Lazing on lush Langkawi

I loved the island as it had so many contrasts of scenery. The sunsets have to be seen to be believed. Sitting back with a drink in hand watching the sun set in a blaze of gold or pink is a really memorable experience.

The island is very safe and friendly. The kids are gorgeous and all stop to give a shy smile.

It did not take long to slip into a slow languid pace that we called "Langkawi Time", rising late, retiring late, and taking that little bit longer to do anything and unwinding in the meantime.

On the activities side, Pulau Langkawi has a surprising number of attractions for a relatively small island including the largest aquarium in south east Asia and a cable car that would rival the one in Rio.

For nature lovers, it also has some beautiful waterfalls and a large variety of wildlife, including large monkeys and Monitor Lizards.

Quick Tips:

It is really hot and humid. Being in the tropics, there is a monsoon season. Take this into account if you are looking for a guaranteed sunny, beach destination. We went in November, which is the end of the wet season. Yes, it rained -- the first day it was late at night, but every day it started earlier until on the last day it was raining by midmorning but clearing quickly.

Accommodation costs are at the higher end of the scale, but as a balance, eating out is amazingly cheap.

The other happening that affects eating and the month of November is Ramadan. This is the climax of a month of fasting between dawn and dusk for the majority of the population. It is possible to find a meal in the tourist areas, but if you are out in the countryside, things become a little trickier. You should still find a roadside stall selling delicious satay chicken that costs next to nothing. On this note, you can eat from the local stalls. We ate at many different spots without even a rumble of trouble and found the food really delicious!

Best Way To Get Around:

Because it is so hot you will find that you will find that you will not be so keen to walk, unless it is along the beach where you can cool off.

Like in most Asian countries, most taxis have meters, but most prefer not to use them -- it all comes down to what you are willing to pay and what they will accept.

Car hire is another option -- driving is easy, roads are good, and car hire is relatively cheap. A local sedan costs about 110 ringgitt, which is around , including insurance.

Public transport is non-existent.

Casa del Mar is a Boutique Resort located on the main Pantai Cenang beach. Intimate and beautifully furnished it was originally built for it's wealthy owner as a private resort for family and friends, this shows in the design and quality throughout the resort.

You are picked up at the airport and transported to the resort. There are no formalities here. You register while sitting on the lounge sipping on a welcome cocktail and you are then escorted to your room.

These are very private with each one facing the beach. With ceiling to floor glass and privacy shutters they are spacious and furnished with natural timber and tiled throughout. The bathrooms are large with a separate bath and shower.

Breakfast is included in the room rate and is served in the terrace area of the restaurant whilst taking in the view. You choose from western style dishes such as Eggs Benedict, Pancakes or Malaysian local specialties with fresh plunger coffee or a choice of teas.

It is the little touches of the Resort that I really enjoyed. Like the topping up of your fruit bowl each day, your ice bucket and peanuts refilled each afternoon and fresh milk for your morning coffee.

Leave a book lying face down when you go out and when you return it will be closed with a Casa del Mar bookmark marking your spot.

The pool is also on the beachfront. Laze the day away while taking in the view. A tapas-style menu is available if you don't wish to move from your chair. Cold watermelon and refresher towels are supplied by the attentive pool staff. No request is too great. Highly recommended.

Set out on a large area, Bon Ton Resort is made up of "Nam" Restaurant, Chin Chin Bar, Cahaya Villas for a special accommodation option, and a cat hospital for all the local moggies. An interesting mix, but it works together brilliantly.

The accommodation is made of five restored and individually decorated traditional Malay houses, each over 100 years old.

Set up off the ground, each house has been kept as true to form as possible, including the interior, with the exception of the bathrooms (they are complete with a modern shower and toilet). The furnishings are simple yet stylish. Most of the soft furnishings are covered with crisp white linen and bright splashes of colour coming from cushions and throws made from Malaysian Songket, a traditional fabric of bright colours interwoven with gold thread. Each side of the houses have traditional shutters that open out to allow the breeze and the light in during the day and allow for privacy at night. Even if you do not stay, ask one of the restaurant staff to let you have a peek as it is really worthwhile.

Also located on the resort, Chin Chin Bar is a restored Chinese shop-house and offers the choice to have a drink after dining in the restaurant. It is filled with unusual antiques and full of atmosphere.

Then, interestingly enough, there is the cat hospital. This has been set up to help the locals look after their cats as well as the many strays. There are loads of cats of all shapes, colours, and sizes on Langkawi, but no dogs. The locals do not tolerate dogs, but have millions of cats. Not just any cats though: these all have a kink in their tails. Apparently, it is an inherited trait.

Bon Ton Resort is a beautiful resort and Cahaya Villas offers a unique option for accommodation.

Situated overlooking a lush rice paddy in an open air U-shaped timber pavilion, this was my favourite dining experience on the island. The main dining area is on one side of the pavilion, whilst on the other side, there is a lounge area for pre-dinner drinks or to relax in afterwards.

The menu is large with Thai and local influences evident. All the meals are beautifully presented and delicious. The standout for me was the "Nyonya Platter", consisting of nine dishes individually served on a banana leaf: grilled coconut chicken, beef with peanuts, lamb rendang (a dry curry), prawn mango curry, sambal fish, eggplant with basil, mango kerabu, long bean sambal, and herb rice. All of the above cost 46 Ringitt (US$14). There was also a seafood platter of lobster tails with wasabi butter, garlic prawns, baked nyonya fish, and fried calamari with guava salad for 66 Ringitt (less than US$20). Desserts are worth saving room for with various choices including homemade ice cream with tropical flavours like coconut or mango.

If you are lucky enough to be caught here in a tropical downpour, it is a great excuse to find a spot on one of the comfy lounges and wait it out whilst flicking through the local magazines sipping a cup of coffee and liqueur. No doubt a couple of the resident felines will soon move in and find a nice dry spot with you. Don't miss it.

Great crunchy pizzas, huge fluffy sandwiches made with homemade bread, and some great salads, including a red tomato salad drizzled with some extra virgin olive oil. All the meals served here are substantial and they also feature great pancakes. Nearly everything is home grown or made on the premises, including the yoghurt. Speaking of yoghurt, for drinks, try the Lassis, a long cool refreshing drink made from yoghurt and mango. Milkshakes and all the normal soft drinks are all on offer.

It's casual, relaxed dining in a cool, shady courtyard with lots of greenery along with friendly service. It’s a really great spot for lunch and two can eat for less than $10.

Billed as the largest aquarium in Southeast Asia, this aquarium has a huge array of fish on display and is well worth a visit. It has many species of fish that I have never seen before, including some fish that are so large, it is hard to believe it is possible.

There is also a large walk-under tank where various types of sharks and stingrays drift overhead oblivious to all the faces watching them. The marine section with numerous tanks featuring corals and marine fish is really interesting. There are some really large and colourful corals such as various leather corals, jardinis, and lots of different "mushrooms" and anemones. Of course, what reef section would be complete without the perennial favourite, Nemo the Clownfish? My personal favourites were the pipefish (related to the seahorse) and this tiny little shrimp (pictured below).

There are plans to build a snow section complete with penguins, but at this stage, it has not even been started.

There is also a large duty-free shop attached that has a large array of goods such as luggage, alcohol, clothing, and toiletries at quite reasonable prices. Certainly, the prices are a lot cheaper than what we would pay at home.

Underwater World is recommended to visit and worth the entry fee alone to escape out of the heat into the air-conditioning for a short while.