"The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page" --- Saint AugustineThese words of St. Augustine's stuck with me as I walked uncomfortably back to my hut and covered myself in after sun. I was annoyed with myself that yet again I was burnt from the scorching sun. I lay on my bed in anticipation of the electricity and subsequently the fan that felt almost too good to be true. I must admit, not everything is how the guide books tell it.
The Perentian Islands are undiscovered for many who travel through South East Asia, it would be a huge mistake to miss this relatively unknown place. Having heard that accomodation was hard to come by I took the risk and if worse came to worse I would have to sleep on the beach. Luckily I found a quaint little hut that would do that job, as waking up on the scorching hot sand at a ridiculous hour of the morning was far from ideal. I booked the next speedboat from Kuala Besut, on the North East coast of Malaysia, and coming into shore I am greeted by tropical views; every first impression that hits you is literally breath-taking and beautiful.
"Unspoiled and relaxed" is an injustice; the island is so much more than that. Crystal clear waters lapping up the white sand with waves that shimmer under the sun dominated sky. Seen through the eyes of the local Thai man sleeping under his hat on the hammock or by the French couple kayaking beyond the pier. Or simply by the young English girl sat sieving the sand through her fingers, taking in every detail possible.
[Unfortunately the photo doesn't do it justice]
A week prior my mind had been caught up on the streets of Bangkok eating cockroaches, in a whirlwind of danger and adrenaline in tuks-tuks and transfixed by the sordid details of a 'ping pong show'. Every sense was being electrified, beyond what I expected yet somehow now they were serene, content to the point of ectasy. Impossible to believe this is reality; I suppose it wasn't reality. In reality you don't meet Domino, the ukulele player on a candle lit beach whilst singing along to Oasis and you don't go for a casual swim only to spot turtles, sharks and a stingray darting around under your toes.
To take this island literally - "A place to stop" - The Perhentian Islands. This can be interpreted in two ways. Firstly, it is not an island to overlook and when asked the highlight of my summer, this island is always top of my list. It's worth going out of your way for, just to experience a paradise that puts all other paradise to shame.And secondly having not been a huge fan of the hustle and bustle of my previous stop, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's capital, a city that never sleeps it was without doubt a refreshing change in atmosphere and way of life to say the least. Certainly more my cup of tea, living the lazy, comfortable student life in such idyllic settings.
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