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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Beach wedding in Andaman, Langkawi; by www.stories.my

 I’ve said it countless times before, and I’ll say it again, I simply ADORE beach and garden weddings. Despite the fact that tropical Malaysia is rather hot and humid, the whole atmosphere during a beach wedding is completely relaxed and laidback. There were days when I waltzed up to a shoot in flip flops or barefooted! Vanessa and Michael’s wedding was held at the gorgeous Andaman, Langkawi. White sandy beaches, blue skies and seas greeted us that day as everyone bustled around in preparation for the wedding.

Please refer here for more photo's of the wedding.. 

AL :-
I must say Langkawi is an amazing place to hold a wedding reception. Great beach, nice weather, great food & the best of all a reception you & your guest will never forget.. Thanks to Stories.my for sharing.. :) .. I love the pictures..

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Man Commando says thank you to Najib

TOURISM DRAW: Moves are afoot to promote Langkawi as a paradise for anglers

Man Commando (left) and fishermen appreciate the help they are getting from the government.
Man Commando (left) and fishermen appreciate the help they are getting from the government.
 MAN Commando, that's the nickname of this mover of a group of fishermen in Langka-wi. His full name is Asri Shaaban. He has been leading the charge to transform  fishermen along Sungei Chenang, one of Langkawi's most popular seaside spots.

 He has been leading the fishermen of Pantai Chenang for the last seven years  and seen the changes that's been made to turn the fishermen from an undisciplined lot to a community that's very aware of their responsibilities.

 I met Man Commando over breakfast as we gathered to plan ways to promote tourism on the legendary island, via sports fishing. Berita Harian, through its Joran and special projects unit, has been organising fishing competitions for   15 years.

 The response from anglers had been consistently strong. Now it's time to return to Langkawi, where the fishing is relatively good and the waters not as choppy as in other parts of the country.

 Man Commando is a fast talker, filling whoever who wants to listen with anecdotes and background information. He rattles them off with confidence and a sense of pride.

 He's a son of a fishermen, and had returned to Langkawi to bring back all the expertise and leadership he could muster to transform the fishermen.

 The Langkawi fishermen are located along the beaches. A river usually provides the perfect location for a jetty for their boats to be parked and for the fish  to be unloaded to buyers.

 Here him say: "Saya dok berleter dengan nelayan kat sini supaya mereka jaga kebersihan dan keselamatan. Jangan biarkan jeti ni kotor dan tak terurus." ( "I've never stopped reminding the fishermen to maintain their jetty clean and make it safe. Don't let the jetty be dirty ... ever!")

Monday, March 26, 2012

Typhoon amateur photo contest for those who attended Lima airshow

PETALING JAYA (March 22, 2012): Following the success of the Eurofighter Typhoon Amateur photography competition in Europe, the contest has been extended for those who attended last year's Lima air show in Langkawi.

The competition is open from March 9 to Aug 31, according to a press released yesterday. The winning image will be featured in the 2013 Eurofighter Typhoon calendar, and the winner will receive a 1:48 scale Typhoon model and will be invited to sit on the 2013 judging panel.

In addition, the top three photographs will be published in Eurofighter World magazine, on the www.eurofighter.com website and winners will all receive a 2013 Eurofighter Typhoon calendar.
A special category prize 'The Panel's Choice' will again be awarded to the best young Typhoon photographer for entries from those under the age of 16.

Commenting on the competition lead judge Geoffrey Lee of Plane focus said: "This is a perfect platform to prove that amateur photography can indeed be extraordinary".
This year's winner will be announced during the ILA Berlin Air Show in September 2012.
Original images of Typhoon will be accepted from any amateur photographer by e:mail to communications @eurofighter.com or by post to:

Eurofighter Communications, Am Söldnermoos 17, 85399 Hallbergmoos, Germany.
For further information about the terms and conditions of the competition, please visit the Eurofighter website: www.eurofighter.com.

AL :-
For those who has taken the effort to take pictures during LIMA why not sign up to this competition. 
You might be the lucky ones.  

Sunday, March 25, 2012

No radiation danger assurance

DENGKIL (March 22, 2012): There is no danger from radiation at Bukit Merah as claimed by the Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL) group, says the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB).
Noorhasnah Khairullah, the special adviser to the AELB director-general, said the radiation at Bukit Merah had a natural origin.

"In some areas it is a bit high, such as at Pasir Hitam, Langkawi, it is 2.2 millisievert a year," she said at a public briefing at AELB headquarters today.

SMSL, which opposes the Lynas Advance Materials Plant operations in Gebeng, Kuantan, has claimed that radiation levels at the Mitsubishi Chemical's Asian Rare Earth (ARE) plant are still hazardous.
The group conducted tests at the grounds of the plant, which was closed down 18 years ago and claimed the radiation reading near the plant was around 0.19 microsievert per hour.

SMSL also claimed that the radiation reading near the ARE dumpsite was about 0.2 microsievert per hour, which would be beyond the safe 1 milisievert per year level.

AELB Licensing Division director Hasmadi Hassan, concurred with Noorhasnah's view, saying: "It depends on the geology of the location, pointing out that it was a tin mining area.
He added that what was under the ground would affect the radiation readings and noted that AELB had also gathered different readings throughout the Bukit Merah area.
The readings were all within the safety levels, he said.


AL :-
Not a surprise. I've read article & reseach saying that Black Sand Beach has traces of some radioactive compound. But its not that high... This article confirms it.. 

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Helicopter & Aircraft Model LIMA 2011

LIMA 2011

LIMA 2011 

Picture of the day. S70B Helicopter displayed during LIMA 2011.. The model of Rafale among figthers displayed & lobbied by manufacturer.

Great pictures taken by Fazil.. Thanks.. terima Kasih.. more picture by him here.. 

The view from Bon Ton Langkawi

Splendid View from Bon Ton Langkawi
 Picture of the day. A great view from Bon Ton Langkawi. Such an amazing landscape which myself cannot have access too.. Thanks for sharing CityBasher.. More picture here.. 

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Archipelago and Fjords | Langkawi

Archipelago and Fjords | Langkawi
Among 1 of 99 island in Langkawi
Picture of the day. One among 99 islands of Langkawi. Great picture taken. Thanks to Alexander Zulkarnain for sharing. Refer his blog here for more & flikr for pictures.


Thanks for sharing bro..

Friday, March 16, 2012

Legend of Langkawi


The trouble began, as it often does, with a beautiful woman. Princess Mahsuri was a young woman of extraordinary beauty who lived on the island of Langkawi more than 200 years ago during the reign of Sultan Abdullah Mukarram Shah the Second.

She was falsely accused of adultery and sentenced to death by "piercing" but legend has it that during her execution she bled white blood, thus proving her innocence. As she lay dying, Mahsuri put a curse on the island: Langkawi would not be peaceful or prosperous for seven generations.
Looking down on the beachside resorts and yachts moored at the marina from the Langkawi Cable Car, I'm glad the seven generations have passed and Langkawi is flourishing again.
An archipelago of 99 tropical islands separated from mainland Malaysia by the Straits of Malacca, Langkawi was once a hideaway for pirates; now it's best known for its unspoilt beaches, sumptuous resorts and mountain wilderness.

The ride to the top of Mt Mat Cincang, on the north-west corner of the main island, is not for the faint-hearted. With a vertical rise of 680m and a gradient of 42 degrees, it's one of the world's steepest cable cars.

I get off at the highest point and step on to the curved suspension bridge, which crosses a deep chasm between Mat Cincang and a neighbouring summit. In the distance I can see across the Andaman Sea to Thailand, while, 100m below, virgin jungle is draped over the landscape like a velvet shawl.

A fearless macaque in the mangroves. Picture: Aidi Abdullah

According to legend, Mat Cincang and neighbouring Gunung Raya, are the bodies of giants who were cast into stone after brawling over yet another beautiful maiden. A smaller hill, Mat Sawar, stands between the two. In 2007 this mountainous region, with its ancient forests, waterfalls and beaches, was recognised by UNESCO for its "outstanding geological landscape" and assigned Global Geopark status. More than 550 million years old, Langkawi is home to the most complete Palaeozoic sedimentary sequence in Malaysia.

An easy 30-minute drive to the north-east of the island brings me to the second key conservation area in the Geopark, the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park. I've signed up for a mangrove forest excursion with Aidi Abdullah, resident naturalist at the Four Seasons Resort where I'm staying.
As we glide past sheer limestone cliffs and enter the mangroves, Aidi points out some of the swamp's strange inhabitants: fiddler crabs with pink claws, little amphibious fish that walk on mud and a brown-ringed kingfisher with a blood-red beak.

"Keep your eyes out for dusty-pink dolphins," he says. I assume he's pulling my leg but he explains they often see pods of up to 60 Indo-Pacific dolphins in the river.
Leaving the mangroves, we enter a section of the main river where boats gather to watch one of the daily eagle feedings. My heart sinks as dozens of Brahminy kites, Langkawi's official bird, dart and dive among the boats scooping up scraps of chicken. To see these magnificent creatures acting like a flock of greedy seagulls saddens me.

"The feeding was started to lure the eagles away from the airport," explains Aidi. "But it is now becoming a problem."
Tourism is a double-edged sword in the new, prosperous Langkawi.

"Development has come quickly to our paradise and we need stricter legislation to protect it," Aidi says.

Aidi is a champion for the cause and is lobbying the government to restrict boats in the mangroves, the speed at which they travel and also to educate the boat drivers in mangrove biology and eco-awareness.
As we turn our backs on the eagles, Aidi takes a detour through a series of limestone sea caves. Drifting through the luminous water, we stretch out and gaze up at the hundreds of bats hanging from the ceiling. The Cave of Bats (Gua Kelawar) is steeped in legend due to the twisted and tortured stalactites which look like otherworldly creatures. The smell of bat guano is overpowering and I'm soon glad to be in the sunlight, heading back to our resort.

Original Article
The Four Seasons is a Moorish-inspired retreat at the edge of the Geoforest Park. This private village offers luxurious villas and pavilions set on the white sands and emerald waters of Tanjung Rhu Cove. Being so close to the forest, I am constantly startled by macaques on my balcony, families of dusky-leaf monkeys on the lawn and hornbills in the trees.

The following day I drive to the southern part of the island, passing through small villages, coconut plantations and local markets before arriving at the tourist hub of Pantai Cenang Beach. This 2km stretch of beach is lined with stalls and restaurants and more places for a foot massage than I have toes. At a beachside bar with a frosty beer, my young travelling companion makes the cliched comparison "like Bali 30 years ago". I visited Kuta 30 years ago. I smile and nod in agreement.
But I'm after an experience that goes back further than 30 years; like about 100 years. A five-minute drive away, in a former coconut plantation, Australian expatriate Narelle McMurtrie has restored eight antique "Malay Kampung" (village) houses, sourced from all over Malaysia, to create an eclectic boutique property named Bon Ton Restaurant and Resort. Next door is the sister resort, Temple Tree, where a collection of antique Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian buildings form a 12-room, 13-suite, eight-villa property.

While Ms McMurtrie's goal is to conserve Malay heritage, these boutique properties fund her other passion - the rehabilitation of neglected and needy animals. Mainly cats and dogs through the Langkawi Animal Shelter and Sanctuary (LASSie), but they also treat wildlife which is returned to the wild once healthy.

The rescued dogs are kept in a nearby shelter; the cats, however are free to roam the resort. At lunch in the Nam restaurant I almost sit on a cat, another sits at my feet, while yet more sleep on daybeds by the pool.

I'm not a cat person but I take some comfort in knowing these well-fed felines are not roaming the rainforest causing further mischief. Furthermore, LASSie's main aim is to control the island's stray cat and dog population through sterilisation.

After a traditional Nyonya meal (a blend of Chinese and Malay) of chilli prawns, spicy and sour fish curry, lamb rendang and cashew nut rice I have one final detour before heading to the airport - Mahsuri's Mausoleum.

As I stand in front of the simple white tomb paying my respects, a group of schoolchildren enter the grounds, laughing and giggling, as children must.
Mahsuri might represent the past but in the echoes of these little voices I think I can hear the sound of a peaceful and prosperous future.

Kilim Cave Tour

Boat in Cave
Boat in the cave by Rashad
Picture of the day. One of the highlights of KILIM your. Make sure camera's ready.. Thanks to Rashad for sharing the picture. More pictures by him here.

Comment by him :-
I visited that island 3 times, i love it, i enjoy the silent and quite neighboorhoods there, i love beaches, island hopping, mountains there as well, my favorite is the mangroove trail trip. 

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Lada issues list of fares for taxi drivers

LANGKAWI: The Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) has issued a list of fares for taxi drivers here, which must be complied by them.


Its chief executive, Tan Sri Khalid Ramli said the list covered fares for over 30 destinations.
 
"The list is important to ensure that tourists know the actual fare for each destination. This is an effort to improve the quality of public transport services in Langkawi," he told reporters after launching the sticker for rented cars and the list of fares today.    
 
Pulau Langkawi currently has more than 1,000 taxis.     "We hope all taxi drivers will comply with the fares listed for the convenience of tourists," he said.
 
Lada held a discussion with taxi drivers before the list was issued, he added. -- BERNAMA

AL :-
This just mean one thing.. More transparent with regards to the fares for the tourist..
I support the motion..

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Marriage ceremony in penguin tank enters Book of Records

LANGKAWI: Wedding bells rang inside an aquarium full of penguins for two couples who opted to make a difference by sitting on makeshift dais at the Underwater World Langkawi (UWL) during their marriage ceremony.
Mohd Fazli Abdul Rahman, 31, who wedded Nursalmah Tajuddin, 27, and Mohd Shodri Bahador, 25 who tied the knot with Nurul Naziemah Rahim, 22, were employees of UWL.
They performed the ceremony in two separate aquariums, namely, the tank housing African penguins and Rockhoppers, while feeding the penguins in the tanks.
The event, recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records, was also witnessed by Langkawi member of parliament Datuk Abu Bakar Taib.
The spectacle, in the two tanks which lasted for 15 minutes, was accompanied by those handling the penguins, who acted as bridesmaids to ensure everything went smoothly, especially in terms of security of the couples.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/03/12/marriage-ceremony-in-penguin-tank-enters-book-of-records/#ixzz1p3gav5Hl

AL :-
Waaa.. new way of wedding.. Quite unique.. Selamat Pengatin Baru! 

Monday, March 5, 2012

Kilim Fish Feeding


Picture of the day. Fish feeding at Kilim. Wow! Such a clear picture. A technique which eliminate the glare.. More by him here. Thanks for sharing..

Comment by Him 
- Langkawi - an interesting place!





Friday, March 2, 2012

Sunset by Azamnoor

Sunset at Pantai Pasir Hitam
Picture of the day. Sunset taken at Pantai Pasir Hitam. 

Where Is The Bridge?

ISO 100, exposure 16s, f/22, focal 18mm, nd8
This moment occured after a long sunny day. The "bridge" actually heading to Langkawi Island, the most famous island in Malaysia. Even though there are no sandy beach at the area, the view that I could captured was so amazing! With some minimal saturation editing, I represent this photo to you. Enjoy it!


Please refer here for more pictures by him.. Thanks bro.