When visiting the cursed Island, Langkawi

Yes, that is right, Langkawi indeed is one. Alluring and idyllic in its natural beauty; majestic and spectacular in its cultural heritage, that is Lagkawi for you. This beautiful island has a lingering legend woven into its history. Ask anyone on the island about the tragic story of a beautiful young lady named Mahsuri, and you'll hear a tale of love, jealousy and a curse that was placed upon the island by her for seven generations.

Despite what looks like a slant towards tourism, many of the islanders are actually farmers, fishermen and entrepreneurs. My husband and me decided to experience the beautiful countryside and peaceful landscape of paddy fields by renting a car and taking a leisurely drive around the island. Some of Langkawi's most rustic and memorable views are along the road that circles the island.

We drove through small villages with wooden houses framed by palm trees, and children pedaling their old bicycles on errands. Aside from experiencing the local lifestyle, there is no shortage of things to do in Langkawi. We decided to head up the thrilling new cable car to the summit of Mount Mat Cincang - Langkawi's second highest mountain - for an unrivalled view of the entire main island and beyond. For all you movie aficionados this bridge is the famous location where Shahrukh Khan's movie DON was shot.

Not many know that Langkawi is a duty free area. Langkawi remained a sleepy backwater until 1987, when the island was granted tax-free status with the intention of promoting tourism and improve the lives of the islanders. This spectacular boom also coincided with the end of "Mahsuri's Curse," which was lifted with the birth of her 7th generation descendant. Yes we did take our pick fo some exotic Vodkas when leaving from there.

The best attractions in Langkawi make the most of the natural landscapes, expansive parks, and iconic structures that no first-time visitor should skip on their travel itinerary. As one of Malaysia’s best-known and most popular beach destinations, the massive island is home to historical attractions, great fare, excellent diving opportunities, exciting nightlife and dirt-cheap shopping.

KoolKohl on Langkawi

• According to folklore Langkawi’s name came from two Malay words – “helang’ (eagle) and “kawi’ (reddish brown): hence lang-kawi. This 40-foot tall reddish-brown eagle at Dataran Lang (also known as Eagle Square) is the main tourist attraction of this island today

• Pantai Cenang is Langkawi’s most popular beach with powdery sand and a plethora of beachfront restaurants and bars

• The 1.4 mile long Langkawi Cable Car is one of the major attractions on Langkawi Island. It provides an aerial link from near Burau Bay Resort at Teluk Burau to the peak of Gunung Machinchang, where you can get a great view of Pantai Cenang

• The islands of Langkawi are a part of the Malaysian state of Kedah

• Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 to 104 islands

• Langkawi is a duty-free area

• Because of Langkawi’s tax-free status, alcohol is much cheaper than in the rest of Malaysia

How can u get there?

The following airlines offer service to/from Langkawi: Tiger air, SilkAir from Singapore, AirAsia to Singapore, Penang and KLIA, Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Airlines to KLIA, Firefly to KL's Subang airport and Penang.

Direct flights are available to Langkawi from Penang, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hat Yai, and Phuket.