Underwater Malaysia

After so many months of challenging travel, Danielle and I were ready for some actual vacation -- two very different endeavors.  We found Malaysia to be very easy to navigate, and the Perhentian Islands off the NE peninsular coast the quiet sanctuary we needed.  No roads (meaning no cars or motorbikes); just a few scattered beach bungalow operations and dive shops accessible by water taxi.  The verdant, unbroken jungle contrasted beautifully with the grey boulders and shallow turquoise water alongshore. 

I went diving most of our 10 days in the islands.  I sharpened my skills with a 3 day PADI Advanced Open Water course.  More importantly, it felt so good to do something purely for the fun of it.  The waters were rife with reef shark and a huge variety of fish.  I found the most joy in diving the three nearby shipwrecks, as well as a deep drift dive over sandy bottom in search of tiny seahorses and sea slugs. 

Danielle made the most of her time too, relaxing on the porch of our bungalow with her journal and books.  She even got in on a nightly volleyball game with the local guys (and kicked some butt). 

Afterwards we made are way back to the Kelantan mainland, staying outside the town of Kota Bharu.  In our brief time there we marveled at yet another boisterous market, visited the last of the traditional giant kite makers, and took a pleasant bike ride.  Local men send tethered, trained monkeys to the high tops of palms to twist off ripe coconuts (in exchange for a palm full of rice).  We were careful not to get underneath the falling fruit as we pedaled through the countryside.