The following post has been written by Lesley, an English friend that loves Langkawi since many years. Read her warm words about “her” island! Eva

Friends

After Baskie’s lovely post, I thought I would try to sum up Langkawi from my own PERSONAL point of view as a tourist. This is a short version and here goes:

I first developed “Langkawi-itis” back in 2002 after an extremely difficult year from a personal point of view. The personal problems have been easier to cure than the “Langkawi-itis” which returns, as I do, every year.

The anticipation begins, usually on a cold October morning at Manchester Airport, but I know I have an extremely long and tiring journey ahead. Why oh why did MAS stop direct flights from Manchester to KL?? At last I’m in KL – not long now.

I try to catch my first glimpse of Langkawi from the window as we are coming into land and then, joy, I am heading towards the airport building with tears in my eyes – yipee I’m back and being whisked away to my usual hotel to check in. Mam Lesley has returned!!! I have now exchanged the sounds of life in a big city for the sounds of the rainforest – and anyone who has never experienced this, it’s surprising how noisy it is but in a wonderful and enchanting way.

What could be better than lying on an empty beach, with the hypnotic sound of the waves, the occasional glimpse of a family of sea otters crossing the beach to swim up the creek, the “kok, kok, kok” call and whoooosh of the wings of a pair of hornbills flying overhead, eagles soaring in the sky and the majestic back-drop of Matchingchang – for me this is paradise.

In the times I have visited I have noticed quite a few changes – on my first visit there was no Telaga Harbour! Please don’t change too much Langkawi. Your selling point should be wildlife, nature, tranquility, serenity, rest and rejuvenation, and who could forget to mention, the marvelous Malaysian people! Langkawi, your charm lies in the simple pleasures of life, not bars, discos and clubs. I know you feel you have to complete and think this is something people want, but not everyone does – they can always visit Phuket or Bali for more of an up-beat holiday.

In the more darker days throughout the year – oh how I long to be back in my little wooden hut in the rainforest.

Love you Langkawi.

Lesley

Good reasons why to choose Langkawi for your holiday / honeymoon and much more

I fell in love with Langkawi from the very first day I cam here in November 2005 and never regretted to be here ever since. But I am about to collect other peoples opinion about Langkawi in this Blog and I hope you will enjoy reading them.  Here is the first one, written by  my friend   Dr.Baskaran Kosthi. He is the owner of the highly recommended Ishan Spa.

Indeed, I am always thinking about this. For me, Langkawi is a ‘Healing Paradise’. It is a place for us to come for soul search. A Retreat. A place for solitude. A place where you can say, “It’s my time and I am here to be me, spend time with me, knowing me”.

Langkawi is a magic place where we can be in meditative state without meditating. A place than can afford to be still without any guilt and feeling bliss at all time.

People are as warm as the weather. Simple folks. Not very ambitious. Cheap long term accommodation. Eat out without burning a hole in your pocket for Breakfast, Coffee Break, Brunch, Lunch, Tea-time, Dinner, Supper, Late meal, midnight snack and still don’t know how to finish spending the money.

Being in Langkawi will give us a chance of feeling gratitude for what the Universe has provided us. Watching the world go by in a slow motion, when you came from a sizable city which is full of hassle & hustle.

Feel the space here. Do not have to rush in the morning to the beach to get your own space or a beach bed. Sail or even swim to an island nearby and realize that you are the only human being in this island.

Go trekking into the tropical rain-forest and learn to appreciate what mother nature has given us and how we just took it for granted and never got a time to cherish it.

Drive and de-stress. Do not even bother to have an alarm car lock. Don’t even have to worry to pull out the keys from the car. No snatch thieves, no kidnappers, no robbers, no mugging but Hahaha! beware of monkeys & buffalos.

Drive past herds of cows, buffalos, goats and no shepherds around. Go to a local restaurant. Eat whatever you want, which is avail and when you want to pay, the owner will ask you what have you eaten rather then checking on you. Pay less than a Euro or a quit and that includes your iced coffee or iced lemon tea.

Now tell me, how many places are there in this world where you can have the same feeling? This is an amazing place to come. To experience. To rejuvenate. To learn. To dis-learn. To teach. To fill. To Feel. To appreciate what we have here & back at home. To simplify. To live a life. And many, many more….

Join us to joy! Be here to feel! Bring home & cherish what you have missed throughout your life!

Welcome to Langkawi!