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Thursday, March 31, 2011

Islands of Langkawi - Tanjung Rhu

Picture of the day. Relatively calm water & soothing picture. More lovely pictures here.

Comments by IckleEagle :
Trip to Langkawi has been few years back ... it was only now I uploaded into Flickr. I'm sorry but I don't blog. But overall, my experience in Langkawi was good. People was nice and food was very good. Definitely Langkawi has a lot of potential. Breath taking scenery, lovely beach etc. It just needs some promotion to attract tourist for visiting.


AL :- I terms of local tourist Langkawi is already well-known. But for oversea's I think LADA is doing its continuous effort to promote Langkawi but there's always areas to improve.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Langkawi Cambrian- Final Part

Picture & article by LADA
From then,during the Jurassic age of the dinosaours, this newly exposed land experianced severe alterrations due to chemical reactions and erosions and a series of  uplifting eruptions. The land was carved and gouged and hills were formed and valleys drained. Later during the extreme climatic conditions coinciding with the last ice ages(1.8 million to 10 thounsand years ago),sea levels were pushed up and down drastically as a result of glacial melting and global cooling. So now above the rainforest we find caves full of sea life : Shells, corals and ancient fossils some hundreds of feet above sea level. 

Also among the island of marble,shale and limestone, we find caches of semi precious stones and crystals and even odd, cold water Brachiopod clam fossils. We see amzing towers of limestone soaring hundreds of feet above the sea at Tanjong Rhu, inland lakes as on Dayang Bunting where the roofs of huge caves have collapsed and strange mudstone boulders, which look like layered cakes, lie baking in the sun. This is the land that has been proved to be the oldest in the peninsular Malaysia the “Birthplace of the Nation” so to speak and the cradle of ancient life form which have evolved to some of the world’s most rare and unique species. But first came the jungle. Main Article Here.

AL :-
Langkawi Cambrian by LADA. 

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Kerja & Jobs in Langkawi March 2011 & April 2011

For those who is looking for jobs in Langkawi there're a lot of openings in Langkawi especially related to tourism industry. There's also some for other sectors.

Please check jobstreet.com here.. Link to Langkawi Jobs.
Among the job listed there are :-
- Personal Banker - Financial Controller
- Chef De Partie, Sous Chef
- Intership for Media - Intership for Food & Beverage
- Receptionist
- Bar tender
- Assistant Manager & Puchasing
- Secretary
- E Commerce Personnal, IT Executive



Terdapat juga kerja2 disini JobsMalaysia.gov.my. 
Antaranya ialah :
- Kerja Kontrak
- Penyambut Tetamu - Pekerja Am
- Mekanik
- Pekerja Ladang
- Jurual, & byk lagi.
- Pembantu Tadbir
Terdapat lebih kurang 37 jawatan kosong di Langkawi mengikut portal ini.
Try to apply & make sure ready for the interview.
-----------------------------
Berikut list diatas adalah senarai pekerjaan kosong utk bulan March ke April. Kepada warga Langkawi yg mencari pekerjaan bolehlah cuba nasib masing-masing utk memintak jawatan yg ada.

Selamat Mencuba

Jawatan Kosong di LADA



Kepada yg berminat utk bekerja dgn LADA terdapat 2 kekosongan. Sila lihat disini utk iklan & utk melihat iklan di Internet disini. 

Selamat Mencuba.

The Datai Langkawi

The Datai Restaurant
Picture of the day. The Datai is among the most expensive & interesting hotel to live in. Its location is superb & surrounds with nature. Its quite secluded from populated areas. Perhaps one day i'll try have a look & stay for a day (i wish hehe).. Thanks to Is Mar Us Man for sharing.. More pictures by him here..

Monday, March 28, 2011

Gotong-Royong In Langkawi Collects Over 500Kg Trash

LANGKAWI, March 26 (Bernama) -- Several islands in Langkawi were cleaned up in a gotong royong exercise today.

About 160 people from government agencies and non-governmental organisations collected over 500kg of litter, including bottles, papers and wrappers, in the community effort.

The rubbish was put in plastic bags and sent to the national sailing complex here to be picked up by municipal council workers, the gotong royong programme committee chairman, Mohd Afendy Abdullah, said.

Twenty boats were used to ferry the participants to the islands and take out the garbage.

The islands included Pulau Dayang Bunting, Pulau Singa Besar, Pulau Singa Kecil and Pulau Beras Basah.

Commenting that the clean-up had restored the beauty of the islands, he urged visitors not to litter.

-- BERNAMA

AL :
Good to hear efforts done to clean up Langkawi. May this becomes a continuous effort. 

No Plastic Awareness Di Langkawi


Pada 30th Mac ini akan diadakan kempen "No to Plastic" @ katakan tidak pada Plastik di Tapak Pasar Malam di Kuah.

Meh kita sama-sama datang & sama2 berkempen utk kebaikan Langkawi.. Terima kasih kepada Langkawi Story atas Video.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Why I Don’t Love Langkawi by Contemporaray Nomad

For 98% of humanity, Langkawi would represent paradise on earth. What’s not to love: tropical beaches, soaring karst mountains, emerald waters? What’s the problem?

Langkawi is beautiful, there’s no doubt about it. I can enjoy a nice drink in a relaxed beach-side bar as much as anyone. But when beaches are backed with nothing BUT bars and resorts and duty-free shopping centers and aquariums and over-priced restaurants and tacky souvenir stalls – I think you get the picture – my vision of paradise starts to fade.

The problem is that I belong to that other 2% of humanity who likes his nature – well – natural. I like emerald waters minus the banana boats full of screaming teeny-boppers. Yes, I know, I’m a dinosaur.
It’s the same old story, the world’s perfect places are too beautiful for their own damn good. Humanity is loving its nature to death. Blah, blah, blah.

More here.

AL :-
Honest opinion of a traveller to Langkawi. However, i think if he ventures into areas such a Datai Areas & North side of the Island he will be surprise.  

1,249 Pelajar MRSM Peroleh Semua A Dalam SPM

KUALA LUMPUR, 23 Mac (Bernama) -- Seramai 1,249 pelajar Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) memperoleh semua A dalam peperiksaan Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2010.

Ketua Pengarah MARA Ibrahim Ahmad berkata jumlah itu merangkumi 18.28 peratus daripada keseluruhan 6,833 calon dari 38 MRSM yang menduduki peperiksaan itu.

"Pencapaian ini membuktikan sistem pendidikan MRSM mampu melahirkan pelajar cemerlang dalam akademik melalui kecemerlangan dalam SPM.

"Namun, fokus Mara dan MRSM bukan sekadar pencapaian akademik semata-mata tetapi lebih kepada melahirkan modal insan yang holistik dan menghayati nilai-nilai murni serta mempunyai kekuatan peribadi yang unggul," katanya dalam kenyataan di sini Rabu.

Bernama.

AL: Tahniah MARA & tenaga pengajar MRSM Langkawi.

Awana Porto Malai by GraceYang

Picture of the day. Great captured picture by GraceYang from balcony of Awana Porto Malai room. More pictures from him here..

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Langkawi Monkeys by factory241

Langkawi Monkeys
Picture of the day. There's quite a lot of species of Monkeys in Langkawi. The most famous (a lot too) one will be the ones above. Just dont feed the monkey.. :)..

More pictures by Factory241 here.. Thanks for sharing mate.

Factory241 Comments :-
Langkawi was fantastic, I wouldn't change anything!

Friday, March 25, 2011

Mystery bird: brown hawk-owl, Ninox scutulata

Brown hawk-owl, Ninox scutulata, also sometimes known as the brown boobook, photographed on one of the 99 islands that make up the archipelago, Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah, Malaysia, SouthEast Asia.

Image: Marie Louise Ng, 4 January 2011 [velociraptorize].
Nikon D7000, 500/F4



Question: This Malaysian mystery bird may actually be one of three nearly-identical species. What is the current basis that some ornithologists have for elevating this bird to a separate species?

Response: This is an adult brown hawk-owl, Ninox scutulata, a fairly common species in Malaysia and throughout much of SouthEast Asia. Some ornithologists argue that this bird is one of several cryptic species. They recently split this species complex into three species; N. scutulata, N. randi and N. japonica in 2002 based on consistent vocal differences within the Ninox scutulata complex. However, the prevailing opinion is that this bird is not part of a complex of cryptic species because these vocal differences are not accompanied by matching morphological differences. Additionally, it is difficult to judge just how great are the vocal differences and to decide whether they represent more than dialect differences between resident and migratory populations of a single species. At this point, brown hawk-owl's identity remains unchanged until further work has been completed. My guess is that at least some of this work will include DNA analyses.

From Mystery Bird 

AL :-
Interesting website with regards to the birds.. This owl quite hard to find in South East Asia but can be found in Langkawi. Thanks to ML. Now Langkawi is also known by bird lovers. 

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Dining at The Cliff @ Langkawi by 3iLinG

Dining at The Cliff @ Langkawi by 3iLinG
The Cliff is a new dining outlet situated just behind the Underwater World facing the beach front and perched on stilts. It has a dining area and a bar which has a 360 degrees view of the sea.

I was first introduced to this restaurant during the opening on 9th February by my customer whom is a friend of the owner. Boosting a classy dining concept, the interior design of this place is very tastefully done. In addition to that, I have never been to a restaurant opening buffet spread that includes grilled tiger prawns as one of its dishes and I remembered how that very night I only ate the tiger prawns and nothing else.


AL :-
Interesting & tempting review. I never been to the place before & will be must place to go whenever i have the time. Thanks 3iLinG for introducing the place. 

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Kiss UP MTB 2011 ( First Series ) by Langkawi Story




LANGKAWI, MAR. 12 - A total of  79 bikers took part in Kiss-Up MTB Challenge, the first round of mountain bike cross country for this year, organized by 99 Bikes Club at Kampung Kisap Track.

There were  4 categories which were junior, women, senior and elite. Junior and women had to finish only one lap of 12 km course while senior and elite had to finish two laps. The course had single track, uphill and downhill.

The first place for women category went to Helen Beswick from England with a time of 39:51. Lim Choon Gan finished second in 42:28 followed by Noor Syakira Yamanluddin in 44:44.

"I was in front all the time, I thought maybe I would lose my track but it's well mark, so it's easy. I kept going faster because I was scare they were coming from behind," said Helen.

In junior category, Danial Aizril Azhar finished first with a time of 41:21. Lim Zhi Xian finished second with a time of 49:17 followed by Mohd Iqbal Zainol in 52:15.

Eagle by Safaa.Hamaza

Picture by Safaa.Hamaza
Picture of the day. Nicely taken picture by Safaa. With green & forest background.

Comment by Samaa.:-
I was in langkawi for couple of days .. and i went on this island hopping trip :)..
and one of the stops is to go and feed eagles .. loved the experinece cos its the first time that i really see them that close.. i took millions of shots of them .. but it was hard really hard for me to coop with how fast they are... even with sequence shots didnt help at all.. we were on a speed boat .. but stoped ofcourse .. boat man was doing the feeding part and we were shooting :).. this is one of the best i got.. :)
hope u like it :D

AL : Great to know you enjoy your trip there. Great pictures of course. Thanks for sharing your pic & experience.  More picture by him here

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Pulau Tuba : Aduan Rakyat - Sampah Jejas Industri Pelancongan Pulau Tuba

Masalah Sampah yg teruk di Pulau Tuba

Pulau Tuba yang baru setahun jagung mengecapi tempias industri pelancongan Langkawi, kini terjejas gara-gara sampah. Penduduk mendakwa pihak berkuasa tidak bertindak berikutan aduan dibuat.

Ikuti laporan yang saya sediakan.
Kebanyakan penghuni Pulau Tuba adalah nelayan. Aktiviti pelancongan pula baru berkembang di pulau ini kesan tempias kemajuan Langkawi.  Projek homestay dan chalet diusahakan berikutan permintaan mengalakkan.  Keindahan semula jadi serta lokasi geopark berhampiran tarikan pelancong.
Disebalik potensi itu, ada kelemahan yang mengundang keluhan penduduk.

Inilah punca aduan dibuat penduduk. Cara mudah melupus sampah ibarat tangkap muat. Ada kala sampah di tolak ke laut atau dibakar bila terlalu banyak. Kesannya, pelancong semakin kurang.

Jeti semakin sunyi  dan kaunter menjual tiket bot bagaikan bangunan terbengkalai.

Yang Dipertua Majlis Perbandaran Langkawi, Abdul Rahman Salleh, berkata kos 100 ribu Ringgit setiap bulan bagi pengutipan dan pembersihan sampah di Pulau Tuba antara punca perkhidmatan tidak disediakan.

ABDUL RAHMAN SALLEH / YDP MAJLIS PERBANDARAN LANGKAWI
Kalau kita mahukan Pulau Tuba sebagai kawasan perkhidmatan majlis, kalau mereka bersedia cukai dikenakan. Seperti cukai pintu dan sebagainya. Tetapi buat masa ini kita lebih pentingkan kedaan pulau itu dengan bincang dengan penduduk.

Penduduk Pulau Tuba bakal diberikan pilihan, sama ada membayar cukai pintu dan menerima perkhidmatan pengurusan sampah, atau menggunakan Jawatan Kuasa Kecil Kampung, untuk menguruskan sampah mereka.

Perbincangan yang bakal diadakan dalam masa terdekat dijangka dapat memberi penyelesaian kepada masalah sampah di Pulau Tuba.

Dalam pada itu,  Lembaga Pembangunan Langkawi, Lada, bersedia membantu penduduk Pulau Tuba membangunkan ekonomi mereka, dengan syarat masalah kebersihan pulau perlu diatasi terlebih dahulu.

DATUK AZMAN UMAR / PENGURUS BESAR LADA.
Kalau ada permintaan baru kita buat. Kalau belanja besar2 orang tak pergi, kita sediakan fasiliti. You nak ke tak nak.

Buat permulaan, kitar semula diperkenalkan untuk mengurang beban sampah Pulau Tuba.

ROSLIM ABDUL RANI/PENDUDUK.
Sebagai penduduk ini kali pertama dia datang. Kalau boleh nak benda ni berterusan. Kalau boleh sediakan tempat pelupusan terkawal serta juga recyle.

CHE HAMID MAT NOH/PENDUDUK.
Seluruh penduduk Pulau Tuba sepakat, kita buat apa sahaja, termasuk mesyuarat. Jangan sekali je datang lepas tu tak mai dah.

Kami akan cuba meninjau kembali situasi Pulau Tuba apabila ia sudah berubah wajah.
Jika terdapat sebarang aduan berkaitan sebarang isu, hantarkan ke aduan rakyat@tv3.com.my.
Jangan lupa sertakan nama, alamat dan nombor telefon anda kerana hanya aduan yang lengkap akan dilayan.
Sekian dari saya, Puspavathy Ramaloo, Aduan Rakyat, TV3 ambil berat.

Sila klik disini utk tgk berita penuh Aduan Rakyat. TV3 ambil berat.

AL :-
Terima kasih kepada Aduan Rakyat kerana dengar & menjadi tempat penduduk mengadu. Mmg masalah sampah kat Pulau ni dah jadi masalah besar.. Kesian.. Mungkin Pulau Tuba perlukan incinerator seperti di Pulau Langkawi..  

"Ingat Bungkus; Ingat Bekal..."

Simply means "Remember container (referring to a food container) when you think of take-away".

This idea was given to a five-star resort last year in conjunction of the Environment week and they did it. It was a very easy task to do and zero cost. The staff gathered at a pasar malam (night market) armed with their own food containers, used plastic bags or cloth bag for storage bags, tiffin carriers, etc. In a troop, they marched down the lane of the night market and took away their dinner using their containers. That was only for one day and how effective or impactful can that be?

A pasar malam stall
Not until last year when I met this amazing local lady, Puan Zuraidah; through an invitation to their Raya open house by her brother, Razak.  Puan Zuraidah is currently an active committee member with Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Langkawi chapter. As we chatted during the open house, she spoke with passion of her dream to see Langkawi people doing green practices which led to our idea about gathering an army to march down the pasar malam lane with food containers. She was keen about this and not only we spoke about it but she did all the work to materialize this event.

Why pasar malam (the night market) is the target? 

Great Article by my friend WChinner.. Do visit his blog for more details..
Anaklangkawi :-
 I write this as a reminder especially for travelers & locals in Langkawi. As we all know ( i guess so) Langkawi is just a small island with no incinerator (at the moment). But we do have landfill which filled up quite fast. Two days ago the local television talks about terrible rubbish problem in Pulau Tuba. Its quite a shame.. Both the authorities, tourists & locals need to take part in the effort the preserve the surrounding of Langkawi.
Sometimes we don't have the guts to even talk to persons that throw rubbish. We as individual should make a stand to protect & preserve Langkawi. As the local always says.. "Kalau bukan kita sapa lagi? " (if its not us who else will do it).. Let us make Langkawi as the 1st Island in Malaysia that can be Plastic Fre & Rubbish Free.

The Cabin Langkawi by mamaeesya

Pastu terus carik The Cabin Langkawi... kitorang dah book through tauke dia, Encik Mohd Noor.. so dapat ler special price..

Ni haaa muka depan The Cabin... memang duduk dalam KONTENA ok.. bukan nama dia saja CABIN.. mak aku masa sampai2 terus buat muka... sbb terkejut kene duk dalam cabin.. "Tak panas ke nanti?" kata beliau...

Tapi bila masuk2 jer.. terus sengih2 suka hati...Sebab?

AL :
Artikel yg menarik pasal The Cabin Langkawi. Satu konsep yg cukup menarik diketengahkan & amat bersih & indah. Nak tgk lebih lanjut checkla blog mamaeesya.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Firefly promoting holiday flights

PETALING JAYA: Firefly will have additional flights from Johor Baru’s Senai airport to Langkawi and Penang between May 27 and June 12 in view of the school holidays.

“To promote the flights during the said period, Firefly will be offering a special fare from as low as RM39 all-in, one way, from now to March 23,” head of marketing and communications Angelina Fernandez said in a statement.

She also said there would be flights from Johor Baru to Kuching and Kota Kinabalu on May 19 and June 16 respectively.
“Both sectors would have a frequency of 14 flights weekly and the promotional fares are available via online and mobile booking,” she said.

The Star

AL :-
Good news to fellow travelers.. Better book now in advance for discounted prices..  

Eagle Square Reflection

Eagle Square reflection
Picture of the day. A great reflection of eagle square. Nicely taken picture. Thanks Achiam for sharing. For more picture by Achiam please refer here.

Comment by Achiam's trip to Langkawi :-
I had a pleasant time in Langkawi. I stayed in Sheraton Langkawi and I was very pleased with the service and the resort itself. I enjoyed the serenity of the sea from my room balcony and the greenery surrounding the place. Sunset was absolutely beautiful. The breakfast was amazing! The trip was very rejuvenating, took my mind away from the hectic work life in the city.

The other things I enjoyed the most was the drive along the smooth clear highways and the exploration in the inner part of the suburbs. The walk along the nightspots and the massive shopping in the duty free stores on the island. Liquor, cigars and chocolate were so cheap, it seems like paradise.

Timbermad :- 
A thumbs up to Sheraton for living up to the tourist expectation. 

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Up to Mat Chinchang Cable Car

Cable Car looking to Mat Chinchang Mountain
Picture of the day. Thrill going up the mountain. The cable car quite fast at the 1st few 100meter up. Anyway, enjoying the view will make you forget it..

Picture by fenography. Thank for sharing mate. Lovely pictures..

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Travel: Savvy traveller

THIS WEEK’S WINNER : ABDUL MALIK SIKKANDAR in Oriental Village, Langkawi

MUST DO
Oriental Village is the entrance to the famous Langkawi Cable Car. Don’t leave the village without trying this thrilling ride. The cable car is a remarkable engineering feat that brings people to the top of Gunung Mat Cincang. The views include the magnificent forest below as well as Telaga Tujuh waterfalls. Get down at the middle and top viewing stations to enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the Andaman Sea and Langkawi Island from an altitude of 700m above sea level.


Then brave yourself to walk on the amazing 125m long suspension bridge to experience the feeling of walking in the clouds!

When you’re back on the ground, check out Oriental Village’s latest attraction — Tiger! Tiger! Gallery & Exhibit. Other attractions include paddle boat rides, elephant rides, deer park and playground for children to enjoy.

AVOID
Don’t shop before taking the cable car ride. It’s difficult to lug around bags while embarking and disembarking from the small cable cars that can only comfortably accommodate six adults each. Furthermore, it may take up to two hours from the moment you buy the ticket to riding the cable car. The entire ride and viewing on the mountain-top stations may take some time too. Also, visit the washroom at the base station near the ticket counter before taking the ride.

GOOD EATS
Snacks are aplenty at Oriental Village. There are also proper dining places with a choice of Thai, Japanese or local fare. Snacks and burgers are sold at the top station but at slightly higher prices.

TOP SHOP
The shops are quite good, especially during sale season, with almost everything from beachwear and handicraft to branded goods. There is also The Zon duty free shopping chain where you can get chocolates and many other items at lower prices.

INSIDER TIPS
There is a huge discount for MyKad holders for cable car rides and other attractions. So do remember to bring your MyKad, even for your children. As for the cable car ride, it can be quite tiring to queue for hours but sometimes, solo travellers or small groups of two or three persons may be grouped to fill empty seats. So keep an ear out for these ad hoc announcements. You may just be lucky and enjoy the ride earlier than you thought you would!

AL :- 
Great tips for travelers to Langkawi. 

Info on Box JellyFish

Box jellyfish is poisonous

Jellyfish
Box jellyfish is poisonous and the sting from this species can sometimes be fatal to humans or other marine life. The bell or cube-shaped jellyfish has four distinct sides and swimmers would not know they are bitten until they feel excruciating pain, and sometimes can die from it.
The box jellyfish is not edible and are known for their sting which is rarely detected until the venom is injected, but also because they are almost transparent.
It is also found in the tropical oceans around northern Australia, in the waters of the Indo-Pacific region near Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Vinegar is the only known treatment for jellyfish stings and most beach resorts and lifeguards around the Andaman region now keepvinegar at all times.

Malay Mail. 

AL :-
Such a beautiful creature yet dangerous. 

Pantai Chenang Beach

Chenang Beach by Mario Gala
Picture of the day. If anyone wonder how Chenang Beach look like please to this picture. This is the most famous place for beach activity as well as relaxing place at night. The calmness might varies dependent on the
season. For fellow tourist need to plan ahead so that you trip might be enjoyable. Please check here for weather forecast
 
Anyway, i've ask Mario to comment about his trip to Langkawi. So here goes.

Comment from Mario (more great picture from Mario here) :-
One bad thing that I found was the lack of public transportation, no public bus to go anywhere... Since there are public buses everywhere else in rural towns in Malaysia, you would expect Langkawi to have some too, at least for the main routes, and not just expensive taxis. Also, just having one or two ferries a day (from Penang) sounds a bit too little.

About taxis, at least something could be done to make it easier to find taxis to share (e.g. some specific taxi stand for a few common destinations), rather than just having taxis for individual hire. I had to walk around the Kuah Jetty for quite a while looking for tourists with large backpacks before I was able to find someone to share a taxi with...

Apart from that, I visited the beaches of Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah, and I found them very nice, and they were extremely quiet and uncrowded compared to what I was expecting. There were only a few people here and there, not a mass tourist destination as you might expect from its popularity.


Timbermad :-
I totally agree with Mario. Normally we travel by car in Langkawi. But that does not mean that public transportation like bus cannot be introduce in Langkawi. Not all tourist have huge budget to travel. Sometime its more exciting to travel by bus around Langkawi. Perhaps this should be a new areas that LADA or Local authorities can improve.

Farm Supervisor / Assistant Supervisor - Opening

Requirements:
  • Male preferred.
  • Minimum age of 25 years old and above.
  • At least 3 years experience in leading and supervising farm workers.
  • A mature personality and independent.
  • To FIRMLY LEAD farm workers to complete farm works on time.
  • To plan and schedule farm works. -More info here-

Friday, March 18, 2011

Langkawi: Thumbs up from tourists

THIRTY-five year-old Swiss national Annia Titus holds a special place in her heart for Malaysia because her father is a Malaysian and she tries to come "home" at least once a year to catch up with family and see more of the country.

After not visiting Langkawi for more than five years, Titus returned early this year with a friend and stayed for three nights.

"I always prefer small islands like those on the east coast like Perhentian, Redang and even Tioman, where I can snorkel," said the decoration painter who has visited Langkawi six times.

"Apart from the cable car rides, which I have been enjoying in Langkawi, I only use the island these days as a hopping point for the ferry from the island to neighbouring Koh Lipe in Thailand," she added.

First-time Langkawi visitors Henry Wong and his wife Sandra Fong from Sydney, Australia, have had generally good things to say about the island, with a few suggestions for improvement.

"We rented a car from the airport and found the signages very clear and helpful to get to our hotel Berjaya Langkawi Resort," said Malaysian-born Wong, who has lived in Australia for 40 years and returns to hometown Sibu in Sarawak once every two years.

The couple, who did a lot of research on the Internet about Langkawi before deciding to hop over from Penang where they were also on vacation, gave the thumbs up for the hotel they were staying, which they said gave good value for money.

"We thoroughly enjoyed the cable-car ride and good exercise provided by walking the sky bridge," said accountant Sandra, who was born in Australia.

"Our Japanese lunch at the Oriental Village was a bit of a letdown, although we enjoyed the beautiful view of the hills," she added.

For Wong, who is a computer network engineer, the rusty railings on the Langkawi sky-bridge - which is suspended 700m above sea-level - can be given a new coat of paint or a clean up.

"We really enjoyed the walk on the curved pedestrian bridge from where we could take in the spectacular view of the Andaman Sea, but when one wants to grip the rails for better support, they tend to get put off when it is coated with rust," he added.

AL :
Keep it up Langkawi

Mangroves and mangrove dwellers, Langkawi, Malaysia

Pic & post by Dasmanul
The first couple of days of my recent visit to Malaysia were spent on Langkawi, and on our first day we did a guided tour of the mangroves, a strange and fascinating eco system of its own. As we were told, very important for Earth's CO2 balance and, sadly but not surprisingly, highly endangered by human activities. I thought I'd share a few pictures with you. Not all of them came out as well as I would have liked from a technical point of few, but I still find them enjoyable. 

This eagle was sitting far overhead - I think the pic came out not too bad for being shot handheld from a boat.


AL :- Interesting post & story from dasmanul. Its from a dpreview forum which members can share experience & lovely pictures.. Great & honest review.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Langkawi hotels vigilant over danger

HOTELS along the Pantai Cenang stretch in Pulau Langkawi have always taken precautionary measures to ensure the safety of their guests and visitors.
Casa Del Mar general manager Tom Blachere said the hotel makes it a must that all visitors are informed about  the jellyfish danger, when they check in during the mid-year season.
"At other times, we have it stated on our activity board in the lobby. As much as we need to keep them informed, at the same time, we do not want to alarm our guests."

He said the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) had provided adequate and updated information to all hotels. A spokesperson for another hotel on Pantai Cenang said several staff had undergone training on first aid and also on how to handle victims of jellyfish stings.
"We have qualified staff on standby at all times. For now, we have not put up any warning signage. However, we do inform our visitors during the jellyfish season."
She said the hotels and business operators along Pantai Cenang took part in gotong-royong exercises once a month to clean up the beach.


AL :-
Yes, i suggest all hotel visitors should be aware of the danger of jellyfish. What to do when sting &  who to turn to for follow up medical treatment.

Eagle Point in Kuah

Eagle Replica or Jentayu in Kuah
Picture of the day by Popsytwisty. The legend said that Langkawi was a place for a big bird called Garuda. Legend also said there's Garuda has attacked the convoy from Raja Merong Mahawangsa from its way to China. Raja Merong Mahawangsa using his magic fire a bow of arrow to Garuda which turn in Jentayu (a Legend bird) which fights with Garuda in the waters of Langkawi.

A the end the convoy was safe but the Jentayu bird die in the fight & Garuda left the scene from exhaustion.   

Comment by Popsytwisty about her trip :-
The trip wasn't really recent, it was about 2 years ago. But it was a good trip nonetheless. I enjoyed my stay at Helang Hotel and the food in Langkawi was fantastic especially the pisang goreng stall along the road!
More picture by her here.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Jellyfish phenomena seasonal

PETALING JAYA: The jellyfish phenomena in Pulau Langkawi has caused fears among the residents and tourists in recent years. Experts say the problem there is seasonal and there are many contributing factors for their presence near the islands on the western coast of the peninsula.

A Department of Fisheries spokesperson said the jellyfish phenomena was not confined to Langkawi but throughout the western coast, including Penang and Pulau Pangkor, off Perak.
"The massive swarms of jellyfish not only affects tourism at Langkawi, Penang and Pangkor but also the running of a power plant in Manjung, Perak," said the spokesperson.

"Since this is a natural phenomena and also seasonal, it is beyond our capability to deal with it. We do not have any special task force to deal with jellyfish like what we did to the harmful alga bloom."
He said the department advised those in the tourism industry, especially seaside hotels, to be alert at all times of the jellyfish danger.
"Putting up warning signs on jellyfish at beach areas is also our responsibility."
Recently, a Swedish newspaper, Aftonbladet, reported a 45-year-old Swedish tourist had died from being Jellyfish phenomena seasonal Box jellyfish is poisonous and the sting from this species can sometimes be fatal to humans or other marine life.

The bell or cube-shaped jellyfish has four distinct sides and swimmers would not know they are bitten until they feel excruciating pain, and sometimes can die from it. The box jellyfish is not edible and are known for their sting which is rarely detected until the venom is injected,  but also because they are almost transparent. It is also found in the tropical oceans around northern Australia, in the waters of the Indo-Pacific region near Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Vietnam. Vinegar is the only known treatment for jellyfish stings and most beach resorts and lifeguards around the Andaman region now keep vinegar at all times.

Box jellyfish is poisonous stung by a jellyfish while swimming in Langkawi.
In April 2008, it was reported that a young Swedish tourist died from box jellyfish stings off Koh Lanta in Krabi, Thailand.

University Malaysia Terengganu's Institute of Oceanography deputy director, Dr Zainuddin Bachok, said there was a need to know the route of the jellyfish phenomena. He said there were several possible factors that may cause this, including the water currents and physical factors.

"It can be a migration process, where the water current moves and the jellyfish go along with it. Physical factors such as the water temperature also play a role. When the water in a certain area turns colder, the jellyfish seek to migrate to warmer waters where they tend to get reproductive."
However, he also pointed out the migration process was a norm in marine life.
Zainuddin suggested that continuous data monitoring be conducted to analyse the pattern of the jellyfish phenomena and from that, perhaps the main causes of the phenomena can be known for certain.
Langkawi Development Authority's (LADA) tourism division principal assistant manager, Azmil Munif Bukhari, told The Malay Mail the jellyfish phenonmena was seasonal and the situation was back to normal.
He said July was the season of the jellyfish in Langkawi.
Azmil said there were frequent gotong-royong exercises involving the hotels and other business operators to clean up the beaches.

"Recently, a team from Universiti Sains Malaysia conducted research on the matter and we are working closely with them."

Local media reports said the improper dumping of sewage and the disappearance of turtles caused an explosion in the jellyfish population last year. In first 21 days of July, there were 185 recorded cases of jellyfish attacks on tourists and residents, including fishermen. It was stated that best way to curb the number of jellyfish would be to prevent marine pollution. However, it was also mentioned there are problems in increasing the number of turtles, which feed on jellyfish, because of pollution along the beaches.


The Malay Mail
To be Continue.

AL: - 
If its really seasonal then the expert should advise us when will be the peak season. Then we can alert the public on that period to be more cautious. Having said that is the Medical expert in Langkawi can handle such situation especially when it comes to box jellyfish.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Crystal Clear Water Beach

Crystal Clear
Picture of the day. Picture by Tomaizon. I wonder where is this. With the right lighting & great day you'll get this amazing picture. More picture by Tomaizon here.

Comment by Tomaizon : "Langkawi island is very beautiful place, and I think there are many places to photograph."

Monday, March 14, 2011

Atop A Waterfall B&W

Atop A Waterfall
Picture of the day. A picture of a waterfall in Langkawi. I think this is Telaga Tujuh Waterfall during low raining season. Its not a good time to swim or having fun. Anyway thanks to Ollie for the great picture. More picture by him here.

Comment by Ollie :-
"I loved my trip to Langkawi, it is a naturally beautiful island and the people were very friendly to my friends and I. It was great to be able to discover new places and new food for ourselves but it would have been handy to have a cheap method of transport, like a public bus that regularly went around the island because the taxis could be expensive."

AL :- Agree with Ollie. Should have a shuttle bus from Kuah to certain tourist spot. Lada should think about this suggestion.

Langkawi's Caves Of Mystery And Intrigue

12pic107Bat Cave, Crocodile and Legend Cave. The names spark the imagination. Carved by water out of the soft limestone over millennia, the caves have only recently come to light.
Located at the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park, one of Langkawi's main conservation areas on the northeast tip of the island, the limestone mountains here also boast one of the world's oldest cave passage and natural rock formation.

To explore the caves, I joined a group of visitors from Korea and we took a motorboat upstream along the Kilim River to Bat Cave.
From a small jetty, a boardwalk leads right through Bat Cave and emerges at the other side, round the base of the limestone hill to rejoin the jetty.

The wooden planks thumped softly beneath our feet, expectations high on the wonders that we would see. Panoramic view of Gua Cerita. As we walked in the eternal twilight, the chirps of bats echoed in the gloom.

There are thousands of bats living in this cave. Using their sonar skills, they flutter about, looking for mosquitoes to eat before dangling upside down on their perches.

Between the flying rodents, the bat droppings and the drizzling rainwater, I was happy to be wearing a protective helmet. Ancient seashells stuck to the roof and walls reveals that this cave was originally the sandy bottom of an ancient river millions of years ago.
"Look at this column," our guide, Hassan said. "The stalactite formed from water droplets from the ceiling has joined at the bottom, becoming one big column. It takes millions or years to achieve this and only a few seconds to destroy it. We should do all we can to preserve these natural wonders," he added.
It was indeed beautiful. And so were the other intriguing cave formations found all around. Pointing my torchlight at the rock face, I noticed that one outcrop looked like a mother carrying her child and another looked like a tall, elegant lady

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

AL :-
I have a book which tells about Cave's of Langkawi. Interesting book. I will use the book as a reference & tell about it bit by bit in this blog. So for those who are interesting with Caves of Langkawi Stay TUNE!

Nightly Cultural Show At Langkawi Cable Car During School Holidays

ALOR SETAR, March 12 (Bernama) -- Visitors to Langkawi during the ongoing school holidays can experience Malaysian culture on show nightly at Langkawi Cable Car.

The special cultural shows began yesterday and would go on until March 19, said Ebi Azly Abdullah, chief operating officer of Panorama Langkawi, the operator of Langkawi Cable Car wholly owned by Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd.

He said in a statement that various types of Malaysian ethnic dance would be showcased throughout the week.

Since the start of the night cable car service during weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) and public holidays, the response has been very encouraging, he said.

"We will continue to aggressively promote Langkawi Cable Car through our normal channels as well as through the social media," Ebi Azly said.

The cable car ride takes visitors up to 708 metres above sea level, with the journey covering a distance of 2.2km linking the station at the foot of Mt Machinchang to the station at the top of the mountain.

Bernama

AL :-
Applause effort by Prasarana Berhad to held such activity till night. This is in line with opening of the cable car till 10:00pm. In a way, the shop's there will benefit by this school holiday.. 

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Makam Mahsuri Traditional Music

Traditional music performance in Makam Mahsuri
Picture of the day. Picture was taken at Makam Mahsuri. Traditional music played by the local ladies. If you like cultural type of tourist attraction this is the place. Thanks alex for sharing. More picture by alex here.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Air Terjun Telaga Tujuh Waterfall

Cascading waterfall.
Picture of the day. Picture taken by Alex of Telaga Tujuh Waterfall. They are common areas you can go either the upper part of the waterfall or the lower part (as per picture). Anyway, please be carefull when going to the upper part of the waterfall because there's been several case already people slip & fall. Some fatality also noted at the area. Beware of the monkeys as well.

Please check more great pictures by Alex here.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Langkawi Link Vacation Guide - 2011 March Issue

Langkawi Link is a free travel magazine which offer great guideline & travel info to Langkawi Tourist monthly.
Get yours today in Airport, Kuah Jetty or selected places. Please email me at anaklangkawi@gmail.com for a pdf copy..

Asean Countries Invited To International Padi Festival 2011

LANGKAWI, March 9 (Bernama) -- Padi cultivation equipment and technology from Thailand and Indonesia will be among the items to be exhibited during the two-day Langkawi International Padi Festival 2011 here beginning July 23.

Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) public relations officer Ramizi Hassan said besides Thailand and Indonesia, participants from Singapore would also be present.

"The involvement by several Asean countries will enable them to exchange information and experience in field cultivation," he said here Wednesday.

The exhibition is organised jointly by the Ministry of Information Communication and Culture, Kedah Culture and Arts Department, Lada and the Agriculture Department.

-- BERNAMA

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Bat Cave / Gua Kelawar



Picture of the day by Haziqis. This Bat Cave situated at Kilim Geo-Park forest areas. But if dont stand stinking bat dropping better not go there. To check more pictures by Haziqis please refer here.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Fama Carnival In Langkawi During School Holidays

LANGKAWI, March 8 (Bernama) -- Fresh fruits, handicraft and an assortment of products of small and medium industries will be on sale at the week-long Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) carnival here beginning on Saturday and coinciding with the school holidays.

Kedah Fama Director Wan Abdullah Wan Chik said entrepreneurs would display their wares at 100 stalls at the "Karnival Kota Tani Langkawi 2011."

Fama, with the collaboration of Tourism Kedah, would hold a demonstration to promote Kedah cuisine during the carnival, to be held at Kota Tani Padang Matsirat here, he said.

Wan Abdullah said arrangements had been made to bring tourists to the carnival where products would be sold at "reasonable prices" and Fama expected to chalk up sales of between RM150,000 and RM200,000.

-- BERNAMA 


AL :-
For fellow tourist. This event shall not be missed. Try out those lovely food & fruit.  

Langkawi Cable Car Video

Cable car video by
For those who wonder what's up there better watch the video. Great video. 
This might explain those with hearth problem not recommended to ride the cable car.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Bread takes on the gourmet feel

The Loaf

A lifestyle bakery/bistro, The Loaf is very famous because it is co-owned by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Its first main outlet was opened in 2006 at the picturesque setting of Telaga Harbour, Langkawi, and has since added four more outlets, one each at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Empire Shopping Gallery (Subang Jaya), IOI Boulevard (Puchong) and Bangsar Village 2. Nonetheless, the making of the bread and pastry products is still mainly in the hands of award-winning Grand Chef Yukichi Matsubara from Japan.

When visiting Langkawi, be sure to drop by The Loaf for breakfast to have some of their freshly-baked croissants. With the delicious aroma of butter lingering through the place, it can be a therapeutic experience for the soul as well.

“Some of our special ingredients include flour imported from Japan and butter from Belgium. We also use several baking techniques, including the Louvain Method with natural yeasts obtained from dry raisins and fresh lemons,” says Matsubara, who has written a book titled The Latest Style of Boulanger Desserts – Unity of Bread and Dessert.

“Making a croissant, for example, is a long and tedious process. But we make sure we have the best ingredients to start with,” he adds.

The Loaf’s bestsellers (available at all outlets) include croissants, hard breads such as Campagne Fromage and Magazine, sweet breads like Cranberry Cheese and Red Bean Walnut, and the Chicken Onion Loaf.
The Loaf also has something that no other bakery has, the Cube 60°. This is their signature brewed coffee comprising espresso frozen to -60°C. The frozen coffee will slowly dissolve as warm milk is poured over it, resulting in a rich and velvety beverage.

 
AL : A must visit place for bread lovers.

Beras Terbakar Wooden House

A Malay house at Beras terbakar 
Picture of the day. This is an example of a typical Malay wooden house in Langkawi. This house show unique old architecture of Malay craftsmanship. There're not many more existed & maintained like this. Nice picture & great to know the owner still maintain it. Picture by MDNorzalizan

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Aktiviti Ahli Parlimen Langkawi February 2011

Majlis Penyerahan Stesen Teksi, Pekan Kuah
Antara aktiviti Ahli Parlimen YB Dato Paduka Abu Bakar Taib di Langkawi.  Alhamdulillah. Moga moga aktiviti begini berterusan tidak mengenal pegangan politik & rakyat. Utk Add YB kita sila lihat di FB Abu Bakar Taib.

Majlis Penyampaian Sumbangan Kepada Pelajar Cemerlang UPSR & PMR di Auditorium LADA

Majlis Penyerahan Atap Rumah di Pulau Tuba pada 20 Feb 2011

Penyerahan Sumbangan Enjin di Pejabat Pusat Khidmat Ahli Parlimen Langkawi

Lighthouse by MsXeRoZ Nicole

Pic by her friend.
When i was little & innocent as it may be, one of my favourite book is The Famous Five series by Enid Blyton. To be frank, i have read all her (series) books, and i was deeply affected by her writings. Being born in Malaysia, we weren't exposed to the scenes that she wrote in the book.
Island, Mysteries, Sunken Treasures...There were times i wish those were true and i am a part of the adventures.
Until when i was in Langkawi, this is the first time i see a lighthouse.
 
 
A/L :- 
Great picture of the lighthouse. Well, its located in Telaga Harbour on the way to the Cable Car

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Wooden Boat & Sampan

Sampan by asyrafhamzah
Picture of the day. Wooden boat/ sampan parking. Picture taken in Pantai Kok. Nicely taken picture. Great composition of color. Thanks for sharing the picture asyrafhamzah. More pictures please refer his link.  

Friday, March 4, 2011

'Kiss-Up Mountain Bike Challenge 2011' Bermula 12 Mac

LANGKAWI, 3 Mac (Bernama) -- Empat kategori akan dipertandingkan pada kejohanan basikal lasak Langkawi Mountain Bike Series "Kiss-up MTB Challenge 2011" di estet Ladang Sungai Raya, Kisap di sini pada 12 Mac ini.

Setiausaha Pertandingan Hainil Irwan Soleh berkata kategori junior lelaki, senior lelaki, elit dan wanita terbuka dipertandingkan pada cabaran itu yang terbuka kepada pelumba basikal lasak di Malaysia dengan jarak perlumbaan 12km dan 24km.

Katanya acara ini diadakan secara bersiri bermula di Kisap, dan Kelab Basikal Lasak Langkawi atau lebih dikenali dengan nama 99 Bikes kemudiannya akan mengadakan aktiviti berbasikal itu di kawasan-kawasan lain di Langkawi.

"Pertandingan ini akan diadakan secara bersiri dan setiap peserta akan mendapat mata pada setiap siri," katanya.

Beliau berkata terdapat empat pusingan pada 2011 di mana selain daripada hadiah yang ditawarkan pada setiap siri, peserta juga akan merebut gelaran "juara keseluruhan" sekiranya berjaya mengumpul mata keseluruhan tertinggi.

Katanya dengan adanya penganjuran aktiviti berbasikal ini ia dapat memberikan satu ruang dan peluang kepada peminat-peminat sukan basikal untuk terus melibatkan diri.

Dianggarkan 200 pelumba tempatan akan menyertai pertandingan itu.

-- BERNAMA

AL :
Amat menarik sekali. Kepada penggemar2 basikal terutama yg off road ini adalah saat yg ditunggu2. Diharap LADA @ pihak swasta bolehlah menaja aktiviti seperti ini..

Langkawi Story: Langkawi Squid Torch Challenge/ Suluh Sotong 2011

LANGKAWI, FEB. 26 - Squid Torch Challenge that was held at Kuala Chenang Jetty from 25 February to 26 February was runnning succesfully with the participation of 49 boats involving locals and foreigners. The total weight of 223 kg of squids were caught in the event.


More details story here.

A/L :-
What i can tell is i really salute those in Langkawi Story which brings story in new way of seeing Langkawi. Always love the story & video's. Kudos Langkawi Story.


Perjalan ke Utara dari Bintang Zohra

Gambar oleh Bintang Zohra
Menaiki ferry pertama jam 7.30 pagi dari Kuala Kedah. Kami menginap di CD hotel  di Pantai Chenang selama 2 malam. 
Cerita perjalanan Blogger Bintang Zohra ke Utara Malaysia. Langkawi termasuk dalam lawatan rakan kita. Tapi yg menariknya adalah melihat rakan kita merancang lawatan sehingga setiap pelusuk tempat boleh singgah. Ada tempat yg saya sendiri tak pernah sampai. Hm.. Menarik.. 
Utk lihat lebih lanjut sila lihat disini.

Properties In Langkawi

For those who are looking for properties for sale in Langkawi there's several websites that offers quite an info.

For me i always look at mudah.com.my. The link is here. The problem is most of the posting are in local Malay Language & its quite hard for some people. There even posted land for sale or rent. What i can say is the website is up to date & you might be dealing with the real owner not agents.
 

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Kejohanan Tenis Remaja Antarabangsa Langkawi Geopark 2011 Dari 5-9 Dis

LANGKAWI, 2 Mac (Bernama) -- Kejohanan Tenis Remaja Antarabangsa Langkawi Geopark 2011 akan diadakan di Kompleks Sukan Langkawi selama lima hari mulai 5 Dis depan.

Naib Pengerusi Persatuan Tenis Langkawi (PTL) Edham Nazri berkata kejohanan itu berlangsung pada masa yang hampir sama dengan Pameran Udara dan Maritim Antarabangsa Langkawi (Lima 2011) dari 6 hingga 10 Dis.

"PTL terpaksa membuat tempahan awal bilik penginapan hotel-hotel di Langkawi untuk menempatkan pemain," katanya di sini pada Rabu.

Katanya lebih 10 negara termasuk Malaysia, Korea, Singapura, Thailand, Filipina, Uzbekistan dan Indonesia akan diundang menyertai kejohanan itu.

Kejohanan tahunan anjuran bersama Lembaga Pembangunan Langkawi itu merupakan usaha mempromosi Langkawi sebagai destinasi pelancongan sukan tenis dan mencungkil bakat-bakat baru.

-- BERNAMA

AL :-
Kenapalah dibuat kejohanan pada waktu & yg sama dgn LIMA 2011 

Amidst the green waters of Langkawi

Video promoting Langkawi by NDTV. Interesting video for tourist from India.
See here for more info's.

Kuah Town or Pekan Kuah in Malay

Pekan Kuah or Kuah Town
Picture of the day. A great picture of Kuah Town with a great cloud combination. Nicely taken picture by the Nadhar. More interesting pictures here. More Langkawi pictures here. Thanks for the picture Bro.