A planned official business trip was cancelled at the last minute, turning it into a memorable, a much needed, end of the year family holiday retreat to the beautiful Langkawi Island, north of the mainland peninsular.

Due to peak tourism season, this budget flight is the only seats left for us to take.	With all hotels already all fully booked, the only accomodation left for rent is at the Sri Langkawi Condominium

The whole of December was gloomy, and I was slowly getting tired of the unpredictable rainy season. With reports of flooding in many states along the east coast of the country (brought about by the North-Easterly Monsoon winds, occuring at this time of the year), an opportunity ecsape to sunny island of Langkawi on the north-west coast is big change that the family looks forward to.

The bright, sunny, blue sky and the prestine beach at Tanjung Rhu is a complete contrast to the gloomy skyline of Kuala Lumpur.

Hiring our own car for the holiday, we practically roamed every nooks and corners of the Island. Early in the morning we drove to Tanjung Rhu which lies on the northern cape of Pulau Langkawi. Aptly named for its abundance of casuarinas, its enchanting beach affords magnificent views of nearby small islands which can be reached at low tide on foot.

Being out very early in the morning, we have the whole beach to ourselves.

Unfortunately, none of us are prepared with our swimming gears. :-(

On the northwest corner of the island, near Tanjung Rhu beach, is a large mangrove forest full of wildlife and spectacular natural scenery. It is part of the Kilim Geopark territory. You can take a trip through the mangrove forest by boat. Alternatively, cruising by kayak silently through the channels of maze created by aerial roots and thick fleshy leaves of the mangrove trees to appreciate what these natural living buffer zones mean to the ecology. Wildlife is abundant, and one can observe the bizarre land walking fish, vividly coloured kingfishers, eagles and often otters and dolphins.

The mangrove swamp, with the famous Kilim Geopark hills in the far background	The calmness of the mangrove lagoon water is so soothing to the mind.

A Crab on walkabout searching for foods.

Next to it is the Pantai Pasir Hitam (Black Sand Beach). Some local people believe that the blackish sand is caused by the burnt soil from the ricefield that were burnt during the Siamese war with the Malay rulers of the Island back in history. The burnt soil flowed to the sea, got washed up to this beach creating the black sand beach.

The fisherman jetty at the Pantai Pasir Hitam (Black Sand Beach).

Strains of black coloured sands can be seen washed ashore by the waves that mixed with the normal sand at the beach.

This black sand is the sendiment of iron oxide from from nearby cliffs

The proof that the sand is really black in colour.

Fishermen rowing their boat out to sea.	Laying down the fish-net into the sea

Driving further west along the coastal route will lead to the Pantai Pasir Tengkorak (Skull Sand Beach), which according to local folklore, is due to the casualty from a legendary battle between Garuda and Jentayu. Another local belief has it that there is a giant whirlpool off Pantai Pasir Tengkorak that swallows unwary ships, depositing the skulls of the ill-fated crew on the beach, hence the name Pantai Pasir Tengkorak. Yet another local belief accorded the name to the many casualties resulting from the Siamese attack on Langkawi and the villagers' attempt to defend themselves.

The island in the far distance opposite this Pantai Pasir Tengkorak (Skull Sand Beach) actually belongs to neighbouring country of Thailand.

Families picniking along the serene beach of Pantai Pasir Tengkorak

A relaxing grooming session of the Long-Tailed Macaque monkeys

The main range on the west of the island is the GunungMacincang at 708 metres, which offers a spectacular view. Starting from about sea level at Oriental Village, the cable car rises from about sea level to an altitude of over 700 metres. There are two viewing stations and it is possible to get off and rejoin the cable car at station one. There is a walking trek from Station One, uphill to Station Two, a 2.2km ride up the mountainside on a 42 degree incline. From the top of a hill, one can view as far to the islands of Tarutao, Ko Adang and Ko Lipeh in Thailand.

Looking up from Oriental Village to the top of Bukit Machinchang. The dot represents the size of the cable car.	A closeup zoom of Station Two through my telephoto lens

This bright red-colored Japanese bridge connecting the Japanese Restuarant to the Geopark Hotel at the Oriental Village really caught my attention.

A Common Myna resting on the palm of the coconut tree	There is an Elephant Ride Jungle Trekking service at the Oriental Village. Expansive though....!

The flower of the water lilies in the pond.	The Water Monitor Lizard just crawled out from the pond for some sun basking

Along the way, one will pass by the Telaga Harbour, another favourate location by European tourist because of its beautiful marina bay.

My three angels posing near the yachts anchored at the jetty near Telaga Harbour.

Some of the yacht owners actually slept in their yacht.

The restaurants at Pantai Chenang will be the best spot for a heafty and tasty local lunch. For souvenir hunters, there are many giftshops along the beach boulevard, and the best time to do this will be late in the evening when it gets cooler. This is followed by an interesting agricultural visit to the Laman Padi (Padi Museum) nearby.

The young shoots of the paddy plant still growing at the nursery plot.

Separated into smaller cluster and transplanted into the ricefield plot.	The water weeds filling up the water surface of the ricefield, sheltering the freshwater fish underneath from the blazing afternoon sun.

The White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) feeding in freshly cultivated rice plot.	No birds will ever be scared of the sexy looking female scarecrow

At Kuah town, the sea port-of-call to the Island, there stood the majestic 12 meter high statue of the reddish brown sea eagle - to be exact, a Brahminy Kite eagle - poised for flight, chosen as the main emblem for Langkawi.

The majestic sculpture at Dataran Lang in Kuah

The water lilies flower blooming beautifully in the pond nearby

The roots of the tree gripping for anchorage from the beach soil.

At this point, we decide to pursue our separate interest. My three angels pushing for extreme shopping spree whilst I enrol for a jungle trekking adventure.

Me with eight others (Swedish and Australian tourist) is lead by our local Rainforest tour guide, Mr. Hairul from Dev's Adventure Tours. We hiked deep through the forest behind the Berjaya Resort.

Tall trees soaring high up into the sky	The parasitic small Fig plant that grows from seeds deposited by birds on the branch, its roots will in the long run engulf over and kill this host tree.

If you look carefully, you might be able to spot the Malayan Flying Lemur, or Colugo (Cynocephalus Variegatus) clinging in the tree trunk.	This Colugo opted to have his nap under the roof of one of the Chalet at the Berjaya Resort. Being a nuptial animal, it sleeps during the day (with no eyelid, it sleeps with eyes wide open)

Although it is also called a "Malayan flying lemur," it is not a lemur and it does not fly - but it is found in Malaysia. It belongs to its own order, called Dermoptera (Latin for "skin-wing"), and it merely glides on the wind currents rather than flying like a bat or a bird. It has a flat body with a flowing membrane of skin stretched from its neck out to the fingers, and then down along the sides of body to the toes and the tip of the tail. It has large eyes, long limbs, and its feet have sharp, curved claws for grasping trees after gliding. The colugo is strictly arboreal and well-camouflaged in the trees. It nests in hollow trees or among palm fronds, usually emerging at night, although it can also be active during the day. Its flight from tree to tree may last 200 feet or more, with its limbs outstretched so that the skin membrane catches the wind. It is fairly awkward climbing around the trees, pulling itself up with both arms at once, followed by both legs. Colugos eat leaves, shoots, and fruit.

The sharp curved claws anchors the Colugor firmly to the chalet roof as it goes deep into slumberland

Although shrilling sounds of the cicada can be heard, it is difficult to be seen, except for the shreaded dead skins left behind on the leaves in the undergrowth.	Once in a while you may encounter this elusive Common Gliding Lizard, (Draco sumatranus), well camouflaged to the tree trunk.

The Common Gliding Lizard (Draco sumatranus) is a common species found even in urban parklands. There is great variation in colour, with various shades of grey or brown being found. For males the gular flag is triangular and bright yellow in colour, and for females it is much smaller, and is blue flecked with black. They feed on ants and other small insects. When encountered on a tree trunk they have the habit of quickly moving to the other side and climbing quickly upwards.

The jungle trail at certain area was quite steep and arduous.

Insects mating, a continuum of the circle of life.	Mushrooms growing on the decaying tree trunk

From Pantai Kok, you can still see the two cable car stations (left and right) high up on the Bukit Macincang

My family posing on the rocks at Pantai Kok

Except for a few of us, the beach was almost deserted during the blazing hot noon sun.

Then come the time to depart at Langkawi Internation Airport, heading for back home to Kuala Lumpur.

The holiday break was a real refreshing experience for all of us. The excitement still prevails even after landing at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Airport in Subang, where upon, we spontaneously proceeded to drive to the nearest shopping mall and continue shopping till late night.