Winning Strategies

Breakfast with a View

Today we leave the island of Langkawi and retreat to Singapore where we will spend the remainder of our trip.  We have enjoyed the laid back nature of the island as much as we have enjoyed the scenery.

As we stare out the window of the fabulous Tide Restaurant  where we had breakfast daily, we are silently absorbing the view and reflecting on our fun holiday in Langkawi.

The Westin property is beautiful, the staff is curteous and gracious and the amenities are supurb.  We feel spoiled, relaxed, and content as we check out of the hotel and head to the airport to fly back to Sinapore.  The weather is warm and balmy today.  We have escaped rain the entire time we have been here on the island except for a quick rain shower one night after dark.

The weather cooperated, and the luxurious resort did the rest.  Thank you to the staff and management at the Westin Langkawi Resort and Spa for providing us a fabulous time!

We enjoyed our stay!  We would highly recommend it.

 

Link to the Tide Restaurant:  http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/photos/index.html?propertyID=283#photo_section_5Link

Writing to My Heart's Content

I settle myself into a beach chair on Payar Island and begin to passionately commit my ideas to paper.  Here, I have escapted the 'real world' and I live in an environment where I have nothing to do but eat, sleep, and write (to me, that is heaven).  I push the problems of the world out of my thoughts and I delve into the world of personal branding.  This has been a fun book to write.  It has felt a lot less laborious than my other two books.

I am passionate about branding.  It is evident as the words rush out, splattering onto the paper with a velocity that I didn't expect.  I could finish this book much faster than I had planned. 

Life takes on interesting courses and path redirections that we don't expect.  We plummet into difficulties with our kids, health issues, and an assortment of life's surprises.  I bury my thoughts and my time into the words on the paper in front of me: concentrating only ont he words and the waves splashing onto the beach beyond me.

I hope that you find time to explore the passions that you have.  I hope that you able to 'excape' the world, if only for a moment, while you pursue your passions.

I'm begging you to try!  

 The next time you hear from me, I will be checking into the St Regis Hotel in Singapore.  I'll update you soon.

Monkeying Around

The day started out with a walk on the beach by the resort.    I noticed movement in a tree ahead of me and quickly spotted monkeys playing in the trees.  They were everywhere.  We saw several momma monkeys carrying their babies and varying shapes and sizes of monkeys running down the beach, sitting on the roof of the spa, and jumping from branch to branch of the trees.

It was entertaining to watch.   The monkeys were having a blast.  Now I know why parents always say, "quit monkeying around".  Monkeys certainly have a way about them.  They tease and taunt each other.  They slap at each other and play chase.  They swing from the branches of the trees and run up and down the beach.  It was like watching a room full of school age children, left alone without the teacher to watch over them.  How fun!

 

 

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Watch them run down the beach in this video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEcftGFWXts

Next time I use the phrase, "Quit monkeying around", I'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

 

Beachin it in Langkawi

The Westin Resort property in Langkawi is beautiful.  It covers a spacious area of beach, with up close and personal views of neighboring islands.  We sauntered down the beach and discover the Spa, nestled away on the edge of the property.  Encircling the Spa is more beach and comfortable beach chairs that beg you to fall into them, to relax and enjoy the view.

 
Today we plan to take a boat to one of those neighboring islands and feed baby sharks, snorkel, and discover the fish life that reside under the ocean.  We've been told that the water is clear and the views under the water simply amazing.

Here I meet more women from Saudi Arabia than I have ever had an opportunity to meet.  Their culture and ways are different than anything that I've been exposed to in the United States and my curious is peaked.  We take photos for a family at the beach, and I'm struck by the garb that the women wear out in public.  The beach weather here is quite warm, and the clothing seems hot and heavy.

I wonder what life is like for these women and the purpose and cultural drivers of their land.  Many questions enter my mind as I watch them interact with their husbands and children and my compassion pours out for them.

When one is half way around the world from where they live, you realize how big the world is.  It seems full of people and lands, full of places and things to discover.  The world, from here, seems big.  The big beautiful world has more for us to discover, more for us to see, and off we will go on more adventures.

Continue following along my vicarious travelers, we will venture on to the next adventure.

Scaling to New Heights- On top of the world on a bridge in Malaysia

We rented a car and driver to sightsee and get a look around the island of Langkawi, Malaysia.  The driver would be our guide to a day of activities and sightseeing.

We stopped off at a waterfall, hiking towards the sound of rushing water until it came into full view.   The path was molded out of cement with steps inlaid ascending up the mountain.  We reached the pinnacle of our climb after only about 15 minutes, in full view of a the waterfall.

The hike out was just as enjoyable.  We passed by others on the trek to the waterfall, the cool refreshing water, and the incredible view.

Our next stop was the cable cars that ascend high up the mountaintop.  Located at the last stop on the cable car is a bridge inbetween the mountains.  The bridge  appears to be hanging from the clouds.  The views are hard to describe, the scene breathtaking.  We walk across the bridge, each new corner revealing a new and different scenery.  We are in awe of the view and the height.  It feels a bit like walking on the wings of an airplane (not that I've tried that).

We stop to take pictures for others on the bridge and meet a host of other vacationers, many from Saudi Arabia, and some from Kuala Lumpar, the capital of Malaysia.  We pose for a picture with a group of travelers from KL.

 
 
At the base of the Cable Cars we find a small village of stores, restaurants, and attractions.  Michael poses with a snake that I absolutely refuse to even touch (I hate snakes!).  It slithers across his hands and shoulders and I shudder just watching the slimy creature on his neck and arms (yuk).  We watch a group of guys from the UK all pose with the snake, many of them quaking in their shoes before and after the picture is snapped, somehow gathering a bit of bravery for the second that the photo is taken.  Laugh!

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We end another day in paradise, enjoying our activities and a chance to explore a new land.  Where have you decided to go?  Follow us, we are not done exploring the island. 

  

 

Unplugged in a Cozy Villa in Langkawi

I settle into a beautiful villa at the Westin in Langkawi.  It's dreamy and relaxing.  The manager's note was "to enjoy a refreshing stay" and that I certainly plan to do.

 

 
  

There is always a period of adjustment when one arrives at their destination overseas.  I enjoy exploring locations, people, and customs.  I like seeing new lands and discovering the legends and stories that make up a location.

The money here is called the Maylasia Ringgit (MYR).  The exchange rate here in Langkawi is currently 1  US dollar gives you 3.02 Ringgits.  1 Euro gets you 4.35 Ringgits.  We exchange some money and begin mentally converting the monetary expenses as we incur them to our native dollar.

The resort is loaded with people of all nationalities.  We hear numerous languanges and meet people from an assortment of countries.  Many muslim women are here,  women covered from head to toe in black robes, hair coverings and a black material covering their entire face except for a slit for their eyes.

I 'unplug' and mentally disconnect myself from the hurried, busy, scheduled life that I live.  It takes about 3 days to unwind and leave the stresses of life behind.  My mind wanders to many of the executives that I know and the busy and hectic lives that htey lead.  I wish I could help them to 'arrive' at this mental place of peace, harmony, and relaxation.  It takes discipline to tear yourself away from your job and responsibilities and force yourself to stop and relax.

It is good for the soul and great for your health.  Why do we rush through life, not scheduling breaks and forgetting to feed our souls?  Make a plan today.  Schedule a 'pause' in the dayplanner for your life.  You won't regret it.

 

We Arrive in Langkawi, Mayalsia

We caught a flight on Malaysian Air from Singapore to Langkawi. The weather today is amazing, mid 80s. We arrive at the Westin Langkawi Resort, ready to rest from the blur of travel this week.

The Westin Langkawi Resort ( http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=283 ) is located only 2 kilometers from the town of Langkawi. We check in and get our room keys, ready to explore the beauty and splendor of the resort.

I change into a swimsuit and run for the pool/beach. Here is the view from my beach chair.
 

And an airial view of where I'm sitting (to give you perspective):

 


From my beach chair, I am exploring the island from my blackberry, reading up on the words and wisdom of a blogger that has spent a month traveling around Langkawi.  His blog can be found at:  http://langkawitravelblogger.blogspot.com/    Hopefully, he can give us some ideas for our adventure.  Follow along, we will go many places this week.  

Langkawi Malaysia Travel Destination

We are readying for a trip to Singapore and Maylasia.  In Maylasia, we plan to stay on the beaches of Langkawi. 

Langkawi Island is a member of a  large chain of 99 islands in the Andaman Sea, about 18 miles off the coast of northwest Malaysia. The islands are adjacent to the Thai border. By far the largest of the islands in the chain is Langkawi with a population of about 45000, the only other inhabited island is near Pulau Tuba.

It is exciting to think about escaping a bit of reality and delving into the culture, people, food, and tempo of a new place.  It is exhillerating to excape work and responsibilities and dive deep into the waters of life away from work and kids.

On our travels, we plan to spend a few days in Sinapore, exploring the land and culture, then travel by plane to Maylasia where we will soak in the sun on the beaches of Langkawi.  I don't leave for a week and a half, yet my suitcase is in the beginning stages of readiness and my mind is often drifting into dreamland.  I'm full of expectation and excitement as we think about the beginning of our journey.

Are you dreaming of vacation?  Nothing happens without a plan.  Make a plan, set a date, and begin to turn your dreams into a reality.  I know you can do it.