My first visit to Langkawi
I’m a firm supporter of Air Asia. Their holiday packages allow us mortals to enjoy vacations, which don’t require amputating an arm or a leg.
Just recently, thanks to my wife, we (4 other friends) made a short trip to this historical island named Langkawi. Langkawi is famous (more like infamy) for it’s Mahsuri tale. The island was previously unknown for the fact that legend has it, Mahsuri cursed it to be barren for the next 7 generations. Thankfully, it’s over now.
The plane journey was short and we arrived at Langkawi airport, only to be hounded by the numerous travel agents. Each offering a “better and cheaper” package. Our accomodations had already been arranged prior to the flight. Upon advice from other friends, who have made the trip, we decided that renting an Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) would be our best bet. The 2 guys decided on a Nissan Serena after the test-drive. It would cost us RM240 for a 3 day duration. The gas bill would be out of our own pocket. If you are planning on a 3day 2 night trip with moderate driving, I suggest keeping the tank half full only. We only used half of our RM110 full tank and were told the rest was not refundable.
We decided to head to Kuah town to stock up on supplies. Being a duty free zone, alcohol, ciggies and chocs were dirt cheap. The 2 other guys, who were conveniently smokers, went beserk. We had lunch ala Melayu (Malay-style) and then did a little sight-seeing. I stumbled upon a shop selling fragrances, which in my opinion were ultra cheap compared to other outlets and KL. If you are into fragrances, head on the RFA.
We then had a nice drive to Pantai Cenang, where our lodging Awana Porto Malai beckoned. There are many many places of interest you will pass along the way. Most of them nightlife spots. The staff at the check-in counter were most friendly and accomodating. We were told our rooms were in the smoking preference section, which had my wife and I grimacing. After viewing the rooms, we all decided to request for a room change. It was completed by the hotel staff with no fuss and under 30 minutes. Great stuff!
Our rooms had ocean front view. It’s great to wake up to the sea outside your balcony. After settling in, we headed over to Langkawi’s Underwater World. There were many displays of marine life here. Some even showcasing freshwater exotics. My personal favourite would be the prehistoric Nautilus (Google it) and Rock Hopper penguin exhibits. They had a 3D show, but I felt it lacked substance. After this, we went back to the hotel for some relaxation before dinner. 3 of the 6, me included, decided to test the pool. I’m glad to report that I still can cover the length of a pool underwater. However, I “killed” my eyes red due to the pool chlorine.
Dinner was at May Hiang, which specialized in seafood. We had lobster, crabs and other dishes. The bill was RM360+ for the 6 of us. Kinda pricy due to the lobster. The owner, Mr. Loh was very jovial and constantly dropped by our table to chit-chat. Wiht our stomachs full, we decided to tour the island. We drove to Telaga Harbour, which was poshy. Our ex-PM actually has a bakery named “The Loaf” here. Needless to say, we just took pictures around the area. That night, we slept under the soft lull of waves.
Day two started with a hearty breakfast provided by Awana. The spread was non too shabby. We then prepared for a tour of 3 destinations. It costs RM35 per person, but is sbjected to your bargaining skills. The jetty was only a 2 minute drive from our hotel. We boarded a boat and headed towards our first destination, Tasik Dayang Bunting, which roughly translates to Pregnant Maiden Lake. Legend has it that by drinking it’s mystical waters, a woman will conceive within a short period of time. Our guide joked with the guys to not drink the water. Leave it to the ladies.
Beware of the monkeys in this area though. They can be a little fiesty especially if you are carrying plastic bags. We had to trek up the hill to reach the lake. We were greeted by a jade-green lake with platforms extended from it’s shores. The adventurous jumped in without hesitation. Those who dislike getting wet can opt for the kayaks or solarized pedal boats, if you’re feeling sluggish. The water was nice and cooling after the trek. I was told the lake’s specialty was the catfish. Luckily I only found out about this after my swim.
We were given an hour at the lake before heading to our second destination, feeding the eagles. Sadly, I got the feeling that it’s been over-commercialized. We spent hardly 5 minutes there before being whisked off to Pantai Beras Basah (Wet Rice Beach). I still feel that the beaches in Redang Island were better in contrast. We spent about an hour clowning around and taking pictures. The highlight of this island was the beer drinking monkey. One of our friends decided to hand it his half-finished 100 Plus canned drink. The monkey took it and threw out the straw before emptying it’s contents down his throat. This signalled the end of our 3 hour tour.
We cleaned up and headed for lunch at Lan Kwai Fong Restaurant. Their set meals are worth it. After lunch, our next plan was to rest and relax. Someone suggested looking around for spa packages. We wasted a lot of time around Pantai Cenang area before heading to Kuah town. Here, we found the BEST spa nestled in a row of shoplots. I STRONGLY recommend this place to anyone looking for a wonderful and relaxing time. Wu Senses (5 senses) was headed by Eric, a really friendly chap, who is not only an experienced wellness practitioner but also a great person for Langkawi hot spots. Our service was First Class all the way. I really admire Eric and his dedicated staff for making us feel like kings and queens. 3 of us opted for the “Smell spa treatment”, which is a holistic approach for the ultimate relaxation. 1 decided to try out their facial package. My wife and I had the 30 minute leg massage, but wifey had another back and shoulder massage. We all left very very happy with the pampering received.
Next stop, Langkawi’s famous landmark. The giant eagle monument. Nothing much here except taking pictures. Stomachs growling, we dined at Champor-Champor. Eric highly recommended the Tom Yam and Chicken Escalope and we we had it. Wifey enjoyed the Tom Yam very much, which was rich and had lots of seafood in it. Not bad for a place featured in the Malaysian Tatler magazine. Eric dropped by just as we finished our meal for his nocturnal night cap. He had great plands for Wu Senses and we are looking forward to his updates. Our next activity was also suggested by Eric. Just opposite Champor-Champor is the beach. We were told to walk along the beach and lookout for lights on the beach. Here, we would find Babylon. During the daytime, this would be a watersports shop. At night, a section of the beach was enclosed with burning torches. Small tables and mats were laid out for the ultimate night picnic on the beach. Order drinks and chill out to the sounds of Bob Marley and such. Mind you, try to get there early to avoid disappointment. Too late and the main bar closes.
Our final day saw us heading towards Langkawi Geopark. At the foothill, we paid for our cablecar ride up to the observation posts. We were told the view was breathtaking. Getting over the initial horror of how steep the ride was, we were greeted with Langkawi island at our feet. The wind was absolutely devilish up there. Definitely not for the faint of heart and afraid of heights. We also had a chance to camwhore on the suspended bridge up there. Getting to it was a real pain though. The trek up and down the steps leave us gasping for breath. We ended the Geopark visit with a final call to the duty free shops. We had lunch at Sunday Bistro and Restaurant if only for their exquisite architecture. Due to time contraints, we had time for one more destination. We stopped by at Langkasuka Beach Resort to check out the rates and was pleasantly surprised by it’s beautiful beach front. The rates were definitely cheaper than Awana, but I have yet to benchmark it. Perhaps another time? It was then time to leave this beautiful island behind.
One thing I liked about Langkawi was the places of interest we could visit. We still haven’t covered the mangrove swamp, the caves and so many more. It’s very unlike Redang Island, where you were mostly confined to the resort you were at. 3d ays 2 nights were definitely insufficient to cover Langkawi, which is why we are planning a second raid!
That, my good readers, was my first impression of Langkawi. I fell in love with it. Wifey uploaded our photos and they can be viewed at:
