Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

Ticket to paradise islands

If you are interested in water sport or island-hopping, then Langkawi is an ideal destination

PHOTOS: AUTHOR

NATURAL SPLENDOUR A mangrove in Langkawi

There's no dearth of pristine beaches and calm blue seas in and around the 99 tropical islands that comprise Langkawi. But that evening, most of the islands' inhabitants seem to be on the stretch of beach known as Pantai Cenang on the main island. There are two beach volleyball matches in progress — one for men and one for women — and a sand-castle-building demonstration that is drawing quite a crowd. Squealing children clamber up and down large inflated slides, while the more adventurous engage in parasailing and water-skiing. All the while, a live band is playing popular Malay hits at peak volume, and numerous stalls sell everything from T-shirts to toys.

The occasion is the three-day celebration of the launch of the water festival at the archipelago that lies off the North Western coast of peninsular Malaysia. For a whole month, Langkawi, part of the State of Kedah, will host water activities such as kayaking, canoeing, jet skiing, fishing and swimming competitions, white river rafting, river safaris and underwater treasure hunts.

Island hopping

The following day, we set off on an island-hopping expedition, starting from the town of Kuah on the main island (Pulau Langkawi) where we are staying. Most of the other islands are uninhabited and have not been developed except as sites of natural beauty for tourists to visit. In fact, Langkawi as a whole received very little attention until the 1990s when then Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Mahathir Mohamad, decided to develop the area as a tourist attraction. Even today, the population of the islands is less than 70,000.

First, we head for Pulau (island in Malay) Dayang Bunting, which has the largest freshwater lake in Langkawi. Walking through a reserve forest, we see an iguana dart into its hole and several monkeys (long-tailed macaques) basking the afternoon sunlight. Finally, we reach the calm lake surrounded by greenery, ideally suited for swimming or boating.

The lake is often referred to as the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden, taking its name from the landmark hill on the island that appears in the shape of — you guessed it — a pregnant woman lying on her back.

The suspension bridge from where one can get a brilliant view

As we leave Dayang Bunting, we see the Water Festival in progress around us as canoes and kayaks in shades of brilliant orange and yellow glide past. We make our way to the nearby Tube Straits famous for their lush mangrove forests embedded in limestone, through which one can cruise on small boats. There, we get to see the majestic brown eagles swooping overhead. In fact, Langkawi in old Malay actually means `reddish brown eagle', and visitors arriving from mainland Malaysia to the Kuah jetty by catamaran are treated to the sight of an imposing statute of the bird at Dataran Lang or Eagle Square.

While on the mangrove trail, you can also stop at some old limestone caves nestled within the forests; that is, if you're willing to hobnob with its inhabitants, the bats. And if you're willing to make the trip, you can travel to the beautiful Pulau Payar Marine Park, which is a 45-minute catamaran ride from the Kuah jetty. The surrounding clear, sheltered waters there are ideal for snorkelling and diving to have a closer look at the marine life, including corals, and even try your hand at shark feeding.

Back from our island hopping adventures, we prepare to swing high up into the air, on the Langkawi cable car. The two-km journey is one of the world's steepest, and takes you right to the summit of Mount Machincang at 713 feet. Below, you see the vast expanse of untouched equatorial forest with sudden shocks of orange Flame of the Forest flowers amidst the sea of green. At the summit, you climb stone steps to a suspension bridge from which you get a view of the entire archipelago of islands, the Datai peninsula and the Andaman Sea. There is also Underwater World Langkawi, one of the largest aquariums in Asia, a crocodile farm, a bird park, museums, and shopping.

That night, we attend the official launch of the Water Festival by the king and queen of Malaysia at Dataran Lang amidst fireworks and performances by popular singers of the region. The festival may only last till May 6, but there's always plenty to see at the 99 isles of Langkawi.

Getting there

By Sea: Express ferries provide daily services to Langkawi from Kuala Kedah, Kuala Petris and Penang on the coast of mainland Malaysia.

By Air: Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia and Silk Air provide direct air services to the Langkawi International Airport located at Padang Matsirat about 20 km from Kuah.

DIVYA KUMAR

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail