Chasing Monkeys in Langkawi
We spent a long weekend in Lankgawi as part of our three months in Kuala Lumpur. Langkawi, an enchanting archipelago comprising 99 islands off the western coast of Malaysia, is renowned for its pristine crystal-clear turquoise waters and lush rainforests.
Getting to Langkawi
We opted for an 80-minute flight with Malaysian Air from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah (also known as Subang) airport to Langkawi. Interestingly, the check-in agent assigned us to the exit row without asking, explaining that “white people like more space.” Though kind of racist, we didn’t mind!
Getting around Langkawi
For transportation on the island, we rented a car through Kasina via Expedia. In hindsight, we found that we hardly ventured beyond our resort, making the car rental unnecessary. However, the Kasina staff provided excellent assistance, and the drop-off process was much smoother than our experience in Penang.
Where to stay in Langkawi
We stayed at the Berjaya, primarily because it offered a perfect blend of ocean and rainforest views. Additionally, we secured a fantastic deal during Ramadan. Based on what we saw, I think they were at about 25% occupancy – we basically had the place to ourselves.
The open air lobby was roasting hot, so the “Bear-jaya” welcome drink was a nice surprise.
We booked a rainforest studio to enhance our chances of encountering wildlife. The open-plan room was spacious, featured decent air conditioning, and provided picturesque views of the overwater bungalows.
The property is massive, but there are convenient buggies available for transportation to and from your room if needed. At first we thought this was unnecessary, but it was 32c (about 90f) and 90% humidity so we were thankful they were there when we wanted.
It was rather surreal at night, with the water and sky alight with a green glow. Langkawi’s waters are teeming with fish, and local fishermen employ green underwater lights to attract them to the surface during the night.
The pool was lovely, with plenty of chairs, a swim-through waterfall, and a swim-up bar.
We didn’t go in the ocean here, but did visit the beach for the nightly Fire Twirling. It’s worth the small fee to get one of the seats on the beach. Pro tip: have the concierge book for you and request an area in the front row.
Dining at the Berjaya Resort Langkawi
Throughout our stay, we dined exclusively at the hotel’s various restaurants, including Dayang Cafe which offered buffet breakfasts and à la carte lunch and dinner. The best part of Dayang Cafe was the resident dusky monkeys, who would make coordinated attacks on unguarded tables.
The Beach Brasserie also served buffet breakfast and à la carte meals, with the added advantage of being basically empty.
We also had some exceptional dinners at Pahn-Thai, an open-air venue perched on stilts over the water.
Wildlife Encounters at Berjaya Resort Langkawi
Undoubtedly, the highlight of our stay at Berjaya was the opportunity to observe wildlife. Macaques were a common sight throughout the property and along the beach.
In the forest and atop the conference centre roof, we often encountered troops of dusky monkeys. This was a new species of monkeys for us, and we were enamoured with babies, who are born with strikingly bright golden fur which gradually changes to black as they mature into adults.
And of course, while walking to lunch on our last day, we found about 10 of them posing nicely in the bright sun.
Exploring Kilim Karst Geoforest Park
We booked a half day tour with Dev’s Adventure Tours, and decided to do a private tour so we would have more flexibility in terms of itinerary.
And this is why you always, always keep a filter on your camera lens (little bit of an incident boarding the boat, but the camera and lens were fine).
We cruised along the mangroves and spotted a few macaques.
Further on, we spotted eagles feeding in the river and brominy kites. The boats rev their engines, which churns up fish, which draws the eagles in to hunt. We didn’t know what to expect but it was pretty spectacular to see.
They then dropped us at a deserted beach for a very refreshing swim.
Panorama Langkawi Adventure
We spent one morning at Panorama Langkawi, conveniently located near our resort. This tourist village offers a plethora of attractions, and we indulged in the skycab, skyglide, and skybridge experiences. The skycab, a gondola, took us to the middle and top stations with breathtaking views. The sky glide, a funicular, transported us to the SkyBridge, an incredible 125-meter-long curved suspension bridge, providing stunning vistas and leaving us in awe of its construction.
