Scribbler's Gallery

Yes, we had a family trip to the famous, historic Langkawi Island. It was a 4 days 3 nights trip, a long-awaited break! It was my first trip to Langkawi in my 25 years of existence! We were there from 2-5 April 2008. Of course, the trip was partially motivated by the cheap flight-rate on Firefly Malaysia. Needless to say, the plane was the size of a 45-seater tour bus and smelled of musky, moldy old furniture!

View from the plane:

Anyways, about our trip...it was simply fantabulous! We actually planned what we were going to do throughout our time in Langkawi (my family has a history of not planning any particular activity during trips and usually end up aimlessly visiting sights that meet our fancy!). So this was a change, for sure.

We planned for a road trip around the island. We rented a car from the airport in Langkawi...the rate was RM40 per day. Our hotel was just around the corner from the airport...Hotel Helang. It was a moderately sufficient accomodation (another result of my family's trademark random selection of stay!). In sequence of order of our road trip:

Padang Matsirat/ "Field of Burnt Rice":

The "Telaga Harbour":

Telaga Tujuh/ "Seven Wells":
After a tiresome 500 steps at 40 degrees climb, we finally reached the peak of the Seven Wells. Apparently, from the peak, the waterfall has 7 "stops" along the way. The view was worth the 500 steps we took. Here are pics taken at the peak. The water was pretty cool and clear.

Makam Mahsuri/ "Mahsuri Memorial/Tomb":
Mahsuri, a maiden who was falsely accused of adultery by treacherous island people. As she was being brutally killed, she cursed the Langkawi Island for 7 generations of no peace nor prosperity.

Pantai Pasir Hitam / "Black Sand Beach":

As you can see, the sand is no longer black...and the sea is a bit polluted...

Tanjung Rhu:
One of the most beautiful beaches in Malaysia with its wide span of white sandy beach and crystal gree/blue water:

Telaga Air Hangat / "Hot Spring Wells":
The best place to soak your feet in the natural hot spring wells...a good foot massage ...with no charges!
It looks like any other well but it does produce hot spring...if you are near enough, you can even see it simmer and steam...

Along the way, we had also visited the Langkawi Snake Sanctuary, Langkawi Crocodile Farm...both of which were a waste of money. The management of the two sanctuary is sadly lacking or insufficient. We felt sorry for the reptiles...No,they were not mistreated but their living conditions is rather questionable...

The Langkawi Book Village...is NON-EXISTENT! A huge dissappointment for book-lovers like me and my sister!

The MARDI Agro Farm was not in the "fruiting" or "flowering season"...which is why we did not proceed with its tour.

Our next and final stop of the road-trip around the Island was the Kuah Town. It was a nice little town for tourists...but very similar to any other small town in this Malaysian Peninsular.

That's all for this blog...I have lined up another picture gallery focusing on our adventures at sea in Langkawi for my next blog...

Here are some pics that I took while vacationing in the historical state of Malacca:

We stayed at the Legacy Hotel (above) in Jalan Hang Jebat.

The hotel (previously Golden Legacy Hotel) is a 4-Star Hotel located at the heart of town. I chose this hotel because of its old-world structures and heritage value. It was built with a dome in the centre of the hotel.

The SHIP

Like tourist visiting the city for the first time (we have been here couple of times before), we toured the city, mainly its historic sites like the Ship, Stadhuys, St Francis's Church, A Famosa, ...etc.

St. Francis Church