ONCE considered a cursed island, with a legend that dates hundreds of years, Langkawi today has become a prosperous archipelago that is a hit with tourists.
Not having been there before, I jumped at the opportunity when I was offered the trip to the island.
During the special media familiarisation trip hosted by Firefly and FTZ Travel and Tours Sdn Bhd, members of the media were given an insight into an eco-tourism holiday for nature lovers.
As soon as we landed at the Langkawi International Airport, we were greeted by a smiling tour guide, who preferred to be known as Jack.
On our ride back to the hotel, Jack enlightened us about the place that is Langkawi.
“Langkawi is made up of 99 recognised islands, however, when the tide is high some of the islands appear to be split so locals say there are 104. All 99 islands have been accorded World Geopark status by Unesco,” he said.
Three of Langkawi Geopark’s main conservation areas are Machincang Cambrian Geoforest Park, Kilim Karst Geoforest Park and Dayang Bunting Marble Geoforest park (Island of the Pregnant Maiden Lake).
Each island formation is unique in its own way with different rock formation, wildlife, mangrove swamps and ocean lifeforms, making Langkawi the ideal place for eco-tourism.
StarMetro highlights some of the must-see places in Langkawi.
Island hopping
One of the more popular things to do in Langkawi is island hopping and if you think you will get your regular sun, sand and beach, think again.
Jack is more of a conservationist than a tour guide. He has information at his fingertips that will make your eyes grow wide with wonder.
As he took us to three islands, he explained the various rock formations and history pertaining to each island. Our first stop was Pulau Dayang Bunting (the Pregnant Maiden Lake).
A view to remember: The Skybridge is a great place to enjoy the view of Langkawi. This is also where the Hindi movie Don was filmed.
“Legend has it that a childless couple sought the blessing of the maiden for a child. They soon heard a voice asking them to take home the water from the lake to drink,” said Jack.
The wife soon became pregnant and soon the word spread around. Today, thousands visit the freshwater lake that is separated from the seawater by a very narrow rock wall.
However, the water is quite deep and swimming is advisable for good swimmers only. On the way to the lake, beware of the monkeys that target open bags and plastic bags in their search for food.
Next on the list was Pulau Singa Besar, a popular spot to watch eagle feeding. Jack tries as hard as possible to ensure we can enjoy the magnificent view of the birds swooping down without feeding them chicken fat.
“Feeding them will change their natural habits and make them lazy. It will cause them to turn up only during feeding time. It will alter the entire eco-system,” said Jack.
The last island we visited was Pulau Beras Basah, which got its name from the white sandy beaches that look like wet rice grains. The island is privately-owned but the Langkawi Development Authority has allowed the use of the island for tourists.
Cable car ride
Having a fear of heights, I was not enthusiastic about my first cable car ride but after my first experience, I must say the view is spectacular albeit a little scary.
Panoramic Langkawi is located on the southwestern coast of Langkawi Island, and is just a 40-minute drive from Kuah town and a 20-minute drive from Langkawi International Airport.
Operated by Panorama Langkawi Sdn Bhd, the cable car ride will bring visitors all the way up to about 708m above sea level.
The whole journey covers a distance of 2.2km — from the base station at the foothill of Machinchang mountain to the topmost station at the mountain summit.
Once up there, the view is breathtaking and Bollywood fans can trek up a flight of stairs to walk on the Skybridge where the Hindi movie Don featuring Shah Rukh Khan was filmed.
Measuring 125m in length, this structure ranks among the world’s longest curved pedestrian bridges. The structure is designed to swing out over the landscape to give visitors a unique spatial experience.
Inching up: The Langkawi cable car ride is an exhilarating experience.
Food
Eating around Langkawi Island can be an enjoyable experience with a wide range of culinary experiences. Langkawi can be considered the melting pot of the north as it is home to the Malays, Chinese, Indians and Malaysians of Siamese descent.
During our trip there, we were brought to an Indonesian restaurant, Minang Pelangi serving Nasi Padang by Indonesian Chef Bayutc from Jakarta.
Bayu as he prefers to be called, serves famous dishes like the sayur gulai pucuk ubi and soft tasty bergedil made from potatoes.
The ayam goreng bumbu is also a must-try, as is the sos udang padang.
Minang Pelangi is open from 11am to 11pm and can be contacted at 04-967 2788.
Memorable end to the day: Enjoy the romantic view from the Sunset Cruise.
Cruise
A little romance never hurt anyone especially those on a holiday and a sunset cruise is the perfect answer for an indulgent night out.
Tropical Charters Sdn Bhd provides interesting sunset cruises complete with food, free flow of drinks and a seawater jacuzzi.
The cruise sets off at 5pm from the jetty near Pantai Tengah and goes around the islands before sailing back by 8pm.
About 65 guests can fit comfortably on board the Seasation. While enjoying the sunset, the crew on board will drop a net into the sea. Guests can also enjoy the seawater jacuzzi during the cruise.
The sunset cruise costs RM300 per passenger while the day cruise is RM360 per person. For details, visit www.tropicalcharters.com.my or call 04-955 3407.
Mangroves
The Kilim Geoforest Park is an ideal location to see a number of things at once. One of the many Geo Parks in Langkawi, this island surrounded by mangroves is a must-see for nature lovers.
A boat ride can be taken from the Kilim jetty and packages depending on the number of passengers or per boat are readily available. The tour packages can be for an hour or two or even more for the avid adventure lovers.
The boat ride takes you along the silent mangrove, giving tourists a glimpse of the quiet jungle filled with interesting sea creatures such as crabs.
From there, Jack took us to Pak Su Bakar’s fish farm where each media member had the opportunity to play with some interesting species like the Archer fish that spits water on still targets and the gentle sting ray.
Another attraction at the mangrove tour was the Bat Cave with interesting stalagmite formations.
Firefly
Langkawi is one hour and 15 minutes away by flight from Subang airport. There are three flights daily from Subang and two daily flights between Penang and Langkawi. The airline has also got code share agreements with Malaysia Airlines on all of these flights. This agreement is especially catered to offer more travel options in terms of better fares and flight timings, for tourists abroad that are on transit in Kuala Lumpur International Airport. For details, visit www.firefly.com.my
For information on FTZ Travel and Tour, visit www.ftz.com.my or call 04-966 3515.
~News courtesy of The Star~
