Irene reporting from Langkawi

..please let me start by saying that i'm a really bad photographer and that i had to use images from professionals to show you the beauty of the Langkawi island...it was the second time my husband, son and I went to Langkawi for a couple of days and I think a couple of days is just enough to get a very good impression, be able to relax and enjoy the weather and surroundings...

Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands (an extra 5 temporary islands are revealed at low tide) it's about 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia and 50 minutes flying from Kuala Lumpur. The name Langkawi is a combination of "Lang" and "Kawi". "Lang" comes from the Malay word helang which means eagle. (eagle feeding is still a big tourist attraction on the island) "Kawi" is Sanskrit for marble, which is found in excess in this part of Malaysia.

Visiting Langkawi can be done in two completely different ways...either you choose to go for a little bit more of the 'real' life and stay in one of the B&B's or guest houses or do what we did and choose for one of the many beautiful resorts on the island ... the main reason to go to an island like this for us is to relax, do nothing, be pampered, enjoy the wind, sea and sun ... and we believe that resorts offer you the best facilities for this...a couple of night is of course more then enough...

Last year we stayed at the Westin resort, near the Harbor and what is called 'cowboy' town...Langkawi is known for tax free liquor, cigarettes and all the unhealthy stuff for your body...in cowboy-town or Kuah town you will find the shops offering these goods, we didn't like it that much, but we did buy a nice bottle of champagne to drink on the balcony of our room...

{image above from our hotel room in Taj resort, our little boy was playing outside with some sand from the beach}
This year we stayed at the Taj resort, located on a separate little island, called Rebak island, just 10 minutes away from the main island...a boat-taxi or 'jetty' as they call it takes you to this isolated island, my son thought this trip alone was so much fun and exciting...the hotel has the only fully equipped marina in Malaysia.

Although we liked the Westin better in general the Taj was really nice too, and we were lucky to have a room with a gorgeous sea view and Lode could just walk outside into the garden and play...
Another little heaven on earth suppose to be is the Bonton resort...this will probably the next resort when we visit Langkawi again...The place is run by an Australian who has restored eight traditional Malay kampung houses and converted them into stylish hotel rooms...and what really appeals to me about this resort is the fact that there is an 'Artist in Residence Programme', which aims to support local artists by providing them with a place to work and gallery to exhibit their works. One antique Malay villa has been set aside for the artist in residence to stay for a two month period. Super!

Of course it's impossible to stay at different resorts at one time, but what you can do is go for lunch or dinner to another resort..they say dinner at the Bonton resort must be a true tropical experience ..and we decided to have lunch at the Four Seasons...WOW...not only lunch itself was very good, the whole ambiance ate the Four Seasons is just amazing, felt like walking around in a beautiful museum...

{the two amazing images above are from the Four Seasons resort in Langkawi made by Okashikunai}
Like I said before I'm not a good photographer, but I found some great photographers on FLICKR who all captured the atmosphere and style in the Four Seasons in the best way possible...these ones above are from Ashcan and he lives in Singapore...
...or how about these gorgeous images by Sleepwalker, also taken at the Four Seasons Langkawi Hotel ...they probably hire the best interior decorators in the world at the Four Seasons...it was all 'eye-candy' like walking through a museum, the color combinations with many greens, blues and oranges...and what i really admire about the  work of these interior designers is that are able to create a style that many people feel comfortable with ...

...and although it can be very windy or stormy from time to time on the island...don't worry the temparture always stays nice and the sun always comes back...while we were having some lunch we also enjoyed this amazing view...and I can't even begin to imagine how the sunset must look from here...

Things you can do...
..Rent a car/scooter to go around the Island...or easily easily arrange a driver/tour-guide to drive you around and show you some places of interest
..take a ride with the Langkawi Cable Car , which brings you to the top of the mountain and gives you an amazing view
..book a massage at a Spa at one of the resorts, I lOVED the Westin spa
..my husband and I don't play golf, but there are two amazing courses on Langkawi
..visit one of the Waterfalls (Seven Wells Water and Temurun Waterfall)
..book a half day snorkeling tour to Pulau Payar
..visit the Art & Craft centre
..take a tour in the Langkawi Wild life Park
..Learn to cook some delicious Malaysian dishes at the cooking class, Cook with Shuk, in the evening at his charming Malay house

{entrance - reception at the Four Seasons Langkawi Hotel}
Tip:
..when booking one of the resorts...call them...they probably give you much cheaper rate!!!

..I hope you enjoy the images and maybe one day you can go yourselves...

Comments

[sidsel_._]

Ahhh - what a lovely and inspiring report, thanks Irene

[sia]

What a visual delight! :-)
Must have been an amazing trip.

Hope you are doing fine,
groeten uit Amsterdam!

[ellen]

Boek maar vast; wij komen wel!!

[Prêt à Voyager]

Nicely done, Irene! So peaceful even to look at.

Anne

[karina]

I enjoyed this post very much!

[Julie]

I feel like i've been there for 5 mn! thanks for such a lovely post. I so want to go there now!

[Diana]

Fantastisch! Geniet ervan Irene! (maar dat doe je ook). En wat een leuke blonde krullekop hebben jullie!

[Diana]

P.S. I'm very happy with my Pentax camera. I hear they have a very good new SLR model on the market with the K10D!

[patricia]

How beautiful!!!

[Charlotte Tollstén]

I went to Langkawi about 20 years ago. It still looks as wonderful as I remember. Your report are bringing so many nice memories back.

Thank You!!!

[michelle]

the scenery is pristine and gorgeous! what an amazing and well-deserved family vacation. for now, i'll just live vicariously through you as it's pouring rain and chilly in Seattle...sigh...

Enjoy every minute!!

[harith malique anwari]

i had some travel from KL (KL Central) to Arau, Perlis by train before get a ferry to Langkawi...

have a look on my post >>

http://anwarii.com/destination-/langkawi.html
http://anwarii.com/destination-/ktmb-|-expedition-to-the-north.html

[William Wallace]

I had never heard of Langkawi before, but I'm glad I have, because it looks like an amazing place to visit. It is definitely a place I could see myself spending a couple of months at.