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Tanjung
Rhu is located at the northern-most
tip of Pulau Langkawi, about 22km
from Kuah town by way of Air Hangat.
You can also drive the longer way
via the Teluk Ewa coastal road or
the inner road that passes Ulu
Melaka.
The
place can sometimes be deafeningly
quiet - just the prescription for
tangled nerves. First look gives the
feeling that you are no more in
Langkawi, but you still are. The
wide sloping beach looks gentle and
tame but in reality the
undercurrents here can be quite
unforgiving. Stay close to the
shore.
The
beautiful beach is fringed by
casuarina trees, hence the name. The
most prominent feature which has
appeared in countless postcards and
photos is the rocky outcrop of Pulau
Chabang. You can walk over to the
island when the tide is out, but
please remember to hasten back
before it returns.
The many
rocky islands that dot the whole
area is worth exploring. Boats can
be hired for such a trip. Then there
are those subterranean caverns that
have made Langkawi one fantastic
place for cave exploration. Take
your pick of Gua Teluk Udang, Gua
Siam and Gua
Teluk Dedap if you dont fancy
visiting the much talked-about Gua
Cerita. The tidal creek behind the
beach area is mostly made up of
mangrove forests. This is where the
boats used for island hopping and
fishing trips are moored.
Tanjung
Rhu is not especially obvious as a
fishing settlement but the area has
long been used as a base for fishing
boats. Nowadays besides servicing
the tourists, the locals also
indulge in aquaculture - keeping
fishes such as siakap (sea bass)and
kerapu (garoupa).
Two very
upmarket hotels have a 'monopoly' of
the prime stretch of beach here. The
older Tanjung Rhu Resort being the
pioneer and quite recently, the Four
Seasons Langkawi Resort.
Two rows
of wooden shops at the end of the
road sell cheap clothing, souvenirs
and local foods. Lookout for the
once famed langkawi mee gulung. This
is actually noodles wrapped in
omelette and served in soup.
Five-star fine dining is available
at both resorts. |
