We were at Langkawi island from Thursday to Saturday. This time, it was a quick trip.
Clear blue skies and coconut trees… great postcard picture, isn’t it? Langkawi always captivates!
Each time we go, many friends think we are going on a holiday but to tell the truth, we have not taken a dip in the clear seas off Langkawi nor have we truly taken a complete holiday when we are there.
Friends and family go “Langkawi? Again?”
Actually, we go for short trips to visit some friends and clients. Usually our clients will want to book our time for dinners and lunches (and sometimes even breakfasts) so that leaves us with very little time for sightseeing.
An afternoon at Bon Ton, Langkawi with their signature welcome drink, a refreshing pineapple peppermint concoction.
Going to Langkawi is like “going home” for us. It’s a place we adore and enjoy because every road and nook is familiar to us. The moment we get into our rented car, we wind down the car windows and literally take in the fresh island air, which we can hardly get on Penang.
Here’s Leo, one of the many playful cats at Bon Ton. He decided to make himself comfy on my lap!
The roads are empty with not many cars. I can drive for ages before I see another car. I see more buffaloes grazing in the fields than I see cars. The padi fields are lusciously green this time of the year and the Mat Chin Chang mountain range beckons from afar.
Browsing at the chic and eclectic Sunday, a bistro cum home decor and furniture store along Pantai Tengah.
And yes, it is a pleasant island to be on, although we were there during the long Deepavali weekend. This weekend will be even more packed with tourists as the school holidays are starting and following that, LIMA will be happening on 4 December.
Whatever you do, do not go to Langkawi during LIMA unless you are willing to brave the massive crowds and higher than usual rates for car rentals and hotel accommodation.
You probably won’t even get a room because the LIMA exhibitors and overseas visitors take up a chunk of hotel accommodation. (I may go for LIMA as I have this fascination for the planes. We’ll see how it goes. Will probably bunk with a good friend at his house.)
Some clients of ours who run businesses on the island usually take off for their own break during this maddening time. They shut down their business for a week and leave the island and only return once LIMA is over and done with and everything is back to normal.
But November right up to January is always high season for Langkawi so go only if YOU HAVE TO.
This time, we didn’t even manage to get to The Loaf on Telaga Harbour. It’s one of our favourite places to eat at whenever we are there. I heard The Loaf is open at The Pavilion KL, taking up 3 floors. My German friend who lives on Langkawi raves about the bread from The Loaf. “Expensive but worth it,” she says, eyes ablaze. The bread, according to her, freezes well and makes for a much appreciated tea! That’s probably why she hoards her bread and eats it like one eats caviar! It’s THAT precious.
Nic