Power cut off

A sparkle in the middle of the night. Short circuit of the cables in front of boat causing power cut off for the street (only left side) from 730pm to midnight.
Very hot night to spend without fan, light and or airconditioner.

Most of the guests either chose to eat outside our area to escape the power disruption or just sat outside the room with the light street and the candles light.

Today the construction of the new driveway to our house began. Pulled out two coconut trees to make way for the road.

Palace D'India

Nothing much on Friday.
We started the building of new kitchen. As most of the guests cook, we decided to make it bigger and more comfortable as the present one is too small and congested in the corner.
Hope it can be ready in a week or so.

The owner of Palace D'India finally came. They rented the curry house in front of the guest house since few months ago and they will start the construction works for their building next month, I believe. We will have new entrance and the outlook of the frontage of the guest house will be completely changed then due to Joe's and Palace D'India now.
Again, lots of works and lots of headaches from now on.

He invited us for dinner and we brought Silje and her step-sister June. Great food. Not the typical popular food that he let us to taste, but the less known dishes that do not get enough credits (from the people) although the taste - all - are good.
Conversation after whiskey was not so bad as well.

A nice day yesterday that I hope will last for quite sometimes.

Books

Gary came on Thusday to send us about 70 books from the States. Carried them all the way through the changing planes, accross Singapore border to get a bus to Kangar and after that, deliberately took a ferry from Kuala Perlis to Langkawi vice versa just to send them to us.

I told him about the books - that we kept lost them and the collection becomes smaller and smaller and how expensive to buy them here in Langkawi/Malaysia - when he came to stay here in November and yet, he remembered!

Few emails afterward, he really sent us the books.

Thank you and really appreciate it.
Wish you and Christina can have a perfect wedding next week!

Old-comers?

The timber house is half-ready. So difficult to make it finish or even to take picture as some guests already lived inside since few days ago. Only can start work after they wake up.
No furniture, no toilet nothing but I guess, some just like to rough it out here, don't know why.

Andrea came with his grandparents. It's nice to see such bond between them. Managed to swap room with Heng Teik Jin so they can get rooms next to each other.

Silje was back yesterday as well after a week journey of Krabi, Koh Pangan and Penang. Another few weeks ahead with her and Zam. Had dinner in Oasis.
Pict was they had breakfast at fisherman jetty at Teluk Baru.

Karim ll back on 21st. Dehand on 22nd. Christine and Jean Jacques ll be back on 1st. Mary and Keith ll be back on 8th. Ann-elin, Bjorg and Silje ll be back on 27th March. All familiar face again.

Valentine

Joe's closed til 28th. He went to Bangkok on 15th with Little Joe and Anton.

Valentine's day was quite amusing here.
Hans gave us a good valentine present by moaning to everybody about he lost 3 bottles of whiskey costing RM45 total. (The bottles that eventually in the evening were found in the freezer behind bar). Joe told me about it that he complained that he had only 6 glasses of whiskey since 2nd. (Must be kidding because all our bottles will be emptied as soon as we put in on the table. Somehow some magic senses always bring him out of the room once Zack put the bottle out. With all the witnesses... ). For those cheap whiskeys, he forgot for all the free whiskeys, free beers, free accommodation, free transport, free internet, free phone usage, free laundry, free electricity, free water, free food he used since the first time we met him.
Maybe I should start to prepare a bill as well for the usage of everything now.
Talking about friendship.

The barmaid agreed to him that it must be Zack that took it and it ensued quite a big shouting between Joe and Zack on valentine's day. Talking about another love in the air!
In front of the our guests.
Another reason for the shouting as Joe complained to Zack that he was shouting to his barmaid in front of his guests the previous night.
Complicated.

Let me re-phrase it again : Joe shouted at Zack in the midday in front of our guests as he wanted to tell him that he minded that Zack shouted to his barmaid previous night in front of his guests (that she played music too loud after 1am) and that Zack took Hans' and his whiskeys.

Ending : The said-whiskeys were found in the freezer and the barmaid is now become a former barmaid as after the shouting episode, Joe took her to the expensive valentine's dinner and gave flowers costing RM100+, she took the guests of the bar to another bar. Hiring a van! Joe went back to empty bar.
Talking about love. Talking about loyalty. Talking about friendship.

I love this place.

Busy days

House is busy as ever. Few people started to camp out in the garden. Although being Zack, he lets them to stay in the half-finished timber house and put fan inside just to ensure they can sleep at night. Jo from Sweden and Dave/Charlie from Wales managed to cramp outside for few days.

Chinese New Year is from 18 to 19 Feb but the holiday season begins few days ago til next week and Ironman is coming as well on 24th, so if you do not have reservation please do not come to Langkawi.

Tim that worked here sometimes ago came yesterday with Luc. They live in Belgium now. It's nice to see old face here making somewhere now.

Iris from GreenHut came on 14th and supposed to stay with us til 16th but the ferry to Penang is full til 17th hence she decided to leave one day earlier so she can spend more time in Penang. She brought us few interesting stories as well.

Monkey escaped yesterday and smashed up everything in Joe's bar and Silk Gallery - our neighbor. Su - the owner of the gallery called Fire Department. By then, we managed to put him in the cage already but nevertheless we need to make the promise to the Fire Dept that we will give him away or maybe, put him to sleep. Sara from Sweden and Danita Jo from USA risked their lives! by guarding the computer room as the monkey kept stealing the mouses there.
Managed to call Jeff after I tried to use new number. He - of course - denied all the responsibilities and told more lies as ever. Asking the time before he can't set up something for the monkey - not mentioning about collecting him - and kept saying sorry.
Irresponsible guy, I hope you grow up and hope I'll never see you again. And may God bless you after you treat the monkey like that. Karma.
Last week about March 7, 2007 Zack send the monkey - KIKO to his friend home by the beach waiting for the caretaker of the island Pulau Singa (Lion Island) where they keep many animals and wildlife. Today March 12, they still not able to take in the monkey...(perhaps due to facility etc) Yesterday noon Zack got an idea, to send the monkey to a small deserted island..no water and electricity or fruit tree there. Zack is trying to round up the boat men passing that way to agree to deliver food and water every alternate days to feed the monkey so that the monkey will be free and not on chain. If this happen in the next few days, Zack will be shopping for a female monkey to give him company or else this monkey will be very lonely on this island. Maybe one day a guy would like to accompany this monkey on this island and Zack will give a tent for free and deliver food too! Nevertherless we love this monkey...his name is now KIKO!

Camping

Nothing much happened.
Saturday and Sunday - football nights. Bar was up until 5 am.
Silje and Zam went to Thailand two days ago and ll be back later. The bags are still in the house.
Rooms are full as usual. Today Joakim from Sweden chose to open up a tent here. Zack let him to stay in unfinished wooden house anyway. With the airbed and even put a fan for him.

Let hear what Joakim said tomorrow morning.

Penang

Here some pics from ferry Butterworth to Georgetown and one pic of the ferry terminal of Georgetown. The building at the background is Komtar (the tallest building in Penang).
The books, clothes shops and the pickles sellers are from Chowrasta Morning Bazaar. The other pics are the street behind Chowrasta, the street where Lovelane Inn (Jimmy's place) located and the mural inside Lovelane Inn.
Nice note : Met Kate there and caught up a lot of stories. She lives in Ko Pangan now. Hope see you again!

Kuala Kedah

Was in Penang yesterday. Not really done much actually. Posted some pictures. Here are pictures from Kuala Kedah Jetty. I took some detour to Penang, instead take normal Langkawi - Penang ferry at 230pm, I took ferry to Kuala Kedah at 730am as I wanted to buy extra time in Penang. Arrived around 9am and got breakfast in front of the jetty, my favourite chicken rice. Took taxi to Alor Star around RM15 which was expensive as it is not so far actually. I was in good vibe that day hence I just followed what he requested. He was so smart and I didn't really feel cheated anyway as he took me to another detour through the paddy field, river banks, few small bridges instead of normal way through the town.
As usually we drives to Alor Star, we hardly use this small roads so it was in fact very nice to see a change. I can't get pictures as driver drove very fast. Took bus from Alor Star bus station at 945am and reached Butterworth around 11am. Not bad at all.

Birthday bash!

Zam and Sandra's birthday. Zam chipped in beehon and chicken that Zack cooked for as rendang. Zack chipped in yellow glutinous rice while Joe served plenty of cakes and pastries. Nice dinner. Everybody again got going well in bar - even Daniel and Clare (Manchester). Only Jolie and Paul from LA didn't really mingle with everybody and decided to stay watching DVD in the seating area.
Wies and Benny that decided to stay two more nights - luckily some guests no show yesterday. Wies sang again with Tristan on guitar. And yeah, Tristan got his superbowl at 7 this morning.

Kristy got extra bed in Silje and Zam's room tonight as we are full and Dave will move back again on 8th. Let's see whether Chelsea really comes tomorrow as they said after spending 4 nights at Vistar as we didn't have room by then.

BBQ night

BBQ night at Joe's. Joe sponsored most of the meats and fish. Benny became the chef and cooked beautiful dinner for everybody while Danielle contributed the salad. Posted some pictures here. Wies sang beautifully with Tristan on guitar and Naylene on the keyboard. Some Canadian boys even sang as well. Cheers and cheers.
Indeed a very good night and I wish everybody stay with us that night had a wonderful night as well.