Georgetown-Langkawi by ferry ±1.5 hours
Langkawi is the most northern island of Malaysia and profiled as a taxfree haven, casino's & resorts. We decided to use a ferry to go to the most southern located beach where somebody had the bright idea to float a structure complete with freshwater douches, restaurant , diving facilities and a underwater observatory near the beach of a small island, pulau Payar, naming it Langkawi Coral. We were picked up at the hotel at 8 in the morning and returned about 6 pm. On the way to Pulau Payar we used the ferry (34 knots) to Langkawi. Other destinations were Medan in North Sumatra. The boat had airplanelike seats and a videoscreen. Because of a rather rough sea we soon were hearing many passengers wretching and turning and getting real sick. They have those black plastic bags. I concentrated on focusing at the horizon and managed to hold everything inside. Barely surviving we arrived about an hour and a half later at the Langkawi Coral.

We had real fun snorkeling around and schools of fishes had apparently become so accustomed to the snorkelling and diving creatures. Lunch buffet was served aboard and later we could also feed the fish. You could also do some scuba diving. That day however visibility wasn't optimal and currents played a role, it was satisfying, but it could be better was the experts advice. It was the first time we snorkelled and with a life-vest it was easy enough after you knew how not to suck in salt water. I still feel more comfortable breathing without any apparatus, but the views and the experience were worth all the trouble. A myriad of the most beautiful fishes were within handreach and so quick and agile. The beaches were as they should be, white sands and white sprayed gulfs on a blue green sea.

Gracefully the trip back was on a calm sea. So we had reached almost the northern tip of Malaysia by boat. We came back in the evening and finished our journey with a dip in the pool and a good meal at the nearby night market which we had learned to reach by public bus for only RM1 per person. Exact fare and no change svp. We used this bus more often than taxi's, they were safe and some even had airco's but you had to wait longer, while the fare was exactly the same. We only used a taxi to the airport and it cost RM 35 from Batu Feringghi without meter.

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Useful links

Travel guide
http://www.visitmalaysia.nl/
http://tourism.gov.my
http://www.concierge.com/malaysia/

Langkawi Coral
http://www.langkawicoral.com

Hotels in Singapore/Malaysia
www.bookingsavings.com/asia_pacific/malaysia/
www.asia-hotels.com/hl/Malaysia.asp
http://asiatravel.com/

Malaysian newspaper
http://thestar.com.my