Showing posts with label Langkawi. Show all posts

[FOOD] 20130804 Scarborough Fish & Chips @ Tanjung Rhu, Langkawi


Scarborough Fish & Chips is a restaurant cum house located along the scenic coast of Tanjung Rhu towards Tanjung Rhu Resort. The owner, Dhillon whom originated from Penang decided to settle down in Langkawi after returning to Malaysia from abroad. He converted this lovely blue house along the beach of Tanjung Rhu into a restaurant serving traditional English style fish and chips.

Remotely located at the north of Langkawi island, this small little house has an unobstructed view of the Andaman sea (please ignore Lafarge's cement plant on your left) and a "private" beach. The menu is simple and limited, mainly serving fish and chips where you can choose a variety of fishes with choice of batter-fried or pan-fried. Fish choices from the cheap dory to the expensive cod or halibut to cater for all. The price is reasonable given the quality and the ambience you get which will totally make your lunch or dinner, enjoyable.

You can also order their appetizers like garden salads or fried seafood and of course not forgetting some chilled beer or juices to go along with your fish and chips. You also have a complimentary beach view of the Tanjung Rhu coupled with the nice sea breeze.

This cozy little eatery is well received by the locals and foreigners who settle in Langkawi as you will see many patrons are actually foreigners who are residing in Langkawi. The atmosphere here is the best especially during the night where you can hang around with your friends with a cold beer on hand.

Lot 1388, Jalan Tanjung Rhu, Langkawi
Telephone: +604 959 4667 / 012-352 2236
Opening Hours: 10:00am until 09:00pm (Daily)

TO GO


Scarborough Fish & Chips is remotely located along Jalan Tanjung Rhu at the north of Langkawi, which is very quiet and far away from tourist hot spots. It's recommended to rent your own transportation if you wish to visit this lovely restaurant as it will be hard to catch a cab here.

You need to travel north towards Tanjung Rhu Resort or Four Season Resort along some village roads. You will notice the Lafarge cement plant at your left when you travel from places like Kuah or Pantai Cenang. Try to locate a blue house with a road sign along the Tanjung Rhu beach after the cement plant.



SPECIALITY



After close to 30 minutes drive from Kuah town to Tanjung Rhu, you can stop by Scarborough Fish & Chip after enjoying the sunset at the Tanjung Rhu beach. The roadside banner is noticeable from both direction of the road next to the restaurant. 


The restaurant is basically a residential house where the outdoor and the beach are converted into a dining area with marble stone tables and stools (Sorry no picture of the exterior due to sudden rain!). Condiments like salt and pepper with vinegar to be accompanied with your meal.


I ordered some green for a start. The house salad served with lettuce, onion, cucumber, tomator and bell pepper with drizzle of balsamic vinegar and served with some caramelized onions. The vegetables are freshly prepared, giving you a refreshing start.


Another appetizer which is the tempura prawn platter with eight pieces of deep fried prawn. The prawns were fresh and dipped in the English style batter before deep frying.


The pan fried dory is served with nice thick and soft chips instead of french fries. The dory fillet is fresh with firm flesh, in contrast to some lower quality fish served by some other restaurants. No fancy decoration is required for such a fulfilling meal, just simple and nice. 


The batter-fried dory fillet which is also an alternative option which is also served with cut fries and tartar sauce. The batter gives a crispy crust to the fish fillet but I preferred the pan-fried version which has a better flavour in comparison to the batter-fried which has a better texture.


Don't forget a chilled beer to complete your meal of fish and chips.


The ambience is very relaxing especially during the night with the chit chat and laughter from the patrons while enjoying the sea breeze and the sound of the lapping waves.

SUMMARY


Scarborough Fish & Chips is one relaxing place to enjoy your meal while having a nice open air scenery with good quality food. The food served is simple and nice without fancy preparation but yet satisfying. The ambience is the main draw of the restaurant which make you feel very homey. Price is reasonable with dory fillets starting below RM20 until RM50+ for more expensive fishes like halibut. This is a place that I will chill out during the night for my next visit.

Taste
 ☆☆☆☆☆
 fresh food served sincerely
Value
 ☆☆☆☆
value for money especially with the ambience provided.
Service
 ☆☆☆☆
friendly
Cleanliness
 ☆☆☆☆
tend to be sandy and beware of mosquitoes.
Opening Hours
10:00am until 09:00pm
Wifi
N/A
Parking
Yes
Website
Scarborough Fish & Chips FB

GPS: 6.438078, 99.801650
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[PLACE] 20130804 Pulau Dayang Bunting @ Langkawi


Pulau Dayang Bunting (translate: Pregnant Maiden Island) is the second largest island in Langkawi which is located at the south of Langkawi Island. It has a large fresh water lake known as the Lake of Pregnant Maiden. I was told by my parents long time ago during my first visit to Langkawi that the water of the lake possessed special powers according to the legend.

Legend says that any woman who take a dip in the water of the lake would become fertile, hence the name. Quoted from the source "a man named Mat Teja met and fell in love with the princess Mambang Sari at the lake. They eventually married and the princess gave birth to a son. However their son did not live long and soon died. Having reconciled with their misfortune, they decided to lay their son in the water of the lake and allow him to rest in peace. The gracious princess also blessed all women having difficulty in conceiving a child."

The beautiful limestone cliffs and the lake, coupled with the legend has made this island a popular spot to visit and is one of the island hopping stop. Visitors are required to climb about 15 minutes hike followed by a downhill track to the lake where there's a floating platform with a pontoon for visitors to go for a dip (please prepare your own swimsuit before hand). Solar powered or manual paddle boats are available for rent for those who fancy a paddle ride on the lake. Rental of the paddle boat costs RM20 (manual) and RM30 (solar) back then and I believe the price should have increased.

You can also discover and explore the natural tracks around the lake if you opt not to go for the paddle boat or swim. We are allowed to explore the island for one and a half hour before proceeding to the next destination.

The facilities on the island lacks maintenance during my visit and hopefully things have changed this year since they have started to implement entrance fee for visitors. Adult fee costs RM5 while children fee will cost RM3.

Pulau Dayang Bunting
Telephone: Nil
Opening Hours: Nil

TO GO


The island is remotely located at the southern side of the island and is usually part of the island hopping package which is available via many tour agents on the island. If you are visiting during peak season then my advice is for you to book in advance to avoid disappointment. However, if you are visiting during non-peak season, then you will have the luxury to bargain tour packages with the travel agents. Island hopping packages can be as long as RM20/pax up to RM150/pax, depending on number of islands and season.

Alternatively, you can arrange your own private tour or join the jet ski group island hopping. Do click on the street view to have a feel on the island hopping trail along Pulau Beras Basah, Eagle Cove and Pulau Dayang Bunting.


ATTRACTION



The island hopping tour brought us to the Pulau Dayang Bunting as the final stop after feeding the eagles at the Eagle Cove. The nice weather and calm sea was very welcoming.


Other tourist boats approaching the jetty one by one. 


The entrance signboard has shown that the island is lacking maintenance and something must be done to upkeep this popular tourist destination.


The pathway to the lake requires some climb uphill along the steps. Not recommended if you have difficulty in hiking.


The pathway is surrounded by undisturbed forest and trees.


... and also naughty "locals" who always keeping an eye on what you are carrying. They will not hesitate to grab your bag or food. Hence, it's advisable for you to keep food away from their sight and stay alert of these pesky snatchers.


Of course there will be some cute ones around as well..


After the 10 minutes "dreadful" climb, the pathway will then lead to a downhill slope towards the Lake of Pregnant Maiden.


Behold! The lake of the Pregnant Maiden! This picture is actually taken from the middle of the lake when I'm on the paddle boat. Take a look at the shape of the mountain range and apply some imagination. It's not surprising how the legend and blend in so well with the landscape.


Here, meet "Ducky", my cute (or rundown) paddle boat. It cost RM20 for a 30 minute (or more?) ride on the lake.


The lake was formed when the underground cave collapsed due to downward pressure applied by the accumulating waters. Hence, you may want to think twice before challenging the depth of the lake water. The natural limestone and marble cliff surrounding the lake with the deep green lake water. It gives me a chill when I try to look into the water, not knowing what weird creature might suddenly appear from the deep murky lake water. Too much movie, perhaps.


Despite being enclave by mountains, the lake was actually quite windy and my Ducky will turn into a surf boat when the wind is strong enough. Something is indeed magical with this island. 

Besides swimming and paddling, other activities include jungle trekking along the pathway around the lake which is also part of the geoforest. Pulau Dayang Bunting is the last stop of my island hopping tour which covers some interesting points although I was hoping for more stops. The journey back to Kuah jetty took us another 15 to 20 minutes before calling it a day.


SUMMARY


The legend of the Pregnant Maiden Island gives a very mystical feel about the island (placebo effect?) which makes you feel everything on the island is magical. The Lake of Pregnant Maiden is worth a visit, not really for the view, but more of for the legend. I will recommend visitors to Langkawi to at least visit the island once to experience the legend, as Langkawi is an island full of legends.

Attraction
☆☆☆☆
for the experience
Cleanliness
☆☆☆☆
low maintenance but clean
Entrance Fee
RM5 (Adults)
RM3 (Children)
Starting 1st Feb 2015.
Opening Hours
Always
Wifi
Nil
Parking
Nil
Website
Nil

GPS: 6.204696, 99.783706
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[PLACE] 20130804 Pulau Beras Basah @ Langkawi


Pulau Beras Basah (translate: Wet Rice Island) is one of the many little islands surrounding Langkawi Island. It's located at the western tip of Langkawi and is one of the stops during the island hopping tour.

It's a quiet and serene island covered with fine white sand and clear waters. The island is not commercialised and has no public toilet, hence it's advisable for you to settle your "business" before the tour.

The island hopping tour usually stops on this island for about an hour, unless you are here via private tours. Visitors can choose to have a picnic here or to go for a quick swim or even snorkelling by renting the equipment from a small counter on the island. If you are here with a group of friends, you can also bring a beach volley ball along.

However, beware of your food and belongings on the island because the "locals" i.e. monkeys might have an extra hand some where.

Pulau Beras Basah
Telephone: Nil
Opening Hours: Nil

TO GO


The island is remotely located at the western side of the island and is usually part of the island hopping package which is available via many tour agents on the island. If you are visiting during peak season then my advice is for you to book in advance to avoid disappointment. However, if you are visiting during non-peak season, then you will have the luxury to bargain tour packages with the travel agents. Island hopping packages can be as long as RM20/pax up to RM150/pax, depending on number of islands and season.

Alternatively, you can arrange your own private tour or join the jet ski group island hopping. Do click on the street view to have a feel on the island hopping trail along Pulau Beras Basah, Eagle Cove and Pulau Dayang Bunting.


ATTRACTION



I arrived at Pulau Beras Basah as the first stop after a long ride on the speedboat from Kuah Jetty.


The island has nothing to offer except for fine white sands and clear water full with fishes. I hope the hygiene is still maintained after my visit otherwise it will be a pity that such a beautiful island is not maintained.


The island is far away from commercial activity and the waters are crystal clear and full of marine life.


After disembarking at the jetty, visitors are allowed to explore the island for an hour, free and easy. I headed to where most of the tourist are, which is the beach at the left hand side of the island.


The sand is very fine and soft and you can walk bare footed on the beach without the worry of cuts by rough coarse sand. The clear and warm Andaman sea water slowly lapping on the beach, enticing you to take a dip.


Taking a walk on the serene beach is very relaxing. There are spots where you can have a quick picnic but you need to bring your supplies with you.


There's a small little hut renting swimming and snorkelling equipments. Island monkeys are around to destroy your vacation, hence take care of your belongings if you are going for a dip.

I left the island thereafter towards the next destination, Pulau Dayang Bunting.

SUMMARY


Overall I enjoyed my short trip to Pulau Beras Basah despite the hot sun. I hope they allow a longer stay on this beautiful island as an hour is definitely not enough. The clean sand and clear water on a serene island makes it an ideal place to have an overnight camp. I hope the island condition will be maintained despite the volume of tourist.

Attraction
 ☆☆☆☆☆
clean fine sand and clear water. Serene environment
Cleanliness
 ☆☆☆☆

Entrance Fee
As per your travel agent
Opening Hours
N/A
Wifi
Nil
Parking
Nil
Website
Nil

GPS: 6.222967, 99.715879
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[FOOD] 20130803 Privilege Restaurant & Bar @ Telaga Harbour, Langkawi


Privilege Restaurant & Bar (PR) is a one of a kind, fine dining restaurant and bar serving Western-Malaysian fusion food in Langkawi. It's a small restaurant located at the first floor of a end-lot shop at Perdana Quay, Telaga Harbour, just opposite The Loaf Bakery.

The owner Peter settled down in Langkawi some time ago and started the restaurant business. He and his team are very friendly and accommodating to all his guest's requests. Privilege Restaurant is highly reviewed by visitors around the world, thanks to its excellent service with personal touch.

Despite the excellent service and cozy environment, the food was disappointing for a nice upscale restaurant like this. Credits given for the innovation to create the fusion between western and Malay cuisine, the taste however was just mediocre. Perhaps my expectations were high back then. Don't get me wrong, the food is still good and pack with elements of surprise, but it is just not there yet to be called the best.

It is recommended to make your reservation prior to your visit to avoid disappointment as the restaurant is usually full.

Privilege Restaurant & Bar
B8, First Floor, Perdana Quay, Jalan Pantai Kok, 07000 Langkawi Kedah
Telephone: +604 - 956 1188
Opening Hours: 12:00pm until 11:00pm (Mon - Sat)


TO GO


The Perdana Quay is located at the Telaga Harbour which is towards the west side of the island, with a good view of sea and yacht. However, the location is kinda remote and it's recommended to rent a car as grabbing a cab may not be easy.


SPECIALITY



Dealing with the reservation was hassle free as the owner, Mr Peter was very attentive and responsive.  He would try his very best to accommodate any special request made to make your visit an enjoyable one. I was warmly welcomed by the service staff and directed to my table. There are only limited tables available in the restaurant and I could understand why it is always fully booked.



The interior was cozy and dark with modern western style restaurant decoration. The harbour fronting seats are limited hence you need to make your reservation as early as possible. 


Like some fine dining restaurants, the waiter will serve something (usually fresh and light) to awaken or cleanse your palate to avoid the residue taste from the previous course to overpower the next. In this case above, it's actually a starter or a awakening element to initiate your meal. I couldn't recall what it is made of as the taste is not really recognised in my limited "database".

New Zealand Lamb & Potato Curry Samosa with Imli Ki (Tamarind Chutney) - RM20 (current price)

I started off with a starter, New Zealand Lamb & Potato Curry Samosas with Imli Ki (Tamarind Chutney). It's a freshly made lamb samosa with a fusion of local curry.


I like this dish with it's strong curry flavour and tender lamb wrapped in the fresh and nice pastry. The tamarind sauce further enhances your taste buds. Two pieces definitely not enough.


In between my starter and main dish, a lime sorbet with pandan was served to cleanse your palate for the main course.


My main dish, Lamb Shank served with Basmati Rice and some sauce (turmeric? couldn't remember). This dish is no longer available in their latest menu. I probably can guess why. The lamb shank taste mediocre with heavy taste of blood. Overall didn't really enjoy my lamb shank as I had some better ones else where.

Roasted 5 Spices Duck Breast with Fried White Raddish Cake & Seasonal Green - RM48 (current price)

My partner had the Roasted 5 Spices Duck Breast with Fried White Raddish Cake & Seasonal Green. This is an awkward dish as I don't see how the fried white raddish cake is able to compliment the duck breast and with the bak choy that doesn't really blend with concept of fine dining where it's hard to eat. Probably bak choy was used to go along with the fried white raddish cake to symbolize the oriental side of the dish. The roasted duck breast was also mediocre where a normal cafe's smoked duck can easily beat this. Definitely not worth the price paid.


Fresh apple juice to accompany the meal.


Last but not least, dessert as recommended by Peter, a homemade smoked banana ice cream, which according to Peter, was their latest experiment. Flavour was at the heavy side but overall still a pleasant dessert to end the meal.

SUMMARY


Overall, dining at PR really does make you feel privileged and was an enjoyable meal despite the let down in taste. If you are looking for place in Langkawi to have an enjoyable night, then PR will definitely be up the task to serve you with a slight compromise in food especially the main course. The starter and dessert are up to mark and decent but the main courses were disappointing. Perhaps other main courses may not fair as bad. PR built up its reputation in Langkawi mostly through its service than the food as most of the reviewers are foreigners who may not have an idea on Malaysian cuisine.

Taste
 ☆☆☆☆
 Disappointing main course but still good.
Value
 ☆☆☆
 On the higher end and pricey for the food but worth it for the service.
Service
 ☆☆☆☆☆
Excellent service
Cleanliness
 ☆☆☆☆☆
Opening Hours
12:00pm until 11:00pm (Mon - Sat)
Closed on Sunday
Wifi
Yes
Parking
Ample
Website
http://www.privilegerestaurant.com/

GPS: 6.368568, 99.682423
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[PLACE] 20130803 Panorama Langkawi @ Burau Bay, Langkawi


Panorama Langkawi is one of the must visit especially for first time visitors. At 700 meters above sea level, Panorama Langkawi was the brainchild of Tun Dr Mahathir (former Prime Minister of Malaysia) during his helicopter flight across Mount Machinchang (tallest peak of Langkawi) in 1999.

Completed in 2003, the Panorama Langkawi is a full fledged tourist attraction with an oriental village located at the bottom of Mount Machinchang, a world's longest curve suspension bridge, a longest mono-cable car system, along with other tourist attractions to make your visiting experience a whole.

The highlight would definitely be the SkyCab and SkyBridge where the former would elevate you to 708 meters above sea level to the second highest peak of Mount Machinchang overseeing the whole Langkawi island via it's 360° platform deck. Visitors can also access to the SkyBridge via the Top Station which is suspended on a single pylon, 100 meters above ground. Definitely not for the faint hearted and acrophobic person.

However, visitors must be aware of the OPERATIONAL HOURS to avoid disappointment which can be traced at their official website.

Oriental Village, Burau Bay, 07000 Langkawi, Kedah
Telephone: +604 - 959 4225
Opening Hours: Check the schedule above.

TO GO


Panorama Langkawi is located remotely at the west side of the island, nearby Berjaya Langkawi Resort. The entrance to the SkyCab cable car is located within the Oriental Village, which is a themed recreational park with various attractions, although maintenance is not up` to par. 

I would recommend to rent a car to get to the Oriental Village instead of hiring a cab due to the location and flexibility, the cost of hiring a cab (depending on your origin) can cost almost of the cost of renting a car in Langkawi.



ATTRACTION


The Oriental Village is basically just a side attraction to make the whole experience a whole. The main attraction of Panorama Langkawi would be the cable car ride up to the second highest peak of Mount Matchinchang, where the observatory deck and the SkyBridge is located.


The SkyCab is usually packed with long queue especially during the peak season. Adult ticket price is RM35 (it was RM30 during my visit) currently but MyKad holders will be entitled for a discount, in other words, there will be a Malaysian and non-Malaysian price.


The cable car, or the gondola is relatively small which can fit 6 person maximum.


The journey up takes about 15 minutes with total distance of about 2.2km, ascending about 680 meters. There's a middle station in between where you need to disembark and continue with another cable line towards the top station due to geographical reason. Along the way up, you get to enjoy the sea view and forest view of the million years old rain forest and also the limestone mountains.


You will also be able to see the SkyBridge from the cable car when on the way up to the top station. Unfortunately for me, the SkyBridge was closed during my visit due to safety reasons and repair work was long delayed due to funding issue. Recent check shows that the SkyBridge was reopened in Feb 2015, after the long delay.


It was a cloudy day due to the rainy season during my visit, making the whole scenery to be Genting alike with the thick mist. Once you reach the top station, you will be able to see a few booth selling post cards and souvenirs for tourists. The path way will lead you up to a junction where there are two observatory deck at both sides of the walkway.


You get to view the SkyBridge from the above where it makes you wonder the engineering marvel to actually construct it with a suspension bridge supported by a single pylon, built in-situ using helicopter as crane, assembling the parts piece by piece.


It was still misty and I'm running out of time. We are suppose to be able to get the magnificent view of the Andaman Sea, overseeing the Thai border. This is also a very good sunset spot for those who wished to take a breathtaking sunset sea cliff shot.


The corridor interconnecting both decks. The sky started to clear off during the noon just before I decided to leave the deck.


Switched to my ultra wide angle lens to capture a wider view of the scenery, with an ugly telecommunication tower obstructing the overall view.


Although not fantastic, the colours of the sea started to pop out after the mist has cleared.


The west side of the island with the blend of the sky and the beautiful turquoise blue colour of the Andaman sea.


The top station with a steep drop down. Time to pack up and move to my next destination, i.e. the Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls, which is just next to Panorama Langkawi.

SUMMARY


The main attraction of Panorama Langkawi will definitely be its breathtaking sea view at 700 meters above sea level. The SkyBridge is also an experience that you cannot miss if you are here but definitely not for the faint hearted. It was unfortunate that it was closed during my visit. All other attractions like the Oriental Village is just add on to what nature can offer. Would recommend for anyone who is first timer in Langkawi and nature lover. 

Attraction
☆☆☆☆☆
beautiful seascape and nature with fresh air
Cleanliness
☆☆☆☆
need more upkeep
Entrance Fee
Cable Car - RM35 Adult return ticket
Oriental Village - Free
Other attractions - refer website
Opening Hours
Please refer to official website for scheduled maintenance
Wifi
Limited
Parking
Yes
Website
http://www.panoramalangkawi.com/

GPS: 6.371064, 99.671546
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