Explore and unwind
Heading out from the secluded and relaxing Resorts World Langkawi, explores the island’s flora and fauna
MY heart does its little tippy, tappy dance of happiness as I make a mental note of what to bring for my midweek 3D2N getaway in Langkawi. This time, I will be staying at Resorts World Langkawi (previously known as Awana Porta Malai) in Tanjung Malai, 15 minutes’ away from Langkawi International Airport.
Together with a group of local media practitioners, we are headed to the tiny island on a familiarisation trip and to see the newly refurbished resort.
As I look out of the window in the bus, I pray that the weather will be sunny throughout my short visit in Langkawi. A quick check of the weather app promises little to no rain ― what good news! I have planned a few activities including shopping at Cenang Walk, a little shopping haven 10 minutes from our hotel.
While my shopping spree can wait a little longer, the first activity on my itinerary is a visit to Kilim Karst Geoforest Park in Kampung Kilim, near Tanjung Rhu jetty. After a quick freshen-up at the resort and changing into my most comfortable pair of sneakers, I join the rest (there are 25 of us) as we wait for the bus to take us to the nearest jetty at Kilim Karst Geoforest Park.
As the weather forecast promised, it is sunny with clear blue skies as we head out to our first stop. The drive from our hotel to the geoforest park on the other side of the island takes 40 minutes.
The jetty is bustling with activities as boatmen help visitors into their boats, while some distribute bottles of water to the passengers. Our guide Nur, reminds us to keep our trash with us. We begin our three-hour sightseeing journey with the mangrove tour. As our boatman Rosli expertly navigates the calm waters along the mangrove trees, Nur excitedly points out various flora and fauna amid the thick trees.
“That’s the long-tailed macaque or crabeating monkeys,” he says, while signalling to Rosli to slow down the boat and brings us closer to the family of macaque resting and feeding near a branch of a fallen tree. While we’re immersed in the scene ― a baby macaque latching onto his mother ― we’re also aware not to make sudden movements for fear that the family’s alpha male will charge at us. Some of the macaques observe us from a distance but a few cheeky ones come closer to inspect us.
Leaving the macaques behind, we continue with our tour of the mangrove forest. Like its sisters ― Machinchang Cambrian Geoforest Park and The Dayang Bunting Marble Geoforest Park ― Kilim Karst Geoforest Park is home to flora and fauna such as fruit bat in the Bat Cave; komodo dragon (often mistaken for a crocodile); and white-bellied eagle synonymous with Langkawi Island.
Scientists and geologists estimate Kilim Geoforest Park to be 500 million years old. Evidence of its long existence can be found on various rock formations that stretch as far as the eyes can see.
Getting off near the entrance of Bat Cave with the guide, we walk a short distance along a wooden walkway into the opening of the cave. To enter, we half-crawl on our hands before reaching the main chamber. Nur cautions us not to touch the delicate stalactite that grows from the cave ceiling. Stalactites and stalagmites take millions of years to form. Just a mere centimetre takes a decade to grow. Oil from our skin can change the way minerals in the water flow to the surface of the formation.
It saddens me to learn that a huge chunk of the stalagmites were cut off to build a suspended walkway inside the cave for ecotourism.
Nur shines his torch light above us and we let out a collective gasp. Hanging upside down above us are hundreds, if not thou