Whittakers @ The Zon Bukit Kayu Hitam

I don't normally have things in mind to shop at the duty free zone, except, the fact that I am crazy about Whittakers chocolate. So duty free zone to me is associated with Whittakers. It is not easy to find Whittakers in Subang Jaya, though I do sometimes find it in Cold Storage / Empire in Subang Jaya. But the price in Subang Jaya is crazily expensive. The packet of 3 Peanuts Slab can cost you RM16!

 So I took the opportunity to drop by at The Zon duty free on our way back from Songkhla to Malaysia. If we are coming from Malaysia, the duty free zone is located right after Malaysian immigration checkpoint at Bukit Kayu Hitam, before we reach Thailand immigration checkpoint. The other day I was searching for the dark chocolate Peanuts Slab, but didn't manage to find it. So I satisfied myself with the normal Peanuts Slab. The price was not as cheap as what I found in Langkawi the other day, but it is cheap enough compared to what we can find in Subang Jaya. It costs RM9.90 per pack of 3 Peanuts Slab, and was sold at special price of RM7.90 per pack of 3 the day I was there. 

I bought 12 packs - ready to be distributed to my subordinates in office and kept some to be consumed in the fridge. Heaven!

Not So Wordless Wednesday

Langkawi : Duty Free and My Whittakers!!

I guess for some people, Langkawi is the right place to shop for certain items. I didn't have that intention during my recent trip, simply because both me and Mr D are lazy creatures.. we hate to carry things. When I booked the flight with Air Asia, I didn't even buy any checked baggage. We just rely on the 7kg hand luggage allocation. So, even when we stayed at Bayview Hotel which is very convenient for shopping given its location, we didn't do much shopping, except - chocolates!!!



Even then, we didn't buy many chocolates, except, our favorite Whittakers. Both of us are crazy about Whittakers. When we were in New Zealand, that's what we consumed day in and day out. Especially its dark chocolate. Whittakers is originated from New Zealand, but we can sometimes find it in KL, but it is damn expensive in KL. I remember buying the peanut slab (not the normal gold whittakers) which of course in small package, at the price of RM16 per pack of 3. In New Zealand it costs around NZD3. And guess what is the price in Langkawi? RM6.50!! I ended up buying 16packs altogether - in all variety : dark chocolate peanut slab, the normal chocolate peanut slab and peanut and raisins. The gold Whittakers bar is sold at about RM10 per bar. Isn't that cheap? It costs around NZD3.50 in some parts of New Zealand, and can be as high as NZD5 per bar.



I compared prices in a number of duty free shops around Kuah, and noted the price is not that different between one another. Mr D is of course happy with his Ghana Mint, also a variety of Whittakers, which I also like because the slight bitterness from the dark chocolate is combined with the refreshing minty taste.




I visited the duty free shops around Bayview Langkawi, which are within walking distance. Zeno and Haji Ismail Group are located opposite each other. There's not much difference when it come to prices.



I also visited Idaman Suri, which needs about 5 minutes drive from Bayview Hotel. In terms of arrangement, I think Idaman Suri probably is better. And for those who love Corelle and stuffs, they might like it. But price wise, Haji Ismail Group probably beats it.



*hampa nak beli pinggan mangkuk ka? Mai lahh Langkawi

Langkawi : Of Minor Attractions

On our final day in Langkawi, we just wanted to take a slow drive around the island, while waiting for our flight which was scheduled at 8:50pm that night. Langkawi is not big, so the attractions are located not too far from one another. Plus, it is so easy to get from one place to another, you don't even need a GPS.



We started our slow drive from Telaga Tujuh, located at Gunung Mat Chincang near the cable car, which is actually a waterfall. One will need to do a little climbing about 10-15 minutes to reach the place from the base.



The next destination was Wildlife and Bird Park, where it houses a number of wild life and bird species like the Bird Park we have here in Kuala Lumpur. We can buy food at the entrance to feed the animals at the price of RM6 per set, which consists of food to be given to the parrots, various birds, fish and rabbit. The entrance fee is RM12 per pax for adult and RM8 per pax for children. I think children will enjoy this park very much.



I kind of like the information displayed at every cage in the park. I like the way the information is presented, it is kind of brief, and funny. That's the kind of thing I think will be glued in my head for long - short and funny information. Am sure kids will love the information too.



We then head to Durian Perangin, another waterfall in Langkawi located at Gunung Raya. There are 14 tiers of the waterfall, but I understand it is seasonal. During the rainy season, the water flow will be heavier. This waterfall is quite 'mini' in my opinion, maybe because we visited this place in February. The fact that we have to climb up quite far to the 'peak', it is not worth it.



And perhaps because it is so 'mini', it looks so run down. The bridges are old and looks like it can collapse any time. Perhaps something could be done to preserve the facilities. Notwithstanding the fact that it is so mini, it can be an attraction to the jungle trackers especially those who love the flora and fauna around the waterfall.



Mr D said he wanted to visit the glass blowing place, which is located within the compound of the Langkawi Craft Complex. The complex itself is full of craft items and exhibition like batik painting, mengkuang etc. But this place is kind of quiet, Malaysians probably do not find this interesting, but for tourists, this is something worth looking at.



The only problem with the exhibition is, there's no explanation given to the visitors. It is just showing how things done. Perhaps it is better to give visitors information of how things are done. Then it will be more interesting.



We then went to the back to where the glass blowing activity was done at Faizy Crystal Glass Blowing. This gallery cum workshop is opened for public daily except on Friday. Here we will be able to see how crystal items are done, in the workshop behind the gallery. They are working in a room full of heat, and looking at the way they blow the crystal, no wonder the price is so expensive. We can also buy crystal items at the gallery.



Done with our visit at the craft centre, we head down to the Telaga Ayer Hangat. It is now not only housing the hot spring, but also a spa. Nothing much to be done there, but if you want to soak your feet in the warm water, you can do so. Just that I found the place quite smelly from the mould and all, perhaps something need to be done?

Langkawi : Of Nature and History

We were determined that this time, our visit will be of nature and history. Mr D said that we will not be climbing the cable car and will not be crossing the hanging bridge this time. So after breakfast on the 2nd day, we head direct to Laman Padi located near Pantai Cenang. Laman Padi is practically a rice museum. It is the combination of the actual scene of rice planting through the paddy field surrounding the museum, and the exhibition of artifacts and development our country went through from the traditional paddy planting to the current modern technology. The museum is informative enough. I understand the visitors can also take part in the paddy planting activity if they want to - what a good experience huh? They also have spa within the compound for those interested.


I told Mr D the day before we went to Langkawi that I have not been visiting 'Beras Terbakar' or burnt rice for 27 years. I told him about my father doubting the authenticity of the burnt rice coming out from the soil as it was commercialized then. I remember it was sold in small packets when we went there in 1985, and how the visitors were allowed to dig it out from the soil. So we decided to take a look at how it looks like nowadays.



The history of beras terbakar started when Datuk Kerma Jaya instructed the rice reserves in Langkawi to be burnt during the Siamese attack not long after Mahsuri was sentenced to death in 1819. The event took place at Padang Mat Sirat, at the compound of what now a private property of a local villager. Was very glad to see that area where the burnt rice is is now fenced. It used to be opened and free for visitors to dig. For preservation, I think it is better the way it is now, fenced. Am just not comfortable with the fact that there are many coins thrown into that area. What's that for?



Thumbs up to the owner of the house where the burnt rice is. I understand that it is his own effort to maintain the compound, and I thought the house itself is a tourist attraction. Nicely built, full of traditional value and definitely full of touristy sentiment. Very attractive. But it is just an eye sore to see stalls built outside the compound selling various items from gamat to fabrics. It is too many and too crowded. Should have lessen it a bit, let the burnt rice area be the focus.



We actually wanted to do Island Hopping that day, so our next destination was Pantai Cenang to book for one. The trip was scheduled either at 9am or 2:30pm. It was still early then, so after we booked the package at RM30 per pax for the afternoon trip, we decided to visit MARDI Agro Technology Park first. This park, apart from having a huge fruit plantation farm, also the place where recreational activities like camping and flying fox can be done. There are 3 types of tour packages offered, we just opted for farm tour to look around the farm which took about 30 minutes using the 'tram'. The entrance fee is RM5 with MyKad. The tour include an 'eat all you can' session where they serve us local fruits to be eaten. For us local, it probably is quite a common trip, I mean the fruits are what we can see day in day out. But for us, it is the technology that we wanted to look at (especially now that I am determined to be a successful farmer with my edible garden hahahaha).



By 2:30pm, we were already at Pantai Cenang waiting for the boat to be ready for island hopping. There were 8 of us in the boat, me, Mr D, a mat salleh couple and 2 Indian couples. There will be 3 locations, that is Pulau Dayang Bunting, Eagle feeding and Pulau Beras Basah.



The first location, Pulau Dayang Bunting is the biggest island apart from the main Langkawi island itself. The island got its name through its shape, which looks like a sleeping pregnant lady. There's a fresh water lake in this island, with the myth that those who want to be pregnant can try taking their bath in this lake. I was not interested to dive into the lake, so I decided to have a chat with a woman who stayed in the island itself. Though Dayang Bunting is the biggest island, nobody lives in there except a family of 5 who works to maintain the island.



The whole journey to the 3 different locations took about 3 hours in total. I guess for those foreigners, Pulau Beras Basah is what they enjoy the most, with the sea and direct sunlight. There's not much things on the island, but I think reading a novel there will be comforting. By 5:30pm, we were already in Pantai Cenang to end our island hopping.



For me and Mr D, it was such a tiring day. We were out from our hotel room at about 8am, and was still outside at about 6pm. We didn't had our lunch either, as we had quite a heavy breakfast that morning. So right after the trip, we went to find for food. Mr D saw a Minang restaurant on the way from airport to the hotel the night before, and insisted to have our dinner there.


The name of the restaurant is Minang Pelangi, which is a new restaurant serving Minang food. I think this restaurant used to be Lobster Village. We ordered sup buntut (sup ekor lah tu), ikan goreng lado mudo, gulai nangka and my favorite sambal ijo and sambal merah. The food was OK, though Sari Ratu's probably much better. Pricing wise, it is slightly overpriced I think. All the servings are small, especially ikan goreng because it is only a small piece of fish, but they charged us RM8 for that small piece of fish.

Langkawi : The Journey

I had a busy Saturday, so I was trying to arrange my time before the Langkawi trip. Flight to Langkawi will be at 18:25, but I had a birthday party invitation in Shah Alam at 12pm and a discussion with a Bank Negara officer at 14:00, also at Shah Alam. Since I had done my web check in, I thought it will be OK even if I reached there at 17:30 since the gate closed at 18:05. We reached airport at 18:00, just in time to catch the flight *phew*.


Except for the accommodation where Mr D reserved a standard room at Bayview in Kuah, we didn't make any other arrangement. It was a last minute trip. But it was a breeze since Langkawi, unlike most cities around Malaysia, is quite well prepared for its tourism industry at the entrance gate. With many rental car companies operating at the airport, with the free map distributed highlighting its attractions, it was such an easy one. It reminds me of New Zealand somehow, except New Zealand probably is more organized in that sense. How I wish other cities in Malaysia is doing the same, we are not tourist friendly enough. We should provide more facilities and tourist information centres for tourists, not only in major cities.


Langkawi probably relies heavily on the taxi service for public transportation. I understand that public buses only operates around Kuah and Pantai Cenang. So if we want to have freedom to move around, renting a transport is probably the better option. Cars, motorbikes and bicycles are available for rent. We opted to rent a basic car, so we got an old Proton Wira for RM70 per day. Not the best deal, but OK lah.. though the noise coming out from the car's engine was quite scary. I was just quite worry because there's no insurance related matter spelled out during the renting of the car. Other than that, it was quite an OK deal.



By the time we reached Langkawi, it was already dark. Kuah is quite far from the airport, so by the time we reached our hotel, it was already past 8pm. Once we've done with the check in, we decided to take a walk nearby to the night market. The free maps distributed at the airport actually have the information on where the night markets will be on what day. The items sold ranges from food to fabric items to souvenir. We had yong tau foo and the not so nice murtabak with the refreshing guava juice as dinner before ending the day.

Langkawi Live

Am in Langkawi now for a short trip with Mr D. When I visited Langkawi the first time at the age of 9, I insisted to count how many islands there are in Langkawi (which of course I failed to do so) because I can't believe that it is made up of 99 islands. How can the number be so exact - that's what I was thinking. And until now, at the age of 35, I still can't be sure whether it is really 99 haha.

Langkawi is not so crowded currently, but there are still people everywhere. My feet is aching today from the walk from one place to another, from one island to another. Time to rest!!