langkawi magazine
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Archipelago Offers Pleasure in Paradise
Malaysia is a veritable treasure trove of diverse peoples, brilliant scenery, unspoiled villages, and modern skylines. The country`s interesting potpourri of cultures – principally Malay, Chinese, and Indian–provides visitors with the opportunity to sample exotic cuisine and experience the diversity of the endless festivals on hand, of which the most well known are the Muslim Hari Raya Aidilfitri, celebrated after Ramadan, the Chinese Lunar New Year and the Indian Festival of Lights.
On the northwestern shore of Peninsular Malaysia, just off the coast of Perlis, lie the 99 islands collectively known as Langkawi. Nestled against a dramatic backdrop of mountains are ancient lakes and forests, waterfalls and beaches. Only three of the islands are inhabited: Langkawi, the largest and most developed, Bunting, and Tuba.
The archipelago still remains relatively undiscovered and its pristine rainforests, dating back millions of years, are untouched. Over the last two decades, due greatly to the vision of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Langkawi has made tremendous strides in transportation, communications, business, and tourism infrastructure. Following the establishment of the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) in 1990, the area benefited greatly from accelerated developments.
Datuk Zainal Karib Abdul Rahim, General Manager of LADA, sees protection of Langkawi's natural assets as part and parcel of all development. "It's important that we preserve the island`s habitat," Rahim states. "We want to position ourselves as a centre for seminars and conventions in eco-tourism." Mr. Rahim expects the number of foreign visitors to Langkawi to quadruple within the next three years.
Due to its proximity to Kuala Lumpur (only 50 minutes by plane), Langkawi is Malaysia's best asset in terms of top-class tourism. The Andaman Resort on Langkawi`s more exclusive north coast stands out among the island's luxury resorts.
As General Manager Leo Kushcher explains, "people appreciate the quiet and serenity of Andaman, as well as the private beach. We consider Datai Bay to be the best in the world compared with other top destinations such as Fiji and Jamaica. We are also the only hotel in Malaysia with two naturalists on the staff and we organize twice-daily nature walks, bird watching, and jungle trekking. Of course, some of our guests do not want to venture out of the hotel because the Andaman is so unique."
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