Perhentians. The long story - continued

So I left the island and I came back and left again. I left with tears in my eyes but I am looking forward to my next adventure, which will be in Thailand. On the west or on the east coast, I don't know until tomorrow morning because there might be a car that is taking me to Koh Lanta (west)...or not.

The last week on the Perhentians was all about sun, sea, working and a little bit of diving. I'll tell the story in pictures.

The night before I left for the first time, we had a proper goodbye dinner at the most expensive restaurant on the island: pasta with gorgonzola and creme brulee and tiramisu for desert. It was brilliant, but more about food later.

When I finally made my mind up and headed for Malaysia's west coast, I happily started cycling but soon the sky turned into this. Cycling in the rain makes me really, really cranky. And raining it did. And it never stopped. So I turned around. You already knew that, but I just wanted to show the picture ( you have to turn your head, sorry).

So yes, welcome back to the Perhentians! This time with less money, so to be able to stay as long as possible I decided to ask around for a job. 

I found one, but you already knew that too. I had to clean the strip of sand of the guesthouse I was staying in. It was full of plastic bags, bottles, cans, ropes, toothbrushes and flipflops and every other piece of plastic or glass rubbish you can imagine. 

Besides working we had a little fun too: we made a tire swing and flipflop "art". Awesome. Hippie, yes, I know. 

It didn't feel like a job, we just had a lot of fun. The best thing was that I got the best room ever in exchange. Just to make you jealous...it had a view over the whole beach and I could see the sunrise from my bed. 

My room: below, left

The view

(there are more pictures on Flickr)

After a week I ran finally out of money and really had to go. So here I am, back in Kota Bharu. Where there are shopping malls, and vegetarian restaurants, and the company of David who has become a really good friend. And, of course, my bike. My beloved bike, who was immediately set to work today because David rented a bicycle too and the two of us just happily cycled around. Aren't they cute together? 

About the food...before I went back I visited the supermarket and bought parmesan cheese, cream, olive oil and herbs and brought them to the islands. This sounds boring but you have to believe me: after eating  the disgusting glow-in-the-dark yellow plastic that they sell as "cheese" here, real parmesan (although it was from Australia) is really something. So Le Chef Antonio made another proper pasta with tomato cream sauce and parmesan. It was heaven in the form of spaghetti. Pure love. And he talks and talks and talks about food. A lot. And looks really happy when he  eats. See? Sounds familiar? (although this picture was taken at dinner at the fancy restaurant)

Le Chef

I will miss you, Perhentians. I will miss you, people. Antonio, NZ, Gus, David, Simon, Cissi, Heidi,  Sharon, Mi, Zack, Didi, Jimmy and everybody else. But I might just come back, again. You never know :)