Mariner of the Seas From Singapore 10/22/15- Complete Picture Review!

[gapearl]

Cruise Day 4- Langkawi, Malaysia

 

 

 

[gapearl]

I was good and got in another workout this morning. It was hard to stay in the gym for too long because it was so ridiculously pretty outside. Today I wanted to take a ride on the cable car and ride up to the Langkawi Sky Bridge and then spend some time at the beach after. A taxi driver offered to take me for RM100, but he disappeared when I went off in search of some free wifi. The next driver I found wanted RM200, about $50 round trip. That was a bit expensive and I told him the last guy wanted less, but there wasn't much room for negotiation with him as it was kind of far and his vehicle was considered "limo," so I didn't worry about it any more and went with him.

 

 

 

There's a currency exchange at the port. You could change money for Thai baht for the next day as well.

 

 

There's my beautiful ship.

 

 

It was a scenic 30 minute ride to get to the cable car.

 

 

This could be fun.

 

[gapearl]

The entrance to the cable car park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This place is crowded. I mean C-R-O-W-D-E-D. The cost for the cable car ride is RM35 ($8), but for just a little more (RM85=$21) you can buy the express ticket. Take my advice when I say the express is worth it! There was a 20 minute wait in line when I bought my ticket, and I went straight to the front. You also have to wait in line when departing the two other stations if you don't have the express. You will spend a lot of time waiting in lines. If you're like me and don't like lines (plus you have limited time here), spend the extra money. The day I was there, it seemed that hardly anyone else bought the express. It's important that you have cash as they will not accept your cards unless you have a total of at least RM200.

 

[gapearl]

Here comes a cable car.

 

 

And there they go.

 

 

The ride to the first station at the top was 10 minutes. My camera is a good camera, but even it can't can't completely capture all the beauty that was in front of me. This place is so magically beautiful.

 

 

 

There were multiple waterfalls high up in the mountains.

 

 

Langkawi is very green.

 

[gapearl]

There's an observation deck at the first platform where you exit for you to take some pictures. Then you have to get back in line to take the cable car to the second platform. Again, that express ticket sure did come in handy!

 

 

 

 

There's the sky bridge in the distance.

 

 

There's another observation deck up there but I never went that high up.

 

 

Taken once back the inside of the cable car.

 

[gapearl]

It's an additional RM5 to go to the bridge. When you pay the fee, you also have to sign a waiver saying that if you're stupid enough to do something stupid, you won't stupidly sue. It was a difficult 10 minute walk. You have to take a lot of stairs, so I wouldn't recommend this if you have mobility issues. There were some people making the climb with infants. I don't know how they managed.

 

 

 

 

One word came to mind when I saw this sign. DUH.

 

 

Wow I've made it!

 

 

Look at that view!

 

[gapearl]

My visit here shows the power of social media. I read about the Langkawi Sky Bridge in my Malaysia travel book, where there was only one little paragraph and one little picture. Initially I didn't think it was worth the trip and was going to make today an all day beach day. I always love getting on Instagram and hash tagging a city or country when I'm heading somewhere new to see real people's pictures. I searched #Langkawi and up came all of these amazing pictures from here. I'm so glad I did that because I never would have come here otherwise and would have missed out on these views. Do a search like that for your next trip. You would be surprised at what you can find to do or some place to go that you didn't know about.

 

 

 

I remember standing up there looking out and thinking, this is the most beautiful place I have ever seen!

 

 

 

 

These two cute girls were college students studying travel and tourism and working with the Langkawi board of tourism. They asked me questions about my trip and how was I enjoying the island.

 

[gapearl]

If you're brave, sit or stand on the glass bottom. Just don't look down! :eek:

 

 

I hope these hips of mine don't crack it. haha

 

 

 

 

I was a little nervous to walk across. I felt so vulnerable that high up and out in the open, like I could be gone with one strong wind. God forbid an earthquake should hit right now. It's very nerve wracking making that walk across. I only went half way and didn't make it completely to the other side.

 

[gapearl]

A few more views from the top.

 

 

 

Another waterfall on the way down.

 

 

You can take a picture with Donald Duck on the way out. Someone tell him to stay off the drugs because he's looking a little rough these days.

 

 

 

We pulled over on the side of the road to see some monkeys. This one was about to jump into the car with us but we got the window up just in time.

 

[gapearl]

There's a beach close by the ship and that's where we were now headed. It was a 5 minute ride to the ship and a 20 minute walk. I stayed at the beach about 2 1/2 hours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[eveanddavid]

well now I know what we will do our day in Langkawi sky bridge it is ! Was there a few taxis around ?Does he just wait for you to go back or did you walk ? Im not so sure of those steps buy hey looks beautiful !

Eve

Edited November 17, 2015 by eveanddavid

[gapearl]

Thankfully I never encountered any jellyfish in the water.

 

 

There were lots of crab holes down the beach.

 

 

I've never seen anything like this on any beach anywhere ever.

 

 

OMG they're everywhere!

 

 

Look closely and you can see their tracks.

 

[gapearl]

This resort had beach chairs for rent for RM48 ($12). That included and umbrella and a soda plus use of the pool, restrooms, and wifi. It was quiet and peaceful. I saw no more than 10 people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gapearl]

I had a really hard time leaving here. Langkawi is pure tropical paradise.

 

 

 

 

 

Me with my driver today, Harry.

 

[gapearl]

There wasn't much on the dinner menu again that I wanted.

 

 

 

I went with the curry chicken expecting real curry chicken, not just a grilled chicken breast with a light curry sauce. I had to send it back for another one because the first was still pink on the inside.

 

 

I ordered two desserts tonight.

 

 

 

[gapearl]

Our waiters sang in Italian for us tonight.

 

 

 

 

This pretty lady from China was our server and was such a sweetheart.

 

 

After dinner I went to look at the pictures I took on formal night with the ship's photographers. I hated them all. They were good pictures, but you know women can be so critical of ourselves sometimes. Even though people around me that saw them complimented them, I passed on them all. They would never make it into a frame in my house. There was supposed to be a party by the pool at 10:15 tonight but it didn't happen. I had seen some lightning through the windows at dinner so I assumed it was because of the weather. Instead there was music and dancing along the promenade. I was in my room when it was happening and didn't go down to participate, but from what I could tell from my window there didn't seem to be a lot of people.

 

 

I went to my usual late night spot, the Dragon's Lair, and engaged in some conversation with my two new friends I had made from Namibia. They were up to speed on so many American current events that I couldn't help but be very amused when the DJ played Can't Touch This and they asked if MC Hammer was still a big thing in the US. LOL LOL LOL and LOL again.

 

 

Tonight we were to set our clocks back an hour for our arrival in Phuket, Thailand tomorrow. We'll be there for two full days. Just wait til you see what all I did, and it was a lot!

[Setting sail for fun]

Amazing photos! if I ever get there I will know just what to do.

[lalenalei]

Love reading! Glad you had such a memorable time in Langkawi. It definitely does look beautiful. We are doing a private Mangrove kayak tour (I was too scared to do the sky bridge with the boys -- and me haha).

 

2 Legit...2 Legit to Quit! Hey, haaaaaaaaaay! hahahahahaha

[retiring soon]

Hi all!

 

gapearl ~ following!:D I was so glad to see on ckrobyn's thread that you are reviewing your latest cruise too. Lots of virtual cruising going on with you, her & Trainman-2 reviewing! I'm only up to page 8 but enjoying your review so much as it's bringing back memories of my solo cruises on Freedom of the Sea in promenade cabins & one with DH from Shanghai to Singapore. People wanted their pictures taken with me too on the Great Wall, I guess because I'm a silver haired, old caucasian lady.;)

 

That was an amazing hotel you stayed at the 1st night! We stayed at the one in the airport which was the nicest airport we've ever been to with a Butterfly Garden & other attractions.

 

Looking forward to more of your trip later on. Thanks for taking the time to

write.

 

~ Jo ~ :)

[OHCruisin]

Hi all!

 

gapearl ~ following!:D I was so glad to see on ckrobyn's thread that you are reviewing your latest cruise too. Lots of virtual cruising going on with you, her & Trainman-2 reviewing! I'm only up to page 8 but enjoying your review so much as it's bringing back memories of my solo cruises on Freedom of the Sea in promenade cabins & one with DH from Shanghai to Singapore. People wanted their pictures taken with me too on the Great Wall, I guess because I'm a silver haired, old caucasian lady.;)

 

~ Jo ~ :)

 

Funny, I found out about this review the same way! So glad I did.

 

Kimberly, I love your reviews. Can't wait for more.

[retiredgram]

Great pictures. Thanks for taking us along.

[dctravelinggirl]

I'm so enjoying your review! Wow, Langkawi looks great - it's definitely not a place I've heard much about but it looks like you had an amazing day there.

[aztekpm]

Yay, I found your review ... fabulous as always and looking forward to more! I see you're doing the Pride to Bermuda, me too, got a fabulous deal on it, booked early and taking my mother!

 

That bridge ... NO. just. NO. No way, no how, not gonna happen. I know that I wouldn't even be able to take more than 2 steps before I would have to turn around and leave. It's not even just about me, but anyone near the edge would give me heart palpitations! Some heights exhilarate me, but that would just terrify me.

 

I travel on my own sometimes, but never quite that exotic or adventurous, mainly road trips thru Canada / US. I've yet to sail solo ... maybe one day.

Edited November 18, 2015 by aztekpm

[anewmac]

I just caught up with Sean's Trip Report and he dealt with Monkeys and now you too lol.

 

Love the idea about casing IG for photos, DUH. Ive done that on google, and tripadvisor, but didnt think about using hashtags for what they are intended on... not to #expressmyself LOL.

 

Im amazed at how pretty the beachs are there. For some reason I had thoughts they wouldnt be ... so beautiful I guess.

[Royalty X]

This is a fantastic review! Thank you for this. We sailed on Mariner for her Christmas cruise last year. At the time, the English pub didn't exist - it was being used as a duty free liquor store. It looked like it had changed back to the pub, is that right? Is the logo shop still a makeshift stall on the starboard side, midship?