I think this is actually my 3rd trip to Langkawi Island. It was a last-minute treat for ourselves after wrapping up on a project sometime on the 10th November 2005. So there was no proper planning of what we’re going to do when we get there. All that we craved for was a peaceful and fun place to relax ourselves. So, we hopped on a midnight bus at Pudu Bus Station in Kuala Lumpur heading to Alor Setar, Kedah. 6 hours later, we arrived at the bus station in Alor Setar, and took a cab ride to the ferry point in Kuala Kedah. It was a sight to remember as the taxi cab drove along the road next to the vast paddy field glimmering to what is left of the moon light at 6am in the morning.
When we reached Kuala Kedah (and old sleepy town) at about 6:30am, had to wait till about 7am for the terminal to open. So we had breakfast at this small & typical chinese cafe shop which happens to be opened at that time. Some families were already there having their breakfast in hoping to catch the first ferry across to Langkawi so that a day’s worth of enjoyment is not wasted. By the time we were done with breakfast, we already missed the first ferry. So we waited a little, and entertained the toutings of a travel guide promoting his “one-off-super-package” tailored for our 2 nights 3 days trip. There we were sucking in all the imaginable fun described by him in a sleepy state of mind. In the end, he got us hooked and we paid for the programmes because of the time we’ll save for hunting down resorts and tour guides for island hopping. After signing some insurance papers and acquired the contact details, we climbed into the express boat and waited eagerly for another hour before arriving in Langkawi.
When we arrived in Langkawi, we disembarked the boat with our belongings and started to walk towards the huge and busy terminal. The place is jam-packed with people coming and going at the same time. Outside the terminal, it’s even worst: tour groups hang about waiting for someone (hopefully not the missing tour guides with all their monies!), people waiting for their ferries, and touting taxi drivers! (reminded me of KLIA’s arriving hall). The facade of the terminal sure improved a lot since the last time I went there in 1998. Anyway, when we found the booth we were told to look for, the people there told us to take their assigned taxi van to get us to Langkapuri Resort. While plaqued with fatigueness, I was able to take a few snaps from within the van. Couldn’t take a picture of the eagle monument, but a picture of its back is good enough for me as you can see below.
Once we arrived at the resort, the view was rather strange to me. Their open-air “lobby” was in fact the car park garage area of a typical single-storey bungalow! The receptionist sits behind an old counter decorated with nothing but a few pens and log book. The ceiling fan was not working at full blast to cool us down in the heat of the island early that morning, and the sitting area consists of donated sofas. It was a pitiful sight, but it was a unique and fun experience too. We were told we couldn’t check into our chalets yet because check-in times are at noon. So, we changed into our swimming gear, and off to the clean beach for a morning dip! We really had a nice time playing in the cool sea water, and feasting our eyes on the beautiful evironment which you don’t see often anymore. After a few hours and a few big gulps of the sea water, we decided to get lunch. Off we walked to the nearby shops, but they weren’t open yet. So we walked a little bit more and guess what? We arrived at the Water World. We didn’t fancy the Water World because that’s not what we want to see. So we quickly have our expensive lunch at the fast food restaurant near by, and dashed back to our chalets in the rain to quickly get ready for the activities ahead!
When our guide arrives, he drove us using his van to the beach side where we will get on a speedboat for the island hopping experience. I have no idea where the location is, but it is right next to one of the government vacation apartments. Anyway, got onto the speedboat, and headed to the first island: Pulau Dayang Bunting (Pregnant Maiden Island). In the pictures below, you will see why it is named that way.
Next, the eagle-feeding island! When we arrived at the spot, we saw lots of eagles circling high about in the air. We didn’t get off the speedboat for this island. The guide threw some chicken organs into the sea and told us to watch (my camera wasn’t ready then because I didn’t know what he was trying to do). Then suddenly, the eagles each started to dive down onto the surface of the water in a swift scoop and grab the tossed organs. We requested the guide to toss another round of organs to allow us to take some pictures. Darned birds, why can’t they fly slower! My digital camera is not fast enough to take a good snap!
Lastly, we arrived at the Pulau Beras Basah (Wet Paddy Island) and we were given permission to take a swim at the beach. The sea water is clear and you can actually see your feet at the bottom of the sea. It’s a nice beach, but have to be very careful of sharp broken corals washed up ashore. And also be watchfull of those pesky sea urchin – Oly got stung by one when she was just about to enjoy the water. After that accident, all other tourists panic and got out of the water for fear of getting the same fate. If you have no visual idea what it looks like, imagine a little black-icky slug with lots of 10 inches spikes all over it!
When we got back onto the boat, we were told that is all for this island hopping trip. Being tired and exhausted, we were all a little sad and silent knowing what we have just experienced which is something that could only come once in blue moon. But that was just temporarily, you haven’t seen what we did at the resort’s beach bar that evening!
We were sober and ready early the next morning for the snorkelling trip at Coral Island. “Bright eye and bushy tail” as some may say. Guide arrived and brought us to the Langkawi Jetty (which we arrived in earlier). Boarded a huge crew boat with lots of other people taking up the same programme as us. After an one half hour ride, we arrive at Coral Island. Got off the boat, find ourselve a spot at the beach, and get suited up for some snorkelling!
6 hours later, it was time to go back to the main island. Weather was bad, and that big crew vessel was not giving everyone a good time on board – Ryna got really sea sick. The final evening in Langkawi was dull because all of us were dead tired. So we had a quick night cap at the beach bar before calling it quits by 2am.
The return trip back to KL in the next morning was a real blur for me. I remember we checked-out from Langkapuri Resort, and then walking into the house in KL – everything else in between was somehow lost in transition with no recollection at all. I suppose I was sleeping all the way. A word of advise for people going to Langkawi for the first time: Only rent a car for a day (because land attraction lacks of attention span), bring lots of cash (I was told the only ATM machine is in the Airport!), cheap resorts doesn’t accept credit cards (go figure), and lastly don’t swim in the sea at night (I was told that stingrays are a little bit more hostile and hungrier at night 
).
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Wow that is some detailed trip. :*)