Day 9.
It appears that the Malays like nothing better than to have a bit of a laugh. I know it's sleepy season here right now and the hotels are all under-occupied, other than those that specifically cater for the Arabs (who have their holiday at the moment so I'm told). From the unused bar and kitchen in this wonderful resort comes hours and hours of fun and laughter... No sign of the boss, then.
This light-hearted approach to work (and I think I'd be laughing all day if I also had as little to do) makes the Temple Tree Resort a very pleasant place to be. But as well as the 'off-season'-happy staff, it is the very buildings themselves that make this a truly magical place. Each 'house' is exactly that -an antique from the region that represents a lost time, be it stilted village, stalwart colonial, 19th-century Chinese and migrant Indian cottages. Each is tastefully decorated with large pieces of furniture that seem to be antiques. The whole feel of the place is of a relaxed live-in museum.
And then there's the animals. Muslims are not renowned as great dog lovers, but there are several here -several dozen, that is- cared for by the Langkawi Animal Shelter and Sanctuary Foundation (LASSie). They have also taken in as many cats. These roam free, sometimes plopping in through the window of guest's apartments: we had three of them happily ensconced during most of the day.
So everything seems to be quite tickety-boo! The food's excellent, the service is pleasant and helpful (they rushed to provide gluten-free bread for us when we merely mentioned it in passing) and the view of Mat Cincang Mountain range whilst sitting alongside the 100 ft pool tops it off nicely.
Flies in the ointment? The (admittedly free wi-fi) connection speed is rubbish and flies -there are are quite a few of them. Around the pool. As I write. Pesky varmints!
