Langkawi REvisited Part 2 - The Journey to the Peak, and Wonderland!!

From Chapter One .... The perilous journey continued ....

The Archway to the Highlands

Did the mythos reveal anything of relevance, about this place? Gunung Mat Chinchang, standing tall, amidst the clouds in the sky, overlooking the western coast of this equally exotic island?

This poor boy's artillery exclude a History textbook. (And of course, a dictionary's unheard of, as well as Morale Studies textbook. Does he even need one?) Hence no recollection whatsoever on this highland, at the western end of Langkawi, requiring about 30 minutes of travelling by bullock cart (car) from Kuah town, and a RM15 flying carriage (Cable car) ride to the top.

A map to the treasures in Oriental Village


Building blocks of Gold - A sign of prosperity, perhaps?

The Station before the intimidating 2.2km ride to the Top

The steep facade requires much Courage, and strong Prayers, especially when the Heavens above seemed to be unforgiving. Notice the impending Doom? (dark clouds looming)

Almost 45 degrees we were slanted. Though about 700m above sea level, Zephyrus was clearly on leave that evening ...

A most precarious structure - The Fairweather Hanging Bridge.

The journey to the peak took about 15 minutes or so. There was a platform halfway, for those who may chicken out, or needing a breath of fresh air after being cramped in the tram for so long. But the 2 Musketeers (the 3rd had his calling) ventured to the top in record time, given the fickle weather which might ruined the odyssey to the peak, and the pilgrimage across the Bridge.

Of wooden platform, planks, observatory stations, and the not-so-welcoming dark clouds

Lo and behold, the 2 Musketeers were denied entry to the path leading to the Bridge. Reason being? The weather was not favourable, and treading on the Hanging Bridge might lead to a premature Death. Or an appointment with The Reaper.

"If Life hands you Lemons, make Lemonades?"

Though behind every cloud has its silver lining, the Sunshine behind the dark clouds was a welcoming sight. To no avail, sadly.

We were patient. We were hopeful. And we were persistent.

Though repeatedly advised by the Guards from the Dark Side to embark on a return journey to land-level, the Musketeers turned violent (OK, more like stubborn) and instead participated in some compulsory camwhoring activities. Oh, joined by a fellow warrior with his maiden beauty. And brandishing a weapon of higher stature, his weapon of choice; DSLR. ;)

The Deceiving Fog - 'Twas sunshine at the other end ...

But the Heavens above was clearly not siding with the innocent oneS. Sending waves after waves of rainfall, and completely shrouding the skies with a thick layer of Fog. OK, the Musketeers were successfully trapped amidst the chaos. What now? Stay or Down?

After much deliberation, all the staff and visitors alike were ushered to the flying carts and sent descending into the almost invisible land below. By now, visibility was at an all-time low. All hopes of sunny weather and continuing our pilgrimage to the Bridge were dashed.

Sakura Bridge in Langkawi?

And so the 2 Musketeers obediently (but reluctantly) relented to the subversive tactics. And bidded Oriental Village goodbye. No refunds for the less-than-ideal weather. SO be warned, and refrain from visiting during windy/cloudy times.

An Oasis?

The legendary bakery, The Loaf was closed. Shucks .....

At the foot of the hill, within a short distance from the cable car station, stood some wonderful buildings, a small township with retail outlets mimicking the Venice.

With an abandoned boutique hotel in sight, and tens of yachts docked at the pier, the place houses some nifty & posh-looking restaurants, cafes, etc. Though the deserted condition was slightly unexpected. After all, the 2 Musketeers were longing for a bite from the Loaf, which was inconveniently closed at teatime.

The lake must be a man-made one (or so, the Poor Boy thought), encircling a rather restricted area. One can't help but wonder, how the heck are those yachts gonna sail?

Wonderland - Have we reached Nirvana?

And so, the 3 Musketeers reunited (yay!) for a leisure dinner by the riverside. Or it could be a HUGE drain, for all they cared. Most importantly, hunger pangs MUST be satiated!

Steamed Siakap Teo Chew style

Next to the GLK Seafood of the previous night, Wonderland commands a larger following, nearly packed at all times, on a weekday's evening!

Albeit with higher prices (understandable, given the HOT reaction from the crowd), the food at Wonderland was still delicious, and fresh. And the 3 Musketeers were unwillingly trapped in a horrendous downpour (a grim reminder from the Lords above again, probably to wash our Sins .... a deja vu of sorts, much akin to our experience at Kuala Perlis last year).

Clockwise from top left : Batter-fried Squids, Sambal Belacan Kangkung, Dry Chillies Mantis Prawns and Or Chien (Oyster Omelette)

The meal came to about RM18 per person. Though next to each other, Wonderland and GLK can't be categorized in the same league. They serve Lobsters, Crabs, Prawns, Fish and various other sea produce. People even bring their own bottles of liquor, from reds to whites, to 'enhance' the dining experience.

Location : Wonderland Food Store @ 179-181, Pusat Perniagaan Kelana Mas, 07000 Kuah, Langkawi, Kedah. Complete with al fresco dining, or underneath the canopy, and au naturel tunes from the running river. Far from pristine, but fortunately without the stench.

The restaurant with the lounge, @ SUNSUTRA, Pantai Cenang

To cap off the Amazing 3 Days Odyssey to the North, the 3 Musketeers celebrated at Sunba Retro Bar, a supposedly happening pub at Pantai Cenang. About 30 minutes from Kuah.

Rustic charm abound, the place looked nothing like a pub from the outside

Chilling to tunes from the 90's, they drank, they splitted nuts (ground nuts, NOT their nuts), and they did NOT dance. As retro as Sunba may be, the crowd was thin (it was a Tuesday night after all, and the heavy rain was a huge deterrent factor!), and the Musketeers and Gang stuck out like sore thumbs amidst the majority of foreigners. A game of pool at RM3, a pint of beer at RM8, and cocktails/vodka/etc from RM12+.

Supper at a random mamak stall ended the night on a high note, with gratitudes to the 'local' guides (an alcoholic and a sober), toasting (teh tarik,Milo and all) to a comfortable stay, with free transportation and drivers, as well as some free meals! ;)

The flight home was indeed, in a Class of Its Own ; Turbulence on a Propeller Plane = Nauseating!

And so ends, another chapter in the Motormouth's travelogue. Pardon the less than logical/rational way of writing, as I'm still reeling from the food poisoning spell (no thanks to that dastardly Nasi Kandar meal in Penang!), hence the lack in intellectual reasoning.

Wait, was I ever an intellectual in the first place? =)

Next destination : PERLIS, this weekend. Geez, I want my weekends back ..... !!!

Langkawi REvisited - A Tale of 3 Musketeers

Once upon a time, there lived a young, innocent, and naive Ipoh boy who has never stepped on the soils of Langkawi; a mystical island to the north of Peninsula Malaysia, filled with myths, legends and many more stories untold. Seven generations cursed, the island (now branded as Geopark) has now achieved considerable fame, and fortune.

Then, opportunity knocked on this poor boy's door. He was offered a fully-paid 'trip' of sorts, for a full 5 days in Langkawi, the island destination he was hoping so much to visit, deep down in his heart. Though the journey was smooth (thanks to the sparkly & propelling Firefly), the stay wasn't so. Trapped in a dungeon with looming threats, from toads-infested loo to 40-suicidal-feet of towering doom, and rations polluted (poisoned) with giant flies' eggs.

But he survived. Stronger than ever, in every sense of the word, he vowed to return to Langkawi someday, brandishing a heroic spear and shield, demolishing the unGodly structures in the dark, hellacious dungeon, and ideally, kicking back with heroes of the same league, with a booze at hand, and a bar of sweet liquer choc smeared in the other, watching the sunset from the beach. And if can lah, fully sponsored as well.

The Castle

Lady luck's must be enjoying her intoxication of booze in Langkawi during this period. For all he knew, he never thought good chances come twice in life, much like lightning does not strike twice at the same spot. But after a week of withdrawal syndrome, the pigeon perched, carrying the letter duly written; Another 3 days in Langkawi for the poor boy, possibly a redemption for the blisters and the sores he endured throughout the 5 days tenure? Or a chance for retribution?

A minor form of pampering. Far from 5 stars, but hovering above the clouds.

In this era of turmoil, whereby the people are spending lesser and lesser, keeping their golds to themselves in this hard time (and beyond), luxury seems to be ridiculed. But this poor boy was fortunate enough to be offered accomodation in a 'Castle', of all places. With amenities superior to the basics, and 3 rooms to be shared among 2 souls. Excuse me? Ah-ha! So, luxury does come cheap in this almost forlorn town.

# Kondo Istana @ Kuah, very near to police station, with a backlane shortcut to Kuah town #

A common room and a kitchen with cooking facilities. But where's the maiden?


Char Siew Rice @ RM4.50

The township of Kuah is famed, almost legendary for the tax-free goods. Especially the loots devoid from the dastardly 'Sin Taxes'. A cigar and a pint never sounded so lucrative.

A plate of Econony Rice @ RM6

But wait, alcohol, chocolates and cigarettes may come cheap, but this poor boy was astounded, almost shocked out of his farmer boots (pants, and all) at the sky-high prices of the most peasant of supplies; Street Food.

Dry Pan Mee @ RM3.50

Far from gastronomic delights, the food was still devoured with much relish, no thanks to the long hours of being famished, in the bullock cart (van), as well as onboard the amazing flying insect (Firefly).

Location : A corner coffee shop, painted violet, with many stalls all around. Opposite Coco Valley in Kuah town. Hard to miss, as there are only TWO prominent Chinese restaurant throughout town.

Langkawi Saga - Where the Heroes gathered, raided, and looted the place clean. Almost.


The treasures we came away with. Plus the mosaic of Ritter Sports posted previously HERE

Steamed Garoupa Thai Style (RM24), Guiness Stout Chicken (RM8), The Greens (RM7) and Claypot Beancurd (RM8)

A period of relaxation ensued, where swords were sharpened, shields tampered, and hagard bodies scrubbed clean. (A bathroom EACH).

Dinner for the night? A seafood meal at GLK Seafood Restaurant @ 176 and 177, Jalan Persiaran Mutiara Kelana Mas, 07000 Langkawi, Kedah. At the row of several seafood restaurants along the road, lining up against each other, at each other's throat mostly.

The Golden Elixir

The meal was above average, fuelling the gut, the mind, the body and soul. And keeping the wallet intact, patching that hole after the gold bars were willingly donated to the township, when bartering for the goods earlier. Poor boy was ecstatic, though UNwillingly sucked in some ashes, no thanks to the charcoal-fuelled steamed fish placed in front of his face. But no complaints, for a meal of such stature deserves some sacrificing .... and the RM2/aluminium can of Golden Elixir redeemed itself, nicely.

The neighbouring villain of Wonderland might have pulled most of the barbarians and nobles, but GLK serves food at almost 3/4 of the price. (Wonderland review to come later)

Where plentiful of rice was burnt aeons ago ....

Adventurous endeavours picked up steam the very next day. To the field where the mighty has fallen, where rations have been set on fire, leaving mere remnants of history til this very day. For a short lesson on history, click HERE.

A handful of mythical blackened & charred rice remains ....

Tapak Kawasan Beras Terbakar (Field of Burnt Rice) @ Padang Matsirat, Langkawi.

Wan Thai Restaurant - A HALAL choice, for fiery food to unblock that stuffy nose ....

Highly-praised from all quarters, heroes, rumours, rumour-mongers (hah), and the locals alike, Wan Thai serves delectable Thai cuisine at reasonable price, amidst a spacious, heavily decorated interior, laden with Thai and Malay influences.

Nasi Goreng Belacan (RM7)

Nasi Patpet Ayam (RM5)


Nasi Goreng Seafood


Nasi Ayam Paprik (RM5)

Nasi Goreng Ayam (RM5)

A tough brawl in the early hours of the morning, lasting about an hour took its toll on the Heroes in this chapter. Bloodied, battered, and of course, hungry, they proceeded to stuff their faces with some of the better Thai-Malay food around town.

# Though hidden from the main road of Kuah town, turning left at the MayFirst outlet on your left will get you to a row of shops behind the ones lining the main road. Wan Thai is somewhere in the middle of the road #

A piping hot serving of thick, spicy and sour Tom Yum Goong

The sweet desserts, served with dessicated coconut, albeit with heavy taste of lye (alkaline) water

Heaving a sigh of relief, Poor Boy was thankful for the call of duty granted him another chance to explore the land he had never seen before. And with another 24 hours to go, he knew that life could only get .... BETTER.

(to be continued ...)

# All characters, depictions, and destinations are NOT fictional. None tailored to mess with the reader's mind. #

PART 2 - LANGKAWI REVISITED - THE JOURNEY TO THE PEAK

Deja Vu? (Banana Leaf Curry Rice @ NS Curry House & Ritter Sport Chocolates from Langkawi)

Since we're on a roll here, let's review another restaurant serving banana leaf curry rice (BLR - sc's the one who coined this, not me!) in Ipoh .... but feel free to look away if BLR's not your thing. But Malaysians being Malaysians, who can say NO (!!) to heaps of white rice on a banana leaf, generously doused with curries, served with a meat of choice, and unlimited servings of vegetables. And a piece of those addictive, crunchy papadom for good measure.

Unlimited gravies, and vegetable side dishes, one can have a VERY heavy lunch and suffer the consequences. The post-lunch syndrome x 10 = Logs @ Work.

Previous experience at Samy's left us wanting for more, Mr Z & FCOE recommended this outlet on Maxwell Road in Ipoh, simply named NS Curry House, an unassuming choice given the far from city location, as well as the lack of publicity thereof. But wait, since they're foodies in their own rights (=P), we took their words for it, and ventured to this outlet one fine afternoon. (P/S : See? Mr Z/FCOE ; I'm skipping all backlogs for this post, dedicated to you guys .... hehehe ...)

The Elixir of Sin ....

The restaurant is opened from breakfast til lunch, according to Mr Z. Specializing in Indian Curry Food, they cater to both vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Needless to say, you can already safely place yours truly in the latter category, championing the rights of all carnivores all around the world ... Wait, I meant OMNIvores. =)

Dry Curry Mutton

Compared to Samy, the dishes may pale in terms of variety, but tastewise, NS did not disappoint. Excelling in fact, in aspects even Samy faltered.

The side dishes of vegetables (cabbage, long beans and snake gourd) were all tasty, without being overly salty nor bland. My personal preference was the snake gourd cooked lightly with lentils. And yes, you can ask for unlimited refills of rice and vegetables, FOC. And the compulsory curries came in a trio of steel pots, so you can either 'banjir' (flood) your rice, or practise self-constraint.

Chicken Varuval - Dry Curry Chicken

The accompanying mains of dry curry chicken and curry mutton were delicious, brimming with flavour and spices, while maintaining the freshness of the meats, yet moderately spicy. Therefore, even if you're not a fan of spicy dishes, you can be assured that you won't be breathing fire/required to be exhumed from ashes/drenching yourself with H2O in the midst of the meal.

Minor gripe? The serving size being a little on the smaller end of the scale, when compared head to head with Samy, and even Sri Asoka. But sufficient for lunch, nonetheless. And at a cheaper price too, my banana leaf set with curry mutton, and a glass of Teh Susu Lembu (Tea with Cow's Milk) amounted to only RM7.80. A paltry sum, as you're seated in an air-conditioned room, with commendable cleanliness level, and impeccable service (OKlah .... but don't expect napkins and violins).

Location : NS Curry House @ 10F, Jalan Tun Abdul Razak (Maxwell Road), 30100 Ipoh, Perak. Tel No : 019-576 7354/019-514 1004.

NS Curry House provides catering service as well, in the form of Naidu Food Catering, and serves wedding parties, buffet luncheons/dinners, birthdays, etc. Another branch (or sorts, didn't get to confirm, sorry) of theirs is at Restoran Simpang Pulai @ 808/810, Jalan Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah (Jalan Gopeng), Taman Chandan Desa, 31300 Simpang Pulai, Perak.

## Now, now .... since NS does not serve any traditional Indian sweetmeats, what's for DESSERTS then? ##

Pick. Your. Poisons.

With THAT many flavours to choose from, Ritter Sport Chocolates all the way from Germany (but of course, Motormouth can't fly that far without sponsors ..... shucks). So this time around, the loots from Langkawi consist mostly of imported Ritter Sport Chocs (3 for RM12.50), Cadbury's, etc. TWO trips to Langkawi within TWO weeks .... I'm spent, in every sense of the word!

Now here's a $$$ Million Dollar Question $$$ - What would you like to see in the upcoming post? Langkawi? Halong Bay? (been AGES, right? LOL) Ipoh? Kuala Lumpur? Kuala Sepetang (bad trip @ the wrong time!)?

The Return of The Motormouth (with Higher Integrity!)

Wondering where in the world Motormouth's been these past few days? Sorry guys, I was literally 'trapped' in Langkawi Island, for a good (tormenting?) 5 days. Normal reaction to a 5 days break from work, plus spending that period on one of the most popular island destination in Malaysia, could only lead to EUPHORIA.

A plane with propellers .... now, that's a new one.

Rather ashamed to admit, this was my virginal visit to the island. Yup, disgraceful I know, being a born-here-bred-here Malaysian and all. But the same held true when I left my initial footprints on Teluk Batik beach about a week or so ago. =)

Guess I'm covering new grounds .... domestically.

Of banana, chocolate and vanilla .... Kenny's best offerings.

Why I sounded bitter, although granted with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to visit Langkawi FOC, with not even a single cent spent throughout the days?

Answer : Because it's a camp. Not the happy family outing type of camping with picnics and such, but a military camp-style training, or boot camp; compulsory for all government officers.

Lunch at Langkawi Airport - Kenny Roger's Roaster, trusted name? Blah. (RM16.90++ for a quarter chicken with 3 side dishes+one muffin of choice)

Flying from Penang to Langkawi opened my eyes to a whole new list of discoveries. First of all, Firefly planes STILL use propellers, and can only seat up to about 80 passengers for the short trip commuting between the aforementioned islands. But right on time, and the 35 minutes journey was smooth, relaxing, with even more leg space than Air Asia's cabins. An additional bonus of complimentary drink made the trip all the more pleasant. And in some ways, even the cabin staff are friendlier.

Touching down after a short ride, the baggage-claiming process was over in a jiffy, as the small number of passengers = fewer luggages on the belt. Left with ample amount of time to grab a bite, we headed over to Kenny Roger's Roaster for lunch, as the legion of eateries in the airport was nothing impressive. However, the chicken was cold, the sauce a tad diluted, and some of the side dishes were less than satisfactory. Hmm, about RM2-3 more expensive than the ones elsewhere.

But no matter how bad the meal was, that .... was our LAST lunch, before succumbing to rules, regulations and fixed meals and tight schedule. Ready yet?

Typical dorm beds - 9 to a room, with fans

As expected, a camp being a camp, one can't expect much from the accomodation and facilities, right? Comfort seemed to creep out of our minds initially, as we anticipated for the worst before blessed (hehe) with an unexpectedly clean dormitory, and a double decker bed EACH. Meaning a person can choose to sleep at the lower or upper bed, and uses the other one at his own discretion. And the camp is situated near to the hills and forest, rendering the air cooler than usual, sometimes chilly in the middle of the night.

The communal bathroom + toilet - Fortunately, our much-dreaded expectation of bathing in the open was thwarted. There are separate cubicles with doors and showers.

Notice the HUGE tied-up bags? They contained blankets, mattresses, and pillow cases. Reminded one of prisoners' lives eh? Plus the dining hall for all the participants

We were provided with a plastic bag filled with a mattress, a blanket, and a pillow case each. You have to do everything on your own here, from making your beds, to washing your own utensils after eating. Funny training independence at this age? :)

To protect the innocence, the face was slightly distorted .....

The whole ordeal was tiring, yet interesting, and even a little bit fun. I never expected the words "camp" and "fun" to run parallel together, but throughout the 5 days we spent at the camp, the values learned, friendships bonded, and experiences nurtured was priceless. Being so used to the comfort life I've been leading for so long, this course shook my stand on a whole lot of issues, from all aspects ; Political, Economical, and Social.

But lest you're getting the impression of reading the WRONG blog, no worries. Rest assured I'm still the same old Motormouth, emphasis still on food and travel. And of course, my prioritized speciality since day one; Ranting and Rambling .....

Question : What could possible cause those blisters on my fingers?


A : The Body Through the Spiderwebs Challenge - All members (big/small, fat/slim) MUST pass through the middle ring, supported by other group members on both sides.

B : The Walk on The Wire - Inch your way to the other end, hoping and praying you do not lose balance and fall to the threatening rocks below

C : The Commando Crawl Under The Barb Wires - Self-explanatory. Refrain from looking up or inching up your butt, lest you feel like restructuring either part of your anatomy

D : The Tower of Doom - An ultimate act of bravado, scaling new heights, and abseiling to new lows .... You can never imagine the gratefulness once stepping your feet firmly on the grounds again !!!

The food in the camp wasn't anything ground-breaking, but managed to satiate hunger pangs at the right moment (SIX meals a day). Amenities aren't too shabby, save some scary insects, reptiles, and monsters popping up every now and then, at the most inconvenient moment. Fancy having an orange-coloured frog jumping onto your shoulder while you're doing your 'business'? Or a 10-inches long lizard on the cabinet in your room, acting nonchalantly-innocent?

On to a more serious note, we survived with ease, though without the usual luxuries we all have grown accustomed with, namely hot showers, air-conditioners, and people serving you during mealtime, as well as cleaning up after your mess.

The vibrant yet sleepy town of Kuah

On the last day of our camp, we proceeded to Kuah town for some customary shopping for duty free goods, namely alcohol and chocolates (smokers can get their supply at rockbottom prices as well!), before embarking back to Penang.

Finally some decent grubs! Clockwise from top left : Plum Chicken, Choy Tam, Oyster Omelette and Fried Squid (a meal for 4 at RM52) @ Weng Fung Seafood Restaurant, Kuah, Langkawi - a few shops away from Haji Ismail Group Duty-Free Shopping


Goodbye Langkawi .... til we meet again!

No beaches, no resorts, no cable cars, no swamps. How ironic for a newcomer to Langkawi yet missing out on all the fun. But rest assured future opportunities will come knocking soon enough. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

The complimentary sip .... a soothing solution to dry throats; thousands of feet in the air

Chocolates and Alcohol - What were we thinking????!!! =P

(P/S : All pictures are credited to KCA, thanks a lot!)