The great escape

Just a 90-minute flight from Singapore but a world away, Langkawi’s reputation for being the jewel of Kedah is richly deserved.

The minute I arrived at the airport, I felt instantly relaxed. No one was rushing about or hurrying off somewhere. Time marched to the beat of a different drummer.

Being typical Singaporeans, we had tried to book some of our tour activities online two weeks earlier, but that turned out to be unnecessary. You can book everything you need at the airport. There are also numerous vendors along the streets hawking tour packages.

ALIVE AT NIGHT

Located off the mainland coast of north-western Malaysia, Langkawi is an archipelago of about 100 islands in the Andaman Sea. There are several beaches in Langkawi. We chose to stay at Pantai Cenang, one of the more popular beaches with fine powdery sand that stretches for up to 2km. Pantai Cenang is just a 20-minute taxi ride from the airport.

We had heard from the locals that Pantai Cenang boasts hip and happening nightlife with streets lined with numerous beachfront bars, spas, local eateries and provision shops. They also mentioned that Langkawi is a duty-free island.

Pantai Cenang comes especially alive at night, with many street stalls appearing along the sidewalk and a surge of tourists flocking to the bars; even the bakeries did not close until 11pm.

KAMPUNG CHARM

My travel companions and I opted for slightly more quirky accommodation — The Cottage, a rare gem nestled in a quiet village area with a peaceful, cosy kampung ambience.

The Cottage offers backpacker hostel living quarters, as well as two quaint and spacious air-conditioned cottage units with ensuite toilet, porch, TV and mini bar. Despite its secluded location, The Cottage is just a three-minute walk to Pantai Cenang.

Every morning, we awoke to the sound of the rooster crowing. The neighbours were warm and friendly, allowing us to feed their chickens with breadcrumbs.

Plus, we found goats roaming the grounds in the early morning, completing our rustic living experience.

EAGLE SIGHTINGS

Langkawi in colloquial Malay means “reddish brown eagle”, so it is no surprise that we spotted many eagles soaring above. To get up-close-and-personal with these majestic creatures, we took a mangrove tour and cruised along the lush mangrove forests and blue lagoons of Kilim Geoforest Park

The tour included a variety of activities, such as visits to the bat cave, a fish farm, as well as lunch at a floating seafood restaurant. But the highlight for us was the eagle-feeding experience, where we watched in awe as flocks of eagles gracefully swooped down the water to catch food.

SUN, SEA AND AIR-CON

For sun-worshippers and sea-sports lovers, Langkawi is the place to try snorkelling, jet-skiing, parasailing and more. I opted to sprawl on the beach under a shady tree, lazing the day away and enjoying the company of the locals as they strummed their guitars and ukeleles.

When I had enough of the sun, I sought refuge at Pantai Cenang Mall — a two-storey shopping centre with several shops and eateries.

Admittedly, I visited the mall quite often as I couldn’t stay away from my favourite foods (the mall has KFC, Starbucks and Old Town White Coffee) and perhaps more importantly, the air-conditioning.

RELAX AND UNWIND

While spa and massage parlours are aplenty in Langkawi, the best way to unwind and relax is to cruise out to the Andaman Sea.

After an afternoon wandering the streets, we hopped onto a yacht (www.crystalyacht.com) and sailed out to enjoy breathtaking views of the sunset, azure waters and massive limestone caves that dotted the sea. A must-try on the yacht is the saltwater Jacuzzi — we sat on a large net dipped in the sea and relaxed as the natural sea water bubbled through. The sunset cruise ended with a gourmet barbeque feast on the yacht.

GETTING THERE

Several airlines fly direct to Langkawi, including AirAsia, SilkAir and Singapore Airlines.

WHERE TO STAY

You’ll be able to find a selection of accommodations, from luxury resorts to affordable chalet-type rooms.

MUST-DO

The Underwater World in Pantai Cenang houses more than 500 species of animals and sea creatures, and is one of Malaysia’s largest aquariums. The Cable Car and Skybridge in Pantai Kok offers stunning views of Langkawi’s landscape, while the Langkawi Wildlife Park thrills with its many exhibits that allow you to interact and feed the animals and birds.