Palm View Seafood Restaurant

After a whole day of sightseeing, we headed back to the hotel to rest up for a bit before dinner. My parents and Ashley went down to the beach for a swim and also to redeem their welcome drink from the poolside bar (I believe it was some Lemongrass drink). Kevin, who was still trying to recover from jet lag, was totally knocked out cold and I spent the remaining afternoon surfing the net in our nice A/C room (the jet lag didn't really bother me but I was having a tough time adjusting to the heat). It was good just to relax! :D

By the time we finally got ready to head out to dinner, it was pretty late in the evening. We decided to return to Pantai Cenang and try another one of the seafood restaurants there. There were quite a lot to choose from but we ended up going to Palm View Seafood Restaurant. I guess we were attracted by the bright lights and red lanterns :PJust like all of the seafood restaurants along Pantai Cenang, Palm View Seafood has a host of different live seafood to choose from. Since we didn't get our crab fix from Orkid Ria the night before, we were really looking forward to some yummy crabs that night. The lady told us that a new fresh batch of crabs just arrived and she brought us to a back room to pick out a few. I guess that was the first mistake of the night. When the waitress brings you to a 'special room' to pick out seafood, you know that it wasn't going to be cheap!

The waitress also kept on 'promoting' the mantis prawns. She said that it was very fresh and they just brought in some new stock earlier that day. So we agreed to go take a look at it. While we were out there choosing our seafood, we changed our minds about the mantis prawns and said that we would like regular prawns instead (cos the only way they would cook mantis prawns is to steam it and we wanted butter prawns). The waitress wasn't too happy and gave an excuse that the kitchen was too busy and they won't have time to make butter prawns, so we should just get the mantis prawns instead. We know that it's just an excuse because, A: how can the kitchen be too busy? The restaurant wasn't even half full and B: mantis prawns cost about 3 times more than regular prawns! So, if she were to sell us regular prawns, she would make less money. In the end, we didn't really want to argue with her and picked out a few mantis prawns. Check out the size of the prawn!

So, apart from crabs and mantis prawns, what else did we order? Well, we ordered a plate of sea scallops cooked with shark fin (yes I do eat shark fin and I'm not ashamed of it!), shitake mushrooms, garlic and superior stock. It was pretty good actually. The stock was really sweet and yummy.

We also shared a plate of Hokkien Fried Noodles. It wasn't as nice as the noodles from Orkid Ria but it was alright. They used a lot more dark soy sauce and there wasn't as much shrimp and meat in this noodles. I guess it could have been worse, so no complains here.

Ahhh the controversial mantis prawns :P It was steamed with Chinese herbs and topped with cilantro. It's funny that they should call it a prawn. In my opinion, the meat tasted more like a lobster instead of a prawn. This dish was pretty good too. You couldn't really taste the Chinese herbs (it just enough to compliment the prawns) at all and the meat was firm and fresh.

Here we go. The piece de resistance! Sweet and Sour Chili Crab. Mmm mmm mmmmm. We have been waiting to eat this for the longest time and boy, I'm glad we were not disappointed. We finally got our dose of crabs! The crabs were indeed very fresh and the sweet and sour sauce was good too. Definitely worth the wait. Generally the food in Palm View is pretty good and the seafood is fresh. You just have to be careful when ordering. If not, you will end up with a really big bill at the end of the night.The waitresses would just try and push the most expensive dishes. So, do not get swayed by the waitresses, order what you want to eat and not what they try to 'recommend'. With that in mind, I'm pretty sure you will have a good meal in Palm Ville Seafood.

Palm View Seafood Restaurant
Lot 1584 Pantai Cenang,
Langkawi 07000,
Kedah
Tel: (604) 955 9008

The Loaf - Telaga Harbour Park, Langkawi

After the Oriental Village, we headed towards Pantai Kok to check out Telaga Harbour Park. Langkawi is well known as a major sailing and yachting destination, so it is no suprise that many marinas can be found all over the island. However, Telaga Harbour is one of the more popular ones and is said to be the most beautiful. From the moment we got there, I can see the reason why. The whole marina is landscaped and designed to resemble a Mediterranean-style harbour town of the French Riviera, with beautiful luxury yachts docked at the harbour. For a split second, I forgot that I was actually in Malaysia! Of course, the amazing view of the Andaman Sea as well as the Mt Matchingcang range reminded me that yes, we are still in Langkawi :D

Perdana Quay is the place to go if you are looking to wine and dine in Telaga Harbour Park. There are many restaurants (mostly high end ones) for you to choose from. Since we were there in the afternoon, there wasn't much activity going on. I can just imagine how it will be like when the sun goes down. With awesome views of the Andaman Sea, you can choose to dine al fresco or inside. I can't remember exactly all the restaurants that is there but I know that there is a Russian (Restaurant USSR), Seafood (Pulau Pulau Seafood) and Italian (Mare Blue) restaurant. Of course, the famous Loaf Bakery & Bistro is also located at Perdana Quay.

I have heard so much about The Loaf that we just had to go check it out. Opened in 2006, this is the original branch of The Loaf (there is now a branch in Pavillion, KL too). Owned by Malaysia's 4th Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir, The Loaf is well known for it's bread and pastries that are baked using traditional Japanese techniques.

Check out the almost full basket of pastries that we picked out (RM4 - RM7 a piece)! I must say that they don't come cheap but they sure taste awesome :P Apart from it being a bakery, The Loaf is also a dine in cafe with a full ala carte menu. If you are ever around the area during breakfast, it is said that you have to try Tun Dr Mahathir's favorite breakfast set (RM22). It consist of a bowl of fragrant mutton curry, two soft boiled eggs and chunky toasted bread. Sounds good to me!

Another 'must have' when you are at The Loaf are their Mini Uhu! Uh!s. Mini what??? What's that? :P Well, let's just say they are little cups of heaven! They are tiny cup cake size cheese cakes, available in many different flavors. I believe there are 20 flavors in total, some with wacky names like Coco Loco and Glitzy Strawberries. There are also some 'Malaysianized' flavors like Splendid Kaya, Refreshing Longan, Enticing Rouge (air bandung) and of course, Durian Obsession. These tiny cheese cakes don't come cheap though. A single cup cost RM3.20, 1/2 a dozen is RM16.50 and a dozen will set you back RM31.90! I guess it's worth it if you are a big cheese cake fan :D I'm glad we stopped by The Loaf to pick up some snacks. The pastries were yummy and even though it's a little bit on the expensive side, I think it's well worth it. Maybe we should have brunch there the next time we are in Langkawi!

The Loaf Bakery & Bistro
Lot No C9 Perdana Quay,
Telaga Harbour Park,
Pantai Kok, 07000 Langkawi,
Kedah, Malaysia
Tel: (604) 959 4866
Fax: (604) 959 4803

Langkawi Island - Langkawi Cable Car

Our ride on the Langkawi Cable Car was the highlight of our visit to the Oriental Village. It officially opened in 2003 and it's one of Langkawi Island's newest and most popular attraction. We boarded the cable car gondola from the Base Station at the Oriental Village. Each gondola can hold up to six adults. A round trip ticket would set you back RM25 (approx US$8) for adults and RM18 (approx US$5.50) for children. There is a discount for Malaysians though. All you need to do is show them your MYKAD and it's only RM15 for round trip tickets.

The total length (from Base Station to Top Station) is about 2.2km (1.4 miles) and the trip takes about 30 minutes. The ride itself from the Base Station to Middle Station is pretty cool. You will get an opportunity to glide over the rainforest while taking in the panoramic views of the surrounding islands and the Andaman Sea. If you look hard enough, you will be able to see the Telaga Tujuh (Seven Wells) waterfalls. On good days, you can also sometimes catch a glimpse of wildlife like monkeys, hornbills, eagles as well as other birds.

The Langkawi Cable Car has also been endorsed by the Malaysian Book of Records as the "The Longest Free Span Single Rope Cable Car – 919.5 meter (in total length)". Oh and a little warning for those of you who are afraid of heights. It also holds another record. At 42 degrees, the Langkawi Cable Car has one of the steepest gradient in the world!

There is an intermediate Cable Car station between the Base and Top Station. The journey from the Base Station to Middle Station covers 1,700 meters in length and the Middle Station at an elevation of 650m above sea level. Upon arriving at the Middle Station, we were able to walk onto viewing platforms where we got an awesome panoramic view of sea as well as the opportunity to view the unique rock formations of the Matchingcang Mountain Range up close. Check out the vid that I took from the Middle Station. Boy, it was such a windy day!

From the Middle Station, we could also see the Top Station as well as the Curve Hanging Bridge. The bridge was opened in 2005 and since then, it's unique design has won many reputable awards worldwide. I must say that the bridge is definitely not for the faint hearted. It is a 125m curve pedestrian bridge that goes across a deep chasm, linking the Top Station with the Machincang mountain range. Just looking at it gives me goosebumps! :P

Alrighty, it's time to board the cable car gondola again for a quick ride upwards to the Top Station! The distance between the Middle and Top Station is a mere 450 meters away. Woohoo! Off to the Curve Hanging Bridge we go!

After a short cable car ride, we are at the Top Station. A short walk up a few flights of stairs took us to two viewing platforms, at the top of Mt Matchingcang. At 708m above sea level, it provides an awesome 360 degree panoramic view of the islands surrounding Langkawi Island and Kedah. On really clear days, you can even see Thailand from there! The view was truly breathtaking. There is also a cafe where you can purchase light refreshments as well as a traditional massage parlour up at the viewing platforms. Next stop, the Curve Hanging Bridge!

To get to the Curve Hanging Bridge, one has to trek downhill for a short distance. There is no shade and with the direct mid day sun above you, it can be quite tedious. If you think the trek down is bad, wait til you try to climb back up. It's alright for younger people but the older folks and those that are not exactly fit can find it to be a little taxing. Cardio baby, cardio! With that said, I must admit that the experience on the Curve Hanging Bridge itself was worth all that trekking! It's totally awesome! However, if you are afraid of heights, this can be quite a terrifying experience. With a hanging bridge over such a deep chasm, looking over the railings of the bridge can give any person (not just those who are afraid of heights) white knuckles! :P Overall, we had a great time at the Oriental Village as well as a fun ride up the Cable Car. From the Oriental Village, we went to get a snack at the most famous bakery in Langkawi. Know where that is? Stay tuned to find out!

Langkawi Island - Oriental Village

We woke up bright and early (not because we are early risers, but coz we were still jet lagged :P) and headed to the hotel's coffee house for some breakfast. It was great that we could dine al fresco, since the sun was just rising and it wasn't that hot yet. Ahhh, having breakfast by the sea, with the cool breeze blowing on our faces and sounds of waves crashing on the shore. What a life! It's great to be on vacation. Oh and for those of you planning to stay in Frangipani in the future, you HAVE to check out their omelet station. The chef makes the most awesome omelets ever! If you don't believe me, ask Ashley. She told us that she was planning to get TWO helpings of omelets the next day! Anyways, after filling up our tummies, we headed out to explore the island.

For our first stop, we decided to check out the Oriental Village. The Oriental Village is located in the Burau Bay area, at the foothills of the (Gunung) Machingcang Mountain Range. The Machincang Mountain Range is the oldest rock formation in Malaysia and is the first UNESCO GeoPark in South-East Asia. The Oriental Village is made up of small shops and restaurants, built around a beautiful lake and is also the base station for the Langkawi Cable Car ride. The Langkawi Geopark Hotel is also located inside the Oriental Village. How much does it cost to get in? Well, entrance to the Oriental Village is free! However, you have to buy tickets to participate in various activities offered inside the village.

Ahhhh, here is the map of the Oriental Village. So, what's there to do here? Lots! Of course the main attraction is the cable car (will blog more about that in the next post). Apart from that, you can also visit the Langkawi Geopark Information Center. It is a small air-conditioned gallery where you can find pre historic stones, dating as far back as one billion years (I personally don't agree with this fact, but that's what the sign says). If this is not exactly your thing, you can also find many shops selling all kinds of duty free items and souvenirs in the Oriental Village. There are also many 'entertainers' walking around the village, ranging from snake charmers, silat (Malay martial art) masters, jugglers to caricature artists. If you are an animal lover, you can also visit the mini zoo where you can feed deer, rabbits, fishes and ducks. Entrance is free and you can buy a packet of animal food for RM1 (approx US$0.31). Oh and for those of you seeking a little adventure, you can go for an elephant ride in the secondary forest of the Matchingcang Mountain Range. Quad bikes and ATVs are also available for rental.

Are there any food available in the Oriental Village? Sure there is! There are all types of dining choices available in the Oriental Village. If you are looking for a snack, you can pick up drinks and ice cream from the many souvenir shops. There is also an inexpensive food court called "Kopitiam" where you can get noodle or rice dishes for around RM3 - RM8 (approx US$0.90 - US$2.50) per plate. There are also some nice sit down restaurants available in the Oriental Village. Among the more popular ones are Krathong (a Thai restaurant) and Mizumi, a Japanese restaurant run by the Berjaya Resort and Spa.

The Oriental Village is indeed a well planned tourist attraction. There is lots to do for everyone. If only the weather wasn't so hot and humid, we would have done so much more (maybe we should have rented a segway and zoomed around, instead of walking :P). Check out the Matchingcang Mountain Range and the beautiful lake behind us. It looks almost like a picture out from a postcard. Ahhh well, it's time to take the cable car up 708m above sea-level to the viewing platform at the top of Mt Matchingcang. Will blog about it in my next post. Stay tuned!

Langkawi Island - Playing Tourist with Dad

While we were back in Malaysia during Chinese New Year (well, a week before CNY), we took a short trip to Langkawi with my parents and sister. It's been a while since we all went on a family vacation, so we were really looking forward to this. Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands in the Andaman Sea, about 30 km northwest of the coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The main island (Langkawi Island) is only about a 45 mins flight away from Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur. It is also accessible by high speed air conditioned boats from Kuala Kedah (RM23, 105 minutes), Kuala Perlis (RM18, 75 minutes) and Penang Island (RM60, 165 minutes). Oh and before I forget, Langkawi is also a duty free island! Yup, that's right...it means cheap alcohol and imported chocolates! A can of beer cost less than a bottle of water or soda in Langkawi! Beautiful beaches, amazing sunsets, cheap chocolates and booze...what more could a person ask for? :D

Kevin and I took the first flight out from KL (I believe it was a 7am flight) and my dad flew in from Penang about an hour later. My mom and sister only flew in later that afternoon because my sister could only leave after school. Car rentals are really cheap in Langkawi (because it's a duty free island) and we managed to rent a MPV for the three days we were there. A small compact car (Myvi or Kancil) is only about RM50 per day during the low season. How much did we pay for our Toyota Avanza? I don't know, we got our Toyota Avanza for FREE! One of my cousin's friend managed to hook us up with a rental company and he paid for everything (thanks Robert, we really appreciate it!). We picked up the MPV from the airport and drove to our hotel to check in. We stayed at The Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa. My dad managed to get a good rate (again, some friend's son hooked us up) for that resort. We only paid RM350 nett per night as opposed to the rack rate of RM600++. What a good deal!

After checking in, we still had a whole day to check out the island before my mom and sister arrive. We decided to play tourist and drove around the island, stopping at various tourist spots. Armed with a map of the island, we were off! Our first stop was Awana Porto Malai (since it was pretty close to our hotel).

Awana Porto Malai is a hotel located at the south most tip of Langkawi. With it's Mediterranean influence architecture and long boardwalk with amazing views of the lagoon, Awana Porto Malai is indeed a beautiful place. We also enjoyed looking at all the nice yachts that were docked at the marina. The yacht 'Jalur Gemilang' belonging to Dato Azlan Mansor (1st Malaysian to sail solo around the globe) is supposed to be docked there too.

Our next stop was The Field of Burnt Rice. Here is Kevin, standing in front of the famous spot. So, what's the story behind this place and why is it so famous? Well, soon after the death of Mahsuri, the Siamese invaded Langkawi Island. The chief of the Langkawi army came up with a great plan. He ordered all the villages to collect all their paddy harvest and burn it at this spot. This was done so that the Siamese could not get a hold of the paddy, which was the main reason for the invasion. With that, Langkawi was free from the Siamese! Legend has it that remnants of the burnt rice could still be seen at this spot up til today.

Kevin and I in front of the home of Ku Halim (just next to the field of burnt rice). It is an example of a typical traditional Malay home. No real story behind this, we just thought that it would be cool to take a photo in front of a traditional Malay house! Oh, and if you are looking for cheap sarongs, Malay foodstuff and traditional Malay gamat (sea cucumber used in medicinal remedies), you can pick some up at the bazaar just outside this compound.

Our next stop is the Kota Mahsuri Cultural Center. This is where the tomb of Mahsuri lays. How can you visit Langkawi and not visit the tomb of Mahsuri, right? Well, wrong! I must say that we had such a horrible experience there. Firstly, we now have to pay to get in (it used to be free!). Well, I don't mind paying if it was a token sum but it's RM 5 for Malaysians and RM10 for Foreigners. On top of that, we have to pay RM3 to bring in our camera. RM23 in total just to get in. I asked the person at the counter, apart from the tomb, what else is in there? She said oh there are traditional dances as well as traditional Malay music demonstrations in there. Hmmm, maybe it's worth the RM23 then? Wellllll, no! I then asked her what time those performances are and she just laughed. She didn't know how to answer me. She then turned and asked another guy and he too laugh! I really don't see what's so funny. In the end, I found out that there are NO SUCH PERFORMANCES! It's supposed to be part of the whole 'experience' (which explains the expensive tickets) but I guess they don't have that anymore. So, RM23 just to see a tomb, no thank you! Also, we asked them for directions to The Loaf (will blog about that later) and they gave us the wrong directions! Not a few miles off but they lead us to the other side of the island! Boy, I was so mad at those people.

After a disappointing stop at Kota Mahsuri, we headed to Langkawi Legends Park and Eagle Square (Dataran Lang) which is located near the Kuah Jetty. No visit to Langkawi is complete without a picture in front of the huge eagle! Standing at over 12 meters tall, it's definitely a sight to behold. The name Langkawi is derived from the word "helang", which means eagle and the old Malay old "kawi", which means reddish brown. Hence, Langkawi means reddish brown eagle! By then, it was almost time to head over to the airport to pick my mom and sister up. We made a quick stop at the duty free shop at Underwater World to pick up some beer and continued on to the airport. Want to know what we ate for dinner that night? Will blog more about that the next time!