Silver lining

Wednesday had the most luckiest day ever this year.
Morning when about to send Dave and Laura to Amzar (as we didn't have room for them that day after their 3 nights stay here) found out that the front tyre was flat. Usually Pat and I went out at night clubbing but luckily we stayed at home that night, otherwise we would be stranded somewhere. We only found out in the morning hence the contractors helped me to change tyre. Lucky! Can't imagine if I was in Cenang at 3 am, drunk with flat tyre.

Straight to tyre shop to fix the flat one, found out actually both the back ones were flat as well. Radiator was fuming and I thought it was leaking. Battery was dead. But the car only jammed exactly when reached the workshop. What a luck!

Eventually needed to change three tyres because they were slashed hence need to change new ones. Costed me RM640 total for all total 3 tyres and battery. Can't believe it, God just gave me the winning money from the lottery the night before exactly RM630! I only lost RM20 - RM10 for the cost of me buying the no and another RM10 for the short of RM640.

We went to another workshop to fix the radiator but apparently it was the stirring belt that snapped as it was cut and made the engine too hot. Hence instead of paying heftily for the radiator and the chance that I need to put the car overnight there, I only need to buy new belt. Well, God must love me so much.

But no, apparently He gave me more that day. I was driving to town to buy groceries in the late afternoon when just in the middle of the U-lek workshop, the battery was dead. I just called the foreman there to re-charge the battery and was told that probably the alternator was not connected to the battery earlier this morning. I can't imagine if the car was dead in the middle of the road in the winding road to Kuah. Those who know me, probably know how "good" is my driving skills! I probably ended up in the cliffs if it happened in one of the corner. Seriously, I started to think how deep God really loves me by this point.

Went to Proton workshop just to make sure nothing will happen again to the car, I was told that the harness alternator (5 big cables) was cut. Luckily I sent it right time and to the right place. If I was late, it will be closed. If I sent it to just normal workshop, it probably took sometimes to find it.
So it was fixed. Costed me only RM22.
Otherwise, I probably already bought new dynamo, etc and spent days to figure out the problems.

What a day. All fixed easily in a day. I was not stranded in the middle of somewhere. I was not get into any accidents. The car is perfectly ok now getting all the maintenance it needed. While I was initially thought it was a bad day and even few friends of mine thought that they can't ever think anybody in such a bad luck like me, now, I think, I am just being loved by God. And how He accompanies me all the way.

He provided me the money for the tyres even before I knew I need it. He made sure I reached all the workshop on time. He even made sure I got all the things done in the best place. Damn, I didn't even have to push anything. Not even a drop of sweat!

These, just the things that make you wake up every day and smile. And want to be alive. And for the people that made me do these thorough check up for the car, thanks a million. You made me realize how good my life is. How bless I am. And that is huge!

Last night of Pat

Jonas and Marie arrived today and yesterday another Swedish family came, Marie and Johan with a baby and a toddler. So total we have 5 kids in the house now. Here is the picture of the parents when they were getting ready to cook the dinner.

This afternoon went to the beach in front of the airport. Nice little beach that now is quite crowded as a van selling laksa (malaysian rice noodle with prawn paste sour and spicy soup) and fruits sets up quite a name there. This is the spot where JD died last September. It was quiet by then. (pic 3 & 4)
After there drove to Tanjung Rhu and burnt ourselves there. Thought will end up the journet at Temurun Waterfalls that was quite a favorite of Zack. Big mistake. Apparently they built up the place now which make it quite horrible for my opinion. It makes the places so unnatural and crowded and the water can't flow. No water, dirty. I can't believe it. What a spoil.

It's last night of Pat here as she will continue the journey to Koh Chang to celebrate her birthday there on 9th April.

Celebration night

Yesterday Ann Elin and family arrived with Tove. Back their old room. It is very nice to see them again. 26 was Bjorn's birthday and 27 was their wedding anniversary, so yeah, another reason to celebrate something.

In the morning after Stephanie and Emma from Australia checked in, Pat and I had lunch of noodle and thosai in Kuah. After a short pampering program - Pat got her hair treatment for RM50 while I got my facial for RM20, we got a lunch at Siti Fatimah for RM10 (two persons). Went back, and after chatting with Ann Elin proceed to night market to get food for the dogs and us, and got our liquor stock from the alcohol shop next Suncafe. Pat and Chris shared gin and tonic while Chris got his Chilean red wine. I sticked with the whiskey.

Quite brave considering Pat and I went bar hoping the night before. Hideout, Chill Out (Murali's Bar), Sunba, Jungle Bar, and almost Ground Zero (it closed that night). It was almost 2 am when we reached home.
Another party night while Zack is away from home.

Well, I guest I just take a rest tonight.

Sofia Room

This is still not-finished-yet project that Zack tried to make since last year. A timber house in front of our house. The progress is slow as many guests keep using it when we are fully booked. The plan is to put poster king bed with aircond., spacious bathroom with hot shower and bathtub. Still cannot get the supplier for the bathtub though in Langkawi.
The reason why he named it Sofia, as part of the finance of the construction of the wall came from Sofia, his eldest daughter.

Man and his dog

The picture is Zack with Kacang, our beloved dog. Most of the guests that stayed with us are quite close with him. After 10pm til 4am he can be found in Reggae Bar try to be cheeky with the blonde girls there. Not really loyal dog as he is supposed to guard the house and not clubbing every single night.
But here, this particular afternoon after I told him to go inside the car, he looked for refuge from the man.

Anyway, Zack is on holiday for indefinite time in KL. Have fun, Zack!

Kantan

Some pictures from Kantan, from the disaster evening when we were about to have our dinner that. Nice place actually. Guests have to take off their shoes before they enter the dining area and can choose either sit on the floor or normal chair. Here is other picture of their bamboo ceiling as well.

Wild night

Last night another crazy night. Whiskey, tequila and beer. Charlotte G, Charlotte E, Tiff, Helena and Russel from England, Holly from England, Erfie from French and Chris from Switzerland. Talking and talking and talking til 2 am.

Nobody had hangover though this morning. No rain. A bit sunshine. Good day.

Bless in disguise dinner

17 was the last night of Viktor and Turin so we decided to have dinner together. The fancy Malay restaurant "Kantan" across the street which located inside an antics building was our pick that night. Well, too bad as the place was overcrowded and as they were new everything was turning out to be wrong. Place was packed but staff was not well trained. They all walked here and there frantically do nothing. The fans were not working properly yet although they use halogen bulbs that raise temperature inside the room horribly.
We do not really mind with the overprice food and drinks as we expected it consider the place. Wow, what a wrong idea. Glass of house wine is RM12 ++ but as we were 5 (with Erfie from France) we decided to buy a bottle of wine - Australian - that costed RM75 ++. It came in 30 minutes, already open(!) and the staff poured it like pouring syrup to the glass to our flutes. Horror!

Another 30 minutes, nobody attended us until we waved few times and finally they said that we have to wait minimum 1 1/2 hour for the food. Zack went furious as it was 10 pm by then and if the food was crap after all it would be difficult to find other place to eat after midnight.

Most of the tables left and we finally left as well. Viktor ran to Sun Village to get a table before it closed as it was about 11 pm by then. And well, luckily it was bless in disguise as we found out that the beef here quite good compared to other restaurants. We tried the steak and the rendang and seriously, despite served in cold, the dishes are excellent. All the pictures are from Sun Village.

GAP

From 11 til 18, we had few young people from GAP - Australia and UK - that volunteering in all over Malaysia for teaching English. Took 6 rooms all of them we hope had a great fun here in Langkawi. Some had a quite not-so-good experience after their motorbikes had accidents here and there.
Here is the picture of some of them celebrating birthday at Big Joe.

Chill out aka Murali's Bar

Went to Murali's bar at night next to Boom Boom Corner. We met Angelic from Germany and her boyfriend, they live in Langkawi for sometimes now. Murali was in black shirt next to Zack.

The bar has big screen projector TV with sport channel, pool table and two dart board as you can see from the pic.

Telaga Harbour

Went to Telaga Harbour again with Viktor and Turin. This time to take more pictures during almost sunset there (too lazy to wait til sunset!).

New kitchen

The new and larger kitchen is ready now. We hope this will make the experience of staying in the guest house more convenient as more and more guests are cooking now.

Lisa and Yohan (Sweden) and Yohan from Austria climbed up Mount Raya at 4 am. Very dangerous but they managed to back home safely anyway. Had to sent Lisa and Yohan after that to doctor as Lisa got skin rashes and blisters all over her body while Yohan got ear infection. They left for the next adventure two days ago to Taman Negara.

Eddie from Austria (pic) and Chris from Switzerland are staying long term now joining Erfie from France that will come back on 17th.

Christine/JJ left to East Coast

Christine and JJ left to East Coast - Kota Baru by bus to make their east coast Malaysia route for two weeks before they depart to East Malaysia/Borneo.

Last night was having l'apero at Tapaz, Telaga Harbour. Very nice indeed. One jug of sungria is RM30 but from 3 - 4 (if you want to start early) it only costs you at RM5/jug. And from 6 - 7 pm, every drink order comes with free tapaz. Get a combination of tapaz : sausages with mayo, pate of chicken liver with baguette (very good!), deep fried calamari, shrimp with garlic, etc. Ordered another side dishes of feta cheese, olive and olive baguette.

Looked around other restaurants next door, it is not really expensive (cheaper in fact than Cenang/Tengah) - except for the Loaf - Japanase bakery cum restaurant belongs to former PM of Malaysia, Tan Sri Mahathir.

Back home - after almost got killed by crossing cow! - we went dinner together with Zack at the Palace D'India. Zack loved his chicken "Chetinnad" curry with his nan. While the others get squid massala and mutton kadai with rice.

Good evening indeed, as we continued our chatting in front of the house with Raja and Sofian and three Swedish girls - Linda, Lisa and Hannah. While the girls left to Reggae after midnight, we talked until 3 am.

We will see again each other in May 7 before we travel together to Genting to waste our hard-earned money.
Until then, have fun Christine & JJ or as Sofian calls them : Sangria et Van Damme