What happens in Langkawi stays there.

A Travelog by Shafiqah Shukor

I got ready for the bus to Langkawi around 8:30pm on a Thursday night for a class trip to Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah. The bus was supposed to arrive at 9:00pm but for some reason they were late.

I wasn’t really in the mood for the trip because I didn’t think it would be as good as the other trip that I’ve been to before which I know isn’t fair because I didn’t really give the trip a chance yet.

Anyway, the bus ride to Langkawi took around 10 hours to reach Kuala Perlis then, we took the ferry to go to Langkawi. My sleep on the bus was very crucial. I changed my position for about a hundred times I managed to turn the seats into a sofa since I was sitting alone, but it was a really uncomfortable sofa. By the time we reached Kuala Perlis it was around 6am and we got to freshen up.

Once we are done, we went straight to the ferry. The ride was mediocre for me but the sun rise was amazing. Can you imagine being in 10 hour bus ride and getting only 3 hours of sleep and the next activity is explorace?  which means you have to run around like crazy people to win the race. That’s exactly what our next activity once we reached Langkawi.

When we touched down Langkawi all I saw was how the sun touches the ocean and immediately I felt good and totally in the mood for the trip. Our next destination, was the Gunung Mat Cincang which where the explorace was going to take place. Before that we have to stop for a breakfast since we are going to need all the energy that we have to the the activity later.

 

                   

We had our breakfast at Kuah, based on the location on my photo which I hope is correct. I had roti canai while others have their own preferences such as nasi lemak or any other types of bread. Surprisingly our breakfast was all paid by a generous lecturer, Sir Khalil. Then after our stomach had been filled we went straight to Gunung Mat Cincang.

Gunung Mat Cincang is probably Langkawi’s best-known mountain, aside from its neighbour Gunung Raya. At 850m high, it is the second highest mountain in Langkawi and offers some pretty spectacular views of the island. It is home to the famous cable car that carries passengers 709m above sea level to the apex. Besides enjoying the spectacular views of the forested and craggy sides of Mount Cincang, on a clear day you can see all the way to the mainland and southwest Thailand. Besides that, at the top of Gunung Mat Cincang you can also have some snacks and refreshments as there are food stalls available to your need.

There were so many other things inside. I didn’t even know where to start. Sir Khalil grouped us randomly and each group were given a task. Each paper was filled with questions and clue. Whichever group figured it out first and completed the task wins. My group worked well together. The first place we went to in Gunung Mat Cincang was the rabbit farm where we get to play and feed the rabbits.

Next, we went to a 3D art gallery. There were a lot of unique and beautiful paintings and drawings. I was amazed of how real it seemed unfortunately I didn’t really get to enjoy everything because we were in a rush to complete the race which really bummed me out because we can only enter once.

What started to get really interesting for me was, the cable car ride. It took us to a really high bridge which had a magnificent view. It was honestly breath-taking. Anyway, when we were at the curve bridge we chose to climb up and down the stairs which we didn’t know was quite high. Surprisingly, all of my group members managed to make it. I remember a group that were so jealous of us said that my group couldn’t make it first.

 

In the end, there were no losers or winners in that explorace and I thought to myself I really should have not rush and appreciated the 3D arts. After all the running and sweating we went to grab some lunch before check in the Hotel at Kuah.

There were some problems when we wanted to check in the Hotel.  Apparently, some of the students demand to not share a bed and didn’t want to live separately with their friends. That was what made things complicated until we all had to add RM7 to add another room. Either way, all of us learned to solve the problems together eventhough it wasn’t really a good solution. None of us really pays attention about the room arrangements. Well, atleast we learned something.

After settling down at the Hotel, next destination is to explore Pantai Cenang. Pantai Cenang is the busiest beach town on Langkawi Island, where you can find a diverse mix of cafes and restaurants, as well as souvenir shops, and duty-free outlets along its picturesque beach strip. Featuring white sands and clear waters, Pantai Cenang’s expansive beach is also great for sunbathing and exciting water sports such as jet skiing and parasailing.

High-end resorts, chalets and budget hotels with views of the Andaman Sea are plenty there. Pantai Cenang’s nightlife scene is the liveliest on Langkawi Island, with plenty of beachfront bars and lounges offering inexpensive alcohol and snacks, as well as live music and cultural performances until late.

My friends and I had our dinner at a restaurant called the Artisans Pizza which was quite popular for their delicious pizza in Langkawi. The food was a bit pricey but I personally think it was worth it because atleast I spent it on good food.

The next day the activity was to go Island Hopping. Island-hopping in Langkawi is arguably the most popular activity on the islands and no surprise as it offers visitors an opportunity to explore some of Langkawi’s stunning islets. Priced from RM80 upwards, tours are available all year long (weather permitting) and typically last for about four hours, starting with a hotel pickup at 09:00. Boats depart from Teluk Baru Jetty, which is located at the southern part of Pantai Tengah.

The first Island we Pulau Beras Basah, another pristine Langkawi beach with clear waters and far-reaching views of the sea where you can relax and soak up the sun and sea. Its expansive beaches are great for swimming and picnicking while its lush forest is suitable for jungle-trekking and overnight camping, but the latter isn’t included in the itineraries of standard island-hopping tours.  A monkey stole my Nasi Lemak there while I was walking. Better beware of the monkeys there if you ever decide to drop by.

Furthermore, next island was Pulau Singa Besar, a wildlife sanctuary that’s home to eagles, monkeys, mousedeer, hornbills, snakes, monitor lizards, and peacocks. Located 17km southwest of Kuah Jetty, you may not be able to explore the island, but you can watch an exciting eagle-feeding session by your tour guide. Observe as they dive to catch their prey, chicken bits that the boat driver has thrown into the water, with deadly precision.

The last island we went to that day was Pulau Dayang Bunting, which resembles the silhouette of a reclined pregnant lady from afar. After a 15-minute boat ride from Kuah Jetty, the lake is reachable in a 15-minute hike via a concrete stairway built through a dense rainforest. Surrounded by mangrove trees and a limestone rock formation, you can swim in the lake or lounge on the many rubber platforms. There’s also a small shop nearby selling drinks, snacks, and souvenirs, as well as offering paddleboats and life jacket rentals. Tickets to Tasik Dayang Bunting aren’t usually included in the package, so you are required to pay an additional fee of RM6 for non-Malaysians and RM3 for Malaysians.

I didn’t really take lots of picture in this Island because I was too busy exploring the lake. I was sort of in peace for a moment there when I was kayaking around. After the wet and sweaty activity all of us went back to the hotel to change. In the evening we went to Pantai Cenang again, to witness the glorious sunset. The glowing sun bathed the ocean’s meek waves and the wispy clouds in a burning red.

For the rest of the day, we spent our time together while enjoying the good vibes that Langkawi brought to us. I’ll just leave it at that. Our last day in Langkawi, we stopped by at Perniagaan Haji Ismail Group. It is the best place on Langkawi Island for tourists and locals to stock up on their favourite confectionary products. Located in Kuah Town, you can find chocolates from well-loved brands such as Hershey’s, Cadbury’s, Ritter Sport, Pepero, and Toblerone, which are sold at prices which are hard to find anywhere else on the island. As with most duty-free outlets in Langkawi, Perniagaan Haji Ismail Group Sdn. Bhd. also sells imported kitchenware, apparel, bags, and luggage, though choices are rather limited to make way for its extensive chocolate collection.

What happens in Langkawi will forever stays in Langkawi. The Islands, the breathtaking view, the sunset, and most importantly the company that I had over there. The memories made there can never be replace, it was a perfect getaway for me since Im a sucker for beautiful things.Here’s to more adventures with great people in my life.