Ever hear of Pulau Tuba Island? Unless you are familiar with the northwest coast of Peninsula Malaysia, you probably have not. Unbeknown to many, Pulau Tuba (Tuba Island) is one of the four populated islands of Langkawi’s 99-island Archipelago. The others being Pulau Dayang Bunting, Pulau Rebak and Pulau Langkawi itself. Located 5-kilometers southwest of […]
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 […]
My Perfect 4 Days in Langkawi Itinerary
Need some help planning your 4 days in Langkawi? Langkawi itinerary advice is a dime a dozen these days. Which is a good thing when it comes to planning a Langkawi holiday. Especially if time is limited. Nothing worse than missing something you could have seen or done had you only known about it. Despite […]
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 […]
Is Pulau Payar Marine Park Worth a Visit? Yes!
When it comes to island hopping in Peninsular Malaysia, the state of Kedah has been the king of the hill with their Langkawi archipelago turned UNESCO Global Geopark. Langkawi (also known as the Jewel of Kedah) has 99 islands and islets shrouded in jungle-y mystery and often dotted with white sand beaches and eerie ancient […]
Learning to Surf in Langkawi, Malaysia
The idea of learning to surf in Langkawi or anywhere else in Malaysia may come as a big surprise to some folks. It’s just not something you hear much about. At least not consistently. And that may be because Malaysia’s waves are seasonal. Typically generated in direct relationship to the monsoon season (aka rainy season). […]