Malaysia...

...is absolutely incredible. We arrived here via ferry boat from Satun Thailand to the island of Longkawi, off the northwest tip of Malaysia. The trip from Thailand to Malaysia proved to be a salute to the endurance one must at times muster whilst traveling about.

We began on Ko Samui at around 11:30am. We walked about two or three miles to catch what we learned was called the Seatran Express, which is a package deal. It involved getting on a very nice, air-condtioned, and empty bus. By far the most comfortable means of travel we had taken thus far. The bus brought us to the ferry terminal and much to our surprise, the bus boarded the ferry with us. The same bus, after docking with us at the pier, brought us to the town of Surat Thani. One thing about piers, train stations, bus terminals, and airports is that they are literally crawling with hundreds of taxi drivers trying to sell a fair. Quite a hectic scene at those places. Most of the time, it is best to walk quickly and reply by saying "We are going our own way", though this really doesn't help all that much. From the pier we had to find the train station that would take us to Butterworth station in Penang, Malaysia. We learned that the train station was about an hour drive out of town and we would need to catch a bus. Upon arriving at the train station, we also found out that the one train that departs from Surat Thani to Penang leaves at 1:36am and would cost us 950baht. Which is way more than we wanted, or anticipated on paying. So we devised a plan to catch a 12:15am train (the trains in Thailand, by the way, are always at least a half hour late) that would take us to a town called Hat Yai, then with only hope to support us, be able to catch a bus to Satun, and then catch a ferry to Langkawi instead of going further south into Penang. We finally made it to Langkawi after at least 36 straight hours of travelling. It is part a practice in insomnia, part a test of patience and will, but mostly a lesson in giving up on any preconceived notion that you are in control of any kind what so ever while being in a foreign place, running on a foreign concept of time. And by this time, I was one day late on departing Thailand according to the date stamped on my visa.

But Langkawi is magnificent. It is a paradise that feels very much still kept in secret. The people everywhere smile as large as the moon, wave, and say hello every time they see you. The beach is amazing. Coupled by the ocean that feels of the most soothing bath water, and the sand that is white, soft, and warm as a heating pad. Then topped with the sunsets and the crowd of locals and visitors who claim residency on the beach well into the early hours of the morning. Brent and I have been playing music with our new friends who play nightly at the bars that line the beach endlessly. And we have even gotten paid doing it. We have been offered to pay month to month (the visa in Malaysia is valid for 90 days, and being so close to the border serves no problem for the ever popular visa run) rent for $50, we have been offered jobs, and we have met and made some very endearing people. Though the future is always unknown, it is very possible that we stay here for quite some time. One example of a friend we met is a guy named A.C. He is, for lack of a better word, a pirate. He gets paid well to be on boats and has offered to get us jobs on the boat. This boat makes trips to South Africa quite regularly and A.C. is quite a character who I get along well with because we have an undying love for Slayer. A pirate in the sense that he gets extremely drunk, has long hair that is constantly in a bandana, and is missing quite a few number of teeth. But a real swell fellow. Anyways, not that Thailand was bad, but I truly believe that if I could do it all over again, I would have started with Malaysia.

The Malay language is easy compared to Thai. The large influence of Indian culture proves to not only flourish the land with genuine, kind hearted people, but also the best Indian food I have experienced. Ever. And the island of Langkawi is everything that Thailand is in art, culture, and beauty. But minus the hustle and flow of people trying to con others into spending money. It is truly beautiful.

wish you all good things
Nate