Page 131 - Travel + Leisure India & South Asia (January 2020)

The adventure leaves us ravenous, so we head to
burger at the renowned fast-food restaurant chain,
Marrybrown (marrybrown.com), we move on to
more indigenous offerings like nasi lemak (rice dish
cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf), fried ice
cream, and a chilled tumbler of Milo, which is a
common choice of drink in Malaysia. A cup of teh
tarik (Malaysian tea) and roti canai should be tasted
by anyone exploring Malaysia for the first time.
My remaining time in Langkawi is set aside for
adventure. A jet-ski tour by Mega Water Sports
(megawatersports.com) eases me in. We tour the
archipelago on jet skis and explore some of the
most beautiful spots that are otherwise inaccessible.
We stop by Dayang Bunting, the second largest
of the 99 islands, for a dip in its freshwater lake.
“This is called the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden,”
our guide says and points at the hills that form the
backdrop of the lake—they resemble a woman with
a bulging belly lying supine.
Full of Magical Moments
Malaysia offers an assortment of experiences.
While Kuala Lumour is your arrival point,
Langkawi is a must-do for adventurers.
Langkawi
Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur
Huggin Hippo, a casual dining restaurant located on one
of the most pristine Pantai Cenang beachfronts. We lounge
in the open-air patio and peruse the menu that lists fusion
dishes from around the globe. Finally, I settle for a grilled
lamb rack, chicken run burger, satay delight pizza, and
spaghetti carbonara.
The next stop is Langkawi Skycab (panoramalangkawi.
com), the steepest cable car in the world. Looming over thick
woods, the base station of SkyCab is located at the foothill
of Gunung Mat Cincang. It is also located in the oldest part
of Southeast Asia, over rock formations that are at least 550
million years old. Dramatic views of the surrounding islands
and ridges unfurl in front of you as the cable car heaves up
the mountain. After a few initial minutes of exhilaration, fear
takes over as all I can hear is the wind’s whisper and my racing
heart. The feeling that I am floating among the clouds, 650
metres above sea level, in a glass box supported by a metal
frame, is disconcerting. But once out of the car at the top
station, I’m taken aback by the surreal view—360° views of
the Langkawi islands and Southern Thailand greet me at the
viewing platform. Deep chasms, cliff walls, isolated pinnacles,
and the never-ending sea punctuate this vista. Fear is instantly
replaced by an overwhelming sense of calm and tranquillity.
The final mile in this adventurous saga is the Umgawa
Zipline Eco Adventures (ziplinelangkawi.com), where I soar
through pristine, UNESCO-listed rainforest ecosystems,
past hornbills and eagles, and over the ethereal Seven Wells
Waterfall. I crane my neck and catch the expansive ocean at
a distance. By the last flight in this one-hour adventure, I am
fearless, my hands flapping in the wind and a grin stretching
from ear to ear.
The sun has set, and the soothing cruise is coming to an
end—as is my jog down memory lane. My last evening in
Malaysia, I realise, has been the perfect finale to the intrepid
holiday that had everything from spirituality to local food to
high-flying adventure, and now, some retrospective relish.
Getting There LANGKAWI: Frangipani
Malindo Air (malindoair.com), Langkawi Resort & Spa is a
IndiGo (goindigo.in), Air Asia X beautiful property with a
(airasiax.com), and Malaysia private beach overlooking the
Airlines (malaysiaairlines.com) Andaman Sea. From `9,100;
operate flights from major frangipanilangkawi.com
Indian cities to Kuala Lumpur.
KL City is an hour-long drive Dining
from the Kuala Lumpur KUALA LUMPUR: Atmosphere
360 (atmosphere360.com.my)
International Airport.
Stay is a revolving restaurant on the
topmost floor of Menara Kuala
KUALA LUMPUR: Tamu Hotel & Lumpur and offers a
Suites is a business hotel in the sumptuous Malaysian buffet.
heart of Kuala Lumpur and LANGKAWI: Huggin Hippo
provides easy access to most (facebook.com/hugginhippo)
of the tourist landmarks in KL. is known for its speciality
From `5,200 per night; coffee and other delectable
tamuhotel.com servings, and is ideal for lunch.
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