More than a little foot sore and still tending to a myriad of insect bites collected in the jungles of Borneo, I have taken to a sun bed and a good book (Haruki Murakami's, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle) on a tranquil, white sand beach on the island of Langkawi off Malaysia's north west coast. With the trials, pleasures and at times, soreness of jungle life now well behind me, I have gratefully allowed the magic of island life to settle over me like a veil. Each day has a tranquillity and timelessness about it, that evokes a calmness I believe can only be attained on a quiet beach in the tropics. It is in this state of being that I divide days between the wonderfully complex world of Murakami, floating aimlessly in the impossibly aquamarine waters of the bay surrounding my chalet (I have commissioned simply furnished accommodation over the water) and a small but suitably appointed bar situated on the fringes of the beach. As the sun and sea meet at dusk, and the evening light turns to a warm slate grey, I deliberate carefully on the list of libations and settle on a tipple that perfectly captures the moment... a Vodka (Reyka by preference) with crushed lime and mint served over shaved ice...marvellously refreshing with a long finish that takes you into the night.
