I've been heard the name of Langkawi since 2013, when I worked in previous company, because one of our Chinese supervisor could not say Tontowi (a name of our vendor), and he always called him Langkawi. I was so curious about Langkawi. My supervisor told me that Langkawi is one of the island in Malaysia. I started browsing about it and I was amazed because it is a beautiful island.
I asked my mum whether she know about Langkawi. She said that his ex-boss used to visit that island for diving with his students. I got more curious. I thought that I want to visit that island, but I didn't know how can I make it happen because I was still a student.
2017
I got more curious about Langkawi. On July, I kept checking the price of flight with AirAsia from Singapore to Langkawi. It kept changing every day. One day, I finally made my booking on AirAsia. The price was around 70 Singpore dollar for round trip Singapore - Langkawi - Singapore. I told a friend about this and he was shocked.
"This is cheap mate!" he said.
"Oh, yes finally I will make my trip to Langkawi," I responded him excitedly.
Every day after I booked the flight, I kept checking on the internet about what the best activities to do in Langkawi for a short visit. I checked Google Map with earth view so I could at least know what Langkawi looks like. I also planned to rent scooter to go around the island.
In October, I was a little bit confuse about what to do because my holiday schedule collided the annual audit. I told my boss about this and finally he arranged my audit schedule on first day so I can enjoy my holiday (honestly I felt a little bit guilty because I left office for holiday during the audit).
November 7th, 2017
I woke up early to take shower and prepare my bag. I ordered online taxi to go to Sekupang ferry terminal. It took around 45 minutes from Sekupang to Harbourfront Ferry terminal in Singapore. I was so excited. Once I arrived in Harbourfront Singapore, I took breakfast in the food court nearby (of course coffee and toast).
I took train from Harbourfront Center to Changi Airport. First, I took the North East Line (Purple Line) to Outram Park. Once I reached Outram Park, I walked to the East West Line (Green Line) and took the train (choose the one towards Pasir Ris). The train stopped in Tanah Merah MRT station and from there I changed the train towards Changi Airport. It was easy to travel by MRT in Singapore.
Once I reached Changi Airport MRT, I followed the sign to the shuttle bus stop to Terminal 4. It took around 10 minutes from Terminal 1 to Terminal 4 by shuttle bus. That time, AirAsia was in their first operation in Terminal 4 (Terminal 4 just opened in that time). By the time I wrote this blog, AirAsia is temporary moved their operation to Terminal 1.
 |
| Flights from T4 Changi Airport |
The check in process was smooth. I was worried because this was my first time flying with AirAsia and I didn't buy any baggage. Finally I could go to the waiting room for departure. I was super excited.
Flight from Singapore to Langkawi took around one and half hours. Once I reached Langkawi Airport, the weather was clear, the sky was blue. I went to the immigration line. I didn't see any other Indonesian and I was feeling lonely. That was my first time to fly a little bit far from my country ha..ha..
Many of the people in the line with their partners (husband, boyfriend or friends).
 |
| People with their family |
Once I talked to the immigration officer, he looked doesn't believe that I came there for holiday. He asked me my return ticket, hotel booking and my plan. Lucky I didn't feel nervous to answer all of his question. He finally chopped my passport. Yeayyyy welcome to the paradise I've been dreaming of ha..ha..
For your information, at that time Langkawi didn't have any public transportation except taxi. I didn't use online transport much as well. So I chose airport taxi. I paid around 25 ringgit from the airport to Pantai Cenang, where I booked my hostel. I booked the taxi from the counter in the airport front door. I was a little bit confuse when I waited the taxi. In my mind was normal taxi like in another place. When the taxi arrived in front of me, I didn't notice that it was the taxi.
 |
| Taxi in Langkawi, source: Google |
Well, I was the only one in that taxi, with the driver. I felt like a private car. It took around 15 minutes from the airport to the hostel. I stayed in Rainbow Lodge Guesthouse which located 5 minutes walk to Pantai Cenang. I stayed in the shared room which only separated by temporary wall and curtain. Men and women stayed in the same room. Everything in Langkawi was all of my first experience like flying a little bit far from Indonesia, staying in the shared room, renting motorcycle and so on.
Everyone in the room was so friendly but I was too shy to talk to them. I only talked to a girl from Spain, she traveled alone all the way from her country. I was amazed by her and I told her that I am learning Spanish. But that time my Spanish level was only hola and adios ja..ja..ja..
I spent my first day in Langkawi for being lazy. Once I reached the hostel, I cleaned up myself, I unpacked my bag, read my book a bit and had a nap for an hour. I made alarm so I woke up around 5. I went for a walk to Pantai Cenang. I knew from the internet that the sunset in Pantai Cenang is beautiful. There were many shops which sell , hostels, hotels, restaurants and many of street food vendors along the beach walk. My new friend, Hafeez (I met him in the evening), who worked there said it likes Pantai Kuta in Bali. Well, I have never been to Bali ha..ha..ha..
I saw many people enjoyed their time on the beach playing with their families, reading book, playing jet sky, taking pictures with the group of friends, and many more. I love to watch people. I walked quite far and ended up drinking coconut water and eating laksa. I waited for the sun to go down while enjoying the coconut water. Enjoyed the breeze. It was peaceful evening.
 |
| Sunset in Pantai Cenang |
 |
| Laksa in Langkawi |
I went back to the hostel by walked along the shops. Some shops sell souvenirs but I wasn't interested to buy (well, I thought I just wanna buy chocolate for my sisters & brothers). I stopped by a shop which sell fruit salad. Looked delicious. I bought a cup but I thought it was costly, 15 ringgit for a cup..ha..ha.. While with that amount I could buy laksa and coconut water. It's ok. The taste was delicious. Tropical fruit salad. I sat down on the bench in front of the guesthouse room while eating salad.
By that time, I saw a message request from a guy on Skout. He stayed in Langkawi and worked there. His name is Hafeez, a Sri Lankan guy. He came to my guesthouse later and we went for a walk to the beach. We talked a lot like we knew each other for long time. It was good to spent the whole evening there with a new friend. He said he will help me during my stay in Langkawi. I told him not to worried. You'll be missed Hafeez.
November 8th, 2017
I woke up a little bit late because I was so sleepy. I took shower and got ready to the adventure. I rented a scooter from the guesthouse. It costed me 25 ringgit for 12 hours. They asked for the copy of my Indonesia driving license and copy of my passport. I had to return the scooter with fuel as full as when I took it. I spent around 4 ringgit to fill the tank. This was also my first experience to fill the fuel tank by myself. For your information, Langkawi is very safe place and we don't need to worried when we park our vehicle. But of course I always stayed safe because that's not my own bike. We need to check the vehicle before we leave the counter well because they will charge us if any damage found later.
I brought the scooter to Langkawi Geopark. It took around thirty minutes from Pantai Cenang to there. I passed through forest, beach and some street foods vendors. I passed through some of nice hotels and local village too. I reached the Geopark entrance gate and parked the scooter there. I walked through the Oriental Village and took some pictures there. There are many shops which sell souvenirs.
 |
| Oriental Village, Langkawi |
 |
| Queue to the Sky Bridge by SkyCab |
I had booked my ticket to sky bridge through here few weeks before my trip. It costed me around 55 ringgit for access to Langkawi Cable Car/SkyCab (round trip), 3D Art Langkawi & SkyRex. I went to queue with other people. We weren't allow to bring any bottled water inside, but lucky I put the bottle inside my bag and they didn't check. Don't worry, they put our bottle with our name in the entrance and once we return from the bridge we can take it back.
I boarded the SkyCab with another four tourist. We really enjoyed the ride to the top station. From the cab I saw the eagle flying across the jungle. It was amazing that I saw elang (eagle) in Langkawi. Langkawi means the reddish brown eagle. It was quite scary because it is very high but glad I enjoyed the cab ride until the top. Once I reached the top station, I went to queue to get in to the sky bridge. We need to buy ticket here. It was 10 ringgit if we want to board SkyGlide or 5 ringgit if we want to take a little trek. I chose the trek one. It was a little bit slippery trek line after raining. It was scary too because there might me snakes, monkey or wild boar appear along the trek line.
 |
| View from SkyCab, so foggy |
After ten minutes trek, I arrived in the sky bridge. For your information, this is a 125 meters curved pedestrian bridge which located at an altitude of 660m from the sea level at the peak of Gunung Mat Cincang Langkawi and as high as 55m from the valley. To reach this bridge, we only can take SkyCab to the top station and then take SkyGlide or trekking to the bridge. This bridge can accommodate around 200 people at the same time.
 |
| Short Trekking from the Top Station to SkyBridge |
Did you know that I wanted to visit this bridge after I watched DON, a Bollywood film starred by Shahrukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra. There were some scene which taken in that place and I felt amazed because I was there, on the place Shahrukh Khan played in his film..hi..hi..
Unlucky because that day was so foggy. It was rainy season. The visibility was only few meters. But the fog was come and go, so I could take some clear pictures.
 |
| Me on the bridge |
I really enjoyed walking on the bridge. I saw many monkeys there. They enjoyed playing each other. But, don't forget we are not allowed to tease or give them food. Watching them playing was really nice moment because they were so funny. There is glass floor on the bridge where we can see the hill below when the weather is clear. I did enjoy my time in the bridge. There were so many people on that day.
 |
| Glass Floor on the Bridge |
I went back to the main station together with two Palestinian guys in the SkyCab. We talked a bit about our countries. I remember his name was Yasin and I forgot his brother's name. Sadly we didn't talk much.
Once I reach the main station, I walked to 3D Art Museum Langkawi. This hailed as the largest 3D art museum in Malaysia and second largest in the world. It would be better if I visit this place with a friend because there are so many 3D arts where we can take fun and nice pictures. I took some interesting arts there. I suddenly met a woman in the same age as my Mum or older. She flew all the way alone from Johor. She told me that she want to go for a vacation but her children never take her. It's quite sad.
 |
| 3D Art Museum Langkawi |
I helpt her to take pictures in some spots. She looked so happy. She helpt me too to take some nice pictures. I was about to say goodbye to her but she didn't stop talking about her..ha..ha..
I decided to run to toilet and told her I needed to pee. She said OK and we said goodbye to each other. *FingerCrossed
I didn't enjoy the place much because I thought I need friend to come with. It's ok. I just tried to take some nice pictures there and walked to the last zone (in the 3rd floor).
 |
| Best Picture I could Take |
The last thing I visited in the Oriental Village is SkyRex. The queue was very long and it took around 30 minutes to wait to get my turn. I would like to say that I love being in this place. It was only less than 10 minutes ride. A tracked tram which can carry around 30 people, carried us inside the dinosaur island.
I felt like in the Jurassic Park where some dinosaurs tried to attack me. This adventure brought adrenaline rush as it takes sensory and physical simulation to the whole new level. Sadly it was too short for me ha..ha..
I finished from the Oriental Village quite late from my schedule because I still needed to catch sunset in Tanjung Rhu beach. I continued to ride to Tanjung Rhu. Based on the map I checked last time, I think I remember the way to Tanjung Rhu. I rode back my scooter but I felt confuse when there were a junction. My smartphone was in low battery condition (I didn't bring power bank).
I stopped in Teluk Yu beach when my smartphone finally off. I still have a small phone (without internet access) and I tried to call Hafeez. I tried to explain Hafeez about my location but he didn't get me. Sighed. I decided not to go to Tanjung Rhu as the day getting darker and colder. I didn't bring jacket. After I asked to the street vendor's lady nearby, I tried to find the way back to Pantai Cenang, where I stayed.
I was lost!
Almost an hour I was on the way, rode the scooter in the dark. OMG, I really wanted to cry. My phone was totally off. I tried to ask people. Still I lost. I stopped for a while to take a deep breathe and thought about where to go. Lucky I saw a sign board somewhere and I followed it. After long journey, I arrived at Pantai Cenang area. Soooooo happy and tired! I was scared that I could not return back..ha..haa..
I headed to Cenang Mall and chose KFC for my big dinner. I was starving. I took cola, big fried chicken and potato wedges. I ate all greedily with a cat beside my table. I sat for a while and watched people around the mall. It was so noisy. Honestly, I don't really like noisy and crowded place. I moved to a shop which sell chocolate, Perniagaan Haji Ismail. For your information, Langkawi is duty free island, everything is cheap here, included chocolate. I regretted that I didn't buy baggage for my flight, so I could only buy a few packs.
I headed back to guesthouse, returned the scooter key, cleaned up and slept.
November 9th, 2017
My very last day in Langkawi, as I had to flew back to Singapore around 10 am. I re-packed my bag and booked guesthouse's taxi. Headed back to airport and said goodbye to the beautiful Langkawi. Oh, I am gonna miss that island! I love you Langkawi.
Nos vemos,
Kirei Khan
 |
| Bonus Picture from me lol |
No comments:
Post a Comment