I WILL SURVIVE
At first I was afraid, I was petrified, but three gulps of duty-free seawater later, I make it out of Langkawi alive and kicking
THERE IS SOMETHING exhilarant waiting to be discovered in the midst of the tropical rainforest canopy at the foothills of the jagged mountains on the sunset side of the Langkawi main island. I am told, it is near the base of the Langkawi Cable Car. But adventure has to wait as we drag our sleepy bodies onto the tarmac upon touching down at the Langkawi International Airport. It had been 20 years since I last set foot on the island. The airport still resembles a local farmers’ market with tour operators clamouring for our attention from within the confines of their booths as we assemble in the arrival hall, much to the amusement of a blonde traveller who promptly records the boisterous scene on her mobile phone.
As the airport is undergoing an expansion where vehicles find it hard to manoeuvre, we have to lug our luggage along the road before boarding the tour bus that will take us to our resort̶Resorts World Langkawi. The resort sits solitarily on the edge of a peninsular that extends out towards the Strait of Malacca. Dotted along the turquoise water are numerous isles that make up the 99-island archipelago.
Checking in is effortless. Thereafter I make my way to my room, passing through a hallway that evokes nostalgia. But further away from the main building, the rest of the complex suddenly brightens up and transports me to the present, with a mix of light grey wooden flooring and geometric paintings hanging on the walls.
The room has been spruced up after a major renovation. I have more beds than I need. There is also a round table for some keyboard pecking. But I gravitate towards sliding the full-height wooden windows open, inviting some fresh albeit warm breeze in. Much to my delight, the air-conditioning continues to flow, cooling the room as the dilemma of having to choose between the two instantly evaporates.
First Day
Our first destination is a quintessential Langkawi experience̶the country’s largest aquarium Underwater World Langkawi. The marine exhibit houses a plethora of marine animals, a walk-in aviary and some elongated reptiles that strike fear into my heart. A couple of seafloor-dwelling Japanese spider crabs further induce kabourophobia and arachnophobia synchronously, as visitors opt to marvel at adorable creatures such as rockhopper penguins. It’s quickly apparent to me that these cuddly flightless sea birds actually evolved from flighted birds some 80 million years ago as they share similarly unsatisfactory lavatory manners.
Like a walk through the museum where time flies for those who are having fun, it’s almost time for my late afternoon decadent pampering session back at Resorts World Langkawi’s Taman Sari Royal Heritage Spa. I have booked a neck-and-shoulder massage to soothe those aching muscles brought upon by intense exercise in the gym. After swapping for a pair of woven sandals that propagates the spa’s Javanese heritage, I proceed to the treatment room where the masseur has been awaiting my arrival. His forceful touch is a godsend to the trapezius, relieving muscle tightness via a series of “good” pain. I can’t help but to grimace as I lie face down on the treatment table while my back is moistened with aroma oil.
By the time I bid adieu to the masseur, the