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Its been a while since I visited the island which is situated in the northern peninsular Malaysia in a state called Kedah. There are many ways you can reach the island; by flight and by ferry. If you are going by ferry you can either take it from Kuala Kedah or Kuala Perlis. The only flight into the Langkawi is from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital city.

I arrived in Langkawi after taking a one and a half hour ferry ride from Kuala Kedah at about 12 o’clock midday. I am there partly on business and since the accommodation is covered by the event I am attending, that’s one less thing to worry about. Did I mention that I am staying in Westin Hotel, it’s just beside the Jetty.

First thing to do if you arrive by ferry or plane, is to get your transport sorted out. Rent a car and you won’t be disappointed and it’ll make your life a lot easier. To rent a car you can get the cheapest at MYR 50 (about 16 US dollars) per day. The rental is cheap partly due to huge competition from the locals offering the service… but expect to get what you paid for. I don’t worry about getting nice car or anything. One other thing, choose the rental company well and make sure the insurance is covered with the rental.

This is a side view of Pulau Dayang Bunting roughly translated as Pregnant Maiden Island. This shot was taken just as I disembarked from the ferry. The strange name of the island is due in part of how the island looks from a certain angle. Get the angle right and you can see as though a pregnant woman is lying on her back. Folklore says that any woman who swims in the lake will get pregnant!

The name of this bay (pic above) somehow escapes me but it situated very near to the jetty (about 5 minutes drive) there’s a small resort at the beach and even though its just 5 minutes drive from the town, it’s a bit secluded and peaceful. If you like peace and quiet while having the convenience of not being far from town, then this is the place for you.

As the sunset approaches, me and the wife arrive at Awana Porto Malai, situated in Pantai Tengah. It’s at the western part of the island. If you look at the map above its at bottom left of the map. I didn’t go into the resort but the picture is taken at the entrance of the resort. The sun sets beautifully here.

My hotel is situated at the town center Kuah but when night comes, finding a good local restaurant can be a bit of a challenge. On the second night of my stay on the island, I’ve traveled to Pantai Chenang just to check out the local scenery. To my surprise, there’s huge number of local eatery there and even authentic Arabic restaurant. The prices are very reasonable. If you are into seafood - this is the place for you. The road stretches about a kilometer and both sides of the streets are lined with various restaurant and stalls. What I did was park the car and just stroll along to find the best restaurants that suits my taste.

One of the must see places on Langkawi is definitely the cable car ride. It is situated about 3 kilometers away from Burau Bay. The cable car ride is not for the faint of heart. The ride is so steep that at one point it seems that we are traveling at an angle of 60 degrees! The top most summit is about 750 meters above sea level and on top of it is a magnificent view. You can see the Island all around.

There are two stops provided on the ride. The first platform is about 650 Meters above sea level and the platform is about half the size of the second platform. You can stop here a wile before continuing to the top most level.

The bridge in the picture above is a suspended bridge giving a clearer view of the Eastern part of the Langkawi. For those with vertigo or a fear of height, don’t even think of going onto the bridge. You can feel the bridge rocking back and forth as you walk on it.

A sight to behold. the view is just breath taking and at the top the air sure seems so fresh and cool.

The final night of my stay is at Mutiara Burau Bay Resort. Its about 2 minutes drive to the cable car ride. The resort offers chalet accommodation. There’s a lot of boats at Burau Bay and they offer chartered boat rides to nearby Island. Theres is a resort located on another Island called Rebak and the only way you can go there is by boat.

The last time I went to the Island is about 3-4 years ago and it is amazing how the Island has improved and evolve during such short period. This is definitely a must go place if you ever come to Malaysia.