Exploring Langkawi in Malaysia with TSIM

Just two weeks ago, I took my parents on their first international trip. We chose to holiday in Langkawi and Kuala Lumpur because I wanted them to experience two different kinds of places. Malaysia was an easy pick because I like going back there. During my last few visits, I have had a great time in Penang, Georgetown, Kuala Kubu Baru, Malacca and Putrajaya. Kuala Lumpur is the capital and must not be missed. This time I decided to go to Langkawi first because it was new for me as well and this incredible island has some of the most stunning beaches, unique mangrove forests, notice-worthy limestone formations, picturesque hidden caves, and abundant wildlife. I knew my parents would love it and just the way it happened. As far as visa is considered, you do not need one. Travelling to Malaysia is easy for Indians these days so all you need to fill is a Digital Arrival Card within three days of the trip (not before). Choosing flights to Malaysia has never been an issue. I am a contributing writer in the inflight magazine of Batik Air, formerly Malindo Airlines, so Batik Air was a given. While I pre-booked my hotels and all, another very smart thing that I did was that I carried an international sim card from TSIM and trust me, it turned out to be extremely helpful. I had a smooth-sailing trip right from the moment I landed at Langkawi airport. How? Read to know.

How to explore Langkawi Island?

Langkawi does not have a public transport so you will need a car or bike to move around. Though, it is a small island, and you may love to explore on foot, you will still need a vehicle to go from one end to another. I wanted it to be a super comfortable trip for my parents, so I ensured that there was a taxi at their disposal most of the time. GRAB is the best app to book taxis in Malaysia, and Vietnam. I have had great experiences with this app in both the countries. It is pocket friendly and super convenient. Whenever you need a car, Grab has got you covered. All that you need is an internet on the go. Having TSIM came as a blessing because the moment we landed at the Langkawi airport, I did not have to look for shops selling local sims (compare prices and services) or ATM to draw local currency or haggle with local taxi drivers. I switched on my phone which was equipped with an 8 Day Unlimited SE Asia Data SIM card and booked a six seater Grab car in the next few minutes. The payment mode was my credit card. For the entire trip, the sim served its purpose very-very well. Firstly, I faced no network issue. I booked around 21 taxis during the entire trip (one week), looked for places to eat, did lots of social media postings and also enjoyed being connected with everyone through watsapp. On one of the nights, when we were stuck in rain, it also helped us to find a location that we were looking for. Having a local or international sim always helps, especially if you are on an island or a smaller city where wifi may not be available at all times. Having an internet connection on the go makes you feel empowered. Do you agree?

How did we spend our days in Langkawi?

After freshening up at the Bayou boutique hotel (which was again a great find), we booked a taxi to the Underwater World Langkawi (UWL), which is one of the largest marine and freshwater aquaria in South East Asia. It was an exciting and educational trip into the world that we hardly know much about and my parents totally loved it. The seal, penguins, otters, and beautiful fishes were a great surprise. From there, we walked to the most popular beaches of the island- Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah. People travel to Langkawi to indulge in the sunset vibes at Pantai Cenang. The sky turned crazy beautiful that evening. Later, we walked along the Cenang walk. Next day, we were headed to the other most popular location in Langkawi. No trip to this island is complete without taking a ride on the Langkawi Cable Car which takes one to the top of Gunung Mat Cincang. Along with fun activities, this is the much-loved place for its panoramic views of the rainforest and surrounding islands. At the summit, one must visit the Sky Bridge, an engineering marvel that offers breathtaking vistas of Langkawi’s natural beauty. (This is also the bridge where some crucial scenes of Don 2 were shot).

After having a splendid time at the Langkawi Cable Car, also known as Langkawi SkyCab, we were headed to the Kuah town. Kuah is the administrative capital of Langkawi island. In contrast to Pantai Cenang, it was quiet and peaceful here. Here, you must watch the sunset from the Maha Tower or from the ferry terminal. Don’t miss Dataran Lang here. You will find a large eagle here, a symbol of the island. The square is one of Langkawi’s best known manmade attractions. We has to see it from a distance because it was temporarily closed for maintenance. Some massive construction was going on. In the pictures, you will see a large sculpture of an eagle poised to take flight. Kuah town seemed a little dull and we were missing the fun around Pantai Cenang. Soon we returned.

On the third day, we indulged in lots of shopping. We also spent some time around the beach. I wanted to book an island hopping tour as well but we couldn’t do it as my parents were not very keen on it. Maybe, I will keep it for next time. I hear that is a also a must-do in Langkawi. This is the place for diving and snorkeling. So those who love to snorkel, dive, explore secluded beaches, and witness the unique geological formations, island hopping tour is a must do. I will keep the visit to UNESCO Kilim Geopark Mangrove & Bat Cave Tour for next time.

I like visiting museums. Being a rice lover and Kedah being the largest rice producing state of Langkawi, I chose to do Rice Museum. Laman Padi is an ecotourism museum in Langkawi, where Laman means field and Padi means rice in Malay. 3D Art museum at the Oriental village is also a lot of fun. We loved it. Apart from that, there is also Langkawi Craft Complex and Atma Alam Batik Village. These places introduced us to the art, craft and creative heritage of the place. Soon, it was time to head to Kuala Lumpur but not before picking lots of chocolates from the duty free shops in Langkawi. Is there anything more amazing than duty-free shopping? Do not miss out on this fun.

Helpful and Interesting Facts about Langkawi

• Langkawi is recognized as UNESCO Global Geopark
• It is an archipelago of over 100 islands in the Andaman Sea
• Some of the islands are mere rocks but they are unique. It is these rocks which has earned the region Global Geopark status, the only place in Southeast Asia with a UNESCO status
• These group of islands are also called ‘Jewel of Kedah‘ state
• The largest one is the Pulau Langkawi or the main Langkawi island
• Temurun Waterfall, Durian Perangin Waterfall, and Telaga Tujuh Waterfall are the most popular waterfalls of the island. They are a must-visit during rainy season
• The island has abundance of ancient rocks, healing plants, brilliant butterflies
• More than 500 species of butterflies are found on the island
• Langkawi has amazing paddy fields and unique birds can be seen around the island

Why will I recommend TSIM?

• The 5G data speed was seamless.
• If you have to travel from one country to another, like we were planning Singapore and Thailand as well, this one would have been all the more handy. One does not have to buy local sims at three different places. It covers several countries in different packages.
• My data pack could be used in 30 South East Asian countries.
• First 6GB Data comes @5G speed then 1 GB comes at reduced speed of 128kbps
• 8 Day validity from first use. If you are travelling for more number of days, they have other packages to choose from too.

Read more –

• Malaysia Round Up (2019)
• Georgetown podcast