langkawi magazine
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OMG! READ THIS PLEASE!!!
Sorry for the title but i really need to do this to let you know something.Langkawi is Kedah's state's most prized possession. Previously it was a hideout for pirates, but now it is a hideout place for tourist who wants to get away with the hustle and bustle of city life.
This is what you can imagine in your mind before you get there: blue sky, blue waters, peaceful, clean and quiet. Trust me and your imagination will come true when you step a foot there.
Tun Dr.Mahathir Mohammed, who was my country's previous Prime Minister, was the strong figure that helped developed this place. He turned this isolated paddy field into a place, a haven specially created to attract tourists to combat the Economical Crisis in Malaysia.
Last year my dad went to Langkawi with my mom and I was left behind back home because of my stupid exams. When he came back, he showed me some pictures and I was jealous. So, I decided to bug him every single day to ask him to take me there when I'm having my holidays.
I told him I really need this vacation because I'm studying hard every single day, and I'm getting more and more depressed, bored and confused every single day without having a break. Last month, my wish came true. Thanks to my dad. This vacation was done specially for me. I'll start here.
I'm not keen on histories, but if you want to read about Langkawi's, please go to http://www.langkawi-info.com/info/legends.htm
Important things to bring along? I suggest Camera, Fishing Rod, Swimming attires, and of course, cash and yourself.
LOCATION:
North West of Malaysia, on the Straits of Malacca.
GEOGRAPHICAL LANDSCAPE:
Mountainous, Island, Flatlands (Paddy Field Plantation), has many other smaller islands around it.
HOW TO GET THERE:
Due to the ever good ties and relation with our ex-conqueror(England), Malaysia Airlines and the British Tourism Board had agreed to promote this place, thus creating a direct flight way. There are many ways of getting there :
Direct flights from London Heathrow Airport to Langkawi International Airport, orDirect flights from London to Kuala Lumpur, transiting through Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi, or, Direct flights from London to Singapore, transiting through Singapore to Langkawi, or, Domestic flights from Penang to Langkawi.
Airline services provided by Malaysia Airlines or Air Asia (budget airline). Air Asia only provides domestic flights and costs around more or less 10GBP. I took my flight from Penang and it only takes about 25 minutes to reach Langkawi.
Domestically, you can also take the Ferry or Boat services from mainland Kedah or Penang Island (south of Langkawi, 2 hours boat ride away)
PEOPLE:
Population consists of around 80% Malays and 10% Chinese and 10% other races.
DENSITY: Scarce, with a population around 100,000.
VISITED: Mostly British and French tourists.
CURRENCY: Ringgit Malaysia (Malaysian Ringgit) 1GBP = 7RM (at the moment, 25 June 2004)
WEATHER:
Around 25-35 degrees Celsius. High Humidity. The weather changes very fast, that at one minute the sun will shine brightly and the next minute, it's raining! It will usually be sunny most of the time (good for tanning your skin), but sometimes cloudy.
MOVING AROUND:
When I reached the airport, I was greeted by many people, each and every one of them from various rent-a-car companies. You'll be given a map of the Island, which shows places of attractions.You'll also be able to notice a whole long stretch of booths while you are collecting your luggage. Tips: Haggle the price if you want to rent a vehicle because they are hungry and desperate for business! they will settle on what you recommend. I recommend that you should rent a car, as it is very, very cheap for you to be able to move around the island. Taxis are not advisable. My dad rented a car, which is the Nissan Sentra 1.6, costs him about 20GBP a day. There are many other choices, ranging from the very cheap motorcycle and budget car to the large van or Mercedes-Benz, even Ferrari!!. If you want to save, rent a Perodua Nippa at only 10GBP a day! Petrol is not provided so you'll have to fill in the tank yourself. Don't worry about traffic because there's no speed limit or policemen on the road to summon you. The number of cars is also somewhat low.
ACCOMODATION:
My dad drove us to the Berjaya Beach & Spa Resort. This is one of the 20 beautiful hotels over there. I had a shock when I reached the hotel 20 minutes later..chalet style!,my style! This hotel has as many as a thousands individual houses! Lining up from the coastline to the jungle and to the top of the hill!. To get to your room, you'll need to take a small cabby, which is quite fast and punctual on call. I stayed next to the spa, which is quite far from the lobby. The cabby service is 24 hours and there are no extra charges. On your doorstep, you'll be greeted by lush green forests! Monkeys are everywhere to greet you too and they may even be your unwelcome guest. The hotel management advised us to lock the windows to prevent them from ransacking your room while you're not around. There's even more. Red Ants! Don't worry, once you lock you doors and windows, nothing will come in. The hotel also do provide aerosol sprays and mosquitoes repellants. You can't complain much you see-you-ve just consented staying by the beach near the jungle. There's even a torch light provided in the cupboards for you to use it at sight squirrels or snakes during the night or to watch crabs running here and there on the beach. I don't know how much did the room costs because my dad did earlier bookings by using his Berjaya Vacation membership card. You can have a drink in your room, at the lobby bar, by the pool, by the beach or simply in one of the restaurants. The foods are cheap and the prices are reasonable. Fish & Chips will cost you 3GBP. I basically love this hotel because the service is good and the place is big, very environmental friendly and it's just above my expectation. If you like luxury, i recommend the Datai Bay Hotel.
FOOD:
Due to the fact that most of the people there are Malays, Chinese or Indian foods are difficult to be found. You'll have to drive a long way in order to feast on these foods. But if you like Malay food, you can just drop by any local shop nearest to you. Most foods are seafood, and for those who are allergic to seafood, I'm sorry but I'll have to tell you that you'll need to eat plain rice. Roadside stalls will also sell the famous local delicacies: dried squids and cashew nuts!
If your butt's too lazy, you can always have your meal at fine dining restaurants or coffee houses in the hotels. If you can't eat Asian food, there's always western food for you. They have the cheap, the delicious, the expensive and also the lousy ones. Haha!
INTERESTING PLACES TO GO:
Bird Park - You'll find hundreds of species of birds there. Located somewhere in near the jungle, just to give the birds a natural feel of their habitat.
Underwater World Langkawi - Not as prestigious as the one in Singapore but it's considered by many to be good in a small island like that. There are thousands of various species of fish ranging from freshwater, to salt water and some mammals too. The penguinarium, located next to the underwater world however is still under construction. Darn it! I was so eager to see a penguin as I have never seen it before. What a disappointment! Once you are outside, you'll find lots and lots of duty-free products. Seems to me that duty-free shops are just everywhere, growing like mushrooms!
The Muzuim Perdana ( Prime Museum) - This museum is one of the best ever museums I've ever seen. Located deep inside the jungle(to protect the properties), this museum showcases all of the gifts and awards from All leaders of the world to the Malaysian Prime Minister. My Prime Minister really treasures all the gifts from leaders and he never uses it, even if it was a plate or cup.
A day wasn't enough for me to actually see everything. Entrance fee is only 40pence and no cameras are allowed. Even if you were allowed to bring your camera in, you'll never be able to fit every single picture of the properties in there. The building consists of 3 annexes, with one newly built with beautiful Islamic architecture and interior.
Oriental Village - Located just near the Berjaya Resort & Spa Hotel and Burau Bay Resort, is a small village filled with souvenir shops, lake, restaurants, and of course, the famous cable car ride! The cable car ride costs only about 2GBP. It takes you up to the highest peak of the mountain! The ride itself is fun and silent. The cable car moves quite fast and you'll be able to experience your ears getting pressure blocked in no time! The only thing you'll be able to hear are the winds blowing. You'll reach a peak where it is as high as you can see the eagles fly! There will be 2 platforms to stop at to take some pictures. You can stop at one, and proceed to the next one whenever you like. It's most advisable to be there early, because the queue will be long most of the time. You'll also be able to feel the mist during the mornings and afternoons. When it gets late, more and more people will come and you'll somehow find the platforms at the peak a little crowded. At the peak, you'll be able to have a 360 Degrees view of the Hotel, sea, and most parts of the island. You'll also be able to see another construction work which is going on nearby. I'll advise you to bring along your camera. Rentals of binoculars and photo shooting services are available. There's also food for the hungry stomach. Once you come down, you'll be greeted with even more souvenirs. Just make sure you don't vomit while you're coming down, especially after eating.
Air Telaga Tujuh (The Seven Wells Waterfall) - You'll be able to see it once you are up in the sky (by cable car). It is just right next to oriental village. And to get there, yeah, you've guessed it, you'll have to walk. There's no escalators. My dad told me that he actually walked up all the steps on his previous visits to get there. He even asked me if I would want to join him again. Well, I told him no. I hate climbing up steps. Moreover, during the time of my visit, there was no water coming down from the waterfall. I don't know why this occurred. Maybe someone must have drunk up all the water due to the thirst after climbing up all the way. Don't worry, most of the time there is water, according to my dad.(whos been there 3 times)But from my imagination, standing there would be a great pleasure. You can give yourself an exercise there if you want to.
The Crocodile Farm - I haven't been there. I did not want to because my instincts and assumption tells me that the name `Crocodile Farm` is just a normal crocodile farm like anywhere else. Nothing outstanding or whatsoever, unless you can show me a giant crocodile like the one in the movie `Hook`.
Porto Malai (Malai Port) - Not the port which you drink, but the port where boats and ships dock. At the port, there are many restaurants and a hotel (Awana) and of course, you'll be able to see many various fish in the sea. Feeding time is set by the restaurants at 6.30 p.m and you'll be able to participate in it.
Petronas Quay - Sponsored and built solely by Petronas(National Petroleum), is a port where lots of big yatches comes to dock. If you have one, why not sign up for membership and you can show off your yatch? I think this is the only private place where you can actually do your fishing. This was where I actually spent my time watching F1 (Barcelona) race, whereby among my favourite teams were the Sauber~Petronas and Ferrari team.
The Lighthouse - Located just near the Petronas Quay. I can actually see from afar that there was an eating spot right below and around it during the evening.
The Summer Place - the place where once said to be the filming of the show 'Anna and the King'. I wasn't allowed to enter there because the whole area was under construction.
Eagle Square - Go snap a picture with Langkawi's most recognizable icon - The Eagle Statue. Located right at the middle of the square and beside the beach, this is one of the most famous tourist's attractions. The eagle statue stands at around 20metres high and the pose of it is 'lifting off from the perching branch'. I took a snap of it but somehow later sorta figured it out that the wings are not proportionate compared to the size of the body. Please bring along an umbrella if you are visiting it in the afternoon. I ran all the way there to take a photograph and then run back under the shade cos' the sunny rays are burning me. Located near it is a shopping small complex, with even more duty-free shops.
Island Hopping
For a few Pounds, you can go island hopping on a boat. Get in to your swimming attires and wear you're the safety jackets. Hop on the boat and embrace yourself. You'll be able to visit:
Pulau Tuba - just mountains
Pulau Bumbon - a lonely, quiet and small island
Pulau Dayang Bunting - Also known as Isle of Pregnant Maiden. Its legend says that there's a lake with a special magic whereby if you dip yourself in it, your chances of being fertile is high. Guys...dare to try?
Pulau Payar - This island has clear waters and this is where you can actually see underwater life on the boat.
Pulau Singa Besar - quite far away, a place for wildlife
THE BEACH
This is the best and this is what you're actually here for. Undoubtly this is the undisputed king of all attractions. There are many beautiful beaches, mainly, Pantai (Beach) Kok, pantai Cenang, pantai Tengah, pantai Pasir Hitam(Black Sand beach) and teluk Datai. Beaches at hotels are not named but it is just as good as those named.
Overview:
Pantai Cenang - where you find underwater world and Laman Padi, where you can learn about my country's staple food.
Pantai Kok - where you find Telaga Tujuh and Oriental Village
Pantai Tengah - near Airport, nothing interesting
Pantai Pasir Hitam - where you'll find a pathetic Cement factory beside it. The beach has somewhat special black sands, unlike any other beaches which has only white fine sands.
Teluk Datai - crocodile farm, craft centre and Datai Hotel. I didn't go to Tanjung Rhu.
The beach is where you can find it most relaxing to read your book, get a tan and just simply wade in the waves. You can fish the whole day by the beach if you'd like too. And for those who like to eat crabs, make your own crab trap. Crabs sightings are impossible to be missed as they come out to walk on the sand day and night. You won't be selling seashells at the seashore cos' you'll be the one picking it. There's even an extra..dead corals or barnacle shells lying on the beach. You'll be lucky to find some live clams-when you have enough, throw in your own BBQ.ah! i'm sure Europeans would love to see the beach. My friend, Victoria from England says she loves this place!
ACTIVITIES YOU CAN INDULGE IN: Jungle Trekking - Bring along a compass
Hiking, - I can't do it.
Bicycling, - rent-a-bike
Swimming, - in the sea or hotel swimming pool. Jacuzzi included
Beach Volleyball, - challenge your other friends and family members
Kayaking, - by rental
Boating,- by rental
All these mentioned above are provided by the hotels.
Extra; - Fishing, - Free. You'll need to get your own baits. Leisure driving.Beer drinking competition. - but you'll have to organize it yourself. BBQ by the beach.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
This Island is a duty-free island. Products- ranging from Alcoholic Drinks to Cigarettes to Cigars to Cookware to Local Products and the lists goes on. Price of Beers are very cheap (less than 18pence a can, I got myself a six-pack, but lost my six-pack on my tummy later), and a box of Davidoff (pack of 10) cigarette at 8GBP.
Corning wares and Pyrex glasses from 3GBP onwards. I definitely love the place for it's cheap liquer. I got myself a 20cl Famous Grouse at 1GBP, 12YO Bowmore Whisky at 11GBP, Johnnie Walker Gold Label at 20GBP, Bailey's 1Litre at 6GBP, miniature 1987 Vintage Famous Grouse at 1.50GBP and miniature 21YO Bowmore at 1.80GBP. For those who want to see wildlife, there's lots of domestic animals to see too, - eagles, deers, goats, giant water buffaloes, goose, ducks, monkeys and etc.
DISADVANTAGES:
There's hardly nightlife there. The reason behind this is because, Malaysia is an Islamic country, and the people in Langkawi are mostly Malays, Islam prohibits drinking but I've seen with my own eyes that they do consume alcohol. The duty-free system is mainly made to actually attract tourists, but they somehow forgot to build more pubs and discos.
The surroundings of the Island are dark and not well lit during the night. You'll have to turn the High Lights on while you are driving and beware of animals crossing. Mosquitoes might be a problem but to get away with it, use a mosquitoes repellant of just simply doze off by the beach. (Not recommended for those who are afraid of crabs)I heard there are many but I didn't gave any blood donation because the mosquitoes just weren't there. Maybe it's because I went at the right time and it's just not their season to come out.
The city itself is quite dull, but try not to expect the best as it is still a Third World Country's Island. There's no MNG or Prada or Versace. However, I'm still proud of my home country to be able to have such a beautiful place like this
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Langkawi is not only famous for all those mentioned above, but also famous for its 'Air Gamat' (Gamat Oil). It is a medication used by the locals to cure most illness since hundreds of years ago. Gamat is so widely sold you can even find a stall selling it by the side of the road right in the middle of the jungle! You can purchase a bottle or two to try it on yourself. I'm not really sure how to apply it or how it works. Guess what? It's made of some kind of species of STARFISH. Yup, starfish-with various herbs. Last two weeks, it was announced on the local news that the species of starfish no longer appear around Langkawi. I guess this is the end for their Gamat Oil business. The locals better pray for the starfishes to come back or else.. I suggest cloning
Before you'll leave, it's definite that you'll be seeing one last famous thing - The large portrait of `Mahsuri`(The sole famous legendary girl of Langkawi) at the airport.
It's time for me to say bye-bye after being there for 4 days. I wish I could go there again anytime soon, but my final exams just wouldn't allow me to. I'll be in the UK to further my studies after my exam. Anyway, I hope to go there maybe in the next few years, after I have completed my studies. The memories however, will still remain in my mind..
Other local Islands which could actually give Langkawi a big challenge are Pangkor and Tioman.
Thanks to my dad, I was able to see all this and experienced it myself. His idea to rent the car was great and I drove around the whole island with it. Around the WHOLE ISLAND!. He made all these possible for me. The people are friendly, what more if you could speak their language? I can. The place is clean and I'll definitely be back for more of it. Now i'm already dreaming....me, sitting on a bench, above a yatch, under the sun, drinking my favourite cognac, near the coast.
Best time to go? NOW. I mean anytime, whole year round....
Thanks for reading. Ken.
For information & booking visit www.langkawi-insider.com
Langkawi 25/06/04
