the family

Langkawi 3

We booked a chalet at Pantai Chenang with fine powdery sandy beach right at the doorstep. The chalet is called Laggura Baron Resort. Pantai Cenang stretches for two kilometres and is lined with a mix of resorts, luxury hotels, chalets and restaurants. Located at the south-western tip of Langkawi, about 18 kilometres from Kuah.

After breakfast we headed for the Underwater World Langkawi. One of the largest marine and fresh water aquaria in South East Asia.

Unique to Underwater World Langkawi is the gigantic 15-meter long walk-through tunnel consisting of 500,000 liter seawater which houses many big fishes and sea creatures including the Giant Green Turtle.

Next is the Mahsuri mausoleum. The best known legend of Langkawi is of Mahsuri, a pretty maiden who lived some 200 years ago. She was soon a victim of a conspiracy and was falsely accused of committing adultery with a villager Deraman.There are many versions as to the reasons behind the treachery.Widely believed was that her own mother in law, Wan Mahora, was jealous of her beauty and popularity and had plotted against her. At her execution by stabbing with a sacred 'keris' or dagger, the villagers were shocked to discover that the blood flowing from her body was white, signifying her innocence. Others maintain there was the sudden appearance of white mist that enveloped the spot where she was executed, which it was believed was a sign of mourning of her innocence.

Mahsuri is is probably best remembered for her curse. With her dying breath Mahsuri placed a curse on the island of Langkawi by uttering, "For this act of injustice Langkawi shall not prosper for seven generations to come."

Langkawi 2

Day 2 at Langkawi. Off we went to The Langkawi Bird Paradise, located at Jalan Kisap just 10 minutes by car from Kuah town.

This large 10,000 sq meter park offers you the chance to see and enjoy hundreds of exotic bird species in just a few hours. The colourful birds are housed in areas adapted to their natural habitat.

Hundreds of the world's rarest and most beautiful birds greet you as you walk through enclosed bird rooms and there are also other animals e.g. rabbits/ostrich/peacock.. something like a mini zoo. Don't forget the World's Largest Crystal ball on show at the park.

Then there is the Pantai Pasir Hitam - Black Sand Beach - This is a very unusual beach as the sands on Pantai Pasir Hitam are pigmented black due to the tin and mineral ore deposits which washed up on the shore.

Next stop, Galleria Perdana which is the Premier Museum in Malaysia, houses all the honour of Prime Minister Dato' Seri Dr Mahathir items throught his work for 20 yrs as a government servant. It houses the normal collections but I am amazed at the carvings on the roof.. see photo

Next its the Burau Beach, a public beach... next to the marina. Burau Bay or Teluk Burau is a fairly secluded beach in Langkawi. While Burau Bay is regarded as a public beach, the crowd mostly consists of the patrons coming from either Mutiara Burau Bay Resort or Berjaya Langkawi Beach & Spa Resort. These resorts flank on the opposite ends of Burau Bay.

The beach itself is very long. I estimate that it might take a 2-km walk from one end to the other. The water can be considered pleasant enough to swim in and not as murky as most other beaches in Langkawi. In fact, certain sections of the beach boast a fairly crystal-clear water which is considered a rare offering in the island of Langkawi.

Laman Padi Langkawi is Langkawi's latest attraction and one that should not be missed for agro-tourism lovers. Laman Padi Langkawi showcases the history, heritage and development of the nation's rice growing industry.

Among the attractions here is a rice museum displaying artifacts, charts and photographs showing the significance of padi cultivation to the country. Visitors have the opportunity to enjoy a bird's eye view of the fields from a roof-top garden, try your hand at -padi planting using both traditional as well as modern methods of cultivation.

Langkawi 1

Finally I landed for the first time in Langkawi. This is my first trip and I am quite excited about it. I don't know what to expect but all I know is that it is supposed to have beautiful beaches and cheap cigaretes :)

We checked into our hotel, the Eagle Bay (bad bad hotel.. I am not going there again) and off we went to Dataran Lang.

Dataran Lang (Lang Square) is Langkawi's most outstanding landmark for visitors arriving by ferry. It is strategically located near the Kuah jetty and can hardly be missed as it boasts a sculpture of a majestic brown eagle with wings spread out, ready for flight.

Folklore dictates that the eagle is a symbol from where the name Langkawi originated. Lang refers to helang (eagle) while kawi means reddish brown in old Malay.

Dinner time and off we went to Wonderland Seafood, as recommended by the cigarette seller. The location leaves much to be desired if you expect a more upmarket restaurant. This is Langkawi street dining, but who cares? It is just part of the colours of real Langkawi. The restaurant overlooks a tidal pool just a few metres behind the Bella Vista Hotel in Kuah. We had fish, squid, kailan, prawns etc etc and all this for RM 80 only. Oh the lobster on offer was RM38/pc or the larger ones goes for RM 100/kg.

Pusat Dagangan Kelana Mas,
Kuah, 07000 Langkawi

Tel: 012–494–6555

Penang

View of Penang island from air

Reds crowned champions

United have been crowned Premiership champions for a ninth time after closest rivals Chelsea failed to beat Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

A first-half penalty from Gilberto Silva put the Gunners 1-0 in front and Khalid Boulahrouz was sent off for a foul on Julio Baptista, which led to the spot-kick.

Michael Essien levelled on 70 minutes but the Blues could find no way through after that in a hugely tense affair.

Twenty-four hours earlier on Saturday, Chelsea had seen United secure a 1-0 win over local neighbours Manchester City.

It is the ninth Premiership title the Reds have won under Sir Alex Ferguson and is one of the team's finest triumphs under the Scot.

The Reds will be presented with the Championship trophy after the final game of the season against West Ham at Old Trafford on Sunday. Before that United face a mid-week trip to Stamford Bridge, and victory in the next two games would give United a record Premiership total of 94 points.

United's best accumulation to date came at the end of the 1993/94 season, when Sir Alex's side finished on 92 points. The Reds came within a point of that in 1999/2000, ending the campaign on 91.

from ManUtd.com

Udin is 6 years old

Our Mohd Nuruddin is 6years old today