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� Background � Legends � Kuah Town � Getting There �
� Sightseeing � Beaches � Islands � Travel Tips & Weather �
Pulau Langkawi's landscape is
painted with marbled mountains, vast paddy fields and rural villages,
miles and miles of white sandy beaches, secret caves, and pockets of
virgin rainforests dating back millions of years.
Visitors to Langkawi may be caught off-guard by its rusticity and slow
pace
of life. Most of its inhabitants still retain their traditional ways of
living -
fishing and cultivating their hard-earned harvest from the ground.
Old Langkawi was characterised by padi (rice) fields and kampung
(village)
style living, a laidback atmosphere, bullock carts and dirt roads.
Tourism is the main industry for the people of Langkawi and has been
for the past decade or so, The sea remains a healthy source of income
for
local fishermen. In pockets of local fishing communities one can still
find the
age-old cottage industry of harvesting, drying and processing of sea
cucumbers into a balsamic oil (gamat) for all sorts of minor ailment.
Langkawi was said to have been used as a hideout by pirates in the days
of yore and with so many uninhabited small islands located so close to
each
other, it is easy to imagine why.
Langkawi today boasts modern amenities and infrastructure while still
retaining its traditional values. World class resorts and golf courses
have been built alongside more traditional rest houses. Direct flights,
a new Marina and fast ferry services have improved communications,
making the
island one of Malaysia's premier destinations.
Click on the highlights for
more info
LEGENDS
As legendary as the beauty of Langkawi are the mysterious legends and
myths of ogres and giant birds, warriors, wronged maidens and fairy
princesses. Langkawi's past is said to have controlled its destiny for
the last two hundred years or so. It is widely believed that its present
underdeveloped state was brought about by the curse of an innocent
woman, lusted after by a man and envied by his wife. This is the legend
that is Langkawi.
KUAH TOWN
Kuah is Langkawi's main town and port where ferries from the mainland
and
Penang anchor. Kuah Town is a couple of rows of rebuilt shop houses with
a decidedly sleepy feel. The name "Kuah" is a Malay word meaning "gravy"
and is associated with an ancient legend of two battling giants who
overturned a gigantic pot of curry at the spot where the town now
stands.
GETTING THERE
There are frequent daily ferry services from Kuala Kedah and Kuala
Perlis.
A one-way ride takes about an hour. There are dependable express coaches
from Kuala Lumpur, Alor Star or Arau to Kuala Kedah and Perlis.
Malaysia Airlines and Air Asia flies daily from Kuala Lumpur.
KTM Train Services also operates the Langkawi Express rail service
SIGHTSEEING
The index here provides details & Info on all places of interests in
Langkawi according to their locations as well a visit rating to use as a
guide on
what can be considered a worthwhile visit or not. Also provides an
insight
on things to do and activities that you can enjoy during your stay in
Langkawi
BEACHES ~ STAY ~ DINING & ENTERTAINMENT
The key beaches on the island are Pantai Cenang, the main strip near the
airport where several of the larger hotels are located, Datai Bay, in
the northwest, a splendid cove of exclusive white sand set in stunning
rainforest, and Tanjung Rhu, a broad, sparkling white bay to the
northeast. Up north as well is the tiny, rustic, hideaway cove of Pasir
Tengkorak
Langkawi hotel choices are varied and range from humdrum to soaringly
up market. Rates also vary dramatically between high and low seasons.
High season is the dry period November to March
You may have to motor about a bit to get anywhere and a good meal is
like a journey. The cuisine is a combination of regional and western,
but as Thailand is so close, the mixture of the Malay and Thai cultures
also results in a unique gastronomic experience.
ISLANDS OF LANGKAWI
Langkawi is the largest of around a cluster of 99 islands that form the
Langkawi archipelago. Many are uninhabited, little more than rocky
outcrops separated by narrow channels with coral reefs, a diverse marine
life and unusual wildlife. Islands described here includes Pulau Dayang
Bunting, Pulau Beras Basah Pulau Singa Besar, Pulau Payar, Pulau Tuba,
Pulau Rebak and Other Islands.
TRAVEL TIPS
Langkawi island is part of Kedah state, so it observes the same rest day
as
Kedah. Banks and government offices close on Fridays and Saturday
afternoons but remain open on Sundays. If you are a foreign tourist and
would need to change your currency to Ringgit, then it would be best if
you did so at the banks at Kuah. Other places you can do so are the
resort hotels but some may reserve this service for their guests.
WEATHER
It has a sunny, hot and humid, tropical climate with an average annual
temperature of about 32 degrees Celsius. The rainy season is during
August / September, although there are occasional showers throughout the
year.
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