Langkawi - Live Simply

I have never seen a truer statement in my life - Langkawi - Live Simply! It was written on a really ugly hessian bag at an awfully touristy souvenir shop, so I refrained from buying the bag, but the message has stuck. Langkawi, that was going to be a three day stop to figure out where to go/what to do next has become a six day hiatus that I truly don't want to end.

We leave for Penang tonight on a ferry. We will arrive late, so hopefully The Bean sleeps on the boat, so we can have an hour or so at the night markets that are on Friday and Saturday evenings. It is Saturday, right?

Here are the things we have learnt in Langkawi:
1. Money = Stress (Therefore the opposite must also be equally true)
2. Malaysian people love children. Honestly and truly (which I'm aware means the same thing). The Bean has never been touched by so many warm and welcoming strangers in his life. He seems to be good JuJu so pinching his cheeks, touching his head, stroking his pasty white arms happens countless times a day.
3. Rain really does exist, it's not just a myth we hear about in Melbourne. 'When it rains, it pours' has a whole new meaning to me.
4. Smiling and being friendly is something that Australians could learn from Malaysians.
5. People from every different background can live harmoniously together, it's true, I've seen it.
6.It's ok to visit the cable car (or 'The train in the sky and it doesn't have wheels and it goes on a string' as The Bean calls it) twice in three days. Despite weather conditions, fog clouding the view or distance to get there. It's fun to ride on.
7. Slowing down is good for you.
8. Mosquitoes = Evil
9. $3 AUD can buy the best breakfast you've ever dreamed about.
10. Jordanians/Indians/Malays that want to steal your baby to look at a fish, ride on a motor bike, play football or run into the sea really do have the best intentions. They want to make children smile.
11. Trusting people is ok. As long as you trust your gut at the same time.
12. BeDazzlers are still an acceptable accessorising tool.
13. Food is a divine pleasure of Allah/God/Vishnu/Buddha/Zeus/Thor and any other deity you can imagine.
14. I get more interested in Islam the more I visit Islamic countries.
15. Vegemite in a tube, chocolate milk, ice cream, spaghetti bolognese and banana milkshakes are valuable sources of sustenance.
16. A very small bag of cars, with a few tiny plastic dinosaurs chucked in for good measure, can entertain in any emergency situation.
17. When you go on an Island Hopping 'Cruise' exchange the word 'Cruise' in your mind before you go. Any of the following words will do as suitable replacements - 'Rush', 'Scream', 'Speed', 'Splash', 'Bounce' (It's true, did you know that boats can hit bumps???) or 'Adventure'. We chose to use the latter.
18. Hold on to the boat, with as much strength you can muster, when you are on an Island Hopping Adventure.
19. Monkeys either REALLY like or REALLY dislike plastic bags. Either way, don't carry one when they are in the vicinity. They will attack you. Plastic bottles and camera bags are also potential victims, although not as equally as tantalising.
20. Leaving paradise is a sad prospect. Although, the knowledge that it exists makes our world a better place. Hopefully a reminder that smiling and slowing down can happen anywhere. If we so choose.

Things The Bean has said:

*Insert loud rooster noise*

TB: Quick Mama!
Me: Hmmm, grrrn, huh?
TB: It's time to get up. The rooster just said so! He said, 'Get up Mama, the sunshine's out!'