Driverless Cars

We know there are several companies in the world trying to develop driverless cars – at enormous cost, no doubt. Little do these organisations know that the technology already exists in Langkawi.

Is there really someone driving the car in front of me?

I spent a very pleasant couple of hours reading on the hotel’s quiet beach this morning. That is until the Russians arrived. Two families of 3 generations each plonked themselves down about 50 cm from my little oasis.So that was the end of that! Actually, their arrival probably did me a favour as I was feeling far too cushy and soporific and could well have spent the entire day there. But, as I have the use of friend Allan’s car (until he and his wife return from Oz later), I felt that more exploring was in order.

The northernmost tip of Langkawi is very unspoilt. A drive through lush tropical landscape complete with wandering cows, water buffalos and monkeys

brings you to Tanjun Rhu with its beautiful beach and stunning landscape.

I couldn’t help comparing this little bit of heaven with Ipanema and Copacabana beaches in Rio. Each has its place, of course but I know which I prefer.

Tannin Rhu is not totally isolated though. Round the corner in the lagoon there is a veritable flotilla of boats waiting to escort tourists to a whole host of destinations – mangrove swamps, bat caves(!) and the Cave of Legends where, apparently, some princess of China was held captive for some reason or another.

Considering it’s peak season now, the number of boats far outnumbered the tourists that I saw but maybe a few coaches were about to arrive.

And where you get tour boats and tourists you get food and drink stalls,

souvenir stands and lots and lots of hat sellers!

Hopefully this spot never gets overrun with humans. I will remember it as an unspoilt, idyllic piece of paradise.

On the way back to the hotel I had a bit of a reality check when, bizarrely, I passed this.

I really should have stopped and asked whatever induced the owner to give this place, situated on a tropical island in the middle of the Andaman Sea, such a name. Now I will never know.

As my daughter, Bobs, is arriving tomorrow morning and all the hotels here are fully booked, Allan has not only lent me his car but also a two bedroom apartment he and his wife own. So I have now checked out of my hotel and am installed on the 10th floor of an apartment block in Kuah, the capital of Langkawi with a fine view over the bay towards to the marina