Perhentian Islands - Kecil (still Malaysia)

1st - 13th March

Oh, my word! Well we thought we'd died and gone to heaven when we found this little place! A little piece of paradise with turquoise blue water and white sand beaches fringed with the jungle - no high rise, no cars, no banks not even any telephones! Just perfect!! We were only going to stay a couple of nights here but loved it so much we had to tear ourselves away two weeks later! Getting over was a bit hairy though, they say it only takes 40 mins, they didn't say it was the equivalent of riding a roller coaster for 40 mins - the boat went so fast it just bounced from one peak of a wave to the next!



The first photo is Coral Bay which is the next bay around from our beach - Mira. We did the 'jungle stroll' to this bay most days. To keep the old exercise routine up? Of course not, but for the most delicious 'Mango Lassi' drink. It's like a fruit shake mixed with yoghurt, mmm!! Keith also developed a bit of an addiction to the chocolate shakes too - complete with 00's and 000's and the obligatory choccy wafer.


Well what else can you do in paradise but lie in the hammock and enjoy the view. Keith's in the sea - doing his 'shark bait' snorkelling!

This picture is for Mams, so they can go 'Eeeeeh don't they look well'.

Ah, this is our little hut on stilts, note the hanging mobiles and shell and coral decorations - we had a few 'craft' mornings!! It's really just a garden shed on legs - but what do you need? It had a bed, a light and a blue waste paper basket that quickly got re-named Gordon and put to an entirely different use.

A little bay of huts, ten in all which meant there was hardly anyone around ... great!

This is the fishing village where most of the islanders live. No, the flags are not for the arrival of the English but to promote the election - compulsory voting here. Later all the bunting etc made it's way into the sea and onto the beaches - it's a shame but rubbish and it's disposal is a big problem here. I think I may suggest to Sunderland City Council that I take a 'secondment' and tackle this issue - what do you think my chances are?

Must tell all you bloggers that Keith went out on a snorkelling trip and saw a 'black tipped reef shark'. When he returned he triumphantly recalled the tale of this 7ft beast, in true 'Hodgson' style this was later recounted as an 11ft wonder, I think it was 15ft long at the last count!! He said it was the best snorkelling experience so far as the shark passed by within touching distance and actually made eye contact with him as it passed. Strange though, there was no sign of the three piece orchestra that followed the shark around in Jaws - durrum dum dum dum dum derrrrum......

(Quick cup of tea question - can sharks wink? I think I may have been 'had' again!)




A 'jungle trek' around the bays and over the mountain. Very interesting, we saw the most beautiful butterflies and birds. After hearing us (or more so my singing) we frightened off an 8ft long, 2 ft wide monitor lizard! Sorry Christopher Sorrell, too fast for a photo!

Neighbouring Besar Island is in the background. There was much sweating done on this walk, fortunately there's a lovely natural pool all around you for cooling off.

Hum, yes! Keith 'set' this up whilst singing something like "I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts..."!! I do believe I was also 'had' by his sister Ginny in a similar situation in a large supermarket carrying two huge melons!!





On a serious note - Keith here, I really did see the shark and of all the dives and snorkelling trips I've done, this was the most amazing. They're so beautifully graceful in the water, it swam by me within 5 feet and looked right at me, it may have been considering me for lunch but was probably put off by the strange smell of sh*** coming from my direction! The guide reckons I was never in any danger, black tips never attack humans - looked like I soiled a good pair of thrappers for nothing!

Well done Shirley Sandersfield - David Webb is the correct answer. Earl Grey or a cup of Cameron's finest?

There's still a cup of tea waiting to be won for a positive id of the creature on the telephone wire (Taman Negara blog) - have I beaten you all this time or do you not know how to 'google' it?

We've had a few anonymous messages from people, try to remember to put your name on the messages so we can pick on you in future blogs!

A new cup of tea question - we were on Kecil island and opposite was Besar Island. There could soon be tea flowing for the first to tell us what does Kecil and Besar mean already?

Today is the 22nd March, we're still in Thailand, further North. We're sitting in the lobby of the guesthouse on the 't'internet' while all the owners are gathered around the TV watching Thailands version of 'Pop Idol / X Factor' - hilarious!!