Canada Day in Paradise

Since we had only heard of them the day before, we really didn’t know to expect of the Perhentian Islands, a set of islands off the North East Coast of Malaysia. The one page print-out in our hostel in Penang promised white sand beaches just a few kilometers off the mainland so we figured- hey, why not. We were ready for island life again.

What we found when our “ferry”  (aka a small speed boat that fits about 12 people) rounded Perhentian Kecil, the smaller of the 2 inhabited islands, was nothing short of a scene out of the movie “The Beach”.  But not like what that beach in Thailand looks like now (we have it on good authority that it is now crowded and dirty with wall to wall tourists…but I haven’t been there myself) but what it looks like in the actual movie.

Arriving on Long Beach

Our first glimpse of Kecil 

We opted to stay on Long Beach, the busiest of the handful of beaches on the island. It has about 10 places to stay and 5 restaurants…..so really not that busy.  After surveying the spots that had vacancies we settled on a room at Panorama, a hotel/dive school/restaurant/bar/live music/internet café venue.

After dropping off our bags and getting settled, we ventured out to do what you are supposed to do on this island…..chill on the beach! In addition to the most amazing, refreshing, transparent azure water and fine white powdery sand, zero cars or roads and nothing but Bob Marley and Jack Johnson blaring all day long across the beach, the area is supposedly a heaven for those into snorkeling and scuba diving. Although we didn’t partake in the underwater happenings, the people we met who did spoke very highly of the day trips and dives around the island. We choose to spend more time at the various beaches and dipping in the glorious water.  For the rest of day 1 we enjoyed Long Beach and then took the 15 minute stroll over to Coral Bay, the smaller, quieter beach on the opposite side of the island. It boasts the same beautiful water and sand, but with some coral lining the water’s edge.

Beach side set-up on Long Beach

At sunset the restaurants on Long Beach spread out grass mats in the sand at little tables and light tiki torches to set the mood for evening filled  with Chang’s (local beer) and Monkey Juice (local alcohol) and dancing in the sand.  We enjoyed a gentle few with some new friends we met throughout the day….. who strangely enough seemed to almost all be from our home and native land – CANADA.  It may have been a coincidence that we were meeting all these Canadians but it was amazing timing since we were going to spend Canada on this Island paradise!

Beach Bar getting set up for sunset

Changs on the beach

One day we decided that we would take a walk to the other side of the island to experience it from other perspectives.  In order to get to the other side of the island you need to take a path through the forest/jungle. Walking for about an hour will get you to 3-4 remote beaches and panoramic view of this amazing group of islands in the South China Sea.  As we approached the entrance of the path into the jungle a 2ft long iguana darted out about 6ft in front of us - this is something that I did NOT anticipate. Iguanas have about the same effect on me as snakes – paralyzing fear. So we stood just outside the entranceway to the path for upwards of 30mins (I wish I could say that I was exaggerating this, but actually it was probably closer to 45mins) while Jonny and a handful of locals tried to convince me that it would be fine and I should take the path. Eventually after much discussion I finally agreed on the condition that Jonny carried me across the dark part of the path until we passed where the Iguanas were and that he would put me on his back anytime another iguana poked his or her head out.  I wish I could say that the rest of the stroll was a breeze ……..but it was totally worth it. We spent the afternoon exploring lookouts and private beaches, including one named Adam and Eve, aptly names because you actually feel like the only 2 people on earth while you are there.

View from the lookout

Stairway to Heaven 

Adam and Eve Beach

Finally….. CANADA DAY ARRIVED! Although our hotel was having a Jamaica party that night we partied with our new Canadian and other international friends on the beach like we were on Parliament Hill. 

Happy Canada Day!!

Our Jamaica paint for Canada Day

We partied so hard in fact that we slept in the next morning and missed our ferry in the morning…..oppps. This in the end spiralled us into the longest travel day ever in order to make it back to KL in time for our 6am flight back to Indonesia…….but soooooo worth spending Canada Day in Paradise.

OOO_Talia and Jonny