Stalking Sea Mammals

Unknown to most people, the waters of Langkawi harbour an astonishing array of dolphins, porpoises & whales.

Outstanding!!

Article from the Star.

State-ly boutique hotel in Langkawi Seri Chenang

SeriChenang Langkawi

NESTLED in the bustling Pantai Chenang area of Langkawi, a new boutique hotel, Seri Chenang Resort and Spa Langkawi is all set to create an impression once it opens its doors in May.
According to the resort’s chief executive officer Norlin Datuk Zainal Abidin, the boutique resort, which sits on 0.5 hectares of land, is meant to be a home away from home that epitomes Malaysian culture, heritage and warmth.

One of the highlights of the luxury resort is the six traditional Malay heritage villas designed in different sizes and inspired by the architecture of traditional homes from Malaysian states.
Named Rumah Terengganu, Rumah Negri Sembilan, Rumah Melaka, Rumah Selangor, Rumah Kedah and Rumah Pahang, each villa has its own distinct architectural characteristics. The villas range in size from one bedroom to up to five bedrooms, for a total of 13 spacious rooms that mirror the number of states of Malaysia.

Located on the banks of Kuala Chenang River, next to the popular Chenang beach, the villas are set around a lush royal Malay-inspired garden complete with water features and landscaping.
Intended to be a family holiday home, the resort has the makings of a luxurious getaway with personalised treatment for guests.

“The land belongs to my father who bought it 10 years ago. The initial plan was to build a family holiday home for ourselves but after taking into consideration the cost we thought it would be more feasible to build a resort,” said Norlin.

She added that her brother, Mohammad Shukor who is the product director for the resort, wanted to share the design and architecture of Malaysia with people from around the world.
The project that cost RM5mil began in 2009 with internal funding and Norlin, who has experience in marketing and sales in the retail industry and shopping centre management, was roped in.
Although Langkawi has a number of high-end resorts catering to the upscale market, Norlin and her team are confident that their venture will be successful.
Although the target is to recoup their costs in five years, Norlin is confident they can do it in a shorter time span.

“We have a unique product to offer and we believe we complement all the other luxury hotels on the island and this gives more options for tourists to choose from. There are no other hotels with similar a concept anywhere in the world,” she added.

Langkawi receives 2.8 million tourists a year and the government has come up with a refurbishment plan and funds amounting to RM450mil to give Pantai Chenang a facelift.
Norlin and her team are looking at a 60% occupancy rate for the first few months of operation and are going all out to promote the hotel via tourism exhibitions, travel agents and partnerships.
To ensure they have fulfilled all government requirements, the resort has to have at least five licences for: building a resort on a certain location, fitness, star rating, security and safety from the Fire Department, business, foreign staff, and transportation for resort guests and staff.

According to Norlin, the hotel has more than just architecture to offer and is proud of their service, which she said is their best asset.
For Norlin, the mother of a two-year-old daughter, family always comes first and she insists that the same treatment be accorded to the guests of the hotel.

“Guests are greeted by the resort manager at the airport simply because the manager is the host of the house (resort),” she said.
To add icing to the cake, the resort has butlers who have been specially trained to cater to the needs of guests.

Guests can actually arrange to have the butlers accompany them on their travels around the island or they can rely on phones provided by the hotel to contact the hotel for directions or assistance.
The resort has a direct access to Chenang Beach via a bridge (titi in Malay) as the resort is separated by a river that runs through the resort. Guests can watch fishermen passing along the river in their traditional boats, going out for their daily catch.

“We also want guests to take the opportunity to enjoy the tax-free alcohol, so we are introducing the ‘buy your own’ (BYO) policy whereby the resort will not sell alcohol in the hotel, but guests can purchase their beverages from the supermarkets outside or our butlers can do that for them,” added Norlin.

AL :-

I welcome Seri Chenang to become one of the new boutique hotel in Langkawi..

Langkawi out to draw the sun, sea and surgery crowd

LANGKAWI has invited international investors to consider pumping in funds to develop the medical tourism sector on the island.
Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) chief executive officer Tan Sri Khalid Ramli said the island was taking its cue from Penang, which enjoys a multi-million ringgit turnover from healthcare-related services in its private hospitals.
He said Langkawi offered a suitable place for medical tourism due to its natural landscape.

“The island resort is generally good for rehabilitation due to its pristine hills and beaches. It can also act as a research incubator for the healthcare sector,” he said in an interview.
Since over a million people visit Langkawi annually, he said it would be good for tourists to also explore health matters during their stay.

Investors and researchers, he added, could tap the huge natural resources of the island including the sea cucumber (gamat) which has medicinal value.
Khalid, a former Penang state secretary and a former Implementation Coordination Unit director-general, has big plans for the island.
LADA was recently given RM5bil in federal grant to upgrade the status of Langkawi as a premier international tourism destination.

He said that besides medical tourism, LADA was keen to position Langkawi as an eco- tourism haven.
On the hospitality side, Khalid announced that LADA was also keen to lure investors for six-star property since there was a growing market for luxurious resorts.
LADA’s target is to record three million visitor arrivals by 2015 compared to an average of over one million in the last ten years.

Source - the star

AL :-

I might not be in line with the suggestion. Why want to make Langkawi as Medical tourism centre? Cant we just concentrate on what we have. Another idea injected in without having a deep through study & examination. LADA always like this..

Medical tourism will make Langkawi in direct competition with Penang & Kuala Lumpur. Waste medical management will be another problem. 

I think LADA better take the steep to have fund to study & enhance capibility of Local doctors in combating decease related to tourism. (such as jellyfish problem & dengue). Rather than promoting another sector of tourism without even study the outcome good or note. 

Stop permits for zoos

SAHABAT Alam Malaysia’s attention was drawn to an e-mail from a tourist diverted to us for follow-up action on a tiger exhibited in a small area at a cafe in Burau Bay, Langkawi.
A visit by SAM revealed a tiger on display at a cafe in an enclosed area, with a natural setting of grass and bamboo plants, while another exhibit next to the tiger enclosure displayed a marmoset.
There is intent to bring in a pair of tigers some time this year.
There are already zoos in theme parks and resorts.
Such being the case, it won’t be long before cafe outlets move in with plans for mini zoos, aviaries and/or aquarias.
The cafe claimed that the wild female animal presented by a zoo was not a hybrid.

S.M. MOHD IDRIS,
President,
Sahabat Alam Malaysia.

Full letter here.

p/s: Agree with SAM. This is not a good way to make profit.

Please email me if you need any info with regards to your travel to Langkawi & also if you need any advertising enquiry. ( anaklangkawi@gmail.com )

Berjaya Air heads to Langkawi and Pangkor Island

BERJAYA Air will be adding two new destinations to their lists this November with their expansion programme.

The new destinations — Langkawi and Pangkor were revealed at a poolside party by the airline company at Berjaya Times Square Hotel in Kuala Lumpur recently.

As for Langkawi, there will be four flights per week direct from Subang airport effective Nov 18.
Lee said Langkawi would be the best market for them as the local government had been given a budget of RM420mil under the Langkawi Five-Year Tourism Development Master Plan.
The budget was to re-structure the Langkawi Development Authority and the establishment of a forest ranger team, which was an important process towards improving the tourism value of the place.

Lee also said they have the Dash 7 aircraft that was ideal for island operation with its short take-off and landing performance.
Berjaya Air has added the ATR72 planes as well and was the first airline to have the planes into Malaysia.

The Star

Al :-

Good news. More flight means more competition. So there's 2 players in Subang airport. Firefly & Berjaya air..

No action taken on 32 recommendations - Langkawi International Shooting Range Malaysia

The AG’s report for 2008, among others, pointed out that no action had been taken to implement plans for the Langkawi International Shooting Range Malaysia complex.
The Home Ministry was informed that discussions had been held with the Youth and Sports Ministry and the National Sports Council to turn the complex into a tourist attraction or be handed over to the ministry but no decision had been made.
The ministry was supposed to turn the complex into the Transnational Organised Crime Academy (Matoc) but policy decisions were still at the discussion stage.
The star  
 

A/L :-

Been here once & try shoot the guns. The complex is huge & its a waste looking at how the complex was rarely use by the government. There's ways to turn the complex. Just make it as tourist attraction. If the government dont know how to use it sub let the whole facility to people who are interested. 

There're Malaysian company's making guns & bullet. Probably they might take the iniciate & make it as additional tourist attraction. The compound area can also be converted to Paintball areas. Nearby land as well. Give the company who runs the place incentive & tax relief until its running well..

WHY TOOK MINISTRY SO LONG TO THINK & PLAN ...

A-G: Langkawi auditorium roof poorly constructed

PETALING JAYA: The roof of a newly constructed auditorium in Langkawi was found to be leaking and was not constructed according to specifications.
According to the Auditor-General’s Report, the contractor used wood for the roof structure instead of steel as specified by the Langkawi Development Authority (Lada).
In Feb 2005, Lada approved RM4.5mil under the Ninth Malaysia Plan for the construction of the additional building as an auditorium that serves as a theatre for cultural performances and a silat teachers’ house to increase the attractiveness of Kota Mahsuri complexes.

“Auditors’ visits found the auditorium roof trusses were slanting to the right and might not be able to withstand the weight of the roof,” the report said.
No comprehensive soil investigation was done to identify the suitability of the land before the auditorium and silat teachers’ house design was drawn up, the report said.
“This causes high water retention in the auditoriums’ orchestra pit,” it said.
In reply, the Treasury said the water retention issue had been settled using a “water proofing” method and the floor level had been raised.

“However, the 1.5m water in the pit was caused by rain water that entered through an incomplete roof and not due to the rise of underground water,” it said, adding that the Works Department, which is now in charge of the project, had been informed of the problem.


- The Star

AL :-

I urge the contractor to repair & replace the roof back at their own cost. I bet the roof or structure still have warranty. Before any catastrophic happen..

Budget 2012 boost to property and construction sectors - Langkawi Comment

REALTY CHECK
By DATUK ABDUL RAHIM RAHMAN 

(what he's comment with regards to Langkawi 420millition budget & property & construction sectors)

 As one of the NKEAs, the tourism industry will also receive a shot in the arm. For example, RM420mil will be allocated to launch the Langkawi Five Year Tourism Development Master Plan. Among the initiatives to be undertaken are the restructuring of the Langkawi Development Authority, setting up a park rangers unit, upgrading museums, beaches and small businesses as well as providing a more efficient transportation system.

In my view, to create a more supportive environment for the tourism industry, it is of high importance for the Government to also re-look at current restrictions on buying and investing in properties in Langkawi. The island has great potential; however, more needs to be done to attract hotel operators as well as investment in tourist-related activities as the current regulations are considered as “unfriendly” to foreign buyers or investors.

Full article here.. 

AL :-

Respect his opinion but here are mine. 

Langkawi don't need lavish & high attraction in terms of foreign buyers or investors. More hotel international operators just means that less & less beach accessible to the public. Look what happen to Andaman area's, Tanjung Rhu areas, Five Season & several other beaches. If i'm not mistaken the law said the beach belongs to the public. Anyone can use the beach & not consider as trespassing. 

So call 'unfriendly' policy make langkawi more attractive in terms of local entity & development. Instate Dato' Should should encourage property investors to team up with locals on development of langkawi. There's a lot of potential & land owner who wish to do business just that lacking in terms of funding & how to..

p/s: Dont want langkawi to be like penang or bali..

Please email me if you need any info with regards to your travel to Langkawi & also if you need any advertising enquiry. ( anaklangkawi@gmail.com )

Property Search for Property Football Everyday Tee Up Sunday October 23, 2011 Platt and Schneitter emerge winners in Langkawi

PETALING JAYA: The second edition of the Langkawi International Mountain Bike Challenge (LIMBC) came to a close yesterday with Germany’s Karl Platt and Switzerland’s Nathalie Schneitter clinching overall victory in the men’s elite and women’s elite categories respectively.
Platt, of Team Bulls, finished second in yesterday’s Stage 5 – a 12-lap cross country 19km criterium – but wins in Stage 2 and Stage 4 allowed him to take home a total of US$16,450, including US$15,000 as the overall winner.

More news here.

Please email me if you need any info with regards to your travel to Langkawi & also if you need any advertising enquiry. ( anaklangkawi@gmail.com )

Stander and Schneitter live up to top rankings in Stage 1 of LIMBC

LANGKAWI: South African Burry Stander and Swiss Nathalie Schneitter lived up to their top rankings as they won the men’s and women’s Stage 1 cross country marathon respectively on the first day of the Langkawi International Mountain Bike Challenge (LIMBC) yesterday.

Swiss Nathalie Schneitter won the women’s event.

Stander outsprinted Germany’s Karl Platt of Team Bulls in a dramatic tussle between the top two riders in the peloton, clocking 2:24.20.5 at the Langkawi Stadium.
Platt was just a fraction slower at 2:24.20.8 while his French team-mate and former European champion Thomas Dietsch was third in 2:26.12.2.
“The first hour of the race was quite a struggle for me as I was still feeling jet-lagged and I was also trying to cope with the weather,” said world No. 6 Stander, who bagged the African championship and South African national championship earlier this year.

“But it was an interesting race on an interesting course.

“To be able to win Stage 1 was a wonderful feeling indeed.”

Malaysia’s top finisher was former road cyclist Fauzan Lutfi, who clocked 2:50.03.2 to finish 25th.

South Africa’s Burry Stander celebrating after winning Stage 1 of the Langkawi International Mountain Bike Challenge Tuesday.

It was a good day at the office for Team Colnago Fabre Sudtirol as world No. 8 cross country cyclist Schneitter led the team to a one-two finish ahead of team-mate Vivienne Meyer in the women’s event.
“It’s always great to win ... and getting a 1-2 finish was really a dream start,” said Schneitter.
The LIMBC features five stages. Stage 2 will be a cross country Olympic standard race which starts and finishes at Kampung Tok Senik Resort.

From the star

AL :-

Its a great event.. 

Langkawi 420 Million Boost in Tourism Industry

From the Star - 8/10/11

As you know Langkawi got a boost of 420million from government for 5 years plan. A plan call The Langkawi 5-Year Tourism Development Plan will be launch to promote tourist arrival & domestic tourism. A ranger park similar to ones in overseas will be set up to monitor environment of Langkawi & to cater the eco-tourism industry.

A revamp of LADA will took place to incorporate this division. Hopefully it just not stop there. A total revamp of LADA need to took place in order for more effective & new faces should be brought in to give fresh idea's. A total look need to take place to see what has been spend for the last few years & its impact to the tourism industry in Langkawi.

A newly activity & tourist spots need to be open in order to cater the more & more demanding visitors. This will put Langkawi on the spot at least at par as others islands in the world. There're rooms to play & cater. More professional tourism approach need to take place. Locals should be opt to be train as Rangers & as well train guides.. With the approach of nature & eco-tourism.

Hope the plan should took place without hassle & not to forget inputs from fellow NGO's & others to get the best solution possible to the island.

Please email me if you need any info with regards to your travel to Langkawi & also if you need any advertising enquiry. ( anaklangkawi@gmail.com )

Senior and adventurous

MY cousins and I are travel buffs. We visited Langkawi recently, and our wonderful experience there can best be described by the saying, “One good turn deserves another.”
Langkawi, as travellers know, is a historical place. It’s also hot like the rest of the country. Since the most cooling and serene spot on the island is up in the mountain, we decided to take a cable car up. It was 3pm when we reached the top.

At 710m above sea level, the place was misty, cold and very relaxing. We saw a walking track and six elderly persons struggling up the peak. Without hesitation, we walked down to offer help. There were two pakcik and four makcik.
The thin, cold air must have made them breathless; we felt the same way, too. The three of us took two rounds to help all of them up.

The senior citizens were very appreciative, and we felt like heroines. Later, they took the cable car down, while we continued to enjoy the cool air. Two hours later, we went back down.
Because it was a little chilly that evening, we decided to have some hot, spicy tomyam. Unfortunately, the restaurant famous for this Thai specialty was full, and the queue was long.
Disappointed, we started to walk away. Suddenly, I felt a pair of hands grabbing my arm. It was one of the makcik we had met up in the mountain. She insisted that we join them at their 10-seater table and paid for our dinner. The food was good. We learnt from them that each of the pakcik had brought along his two wives.

They were travel buffs, too, and had travelled to many countries.
When we thanked them for the wonderful dinner, one makcik smiled and said to us in English: “One good turn deserves another.”
We were impressed. They were lovely.

Senoja Siew,
Cheras, Selangor

Taken from the star 

AL :

A great example of 1Malaysia story. 

Langkawi incinerator to generate electricity

LANGKAWI: The country’s first waste incineration plant which runs on power generated from solid waste, will commence operations here in August.
Among the notable features of this plant, which is part of the green campaign initiative, is its ability to generate its own electricity by burning waste.
The plant in Kampung Belanga Pecah, Jalan Air Hangat is now on a trial run to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Department of Environment (DOE), Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung said said after visiting the plant here yesterday.
The RM68mil plant can process 100 tons per-day of waste to gene-rate one megawatt of electricity.
National Solid Waste Management Department director-general Datuk Nadzi Yahaya says that the power produced was more than enough to operate the plant.
Chor said the plant is also capable of segregating solid waste and recycling.

The Star 

AL :
So it will operates in Augusts. No more delays please..

Acts of green

Take ownership and ecological responsibility of our planet by pledging an act this Earth Day.
EARTH Day on April 22 is about working together to safeguard our planet. That is why this year’s theme is A Billion Acts of Green.
The campaign calls for people, organisations and corporations to commit to an act that helps reduce carbon emissions and promotes sustainability. It can be a simple gesture, such as drying your laundry in the sun, or immense, like picking up a million pounds of trash. One participant from New York has pledged to donate her two cars and will commute by public transport and walk.
Collectively, these acts will not only have an impact on global carbon emissions, but will also demonstrate the power of small everyday individual acts of green. The goal is to mobilise one billion acts of environmental service worldwide in advance of the global Earth Summit in Rio in 2012. So far, over 80 million actions have been pledged.

Some of the actions pledged: bike to school; take public transport; walk and cycle as much as possible; car-pool; eat more local food; become a vegetarian; wash clothes in cold water; take shorter showers; stop buying bottled bottle; switch to LED lights; turn off PCs and lights when not in use; stop buying individually packed snacks; run ceiling fan instead of the air-conditioner; take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Many have also committed to: eliminate use of pesticides and toxic cleaning products; plant a garden at home or in school; conduct a coral reef clean-up; plant trees; and initiate a Meatless Monday programme at school.
From Malaysia, at least two groups have made pledges.

The group Waterfall Survivors (waterfallsurvivors.blogspot.com) aims to round up 1,000 volunteers to clean up Sungai Tua Recreational Park in Selangor on April 24. The group’s Save Our Waterfalls campaign stresses the importance of preserving our natural environment.

Another action is by Starwood Hotels & Resort which owns four properties in Langkawi (The Andaman, Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa, Sheraton Langkawi Beach Resort and Four Points). It will plant 1,000 trees at Sungai Bukit Hantu on the island. Local trees which are rarely grown nowadays, such as cashew nut and Malaysian grapes, will be planted.
The first Earth Day was held in 1970. Though it initially was largely focused on the United States, the event is now celebrated worldwide. – By Tan Cheng Li - The Star

AL :

What is your pledge? 

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..  

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.

The Star

 

AL : A must visit place for bread lovers.

Protecting Langkawi’s splendour By CHRISTINA CHIN

COME March, the Langkawi Country Code, a guideline for sustainable eco-tourism for Langkawi, will be available for all local authorities, tourism operators and stakeholders.
Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Langkawi branch chairman Eric R. Sinnaya said the code hoped to prevent natural attractions from being ruined by tourism so that everyone could enjoy long-term benefits.

“Tourism can really improve the locals’ standard of living but we must not kill the goose that lays the golden egg,” he said.

“We can have the greenest is- lands in the world if everyone works together.

“Two decades ago, 95% of the Langkawi islands was green — now we are down to about 60%,” he said.
He said although NGOs could prepare a guideline of best practices, the state and local authorities’ support was needed to endorse and enforce the code, adding that the ecology of Langkawi was very sensitive and needed protection.

He said the Pulau Payar Marine Park was a good example of how tourism had resulted in garbage pollution and coral damage.

The code addresses the conservation of existing tropical rainforests, mangrove forests, coastal eco-systems, bio-diversity and landscapes; garbage management; reduction of pollution and usage of natural resources and adoption of ethical business models by all parties.

The code was among the out-comes of the ‘Conservation of Biodiversity in Langkawi through Sustainable Eco-tourism’ project funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and implemented by the MNS.

Anaklangkawi :-

Its about time  this code of conduct or best practices propose by MNS & LADA is no point if the local authorities will not endorse it. It will be just another piece of paper submitted. Anyhow.. I applause MNS effort to proposed such paper. 

I really hope that Ministry of Tourism, Kedah Government & Local Authorities support & make the code of conduct / guidelines proposal as compulsory or make it a law. Enforce it then we'll see changes.. 

Blighted Jewel of Kedah ~ Letter to editor THe Star

I WOULD like to congratulate StarMetro North for publishing several articles on protecting Langkawi’s natural treasures. I have sent you a photo on the famous Pantai Cenang in Langkawi. There was an open burning of plastic and rubbish on the beach. Hundreds of tourists walked past the fire and the rubbish. Most of them were shocked. And rightly so. My husband and I came to Langkawi to escape the winter cold in Europe. It was our first visit to the island and will probably be our last.
We had heard so much about the pristine natural environment and read all the descriptions of the Unesco Geopark but when we finally got to Langkawi, we found that the reality of this ‘paradise island’ is very different.

Even from the airport runway when we got down from the plane, one of the first things we noticed were the hills in the distance where the rainforest trees have been stripped away.
We were shocked by the amount of rubbish almost everywhere on the island; big piles of stinking garbage lie on the sides of the road almost everywhere.
We visited the famous Seven Wells’ Waterfall and were horrified to see how much rubbish was floating in the water and thrown around the surrounding jungle. Local teenagers were washing their hair using shampoo in the water — something we would never see in Europe.
One woman changed her baby’s nappy and just left it on a rock and then washed the baby’s dirty bottom in the water beside some swimming tourists. When they protested, she just looked at them as if there was nothing wrong.

SMS to The Star

Anaklangkawi :-

I suggest authorities should take note of the comment by tourist very seriously. It supposed to be a good memories when they go back home but instate they bring horror stories about environmental pollution in Langkawi which were created by ourself. 

And i do know the number of box jellyfish increases due to water quality of the surrounding sea depleted. Please do sometimes before thing get worst. 

p/s: Last time i've highlighted rubbish issue.. its not uncommon if someone starts to make excuses.

Filled with natural wonders ~ The Star

LANGKAWI is the only place in the country to spot the Mountain Hawk Eagle and Brown Winged Kingfisher and it is the easiest place in Malaysia to see the Wreathed Hornbill, Great Hornbill and Oriental Pied Hornbill.
Naturist and birding enthusiast Irshad Mobarak said that on Gunung Raya, avid bird watchers were guaranteed to catch a glimpse of the hornbills on any given day.

Full article in The Star

Anaklangkawi :-

Quite hard to see sigthing of Hornbill actually. But for its quite common for eagles.

Anyway its a great article & i never know Langkawi have a lot of species of Hornbill.

Sun and sand at Langkawi

LANGKAWI is more than just cheap alcohol and stretches of duty-free shops.

Somehow, I have never been to this famous island and was not planning to until this media trip came along.

It was an hour from Subang to Langkawi and another 15-minute ride in a van to the Mutiara Burau Bay Beach Resort.

~ Article from The Star about the Island.