Who doesn’t love a picnic, am I right? Picnics in Langkawi are especially popular with the island’s local residents. From dramatic waterfall locations to nearly empty beaches, young and old alike savor their makan moments in Langkawi’s great outdoors. But when it comes to those special Langkawi picnic spots? Some folks seem to think all […]
Gamat, Langkawi’s Ginseng of the Sea
It’s been over a decade since I was first introduced to Gamat; Langkawi’s Magical Sea Cucumber. At the time, I was appropriately impressed with this unusual local product turned successful cottage industry, and even wrote a short blog post about it. I’ve since learned more about the unusual sea creature, and surprised that its medicinal […]
The Mystery of Langkawi’s Ancient Tomb
Makam Purba (ancient tomb) the roadside sign reads. The sign has been there for years. Since I already knew the word ‘makam’ meant tomb, I’d always assumed it was ‘just’ a graveyard. Out of respect for the dead I don’t typically sightsee in graveyards, but on a quiet errand-running day, in the middle of a […]
Hitting Pay Dirt in Perak; Best Tin Mining Museums in Malaysia
Unless you are a geology buff, mining museums are probably not at the top of your sightseeing wish list. But if you’re heading through Perak, Malaysia now would be a good time to do just that. Perak has some of the best tin mining museums in Malaysia and mining is a huge part of Perak’s […]
Celine Tan Clinic: My Visit to an Alor Setar Top Skin Specialist
It was my quest for a Kedah-based dermatologist that initially brought me to the Celine Tan Clinic. As one who spends a lot of time in the sun, skin cancer is always a concern and an annual look-see by a skin specialist is the best way to keep that in check. During non-pandemic times my […]
Kedah Paddy Museum, Coolest Rice Museum in Malaysia
As the Kedah countryside sped by, my eyes were glued to the distant horizon. My mind asking, “Are we there yet?” while my mouth spewed non-stop questions (as usual) with my jovial GRAB taxi driver. I’d only seen a few vague online photos of the Kedah Paddy Museum and knew nothing of its history or […]
Review: El Playa Bistro by Avante
Closed November 2021: Langkawi, Malaysia has no shortage of places to eat, but if you are looking for Mediterranean food in Langkawi, Pantai Cenang is the place to go. Smack in the middle of the Langkawi’s popular tourist beach is El Playa Bistro by Avante, a Mediterranean restaurant which embraces Spanish, Italian, Greek and Turkish […]