The island of Langkawi is an exotic
holiday destination that offers
world-class accommodation
and amenities. Here, it is all about
beautiful, sun-kissed beaches, lush
rainforest, quaint Malay villages
and a riot of human colours. A part
of Kedah state, Langkawi takes its
name after the eagle (helang in the
Malay language - pronounced 'her-lung'),
hence the imposing eagle statue at
Dataran Lang (Eagle Square)
in Kuah, the main town, which
welcomes visitors who arrive on the
island via the Kuah Jetty.
Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands
located off the
north-western coast of Peninsular
Malaysia - 30km from Kuala
Perlis on the mainland. The main
island is Pulau Langkawi. The
archipelago has some of the world's
most pristine rainforests, limestone
and karst formations, caves with
stunning stalactites and
stalagmites, and miles of beautiful
beaches washed by clear emerald
waters.
The rich geological makeup has today
earned Langkawi the coveted
international 'Geopark' status. But
then, that's another story, for
Langkawi as it has always been is a
complete package of a great tropical
island getaway. It's turbulent
ancient history has given life to
many legends and folklore that have
become inextricably part of today's
sedate and colourful island
lifestyle. Get connected to the warm
hospitality of the locals, for
friendliness here is infectious.
Langkawi is a duty-free shopping
destination. Other than cameras,
branded items, electronic gadgets,
shop for lovely Malaysian silk batik,
handicrafts and other local
products. The legend of Mahsuri
weaves the history of Langkawi from
the past seven generations. It
tells of a fair maiden who
was unjustly
accused of adultery. She was said to
have bled white blood at her
execution as a sign of her
innocence. With her dying breath
Mahsuri was said to have laid a
curse on the island -- that it would
remain barren and unprosperous for seven generations.
Legend or myth, seven generations
have long passed, and today,
Langkawi is an island much loved by locals and international
tourists. The island is also a
popular venue for international
events such as the Le Tour
de Langkawi bicycle race, the Royal
Langkawi International Regatta, the
F3000 Powerboat Race, Ironman,
LIMA (Langkawi International
Maritime and Aerospace) exhibition
and many more. |
