My celebrations and traveling reached a climax for this year when my company organized a trip for staff and families to Langkawi Island. We had gone on a company trip earlier to the same island when I had just joined the company some years ago. After many years I am amazed to see the rapid development in Langkawi.
The archipelago of Langkawi contains 100 over islands and is sanctuary to some of the most ancient rainforests in the world, including exotic flora and fauna. Langkawi Island itself is the largest among the archipelago, is the only one with any real settlement. It fringed by lovely beaches scattered along its coast. The island is still very much a rural landscape with villages and paddy fields.
My company’s entourage to Langkawi comprised of 31 adults and 18 children which included babies as young as 3 months old to a year old. Wow! I really take my hat off to my colleagues who are adventurous enough to bring their babies along.
We started the journey at about 11pm on Friday late night on two coaches. Since it was already bed time for some of us, we were half awake through the journey. After several stops, the bus I was in reached Kuala Perlis at bout 6 am on Saturday.
Day 1
Started very early as we had reached Kuala Perlis at the wee hours of the morning and had to wait for the Langkawi Ferry Service to bring us across the Island with it operations only starting at 6.30am.
I was very uneasy as I was already tired from trying to get sleep from a bus seat on a long night journey. I was however amazed to see my colleagues’ young children as they were so energetic. Oh! Sometimes…I wish … I could be as energetic as them. The ferry ride took us about 45 minutes and immediately upon landing on the island we were taken to the Langkasuka Beach Resort.
We were all so hungry when we reached the hotel and we could only check into our hotel rooms after 2 pm. We immediately dropped off our bags at the lobby and went to have the hotel's breakfast buffet. I kept on telling everyone that this is the first time in my life that I have not brushed my teeth to have breakfast. The others did not seem to fuss about it… may be they are a more seasoned traveler than I am or just less fussy…ha…ha!
After breakfast and since we did not have rooms to rest yet, we started our excitement in Langkawi by first visiting the Underwater World Langkawi,. this aquarium features abundance types of marine life, including a giant tank housing large marine species such as sharks, stingrays and a tunnel for visitors to walk through and enjoy a spectacular view of the marine creatures. There were also underwater gardens of weeds, sea plants together with exotic fishes and exhibits of fossils and penguins. Due to the mysterious death of hundreds of fishes a few months ago, some tanks were empty. We also waited to see the 3-D movie in underwater world but unfortunately the 3-D system was out of order and only managed to see a short movie.
We went back to the hotel, had lunch and checked in. Some of us decided to go to the Panorama Langkawi Cable Car and boy am I glad to had gone for the cable car ride regardless of feeling tired. While waiting for our turn to go on the gondola, I could see how high it was going up the hill and I told myself…shall I just chicken out! Yup! What further crossed my mind was… oh dear I not even told a proper good bye to my family if any mishap was to happen to me here. But then I told myself...what the hack I have not heard of any news of accidents…of cable cars plunging to the ground and so I joined the fun. What can I say..the views were awesome. Of course, as the gondolas went higher and higher up the steep mountain slope… virgin jungle of the Matcinchang Mountain Forest Reserve, I was getting nervous with my heart beating rapidly… so I became chatty with my colleagues who shared the gondola with me and at the same time enjoying the trees in the lush valleys and ravines.
At the hill top we came to a suspension bridge over the valley and my god it was so breathtaking and I marveled at the fabulous architecture of the suspension bridge. The feeling was one of being truly in cloud 9…reaching greater heights. This to me is the most memorial place of exhilarating fun in this whole trip. Of course we were also so close to the scorching sun and I was all sun burnt by then…but I did not care though but as usual I had to complain…ha..ha!
We had our dinner later out of the hotel and since all of us were tired, we said go night to each other for the next day was going to be another long day.
Day 2
We went island hopping. The sun was already scorching by the time we started our island adventure. We applied sun block lotion but after looking at our faces now… I not think it helped much. Going on island cruises was breathtaking scenery of Langkawi as our speedboats weaved through the watery passageways between the islands. We first went to Tasik Dayang Buting, the largest lake in Langkawi. We had to climb the hills to reach lake and I was already tired my then and was the last to reach the lake. There were so many tourists that day and some of them were taking a dip the lake. Some of us just padded our legs on the lake and then went to sit on some shade. We then went to Pantai Beras Basah for our lunch. Some of us took the opportunity to get ourselves a good dip in the sea to cool us down. The water was clear and refreshing.
Langkawi's is also duty free port so we much be crazy if we had missed to do shopping. So after quickly refreshing from the island hopping we then hopped to the shops to do some brisk shopping of chocolate, liquors and kitchenware among others. I really did not buy much as I already had splashed money during my Lake Toba, Medan trip.
By the time we reached the hotel, we all needed to rest before dinner.
Day 3
After an early breakfast I took my self to enjoy the beach in front of the hotel we were staying. After being in the water for some time, i went into the swimming pool at the hotel were ,most of colleagues and their families were enjoying themselves with splashes and laughter.
We check out of the hotel at noon after having a rushed lunch and head for the jetty. Luckily the ferry was well air conditioned and we made the journey back home before mid night on Christmas Eve…with memories and experiences to cherish.
Days Later.....
Probably I was enjoying myself too much in the sea and due to the heat, I came down with some skin rash on my arms and sores around my mouth. My doctor told me it could be so allergy.
Here are some photos of the outing. Surprised that I have posted them so quickly? This is because my colleague's husband is an avid photographer who provided all the photos. Wish i could have more enthusiastic photographers around me..Ha..Ha
I like to end this post by
Wishing Everyone A Happy New Year and May 2008 Be Filled With Great Laughter, Happiness and Scaling Newer Heights .
Beautiful Sun set |
Romantic Moon |
Last day at the beach |
On the Suspension Bridge |
Superb Structure of the Bridge |
Breathtaking View of Bridge |
Island hopping |
I am collecting dead corals |
Underwater World |
Penguins |
Resting at Tasik Dayang Bunting |
On speed motor boats
|
Bathing at Pantai Beras Basah |
Beautiful Sandy Beaches |
Day 2 Dinner |
Day 2 Dinner |
Day 2 Dinner |
Day 2 Dinner |
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