Sabahananjung Girl: Langkawi Budget Trip

Remember in my 2011 Bucket List, I wanted to do para sailing in Langkawi? Well, I did but only it was in Penang. I finally went to Langkawi under tight budget, slept in cheapest rooms I can find and did some foc activities to kill time. Why I went there? Another ex-roomate of mine got married, got me thinking...what's with January?

Rented a Car

We started off clueless of where to stay and how to get where to where. After touched down at Langkawi Airport at around 2.00 pm, we decided to ask several car rental services on the cheapest car available since it was a high peak season and mostly were RM100 - RM130 for a Kancil. Then there was this one guy at one of the counters saw our frugal face and offered RM60 for an old Iswara, allowed for a late return, at 9.00 pm the next day. What a bargain, the car indeed was old but heck we travelled everywhere without a problem! Petrol station was nearby, so we filled the tank for RM30.

The Motel

So we drove down to Cenang, the signboard was all clear, the road was too easy, the hunt for a place to crash begun. Some 15 minutes later, we found plenty of signs for accommodation and drove into one small road, stopped and asked around. Several budget hotels/motels were right next to one another. We opted for the cheapest rooms available, Green Hill Beach Motel. RM150 for two rooms for one night. Fairly clean room, air conditioned and has hot shower, though mine wasn't working. Pissed off that I had to shower in cold morning water. This place was a mere 3 minutes walk to Underwater World and Cenang Walk (whatever they call it), and was right in front of a beach, apparently it was Tengah Beach.

Cenang Beach, separated by a small cape, was about 5 minutes from this motel - where you find the crowd and water activities like banana boat, jet ski etc. We did tried to search for hostel since I experienced that in New Zealand and Phuket but seems like Langkawi doesn't have one.

You know prior to this trip I googled 'Ghosts in Langkawi hotels' but missed this Green Hill Beach Motel so honestly I was reluctant at first but gave in for reasons that we need to make decision fast and the beach was just few feet away from our doorstep! You know when I said missed, something did happened.

Green Hill View Motel

Fairly clean, a bit sandy

Tinted window, 24/7 air conditioned

Few blocks with different rates

Tengah Beach

After checked-in, we hopped into the old car and had our lunch at one restaurant at a roadside further up which was tasty but darn expensive RM21++ for two simple plates of rice with fish/chicken! Didn't want it to spoil our mood, we started our journey in search of Summer Palace (movie site in Anna and the King, one of my 2012 Bucket List is to take photo at one movie site). Sadly we couldn't locate this place but stumbled Quay Perdana along the way. Yay lucky us!

Quay Perdana

Felt like rich folks owning the yachts

The entire time I was holding a map I got from the airport. We decided to visit Oriental Village since according to my maps, it was nearby.

Oriental Village

Hilly roads but finding here was a piece of cake

Plenty of activities in this village alone

Shops, some are duty free. Must mention ice cream here was super yummy

Entrance to cable car. Pony ride for kids were also available

Scenic lake. Paddle boat if you want

Segway

Cable car, Mount Mat Cincang

Langkawi Cable Car

Two stops, this was the second station where you find steel bridge connecting to observatory deck.

Imagine the view from cable car

Breathtaking panoramic view of Langkawi at 6.45 p.m., best time ever

Stopped at a stall by a beach. Rojak buah and Mee Rebus were so-so

First day sunset

Cenang Night Walk

Went strolling at Cenang Walk. Lively town.

Shops selling souvenir, clothes, swimming equipments lined up as far as we could see

Plenty of marts

Plenty of places to eat

I want to relate my eerie feeling in the room but I shall let it pass. That night, I slept like a rock but suddenly woken up by sound of my mobile alarm blaring at 1.00 am which I was wondering too why I had that alarm turned on at that hour? I tried hard to get back to sleep but it was as if something held me back from sleep. It was too scary sleeping alone in an atmosphere that was standstill. Failed getting back to sleep, I drove away to Cenang Walk. Had supper at Tomato Nasi Kandar, delicious k. Most marts were closed after 1.00 pm but finally stopped by a mart where drunk people hang out. I was too sleepy to be alarmed by wildness of those people and slept till morning.

Second Day

Woken up at 10.00 pm, went swimming and unfortunately stung by something, baby jellyfish perhaps. Checked-out, went to my friend's wedding. Right after the wedding it was raining so we took shelter at one of the malls in Pekan Kuah till the rain subsided and went to Eagle Square.

Eagle Square

Eagle stature at Eagle Square

Clear sky

The Eagle up-close

Lagenda Langkawi Dalam Taman

We didn't went into the garden...the weather was too hot

Map of Langkawi

Chocolate Shopping

Located at Jalan Pandak Mayah 2 Pusat Bandar Kuah, Perniagaan Haji Ismail Group Sdn Bhd, as told by two of my friends originated from this island, is the cheapest duty free shop in Langkawi.

In case you're wondering what's the price like:

Hershey's Kisses/Nugget: RM12.00, 3 for RM35

Ferrero Rocher T30: 20.90

Daim 300g: RM14.80

Snickers Mini 400g: RM13.90

M&M 430g: RM16.50

After Eight 400g: RM17.90

Agro Technology Park MARDI

About 15 minutes from town. We didn't really went in because most of the fruits were not in the season. Entrance fee for adult is RM15.00, kids RM8.00, you get to taste all the fruits in the park under Guided Farm Tour where they drive you around.