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Been There Done That
BY HOLIDAY GUIDES LAURA FERNANDO, GERALDINE TAN, CINDY TAN & AKIMA LI SHUO
Our Holiday Guides share their holiday experience in Langkawi
With eager and expectant hearts, a few of us from the Member Services team set off for idyllic Langkawi last October. We arrived on a bright and sunny day, just the perfect weather for the start of our three-day adventure around this tropical island. After clearing customs and immigrations, we arrived at the airport shuttle counter and booked a transfer to Perdana Beach Resort for a nominal fee.
Arriving at Perdana Beach Resort within 10 minutes, we were greeted warmly by the receptionist, who showed us to our spacious and cozy two-bedroom apartment. It came with a partial kitchen with cooking facilities, and the balcony offered a lovely view of the cool and inviting swimming pool.
With the receptionist’s help, we hired an 8-seater car and had a great time exploring the island. Driving around was a breeze as there are only a few roads to navigate and traffic was minimal.
Shopping is fun and quite a bargain on this duty-free island. You can find significantly cheaper duty-free items in Kuah Town, about 20 minutes’ drive from the resort. Shopping malls can also be found in Kuah Town such as Parade Megamall, Jetty Point and Langkawi Fairmall.
We visited Eagle Square, situated near the Kuah Jetty. Beautifully landscaped, it features a magnificent statue of an eagle, scenic ponds, bridges, terraces and restaurants.
Langkawi food is also fantastic! You can find eateries all over the island that will satisfy your palate. Besides fine dining options, check out any of the street bazaars for tasty local fare. The main bazaars can be found in downtown Kuah, while bazaars around Cenang and Black Sands Beach feature a variety of delicious Malay food at rock-bottom prices.
Another must is to catch a
bird’s-eye view of the island
by hopping into the Langkawi
Cable Car. A mere 15-minute
drive from the airport or 30
minutes f rom Kuah Town,
the cable car takes you on an
exhilarating journey to the peak of the mountain. From the viewing platform, we had a panoramic view of Langkawi’s magnificent islands, including the Andaman Sea and the lush green rainforest. The panorama was simply breathtaking!
If you love to relax and enjoy the sunshine, visit Tanjung Rhu beach or Datai Bay for their white sandy beaches. Cruises are also a great way for island-hoppers to explore the neighbouring islands. Visit the famous Pulau Payar Marine Park, which boasts a fascinating diversity of marine life and beautiful corals. It’s an ideal spot for swimming, diving or snorkelling.
For those wanting to catch a sight of exotic wildlife, you should head to Underwater World, Langkawi Wildlife Park or the Crocodile Farm. Adventure seekers can sign up for the elephant and horseback tours, and for the truly brave, there’s always the shark-feeding tours!
There’s so much to see and experience in this enchanting paradise. Why not make it your next holiday destination?
18 I MARCH-JUNE 2008