"Paradise on earth..." Pulau Langkawi by cheezecake_deli

The tropical archipelago of Langkawi - a cluster of 99 or 104 islands (depending on the tide) - is located between the Straits of Malacca and the Andaman Sea, off the western coast of the Malay Peninsula. Ruled for hundreds of years by the Sultan of Kedah, Langkawi was a rural backwater whose inhabitants were mostly fishermen and subsistence farmers. There is little recorded history of the islands, and facts were often intertwined with legends and myths. One such legend is that of Mahsuri, a beautiful local princess who allegedly lived in the 18th century. The pregnant Mahsuri was wrongly accused of adultery and sentenced to death. As she was executed, she laid a curse that the islands would not prosper for 7 generations - a curse that appeared to have come true as Langkawi was invaded by the Siamese soon after and descended into a long period of obscurity. 200 years later, the curse seems to have been lifted! In the 1980s, the Malaysian government realised the potential of the islands for tourism, and began a programme of development that has led to Langkawi becoming a top destination for sun-seekers to South East Asia.

Mountains, jungle and beaches...

Only 4 of the islands are inhabited. The main island, by far the largest in the archipelago, is also called Langkawi. Its main town and port, Kuah, is located in the south east, and its airport in the south west. The northern and western coasts are dotted by white sandy beaches, while the interior is largely mountains and jungles. The main attraction of Langkawi is, of course, its pristine beaches, perfect for swimming and a variety of watersports. Away from the sea and holiday resorts, it is also possible to explore jungles, waterfalls and villages in the interior of the island. There aren't many cultural sights in Langkawi, certainly not compared to its nearby rival Penang.

Spend some time with yourself...

One of the nicer things about Langkawi is that there is really little else to compel you away from the sun and the sea - so no guilt about lazing on the beach then! Langkawi is not like Phuket or most beach destinations in neighbouring Thailand or elsewhere in Malaysia - it has a slower, more relaxed pace. The best thing to do here is, probably, nothing!

Some beaches in Langkawi:
1. Pantai Tanjung Rhu
2. Pantai Teluk Datai (private)
3. Pantai Cenang
4. Pantai Tengah
5. Pantai Kok.