Friday 2 November 2018

Just Chilling at Langkawi

All throughout my journey in Malaysia I held myself back from the drinking. If there was a place in Malaysia where I recommend to just chill, that would be Langkawi. 

Its been many years since I been to Langkawi and those were back in early 2000, when just after high school the boys would plan a holiday trip, on our own with no supervision from pestering parents or adults where we could enjoy some crazy adventurous taste of traveling or in Langkawi taste ... drinking and smoking. 

Langkawi Graffiti in Old Town Kuah 

Beers were still cheap now at RM 2.20 for a can of Carlsberg. Cigarettes were more expensive now but still cheaper than the mainland. The duty free Langkawi status together with many white sandy beach, a hot-spring and a true authentic township and not just Resorts on a beach makes Langkawi the perfect place to lay back, relax and just enjoy the time pass by.

My routine for a day in Langkawi would start out by waking up .... taking a beer ... head out riding around for cheap RM 2.5 Nasi Lemak, then head back to the hostel for another beer. Maybe some smokes in between putting the pipe to good use then more beer before going out for a dip in the sea just in time for sunset before buying more beer back to stock up the hostel fridge.

I had many reason to stay longer in Langkawi than most places I visit in Malaysia such as cheap beers, making the RoRo ferry ticket worth its money, enjoying the large Island of Langkawi slowly like a beach a day but ultimately the most important reason for chilling in Langkawi was to burn time waiting for 15 October 2018 where I would enter Thailand and start a grueling ride almost every alternate day to get out to Cambodia.

Hence My -> 

Top 10 things to do in Langkawi on a shoestring Budget (Seriously Low Budget) 

1. Camping at The Beach

This was a great way of saving money but with Hostel at RM15 a night really the camping was just pure fun to be really alone at the beach at night. Plus point if you manage to camp at a private beach by sneaking pass the Resorts. 

Camping at Tanjung Rhu - Langkawi 
2. Hot Springs

Cost RM 5 per entry. Better than a foot massage is soaking your feet knee deep into hot natural spring water on a heavy thunderstorm rain day. When you are already wet from dipping into every beach sea you see along the way and riding in the rain ... 5 minutes of leg soaking will give back that warmth and energy boost to go find a waterfall 


3. Waterfall
There are three waterfall in Langkawi, but my favorite one is Temurun Falls. A short 50m walk from the road and not many people this cool but deep pool waterfall is just the place to be on a rainy day or hot day. Riding there was quite fun as well since its off the main road on a winding trail 

Temurun Waterfall - Langkawi 

4. Pulau Tuba

Langkawi back in time, this is a hidden gem, untouched from the mass tourism that has prospered Langkawi, this little island is a good day trip exploration for those that have too much time in Langkawi. I’ll probably write a detailed guide on this one next 

Pulau Tuba Jetty -Langkawi 

5. Chasing Sunsets

With so many beautiful beaches facing the west, one can only chase sunsets everyday looking for that special moment. 

Sunset at Tengah Beach - Langkawi 

6. Playing Hide & Sneaking into 5 Star Resorts

Guard : Where you go sir ?

Me : Checking In (Pretending to be going to the Resort to check in but in fact just wan to snoop around)

Guard : You have booking confirmation ?

Me : No ... I walk in customer

Guard : Sorry sir, I cannot let you in without a booking confirmation

Me : Fine .. I’ll go to a more expensive resort then (Dang it ... shitty Resorts just wanna hog all the good beaches to themselves) 

7. See Food ? Seafood ? 

Nom Nom Nom ... ok this one can be pricey if not careful but alas I found only ONE really nice local places to eat seafood in Langkawi which had no tourist in sight. Price was reasonable too 

Local Seafood Restaurant ... not on the map ... Along Jalan Penarak Near the Mosque facing the Sea 
8. Riding up Gunung Raya (Highest Driving Point in Langkawi)

Did you know, Langkawi has Horn bills? Yeah .. you don't need to go all the way to East Malaysia Borneo to see them but instead you just need to be lucky enough to see them in Langkawi. I actually saw one crossing the road near Gunong Raya.

The horn bill stopped right at the middle of the road ... slowly tries to shift gear into neutral without throttling too loud then fumbling with my pocket to take out my phone, the car behind-behind me blared his hon. F*ck ... guess only those in front who stopped could see the Horn bill and the queue of cars behind couldn’t see it was impatient wandering what these idiots were doing. 

Road to Gunung Raya - Langkawi 

9. Watch the Jets Fly

I love the airport in Langkawi ... the beach on one side and the runway on the other with a little truck cendol / rojak shop by the road side making it perfect to just sit and watch planes land and take off every hour. 

Ok I forgot to take a photo ... but this special DIY plane by a Hobbyist I actually saw in Langkawi ... Takes luck to see him

10. Drinking & Smoking Cheap Duty Free Goods

It had to be this one right .... took away all my money hence the shoestring budget for the rest of the activities ... haha

Traveled on : Oct 2018

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