Pulau Langkawi Tourist Traps

Be careful when you hop onto any cabs to tourist spots as the cabbies may stop at jewellery or souvenirs store and ask you to go in for a look.

They earn commission or some other form of incentives if you buy anything.

This restaurant is situated just near to Kuah town, on the way to the Beringin Beach.

I had been charged RM82.00 for 3 plates of rice, 2 grouper fish (not more than 1kg each) and 3 drinks (1 orange juice and 2 hot beverages)

I had taken no extra dishes but the price is too much to be charged.

Usually with that amount of RM, I can get a least another few more dishes such as Tomyam soup, some vegetables and a portion of meat/mutton/prawn.

Jala means fishing net in English, so I guess I really got netted this time.

Fun Alternatives: Well, avoid this restaurant unless you are a local or you are dining with a local. Let the local do the ordering and talking.

Underwater World is a largish aquarium that came into existence on 26 August 1995. Entrance (January 2007) was RM 38 - not a fortune but overpriced in terms of what you see, since it is not such an exciting place. I was not altogether satisfied with my visit; the sights worth seeing were largely outnumbered (in my opinion) by the not very interesting sights.

WORTH SEEING
- the glass tunnel with sharks and giant turtles
- the Tropical Rainforest
- the Coral Reef Section

WALK FAST PAST IT
- the Freshwater Fish Section
- the Seashell Display
- the Koi Pond
- the Mini Reptilian and Invertebrate Section
- the Poisonous and Venomous Creatures Section
- the Penguinarium

Telaga Air Hangat means Hot Springs Well and it is advertised as a "a combination spa and cultural experience park."

There are some small hot springs in the "village" and a legend. it appears that two feudinf families were always fighting each other, here - they threw things at each other, too. One day one of the families threw a jug full of boiling water and when the water fell on the ground, a hot spring popped up.

Unique Suggestions: Entrance is free: soak your feet at one of the hot springs (you are not allowed to soak your entire body) and leave - in particular avoid the cultural shows, the carved riverstone mural, batik painting and souvenir shopping. Also, don't look for the spa if going in early 2007: it was advertised but it was still seriously under construction.

Makam Mahsuri is the place where an old island's belle was once buried. Of course there's a legent connected with it: Mahsuri was a beautiful young woman accused of adultery who was condemned to death for it. As she was innocent, as a sign of her innocence, she bled white blood. She also casted a spell on the island, before dying - saying it would remain barren for 7 generations.

When you visit her tomb you'll soon notice three things: firstly that you have to pay for your entrance, secondly that the (not very old) gravesite is nothing to write home about and, thirdly, that the reason why this attraction was set up was to house some tourist shops selling... you know it... junk.

Taman Legenda is (I quote from the internet) "a scenic park with its beautiful gardens of vivid local blooms, plants and fruit trees provide a picturesque and fitting backdrop for buildings showing Malaysia's rich cultural heritage. Within the park, there are some fine examples of traditional Malaysian handicraft and cultural objects".

Translation: nothing is original here - it was built for the sole purpose to give tourists something to see in Kuah town, where otherwise there would be little else to see (Eagle square and nothing else). Entrance is free but we will try to sell you some tourist junk such as plastic eagles.

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The field of burnt rice is the biggest overstatement of the island. To get there you have to pass a long row of stalls selling you a vast array of tacky souvenirs, and once you get past them all you are left wondering where the field is... There was a stunning house there, so I figured it would be at the back of the house - only to be stopped (kindly) by the owner who pointed me to the field.

Well, the fild is not really a field... more like a very tiny patch of old rice paddy that people burned when the Siamese attacked the island in 1821 and where burned rice still "comes out". The highlight is a 1-foot square box with some burnt rice in it and a plaque.

Unique Suggestions: Take a look at the house right by the field: it is possibly the most beautiful Malay house you will see in Langkawi.

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Laman Padi is a rice field that has been turned into a tourist attraction; the fild is not very large and interesting, and you can see there some Langkawi buffalos, there... but if you pay attention you will notice that they are kept there by a chain.

There is also a restaurant, but I did not eat there so I don't know if it is to be recommended, and a spa but the treatments and massages are not very good: it's kind of cheap, though.

Unique Suggestions: Visit the museum where you can learn all about rice growing. it's small but interesting, and you can find displays and exhibits including artifacts and photographs about rice growing. Admission is free, by the way.