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The name Langkawi technically refers to a group of islands with the largest of the island serving as a focal point. The number of islands changes with the tides. When it is high tide there are 99 islands, when it is low tide, the number increases by 5. Pulau Langkawi is the main island and offers pristine beaches that are not crowded.
Pulau Langkawi is accessible by ferry from Kuala Perlis, Kuala Kedah and Penang. There is an international airport on the island as well. The Malaysian government has spent a lot of money developing this island, putting in infrastructures to promote tourism. Kuah is the island’s administrative town and that is where the Malaysian Tourist Board is situated. Stop by to get information about the island so that you can plan your activities for the duration of your stay. If you need to do any banking, do so while you are in Kuah. There are no other banking facilities near the beaches.
There are five beaches that have been developed for resorts. They are Pantai Cenang, Pantai Tengah, Pantai Kok, Pantai Datai and Pantai Rhu. Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah are the most developed. The most expensive resorts on the island are on Pantai Datai and Pantai Rhu.
Pulau Langkawi has been dubbed the isle of legends. It is said that long time ago a Malay princess by the name of Mahsuri was wrongfully accused of adultery. Her husband did not believe her pleas of innocence and ordered that both Mahsuri and her alleged lover be tied to posts and speared. In anguish, she cursed all the inhabitants of the island for seven generations. Her grave site is one of the island’s attractions.
The road going north from Kuah will take you to Durian Perangin Falls which is at its best during the monsoon season. Drive on to the end of the road and you will find the Telaga Air Panas, a hot spring next to cultural village built for the tourists. To the north f the hot springs is Pantai Hitam where the black sandy beach is colored by tin oxides floating in the sea.
On the western end of the island is Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls. It really is a stream cascading through a series of seven pools. Padang Mat Sirat is situated between Pantai Kok and Pantai Cenang. 200 years ago, there stood a granary in this field of burnt rice. The island was under siege from Siamese invaders and the head man at the time, Datuk Sri Keramat Jaya ordered that it be burnt down and all drinking wells be poisoned. Grains of burnt rain are uncovered each time there is a heavy down pour of rain.
Langkawi Island is a duty free port, thus it is a shopping paradise. This island despite heavy development still retains a lot of rural charm. Phuket Island in Thailand is over crowded and is a tourist trap. Langkawi on the other hand gives the tourist cleaner beaches and is relatively undiscovered by International tourists. But this won’t last for long.
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