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A spectacular self-drive Adventure in Asia thinking of Langkawi always brings a

smile to my lips, and the memory of me cruising in my car along a thin strip of road, adjoined on both sides by the clean turquoise sea. Self-driving is a

sheer delight in this region and highly recom-mended. (My Indian driving licence was easily accepted here.)

The jewel of kedahLangkawi, also known as the Jewel of Kedah,

is a chain of 99 islands in the Andaman Sea, situated on the west coast of Malaysia. It takes one hour to reach this emerald paradise from Kuala Lumpur on flight.

a fairytale abodeI was staying in a highly recommended

property called the Berjaya resorts, cocooned within a rainforest sanctuary. It is mesmerising to watch the endless expanse of sea from the brilliantly architected chalet - my fairytale abode

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right on the sea. One can feel like a mermaid with your house in the water.

Exploring the regionMost visitors may just prefer to relax at

Berjaya, but for me there had to be much more to discover.

Over the first two days of my week-long stay here I picked two tours namely island hopping, and the Pulau Marine Park excursion. The remaining days of my week-long stay I spent enthusiastically driving and exploring. Pulau signifies islet in the local language, so every tour involving the sea commences with the word Pulau.

In the island hopping tour I was introduced to the main islands of the region on a speed boat. My first stop was the Pulau Singa Besar, which means the Big Lion Island. The boat ride was exhilarating, engulfed by gyrating gusts of air, foaming waves, and the sheer vastness of the sea. Next was the Singa Besar Island freely showcasing monkeys, deer, iguanas, and pea-cock amid tropical trees. Swimming is a feasible option here if you have the time.

We then headed towards Pulau Dayang Bun-ting also known as the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden. Its water is said to have magical pow-ers. The legend is that there was once a princess named Mamang Sari whose baby died a few days after she gave birth. Mamang Sari laid her dead child in this lake. All childless women are

said to conceive if they bathe in the lake. Dusk was approaching by the time I reached

Beras Basah Island – or Wet Rice Island – another pristine Langkawi beach with clear waters. This island had fewer visitors. I went on a banana boat ride and saw some brave hearts para sailing.

By nightfall, I had returned to my hotel.

Langkawi by carThe next three days I dedicated to self-driving

and exploration. While the hotel insisted on an international licence, I was able to hire a small car at an economical price from a local vendor. I then purchased a map and drove straight to Oriental Village situated at walking distance from Berjaya hotel. One can undertake the cable car and elephant ride from here. After buying a few curious, I turned my car towards Kuah, Langkawi’s main town. The drive was thrilling but the town is crowded. It is clearly not the best part of the region. The numerous buildings and the waterfront appeared shabby.

The town’s biggest charm is its duty-free shops. I collected some chocolates, among many other options and then headed to Green Village which is close to the airport. On reaching there I found that it is a resort, but the drive was pleas-ant, past cashew and bamboo trees. Driving and discovering, I spent the day getting to know

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Langkawi in my car. Over the next two days I made random visits

to various places. I was particularly interested in The Field of Burnt Rice, which got its name after the villagers burnt their rice fields to stop Siamese Invaders from taking them over in 1821. The locals here claim that sometimes during heavy rains one can see traces of burnt grains on the fields.

Another interesting place is the Langkawi International Book Village set in a Malay-style kampong (Malay village) house in the lush rainforest of Lubok Semilang which also has a recreational park. The Book Village flaunts a massive collection of second-hand, rare, and antiquarian books encompassing a broad range of topics. The recreational park is located at walking distance from here and is known for its beautiful gazebos.

I also located Tanjung Rhu Beach just beyond Pantai Pasir Hitam, the black sand beach. The water at Tanjung Rhu is clear as crystal, and the sand is powder-fine. It was by the jungle I passed through to approach this isolated patch. It is secluded, silent and peaceful. Bordered by intermittent crags of limestone, Tanjung Rhu is gorgeous.

a marine park excursionMy last but most important trip was the

Langkawi Pulau Payar Marine Park Excursion. The park comprises four turquoise islands namely, Pulau Payar which is the largest, Pulau Kaca, Pulau Lembu, and Pulau Segantang. The

Ilika RanjanThe writer is an avid traveler and author of the book “Puppet on the fast track.” ilika@pundareek.com.

marine park is Langkawi’s preferred diving and snorkelling spot. Snorkelling (rath-er than diving) turned out to be the best and most economical way of spending the day here. With the bright sun shining down, witnessing underwater corals and fishes was delightful.

Inland there is mass foliage bordered by teal waters and a curvature of white sand beach. The entire excursion took seven hours to com-plete, and I returned to the hotel in the evening. I spent my last day at Berjaya, which in its own right remains an unforgettable moment.

By the time I bid adios to Langkawi I was tanned a copper tone, a shade that hinted at many untold stories of my encounter with the sea.

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