We spent the rest of the night with her and her friends - going to an amazing cocktail bar called Tree where I was treated to a Cinnamon Popcorn Old Fashion and Mands was treated to a nitrogen G&T! One word... WICKED!

View from our hotel room at the Mandarin Oriental

Friday, 4 May: We made the most of our one day touring around Singapore. We thought the rain was going to disrupt things, but thankfully it did not last long and we were able to visit Little India, Orchard Rd, Chinatown, and the Singapore Zoo! Highlight of the day however was going to 28 - a non-descript bar from the outside, but a whole new world from the inside. The restaurant is marked by the number 28 and a pad lock. There is no set opening time, so you need to be patient....if you are you are in for a treat! I have never been so blown away by bourbon cocktail, truffle oil mac n cheese balls, and grilled cheese & tomato soup before! WHOA is the only way to describe this illusive place. 

 Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple in Little India

Sakya Muni buddha Gaya Temple 

Thian Hock Keng Temple in Chinatown

Sri Mariamman Temple (the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore)

28 Hong Kong Street

Saturday, 5 May: Cinco de Mayo and the reason for the trip....BRENDA & SILAS' WEDDING!!! The day started with a gate crashing event at Brenda's house. The idea of gate crashing is that the groom side comes and has to prove they are worthy of the bride's hand by going through a number of challenges. It was definitely good fun, but sorry I cannot share the photos here (they are however on FB). After the gate crashing event, we chilled, napped and got ready for the big evening in store. Mands and I decided to make the most of the Raffles experience and went to the Long Bar before hand for the famous Singapore Sling (wow is all that can be said about the cocktail and the bar). From there is what the most beautiful (and funny) wedding ceremony, followed by a 400 guest 9 course reception at the Mandarin and finished with a night of cocktails, dancing, laughing and pool at Mr Han's club. What a way to celebrate an amazing couple

Sunday 6 May: Sadly all good things come to an end and so did our crazy adventure in Malaysia/Singapore, but not before one low key BBQ at Brenda and Silas' It was a rather surreal evening as when it came time to leave I realized that I wasn't just taking a taxi to the flat, but to the airport :( It was so good to see Brenda & Si just one more time! Really miss those two....London is just not the same without them, but I am glad to see just how happy they are in Singapore. Who knows, maybe that could be the next stop... stay tuned!

Hope you all are well and had a lovely Cinco de Mayo! 

Miss you all like crazy

xxxx

T