The Long Journey to Pulua Perhentian (Day 6)

So after very little sleep (thank the Lord for Ipods and MP3 cell phones) we arrived in Kota Bahru 2 and a half hours late. We bargained for a cab to Kuala Besut where the boats would leave for the Perhentians. It was about an hour ride and then a half hour speed boat ride until...

Paradise! Pulua Perhentian Kecil, the little island.

A quiet little island run on generators, and primarily home to fishermen like these.

This place is a real thing of beauty. Something right out of Jurassic Park.





This was one of the nicer little places on the island on a secluded beach.

And then, of course, the marine park.

Finally, we arrived at Long Beach and rented a little metal shanty with very large lizards running around, a hammock and a nice view of the ocean. I was a little uneasy of the bugs, spiders, lizards, etc., but we ran down to the beach and hit the water and all my worries washed away. Floating around in the bluest, warmest water I have ever seen was amazing. The South China Sea is something special and I've been to Hawaii, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, etc. And the view from up the hill can't be beat.

The amazing little shanty town that is Long Beach.

The dinner we got on the island was somewhat expensive for Malaysia and very disappointing. Although there was a Thai influence with lots of fish sauce, they were pretty much cooking for the majority Western visitors on the island. We were pretty exhausted and fell asleep to the chirping crickets, dripping waterfall out back, and got knows what other creatures were perched above us on the ceiling.