Langkawi Island

Life
September 22, 2015

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Where?
Langkawi Island

First Impressions?

Laid back kampung life but with several luxurious beachside resorts with life’s little indulgences such as signature restaurants, spas and recreational activities plus, the added bonus of duty-free shopping.

What’s Special?
Langkawi successfully pulls off being a destination to indulge or to travel on a budget and get close to the unhurried lifestyle of the locals. While there are 99 islands, just a few are developed and sailing around them or island hopping is recommended especially a sunset cruise with Crystal Yachts (www.crystalyacht.com). Enjoy a cycling tour through rural Langkawi or a mangrove tour with Dev’s Adventures (www.langkawi-nature.com). Ride the cable car up Mount Machincang to get a bird’s eye view of the island and neighbouring Thailand.

Who Should Go?
Langkawi has several luxurious resorts for intimate couples’ escapes (Westin, Four Seasons, The Andaman and The Datai), great family resorts (Pelangi, Berjaya and Frangipani) and a range of budget accommodation along the popular Pantai Cenang strip (AB Motel).

Getting There
There are direct flights from Singapore to Langkawi on SilkAir with the flight taking a little over one hour making it the perfect weekend escape.

Where to Stay
Bon Ton and Temple Tree Resorts (www.bontonresort.com) are two adjoining boutique resorts located in a coconut plantation and centred on a handful of antique houses sourced from around Langkawi and Malaysia, tenderly relocated and lovingly restored and decorated with period and designer interiors. There are two pools, Nam Restaurant and a leisurely vibe for total but indulgent relaxation.

Where to Dine
You haven’t visited Langkawi until you’ve dined in Nam Restaurant within Bon Ton Resort. The Balinese-inspired restaurant, with open sides to enable the tropical air to circulate, overlooks a tranquil lagoon. The menu features ‘West meets spice’ cuisine and a carefully curated wine list adds to the magic that is Bon Ton. The Breakfast Bar in Pantai Cenang is where the locals rub shoulders with tourists. There are many local stalls selling seafood with some being influenced by cooking styles from Thailand.

Tips
Hire a car at the airport for just RM70 per day (they’re mostly rented with an empty tank so you’ll need to fuel up immediately). Stock up on duty-free wines and spirits at PL Soon Huat in Padang Matsirat near the airport.

Get Connected www.langkawi-info.com, www.langkawi.com and www.langkawigeopark.com.my

David Bowden is the author of Enchanting Langkawi published by John Beaufoy of the UK (www.johnbeaufoy.com) and sold in Singapore and Langkawi.

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John Ntatsopoulos

Over the course of his 34 years career, our CEO, John, have worked predominately in the area of insurance and financial services across major APAC markets, including Australia, NZ and across South East Asia. Over the last 9 years, he has been based in Singapore focusing mostly in Medical Insurance and Employee Benefits while working across Southeast Asia, particularly in Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia. John graduated from the University of New South Wales with a master’s degree in commerce. Off-work period calls him for a game of rugby, strumming a guitar, whipping up his favorite meal in the kitchen and riding a motorcycle across many different countries.