Many a tourist has found themselves on the north side of Langkawi, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Depending on the time of day, the Tanjung Rhu area may often appear like a ghost town, with shops closed and perhaps even a few tumbleweeds rolling by. But don’t pass it by, because there’s a whole … read the full post

On the west side of Langkawi stretching between Telaga Harbour and the Mutiara Burau Bay Resort is Panti Kok (Kok Beach). This area was originally home to a small fishing village with small seafood restaurants and simple accommodation for the adventurous traveller. However 20 years on and Telaga Harbour with its multitude of restaurants and … read the full post

Georgetown, Penang, offers a great array of places to stay, from cheap backpacker haunts through to charming heritage hotels. Here are a few guesthouses and hotels in Georgetown that struck us as outstanding value for money. Under 50 ringgit If you’re visiting Georgetown on a budget, dorms are the way to go. Most of the … read the full post

Most people traveling to Langkawi have heard of Pantai Cenang, or Cenang beach — Malaysia’s version of Cancun, if you like. Pantai Cenang has a lot to offer: shops, restaurants, hotels across all budgets and a long stretch of beautiful beach. However, just past its rocky headland — which sports The Cliff Restaurant — lies … read the full post

Zackry Guest House off Panta Tengah is a 27-room guesthouse set in a hodge-podge cluster of buildings down towards the end of Jalan Pantai Tengah. The small pool to the left and the duck pond to right add to Zackry’s eclectic ambiance. As you arrive you walk down a short drive to the main reception … read the full post

Well-informed me didn’t even know Langkawi had a cable car till I started riding around the island and saw the signs for it — and with it climbing almost 700 metres, oh what a cable car it is. Opened in 2003, the Langkawi cable car has three “stations” which you pass through on your way … read the full post

The almost 43-metre tall statue of Lord Murugan stands by the entrance to the Batu Caves and is one of Malaysia’s iconic images. The epicentre of the annual Thaipusam procession, Batu Caves is famous for the festival, statue and main cavern behind it, but a far lesser known and arguably more interesting point of interest … read the full post

Malaysia’s most famous national park, Taman Negara is just a few hours from Kuala Lumpur by bus and/or boat and while there’s only one place to stay within the park, there are a bunch of places to stay across the river in Kuala Tahan. But which is the best for you? Stay in the park … read the full post

After four action-packed days in Langkawi on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia I’ve had my assumptions about the island shattered — in a good way. I’d always written it off as a tourist trap, but what I found was far more interesting — and far less touristed — than I expected. Admittedly I visited … read the full post

A plate of rice topped with four different curries for breakfast? Sounds like a handful (or rather plateful) but that’s exactly what nasi kandar is about; a combination of tantalising, distinct flavours. Once you get used to the idea of consuming so many carbs and so much spice so early in the day, I guarantee … read the full post