STORY TO BE TOLD

Satok Market

Visitors should not miss Pasar Satok as the busy market offers views of diverse cultures, a cacophony of unfamiliar languages (especially for those familiar with standard Malay and English) and an assortment of products"

The Satok Weekend Market on Jalan Satok starts on Saturday afternoon when traders bring produce from their farms and continues on till Sunday. There are also many unique ferns and plants, wild honey, wild orchids, traditional herbs (used as medicine) and fruits from the jungles. Handicrafts and ethnic carvings are also available. There are a wide variety of snacks and sometimes snakes in baskets!

By Bus It is a short drive from the main hotel area in Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman. Try the taxi or take the hourly Kuching City Tram that leaves the bus stop in front of the Hilton and Crown Plaza Hotels.

Do read more on: http://www.virtualmalaysia.com/

Credits to and source taken from: http://www.virtualmalaysia.com/

Langkawi,(Jawi:لانكاوي ) officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah (Malay: Langkawi Permata Kedah) is an archipelago of 99 islands (an extra 5 temporary islands are revealed at low tide) in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of the state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border. On July 15, 2008, Sultan Abdul Halim of Kedah had consented to the change of name to Langkawi Permata Kedah in conjunction with his Golden Jubilee Celebration. By far the largest of the islands is the eponymous Pulau Langkawi with a population of some 64,792, the only other inhabited island being nearby Pulau Tuba. Langkawi is also an administrative district with the town of Kuah as the capital and largest town. Langkawi is a duty-free island.

Legends of broken pots and seeping gravy

Langkawi's most prominent mountains, Gunung Macinchang and Gunung Raya, and a whole series of towns and villages are said to named after a local legend. The story tells the tale of a wedding between two families of giants, with Mat Raya's son wanting to marry Mat Cincang's daughter. During the wedding feast, a fight broke out between the two wedding parties, reputedly because the son was caught flirting with another woman.

During the fight, pots and pans were thrown, and a large pot of gravy (kuah) was broken and the contents flowed onto the ground. The place where the gravy was spilled became known as Kuah (the largest town on Langkawi island) and where the crockery (belanga) was broken (pecah) was location of the village Kampung Belanga Pecah. The gravy seeped into (kisap) the earth at the village named Kisap.

Understand

The name "Langkawi" has two possible origins. First, it is believed to be related to the kingdom of Langkasuka, itself a version of the Malay negari alang-kah suka ("the land of all one's wishes"), centered in modern-day Kedah. The historical record is sparse, but a Chinese Liang Dynasty record (c. 500 AD) refers to the kingdom of "Langgasu" as being founded in the 1st century AD. Second, it could be a combination of the Malay words 'helang', meaning "eagle" and 'kawi', meaning "reddish-brown" or "strong", in old Malay.

Langkawi eventually came under the influence of the Sultanate of Kedah, but Kedah was conquered in 1821 by Siam and Langkawi along with it. The Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 transferred power to the British, which held the state until independence, except for a brief period of Thai rule under the Japanese occupation of Malaya during World War II. Thai influences remain visible in the culture and food of Langkawi.

Langkawi remained a sleepy backwater until 1987, when the island was granted tax-free status with the intention of promoting tourism and improve the lives of the islanders. The following boom was spectacular and now Langkawi figures on most every European travel agency's radar.

This spectacular boom was also due to the fact that Mahsuri's curse was lifted with the birth of her 7th generation descendant.

Sheltered by the mountainous backbone of Peninsular Malaysia, Langkawi escapes the northeastern winter monsoon entirely and enjoys sunny skies in winter when the eastern provinces are flooded. Coupled with natural white sand beaches, lush jungle foliage and craggy mountain peaks - but hampered by inaccessibility - the island was at one time touted as "Malaysia's best-kept secret".

The 10,000 hectares of Langkawi and its 99 islands were declared a Geopark by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 2007.

Eat

Practically all resorts have their own restaurants and most tourists choose to eat in, but there are a few other options as well. Be adventurous and strike out on your own to savour the numerous foods at the stalls and restaurants all over Langkawi. Try one of the many seafood restaurants. Having said that, beware of certain restaurants advertised in the brochures targeting tourists. An example of such restaurant is the 'Coco Beach Restaurant', close to the airport.

If you choose order seafood or fish, take note if the price is by weight or by a set price for the dish. The unwary can be hit with a much larger bill than expected. Also, beware of restaurants telling you that they only have the bigger size lobsters available, as that is what they tell everyone (a common practice at Coco Beach Restaurant and Palm View Restaurant, at Pantai Cenang). When your lobster or crab is served, you will discover that you will definitely be paying for 900g of shell instead of meat! To counter this, order fish, squid and prawns to be safe.

Budget

For a taste of simple Malay-style breakfast, just walk up to a small stall opposite the Underwater World in the mornings and feast on the famous freshly-prepared banana leaf-wrapped nasi lemak (steamed rice in coconut milk). The price is most affordable at less than RM 2 for a pack. Go local and enjoy this with a glass of hot teh tarik or really good local coffee. This very unassuming stall is just simple and great (clean too!) The nasi lemak comes with curried beef, squid in chili, friend salted fish or chicken.

* AddaMaya Café, (Pantai Cenang (near Haji Ramli's; or opposite Nadia's Comfort Inn)). - small, cosy place for meals and coffee. The chef can whip up great meals - from local dishes to western fast food easily (and in that little cabin of his). Problem is, it can get a bit dusty as it is located fronting the main road. Locals like to come here for good food at reasonable prices. edit

* Rafi's Place, (sandwiched between Restoran Aliah's and Tomato Nasi Kandar on Pantai Cenang). Rustic shack. No visible signboard either but ask around and you will find Rafi's. Rafi is a Penangite but has been on the island since 1988 so he considers himself very much local. Ask him for recommendations and he'll happily tell you. Ample parking space in front of his 'shack'. Good ambiance especially early mornings. nasi lemak (RM3), local tea and coffee (RM1).

* Tomato Nasi Kandar, (Opposite Langkawi Boutique Hotel). Typical budget Indian food establishment with patrons all day (and night!) long. Very crowded even in the wee hours of the morning. They serve an enormous variety of dishes, from the flavoured roti varieties to naan, briyani and kebabs. The standard is quite high - to an extent where the meal is extremely value-for-money. The only problem is that their waiters are exceedingly bad at taking orders. RM1-3 for roti, RM 4-10 for main dishes. edit

* Restoran Fatimah, (Near the Kampung Tok Senik Resort on the road to Ulu Melaka). Try this for really authentic Malay food. Their lunch spread is amazing - so amazing that they attract bus loads of Malaysian visitors. Just enjoy the food and leave your cultural baggage and complaints behind as you will be in a totally different ambiance but friendly, nevertheless. edit

Mid-range

* Artisans Pizza Cafe, (Pantai Cenang). Offers freshly cooked pizzas with both traditional and Malaysian toppings. The satay pizza and sambal pizza are particularly good. You can dine in or takeaway and they also deliver to guesthouses and the beach. Their house specialties: Hungarian Gnoulash and Madam's Fishbake are particularly awesome. RM 15 for main courses. RM 30-38 for 11 inch pizzas. edit

* Babylon Mat Lounge & BBQ, (Right on Pantai Cenang). Mats are laid out on the sand for guests to sit on and there is a a low table with a candle. They also have a live band or playlist that is passed off as a DJ. Some travellers have expressed concern about the over-friendliness of staff toward female patrons and have complained about poor service. edit

* Breakfast Station, (A couple of minutes walk from Restoran Haji Ramli). Lunch starts/breakfast ends at 12PM. Great Balinese decor, rustic with cozy ambiance. Fantastic and fantastic Nasi Lemak. The Western spread is a pleasant surprise. Best omelette in town. Lavazza Coffee for RM4. edit

* Beach Garden Resort's Beer Garden, [23]. Happy hour from 15:00 - 19:00PM. Offers 1st class Western & Malay dishes in a stylish holiday - beach atmosphere. Superb wine selection, draft beer and German wheat beer (own import) as well as cocktails. edit

* Cenang Boat Quay, Pantai Cenang. Offers a variety of Pizza, German Sausages, Pasta, local dishes and fusion food. Opening in April 2009 is a Grill Fish hawker. The concept here is by individual hawker selling the different styles of food. Amazing Sunset view at the Quay. A Must TRY!! edit

* Champor Champur, Pantai Cenang. Moderately wacky fusion food in a fusion setting courtesy of a Dutch-Malaysian couple with an affinity for Africa. Great ambiance - feels like eating in an outdoor garden. edit

* Difiqa, (Pantai Cenang, close to Red Tomato). Great for tasting Roti Canai at breakfast with some very spicy dips as accompaniment, Less than RM5 for 2! Great tasting local coffee and fresh fish too. edit

* Fat Mum Restaurant, Pantai Tengah, ☎ 012-4707863. Just up the road from Awana Resort. Great authentic local Chinese seafood restaurant, good food for a reasonable price.

* Hole in the Wall Fishfarm & Restaurant, Kilim River, northeast part of the island (Call for free shuttle), ☎ 049675301, [24]. Floating on the river, part of the amazing scenery of the Kilim Mangrove Forest. They serve the freshest Malay style seafood you will be able to eat on Langkawi island. The traditional dishes of freshly caught fish, prawns, crab, lobster etc. are famous.Shuttle service from Kilim jetty to the fishfarm restaurant and return is free of charge for lunch and dinner guests. If you book a Mangrove Tour, you will most definitely end up having your lunch here. However, you may want to give their package buffet a pass and try their dishes. edit

* Restoran Haji Ramli, (Pantai Cenang). Open till 1AM. Your Nasi Campur haunt by day and run-of-the-mill Tom Yam shack by night. 'Ikan Bakar' - Grilled fish and other fresh seafood a'la carte after 3PM. Fresh terubuk (shad) which is unheard off in the mainland! Grab a couple of fist-sized prawns and cuttlefish (squid) cooked Tom Yam style for a gastronomical lesson in local seafood. Their seafood dishes average 4-4.5 RM per 100g, and they can be cooked in a myriad of different styles that will surely suit your tastes. Meat dishes vary from 6-12 RM. RM 10-20 for a complete meal. edit

* Malay House, (Pantai Tengah). Offers good but not necessarily authentic Malay food in an atmospheric garden full of lush greenery, water features and exotic art. edit

* Mimi, (A few minutes walk from Underwater World, on the opposite side of the road.). Greatest 'Ikan Bakar' or grilled fish with tantalizing self-made sauce. . Also offers a variety of traditional Malay dishes like tomyam and 'ayam masak merah' (chicken cooked in non-spicy sauce). Snapper or grouper RM4 per 100 gram. edit

* Oasis, (Pantai Tengah/Cenang). A great beach hangout serving western meals and drinks. It comes alive in the evenings.

* Orkid Ria Seafood Restaurant, Lot 1225 Jalan Pantai Cenang, ☎ +6049554128, [25]. 11am-3pm. Dinner: 6pm-11pm. Some tables having water views. They have fresh seafood displayed out front. Choose from a wide range of cuisines, including dishes prepared in Malay, Thai, Chinese, and Western styles. edit

* Rasa Restaurant, (Pantai Cenang). Good Malaysian food with reasonable prices. Seating available outdoor in courtyard overlooking main road or inside. edit

* Red Tomato Garden Cafe, (Pantai Cenang, in front of AB Motel), ☎ +60125136046. Saturday to Thursday from 9:00am to 10:30pm, Closed Friday.. Free WiFi. Look out for the owners red mini parked in front of the place. Has great western breakfast and lunch menus, and pasta and pizza for dinner. Home made bread, good choice of cheeses. Gluten free pasta is available. Free WI-FI! Owned by a German lady. edit

* Rose Tea 2, (Pantai Cenang). Outstanding Thai food. Great price and great service. Closed on Friday.

* Sun Cafe, (Pantai Tengah), [26]. A friendly and relaxing restaurant that offers a variety of Western food, Italian food, and Malaysian food. They also serve a range of hot and cold beverages - from cappuccino to milkshake, from fruit juice to mocktail. If you love fish, try their Fillet of Barracuda. It's light and healthy. They are also open for dinner too. It is a great place for a delightful meal or a casual conversation over a cup of coffee. edit

* Taj Mahal, Landcon Square (opposit Zon Shopping Mall). Huge open sided restaurant (also has an air-con room opposite for hot days). Specialises in Arabic and North Indian dishes all of which are very healthy, very tasty and very cheap. Very popular with locals and with Indian and Arabic holidaymakers. Great place to just sit around for a few hours occasionally ordering another batch of fresh flat breads and dips. edit

* T. Jay's Italian Bistro & Pizzeria, (Pantai Cenang, Opposite Underwater World), ☎ +6049553995. 8.00am to 11.00pm. Though this place looks a little sleepy, they make some great wood-fired pizzas. T Jay's Special pizza is recommended.

* Telaga Arabic Cafe and Restaurant, (Pantai Cenang). The same kitchen serves an indoor dining area and a large outdoor area across the street. Good good with reasonable prices. Stay and enjoy some of the best hookah/shisha (tobacco water pipe) smoking anywhere. edit

* Tulsi Garden, Pantai Tengah. Good Indian food (northern and southern). You may even get to talk to the owner, Palani on some nights. Quiet place to have dinner and chat with friends. Best part is you can ask the chef to tone down the chili or spiciness levels. edit

* USSR Restaurant, (Telaga Harbour Park). Russian fare. Waterside restaurant with tables overlooking the harbor. Managed by Russian expats who serve up the real deal. edit

Splurge

* Feast @ Sheraton, [27]. International buffet and ala carte menu. A varieties menu from unique local cuisine to western dishes. Choose to dine inside in air-conditioned environment or having your dine at terrace while enjoying the nature environment overlooking the Andaman Sea. edit

* La Sal at Casa del Mar, (Pantai Cenang, on the beach), [28]. As expected on holiday, dining is a relaxed, quality experience at your Home by the Sea. Food offers the best in Modern Asian and Western Cuisine with a focus high quality fresh produce and is served by attentive and friendly staff. The bar offers a wide variety of wine from the old and new worlds. The cocktail list is exciting and innovative with themed cocktails around our magical sunset, pool side relaxation and post dinner period. edit

* The Light House, (The edge of Pantai Tengah). Fantastic food on the beach wonderful views edit

* The Loaf, LOT NO. C9 Perdana Quay (Telaga Harbour Park), ☎ +6049594866, [29]. 8AM to 11PM; closed Thursday. Japanese style bakery & bistro owned by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed, ex-Prime Minister of Malaysia. Quality breads and full meals. Amazing view of the harbour and the yachts especially if you have your breakfast al-fresco outside. Attentive staff. Try Tun's Favourite Breakfast set (2 softboiled eggs, a bowl of mutton curry and thick toasted bread) with coffee and orange juice. Good place to have a leisurely breakfast. Bread from RM4. edit

* Mare Blu, (Perdana Quay, Telaga Harbour Park), ☎ +6049593830, [30]. The only authentic Italian restaurant on Langkawi island. The restaurant offers typical Italian food, good wines and draft beer. The Mediterranean style surrounding is just beautiful and the tables are set up right on the waterfront. edit

* Papadam, (Pantai Cenang (Near Underwater World)). Indian restaurant that also serves Arabic food. edit

* Sunsutra, Jalan Teluk Baru (Pantai Tengah), [31]. Fine dining restaurant that serves great Western food too. If you're a big fan of lamb, you must try their lamb shank. Tender and full of flavours. Its portion is huge too! Good for someone who wants a hearty meal. edit

* Unkaizan, Lot395 Jalan Telok Baru Pantai (Near to Awana Porto Malai), ☎ +6049554118, [32]. 6pm-11pm. Japanese restaurant, with excellent food and wonderful service! edit

Drink

Because of Langkawi's tax-free status, alcohol is much cheaper than in the rest of Malaysia. Religious Muslims do not consume alcoholic drinks, and while they do tolerate non Muslims who do, try not to behave in a rowdy imbibed manner near them, their houses, mosques, and please respect local culture and communal sensitivities. For those living on a budget, you can obtain alcohol at cheap prices from the local duty free shops - the larger the outlets, the lower the prices. Expect to pay RM 25 for 1L Absolut, RM 45 for 1L Kahlua, RM 60 for 1L Bailey's RM 1.85 for 330ml can beer.

* Chime Nightclub @ Sheraton, [33]. Takes on a complete personality change and is Langkawi’s hottest night spot, starting with “sun-downers” on the terrace. Features night live entertainment with stunning performance from musician band while DJ spinning the music all night long. edit

* Little Lylias Langkawi, Beach Bar

* Sunba Retro Bar, Jalan Teluk Baru (Pantai Tengah), ☎ +6049531801, Until 3AM.

Read more on: http://wikitravel.org/

Credits to and source taken from: http://wikitravel.org/

Pantai Cenang Shopping

Where to Shop and What to Buy in Pantai Cenang

Pantai Cenang is a haven for tourist shopping at the entire beach road is lined with shops and stalls on both sides. These shops sell mostly souvenirs in the form of fashion accessories, beads, handicrafts and merchandise but there are also many convenience stores. On the other hand, you can visit the night market that takes place in nearby Temoyong on Thursdays or the Zon Duty-Free Shopping Complex in Underwater World Langkawi.

Temoyong Night Market

Another one of Pantai Cenang’s shopping highlight is the Temoyong Pasar Malam which takes place on Thursday nights. This local bazaar is a good place to get cheap and authentic Malay food as well as a wide variety of clothes, fresh produce and electronics from the make-shift stalls.
Opening Hours: Thursday, 17:00 – 20:00
Location: Kampung Temoyong, Mukim Kedawang, Pantai Cenang (located at the estuary of Sungai Temoyong)
Zone Shopping Paradise
Zone Shopping Paradise

This shopping centre is located beside Underwater World; but don’t get your hopes up as it resembles a mostly middle-class shopping store with discounted items placed in bins and stacked high to the ceiling. It stocks up on jewellery, souvenirs, watches, cosmetics, leather goods as well as selected designer labels; adjacent to it is a food court with fairly-average fare.
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 21:00

Location: Adjacent to Underwater World Langkawi
Address: Lot 970, 971, 973, Underwater World, Jalan Pantai Cenang
Tel: 604 955 5300
Aishah Bt. Husin

Located beside Langkah Tuah Enterprise, this store sells a variety of kitschy knick knacks, Pantai Cenang souvenirs and beautiful flowing batik prints. The shop girls are especially friendly and will chat with you about your trip so far while you shop for your required retail fix.

Opening Hours: 10:00 – 24:00
Location: No. 10 Hadapan Langgura Baron, Pantai Cenang
Contact: 6012 430 8814
Amitabha Primitive Art

This store, located just down the road from Laman Padi, is an air-conditioned location with a nice array of merchandise; the flowing print dresses and hand-stitched pillow cases are more than worth your dollar. Adjacent to it is the Alun Laun Spa, and you can also pick up Alun Alun’s signature essential oils from this retailer.
Opening Hours: 11:00 – 23:00
Address: Lot 47, Jalan Pantai Cenang, Mukim Kedawang
Contact: 604 953 3838
Coco Valley

Located beside Underwater World, this store is a chocolate-lover’s paradise; with such a wide assortment of cocoa products that you’ll be spoilt for choice. The fact that Langkawi is a duty-free island makes chocolates a lot cheaper; you can get a bar of Cadbury’s for less than RM10 – now that’s value for money!

Opening Hours: 10:00 – 18:30
Location: Zon Pantai Cenang, Mukim Kedawang (beside Underwater World)
Tel: 604 955 6100
Exodus Zone

This store has a variety of knick knacks including handmade slippers that are a bargain. The shop girl here is incredibly friendly and will most assuredly point you in the right direction if you’re ever lost; also you can get the usual assortment of souvenirs and handicrafts at this outlet.
Opening Hours: 11:00 – 23:00
Location: No. 3, Baron Walk, Jalan Pantai Cenang
Tel: 604 955 7511

Lang Gemuk Enterprise

This store sells a hodgepodge of souvenirs, batik prints, handicrafts and cheesy knick knacks. Standing almost at the end of the Pantai Cenang stretch, it’s a good place to bargain for a few items such as magnets and key chains but in all honesty you could probably find a wider variety of merchandise at Langkapuri Inc.

Opening Hours: 11:00 – 23:00
Address: No 59, Jalan Pantai Cenang
Tel: 6012 474 9659
Langkah Tuah Enterprise

With a budget motel located above, this store has more than a few surprises; firstly it may not look like much but it’s actually one of the best places to get Malay-style batik shirts. The store also sells traditional Malay medicine that’s supposedly great for many ailments from achy joints to tummy cramps.

Opening Hours: 10:00 – 24:00
Address: No 10, Hadapan Bessta Resort, Pantai Cenang, Kedawang
Tel: 6012 430 8814

Total Shoppe

This store has the customary array of souvenirs, handicrafts and knick knacks that are all par for the course along the Pantai Cenang strip. However, if you’ve forgotten to bring along your bathers you can get a decent two-piece swimsuit for only RM49 – RM59 – which is a real bargain considering other places will charge you almost an arm and a leg for a decent pair.

Opening Hours: 11:00 – 23:00
Address: 19 & 20, Baron Walk, Langgura Baron Resort, Pantai Cenang
Tel: +6019 479 0282

Read more on: http://www.langkawi-info.com/

Pantai Tengah Shopping

Where to Shop and What to Buy in Pantai Tengah

Shopping in Pantai Tengah

Langkawi – a duty-free zone – may have cheap chocolates and liquor but souvenirs, knick knacks and handicrafts are still pretty pricey. Pantai Tengah does not boast many shopping opportunities – retail stores are as scarce as hen's teeth but there is one strip mall and a cute chocolate store along the stretch.

To be honest Pantai Cenang has a more vibrant shopping scene – so if you’ve been bitten by the retail bug, then head on over there. On the other hand Pantai Tengah is a deserted two-lane road with more restaurants, clubs and resorts than shopping venues. The night market in nearby Temoyong on Thursdays is the best place to shop for cheap authentic Malaysian goods especially since it carries such a wide array of merchandise from produce, local delights, handicrafts, kitschy knick knacks and pretty batik clothes.
Sunflower Handicrafts Shop
Sunflower Handicrafts Shop

Located beside Sun Cafe, this bold and bright red uber-modern store sells a stunning collection of handicrafts, knick knacks and artwork. This Southeast Asian-style store features masks, figurines and flatware in clean designs as well as classy silver, glass and shell sculptures.
Opening Hours: Daily, 3pm - 12 midnight
Location: Sunmall, Jalan Pantai Tengah

Address: Jalan Pantai Tengah, 07000 Langkawi Malaysia
Tel: (604) 955 1234
Sunday Home Décor
Sunday Home Décor

This place sells, you guessed it, home furniture. Boasting over 3000 exquisitely crafted items, this store is sure to bite you with the home décor bug. Featuring posh, upscale and earth-friendly pieces, Sunday’s collection comes from Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. Even if you’re not here to shop for merchandise, you’re sure to leave with a handcrafted gift or two.

Opening Hours: 12:00 – 24:00
Location: Casik Anak Besar, Pantai Tengah, Mukim Kedawang
Tel: +604 9552 322 or +6012 476 8508

T-Shoppe

If you’ve been walking the Pantai Tengah stretch, browsing through stores and savouring the fare at the local eateries along this stretch, then you might come across this little out-of-the-way store. It may not look like much from the outside but it rents out cars and motorbikes and it’s a good place to get some of those incredibly kitschy knick knacks that you’ve just got to have before you head on home.

Highlights: Jalan Pantai Tengah (opposite Holiday Villa)

Opening Hours: 10:00 – 21:30
Tel: +604 955 5551 or +604 955 5552 or +604 955 5553
Chocoffee

Selling a wide variety of chocolates, the best thing about this place is the fact that you can go in and sample free chocolate. The cool interior is a welcome respite from the blistering sun outside and the chocolates are reasonably priced.
Opening Hours: 11:00 – 20:00
Address: 734, Tasek Anak, Jalan Pantai Tengah
Tel: +604 953 2486

Sunvillage Handicrafts

Offering a wonderfully expansive selection of arts and crafts from around the Southeast Asian region, Sunvillage Handicrafts looks almost identical to its sister store – Sunflower Handicrafts. The only difference is that Sunvillage has traditional wood carvings, bamboo artwork and a stunning collection of intricate batik designs.

Opening Hours: 15:00 – 24:00
Location: Sunmall, Jalan Pantai Tengah
Tel: 604 955 1234

More on: http://www.langkawi-info.com/

Kuah Shopping

Where to Shop and What to Buy in Kuah

Kuah Shopping

Langkawi is a shopping haven for duty-free goods from around the world and Kuah happens to be Langkawi’s main location for shopping outlets. Perfume stores, cigar shops, confectionary outlets, wine boutiques and other retail venues are a dime a dozen in this quarter of Langkawi Island.

From the jetty near Eagle Square to the town’s axis, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to finding your retail-fix. Choose from the finest brands of wines to high-quality hard liquor. Trendy spa supplies and the latest European perfumes are also readily available; you can even shop for Nike and Adidas sports shoes at discounted prices. The crème de la crème of this retail paradise are the plethora of shops selling cheap chocolates – be sure to make a quick pit stop at any of the duty-free outlets selling confectionary.

Jetty Point Duty Free Complex

Part of the jetty complex itself, this shopping complex has a variety of stores selling handicrafts, perfume, chocolates, liquor and apparel. This makes it a frequent last-minute shopping stopover for visitors before they board the ferry back to the mainland. Housed within are shop lots that stock various duty-free goods as well as cafés, bakeries and fast food outlets such as KFC and Starbucks.

Opening Hours: 10:00 – 22:00 everyday
Address: Lot 15, Kompleks Perniagaan Kelibang, Kuah
Tel: +604 966 7560 or +604 969 9500

Langkawi Fair Shopping Mall

Home to fast food outlets, a food court, money changers and an information counter for tourists, this outlet has a collection of over 100 shops and an adjoining supermarket. You can get a variety of items here including electronic items; there’s usually cheesy Malay music blaring from the speakers. This mall looks quite run-down and mostly only locals patronise it.
Opening Hours: Daily, 10am to 10pm
Address: Lot FF8, Jalan Persiaran Putra, Langkawi Malaysia 07000
Tel: +604 969 8100

Saga Shopping Center

This shopping complex is one of the major duty-free outlets on the island, offering reasonably priced household items, clothing, decorative ceramics and crystal. If truth be told it carries the same type of merchandise as the other major shopping venues in Langkawi; the smaller stores are more likely to peddle one-of-a-kind goods.

Opening Hours: Daily, 10am to 10pm
Location:
Address: Jln Penarak, 07000 Kuah, Kedah
Tel: +604 969 8009

Al Ikhsan

This is probably the best store on Langkawi Island. Selling sporting apparel and footwear, Al Ikhsan has some pretty awesome bargains. Nike, Adidas and Reeboks items are reasonably priced; the only downside is the fact that they’re not really the latest designs but really at these prices who’s complaining?

Opening Hours: Daily, 10am to 10pm
Address: 94 Persiaran Putra, Kuah.
Tel: 604 966 7437
Cote De Perfume

This perfume store has the latest designer scents – like DKNY and Dior – at duty-free prices. The shop girls are not exactly friendly but its easy to shop around by yourself. You’ll have a hard time selecting the right scent for as the choice is wide. The store also carries a selection of locally-made fragrances at cheap prices.

Opening Hours: 09:00 – 21:30
Address: 16, Jalan Pandak Mayah 6, Pusat Bandar Kuah
Tel: 604 969 8286
16 Degree Wine Shop

This wine store carries a wide variety of wine selections organized by regions; from Taylor’s to Penfold’s Bin series to St. Andrews’ collections this venue is just brimming with good wine selections. The Coohawarra, Wolf Blass and Meursault bottles are especially reasonably priced.

Opening Hours: 11:00 – 21:30
Address: No 6, Jalan Pandak Mayah, Pusat Bandar Kuah
Tel: +604 969 8285

Perniagaan Haji Ismail Group Sdn. Bhd

There are not many people who can resist the temptation chocolate offers so while you’re here you might as well stock up on your favourite cocoa-indulgences. This store sells a wide assortment of confectionary products and chocolates like Cadbury’s, Ritter Sports and Toblerone, are sold at reasonable prices that you’re not likely to get on the mainland.
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 22:00
Address: No. 802, 803 & 804, Jalan Pandak Mayah 2, Pusat Bandar Kuah
Tel: 6019 477 2205

Zeno Duty Free Shopping Centre

This is another store that sells the standard duty-free items; however its confectionary collection tends to contain more than a few hidden treasures. You can even find After Eight chocolate thin mints here at dirt cheap prices; promotions on Cadbury’s chocolates are also simply sinful.

Opening Hours: 09:00 – 21:30
Address: 20, 22 & 24, Jalan Pandak Mayah 6, Pusat Bandar Kuah
Tel: 604 969 8289
The Spa Shop

This store sells a plethora of spa supplies that are actually pretty good bargains. It really depends what you’re looking for, as is the story with any of the stores in Kuah. The rice milk loofah soap is especially worth a try. Rather than shelling out big bucks for professional spa treatments, get some supplies from here and bring the spa back home with you.

Opening Hours: 10:00 – 21:00
Address: 52, Jalan Pandak Mayah 5, Pusat Bandar Kuah
Tel: 604 966 8078
Cuban Attitude

The sweet musty smell of cigars permeates throughout this store; this store stocks up on a plethora of cigars and even cigarettes. The cashier will let you browse through the store uninterrupted so you’ll feel quite at ease as you make your selections.

Opening Hours: 09:30 – 22:00
Address: 14, Jalan Pandak Mayah 6, Pusat Bandar Kuah
Tel: +604 969 8282

Read more on: http://www.langkawi-info.com/

Langkawi’s beaches and islands are some of the most beautiful in Southeast Asia. Picture this; white sand glistening in the light of the tropical sun, calmed by the gentle sea breeze as gulls and eagles soar in the sky. For sand or surf, you won’t be disappointed with what Langkawi has to offer.

Pantai Cenang Attractions

What to See in Pantai Cenang

The ripple of excitement you’re supposed to feel when you step onto the Pantai Cenang strip may not come. After all, even though these shores are purportedly the most stimulating stratum of Langkawi, that’s still not saying much.

Pantai Cenang doesn’t have many sightseeing attractions; the Langkawi Underwater World dominates the scene with its mammoth structure – but kids are most assuredly entertained here. Pantai Cenang’s beach is itself a popular attraction due to its beautiful sandy shores which face the crystalline waters and expansive horizon.

Nevertheless if truth be told Pantai Cenang’s claim to fame are the eateries lining the strip; easily the best fare in Langkawi where the food isn’t cheap but the menu selections are extensive. Most backpackers and package holidaymakers tend to stick to these shores because of their relative convenience.

Laman Padi

At the northern end of Pantai Cenang – opposite the Casa del Mar hotel – is Laman Padi; you can watch buffaloes grazing in the paddy field from the bridge at the entrance. As you walk through the compound you can read about the stages of Padi Cultivation; this ‘ecotourism’ complex also encompasses the Padi Cuisine and Café, the Nawa Sari Spa and the Heritage Gallery.

Opening Hours: 07:00 – 24:00 everyday
Address: Laman Padi, Pantai Cenang, Mukim Kedawang, 07000, Langkawi.

Tel: (604) 955 4312
Price Range: Entrance: free
Rice Garden Museum

This museum is dedicated to rice cultivation and comprises a Heritage Gallery – which displays the sequence of activities pertaining to rice planting – a Paddy Gallery – which has breathtaking views of a multi-tiered rooftop rice garden, a Herb Garden and a Garden of Variety where you can actually try your hand at rice farming.

Opening Hours: 10:00 – 18:00 everyday
Location: Laman Padi, Pantai Cenang, Mukim Kedawang
Tel: 604 955 4312

Underwater World

Underwater World – Malaysia’s largest aquarium – features 200 different species of marine and freshwater creatures. Some of these exhibits – like the Rainforest Walk – are quite thrilling while others look like giant tropical aquariums that need a good cleaning. The Sub-Antarctic Ecosystem Display houses a ‘penguin-arium’ – an underwater tunnel with penguins.
Opening Hours: 09:30 – 18:30 Monday – Friday; 09:30 – 22:30 Friday – Sunday
Address: Zon Pantai Cenang, Mukim Kedawang, 07000 Langkawi, Kedah.
Tel: (604) 955 6100

Read more on: http://www.langkawi-info.com/

Pantai Tengah Attractions
What to See in Pantai Tengah
Pantai Tengah Attractions

On the southernmost tip of Langkawi, lies Pantai Tengah – meaning 'Middle Beach' in Malay – a popular haven for family holidaymakers. Linked to the ever-popular Pantai Cenang just after the Lighthouse Restaurant, this one kilometre-long beach is the longest stretch of beach in Langkawi. It is a pleasant enough strip, albeit relatively quiet; sea activities such as boating are especially popular here.

Unfortunately Pantai Tengah doesn’t boast any sightseeing attractions – most holidaymakers tend to visit the nearby islands and tour Langkawi’s outlying attractions. Its sister beach, Pantai Cenang – hardly a five-minute walk away – boasts few sightseeing attractions – the biggest being Underwater World – if you’re craving a spot of excitement.

Read more on: http://www.langkawi-info.com/

Kuah Attractions

What to See in Kuah

Kuah is more of a commercial centre and shopping zone than a tourist-attraction laden quarter of Langkawi Island. The manmade waterfront is muddy and murky and the concrete buildings surrounding the town are stark and unlovely.

Nonetheless Kuah does have its charms and features a few landmark attractions. Without a doubt Dataran Lang – also known as Eagle Square – is Langkawi’s most well-known attraction. You’ll actually be surprised at the beauty of the colossal eagle in flight statue. On the other hand if you’re not keen on spending the afternoon walking around Dataran Lang take a trip to the nearby Lagenda Langkawi Dalam Taman to cool off. Take in the sights of the statues depicting Langkawi’s myths and legends or spend an afternoon admiring the Moorish architecture of the Al-Hana Mosque.

Dataran Lang

Dataran Lang – also known as ‘Eagle Square’ – is a massive 12-metre monument in the shape of a sea eagle perched on some rocks. Greeting visitors as they arrive on the jetty, this tourist attraction has landscaped ponds, terraces and bridges. You’ll be surprised at how beautiful it is. Try to visit in the early morning or the late evening when the sun’s at its least brutal.
Location: Kuah Jetty (near the Jetty Point Mall, adjacent to the CHOGM Park and Taman Lagenda).

Opening Hours: All Day, 24 hours
Address: Kuah Jetty, 07000 Kuah, Malaysia
Contact: 604 966 7789 (Langkawi Tourist Information Centre)
Price Range: Free

Taman Lagenda

Lagenda Langkawi Dalam Taman

Located beside the Kuah jetty this 50-hectare ‘folklore’-themed park is a skilfully landscaped recreational strip along the Kuah waterfront. 17 multihued statues depicting Langkawi’s myths and fables are scattered along with the four manmade lakes and there’s also a narrow strip of beach; this area is a popular spot for joggers.
Opening Hours: Daily, 9am to 7pm
Location: Next to Eagle Square and Jetty Point
Address: Kuah Jetty, 07000 Kuah, Malaysia
Tel: 603 966 4223
Price Range: Free
CHOGM Park
CHOGM Park

Adjacent to the Al-Hana Mosque is the CHOGM Park; built to commemorate the 1989 Commonwealth meeting in Malaysia, this garden features tall lush trees that provide shade. Also the site of the first-ever international coconut-tree climbing championship in 1987, the beach next to the park is the only beach in Kuah Town.
Opening Hours: All Day
Location: Jalan Persiaran Putra (beside Al-Hana Mosque)
Tel: +604 966 7789 (Langkawi Tourist Information Centre)
Price Range: Free

Al-Hana Mosque

To the west of the picturesque Lagenda Langkawi Dalam Taman is the Moorish-style Masjid Al-Hana. Incorporating motifs and carvings from Uzbekistan along with traditional Malay elements, it is the largest and most popular mosque on the island; its golden dome is unobstructed by the palm trees of the CHOGM Park.
Opening Hours: 24 hours
Location: Lencongan Putra 2 (located beside the Kuah Tourism Information office)
Price Range: Free

Gunung Raya

The highest peak in Langkawi, this mountain is believed to be the cursed form of a giant, known as Mat Raya, who once lived on the island. Covered with thick tropical rainforest, this untouched mountain has become a much-loved destination for the adventurous. The trekking here is simply magnificent and taking a guide along is highly advisable and sometimes the government may restrict access to the park so its advisable to call ahead to arrange a trip.
Opening Hours: 24 hours

Location: Jalan Air Hangat
Tel: 604 966 7789
Langkawi Crystal

Just south of the Gunung Raya Golf Resort is Langkawi Crystaal – established in 1996 - Malaysia’s only glass-blowing works. Once a simple glass-blowing house, Langkawi Crystal is now an extremely reputable crystal ware production company; that shuns the mass-production moulds of most major European producers. You can visit this factory and see how the individual crystal ware are produced and handcrafted to make it truly unique.
Opening Hours: 09:00 – 18:00

Location: Lot 1804, Plot No. 55, Jalan Kisap, Kuah
Tel: 603 966 1555

Ibrahim Hussein Museum & Cultural Foundation

Featuring the works of Malaysian artist, Datuk Ibrahim Hussein, this private non-profit museum is dedicated to the promotion, development and advancement of art and culture of international stature. The open gallery currently exhibits mostly Ibrahim's works. In the grounds of the gallery there is also a nature walk that leads into the Machincang Forest Reserve.

Opening Hours: 09:00 – 18:00
Location: Pantai Pasir Tengkorak, Jalan Datai
Contact: 604 959 4669

Read more on: http://www.langkawi-info.com/

Recommended Hotels
1 :	Meritus Pelangi
2 :	One Hotel Helang
3 :	Tanjung Rhu Resort
4 :	Tanjung Sanctuary Resort
5 :	The Frangipani Resort
6 :	Villa Molek Langkawi
7 :	The Andaman Langkawi
8 :	Bayview Langkawi
9 :	Langkawi Lagoon Resort
10 :	Berjaya Langkawi Resort

Credits to and source taken from: http://www.langkawi-info.com/

From Kuala Lumpur (Bukit Jalil) to the north - A very comfortable coach to travel in with massaging seats - STARMART EXPRESS

Bus Schedule

Please note that the schedule are subjected to changes without notice. During peak period, there will be additional departures, please search the schedule for more information.

No.	Bus Routes	Time
1.	SINGAPORE - Malacca	10.30 am, 11.30 AM (Double Deck)
3.	SINGAPORE - Seremban	10.00 PM
4.	SINGAPORE - KUALA LUMPUR	8.00 AM, 9.00 am (double deck), 9.30 AM, 10.30 AM, 11.30 am (double deck), 1.30 pM. 3.00 PM (Friday ONly), 5.00 PM 7.00 pm (double deck), 7.30 PM (Friday Only), 10.00 PM, 11.30 PM
5.	Singapore - Genting Highland	8.00 AM, 11.30 PM
6.	Singapore - Ipoh	10.00 pm
7.	Singapore - tanjung malim, bidor, tapah, kampar, gopeng, chemor, sungai siput, kanthan baru, kuala kangsar	10.00 pm
8.	Singapore - Taiping	11.30 am, 10.00 pm
9.	Singapore - Penang, Butterworth	10.00 pm
10.	Kuala Lumpur - Singapore	9.30 am, 11.30 am (double deck), 2.45 pm, 3.30 pm (double deck), 4.30 pm, 7.30 pm (double deck), 11.30 pm
11.	Genting Highland - Singapore	10.30 am, 1.30 pm
12.	Johor Bahru - Kuala Lumpur	12.30 am, 9.00 am, 10.30 am, 11.15 pm
13.	Johor Bahru - Seremban	12.30 am
14.	Johor Bahru - Butterworth	9.30 am, 10.30 am, 10.00 pm, 10.15 pm
15.	Johor Bahru - Taiping	9.30 am, 10.30 am, 10.15 pm
16.	Johor Bahru - Sungai Petani	10.00 pm
17.	Johor Bahru - Aloh Setah	9.00 am, 10.00 pm
18.	Johor Bahru - Penang	10.15 pm
19.	Johor Bahru - Genting Highland	11.15 pm
20.	Johor Bahru - Bagan Serai, Parit Buntar, Nibong Tebal, Jawi, SG Bakap	9.45 pm
21.	Butterwoth - Taiping, Simpang	9.00 am, 11.30 am, 2.00 pm, 4.30 pm, 7.00 pm, 9.15 pm
22.	Taiping, Simpang - Butterworth	9.00 am, 11.30 am, 2.00 pm, 4.30 pm, 7.00 pm, 9.15 pm
23.	Taiping, Simpang - Shah Alam, Klang	10.00 am, 3.15 pm
24.	Taiping, Simpang - Seremban, Melaka	11.15 am, 11.00 pm
25.	Taiping, Simpang - Kuantan, Temerloh	9.00 am
26.	Taiping, Simpang - Kuala Lumpur	8.15 am, 9.45 am, 11.30 am, 2.15 pm, 5.00 pm, 11.00 pm
27.	Taiping, Simpang - Genting Highland	9.00 am, 11.30 pm
28.	Taiping, Simpang - Johor Bahru, Singapore	9.00 am, 10.30 pm

source taken from: http://www.starmartonline.com/

Also available - Travelling from/to Singapore by Express Bus


StarMart Express
Tel : 65 6396 5681

Destination: Beach Road #01-16, Golden Mile Complex Singapore

Time: 10.00 pm

Rates: starting from SGD
SGD$35 (This coach follows old trunk road all the way to Taiping)

Please proceed to Golden Mile Complex office to check-in before boarding
SGD$38 (highway)

source: http://www.journeymalaysia.com/

Holidays

Kuching, and Sarawak as a whole celebrate all Federal holidays except Deepavali. Sarawak has also declared holiday for Good Friday (one day) and Gawai Day (two days). Unlike other states in Malaysia, most Islamic events are not being declared holiday, except Federal holidays of Hari Raya Aidilfitri (two days), Hari Raya Aidiladha (one day), Maulud Nabi (one day) and Awal Muharram (one day).

Avoid touring to Santubong area during first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri due to heavy traffic at Petra Jaya. Tourists can expect a grand celebration for every major holidays with big open houses such as Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Gawai. Try to observe Gawai Day celebration since that Gawai Day is only being declared holiday in Sarawak.

Kuching city can be divided into few areas:

* Padawan - It's a small town at the outskirt of Kuching city. It's popular with its traditional Bidayuh kampungs and longhouses. This area is home for multiracial communities such as Bidayuhs, Javanese, Malay, Chinese and Iban & Orang Ulu settlers.

* Kota Sentosa - Before being named Kota Sentosa, Kota Sentosa is called (even now) 'Batu Tujuh' or 7th Mile. This area is a commercial hub for people from Batu Kitang, Kg. Haji Baki and surrounding areas. Sarawak Mental Hospital is also located here. Kota Sentosa has also grown its importance due to it's vicinity of Army Camps.

* BDC - BDC was long time ago a remote housing area. However, today it has grown importance as a commercial hub for Stutong and Tabuan Heights area and also a growing elite housing areas.
* Tabuan Jaya - Tabuan Jaya, like BDC, was long time ago a remote housing area. Today, it has emerged into Kuching satellite city. It is also well connected to other important areas in Kuching such as Pending, BDC, Muara Tabuan Industrial Estate and Demak Jaya Industrial Estate.
* Pending - Pending is an industrial area. Major industrial players here, among them are Komag, CMS Concrete, Gold Coin Fertilizer and Sarawak Clinker Plant. Pending is connected to Kuching city centre via Padungan.

* Batu Kawa - Batu Kawa got its name from volcano crater found at Gunung Serapi. It has now emerged into important satellite city of Kuching, which consist of MJC Commercial Area (with condominium housing, elite housing areas and shoplots), Sg. Maong and Pekan Rantau Panjang.
* Matang - Matang is another emerging town under Kuching. Among its prominent attraction is Matang Jaya and Gita.

* 3rd Mile - 3rd Mile is also one emerging commercial area. It was home to first private school in Sarawak, Sunny Hill School and also old-fashioned cinema, Capitol Cinema. 3rd Mile was once an important train route in Kuching.

* Padungan - Padungan is the oldest commercial hub in Kuching. Chinatown is located here. It's also an important area for nightlife (clubbing and night outting), 4 to 5-star hotels (such as Crowne Plaza, Hilton, Holiday Inn & soon-to-be-opened Novotel), popular tourist spots (Kuching Waterfront, cat statues etc) and also shopping hub.

* Simpang Tiga - Simpang Tiga is famous with its federal government complex, Swinburne university and newly opened "The Spring" shopping mall.
* Satok - Satok is the most widely spoken place among tourists for its weekend market. It is also the smallest DUN (State Legislative) area in Sarawak.

* Petra Jaya - Petra Jaya is home for majority of Malay population in Kuching, and most probably in Sarawak. It has a lot of Malay kampungs, low-cost housing schemes, housing estates and it is also a headquarters for Sarawak state government, which is an idea later copied by Federal Government for their Putrajaya. Petra Jaya consist of area from Kg. Tupong to Semariang to Demak Laut Industrial Estate.

* Santubong - Santubong is located 30km away from Kuching. It is a tourist spot for beach and annual international events such as the World Rainforest Music Festival.

Going to Kuching:

As Kuching is in Sarawak, which retains control of its own immigration procedures, some additional complications apply and an ordinary Malaysian visa may not suffice. Most visitors, though, can get visas on arrival at Kuching International Airport. See Sarawak for details.

By plane

Kuching International Airport (IATA: KCH) is Sarawak's main gateway. There are near-hourly connections to Kuala Lumpur as well as frequent flights to Singapore, Johor Bahru, Labuan, Kota Kinabalu and other cities in Sarawak like Sibu, Bintulu and Miri. MASwings [1], which took over the rural air service from Fly Asian Express (FAX) on October 1, 2007, links Kuching with Mukah. International connections are rather limited, although there are a few weekly services to Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Macau and Pontianak. Flights to Kuching are also operated by AirAsia. [2] International airlines operating in Kuching includes SilkAir, Royal Brunei, Tiger Airways, Jetstar Airways and Batavia Air.

The airport underwent a major facelift in 2005-2006 and is now modern and pleasant. When checking in, note that all flights outside Sarawak are considered "international", even if you're only going elsewhere in Malaysia. A restaurant is located on ground floor at the far end and a 24-hour McDonald's outlet, before security. There is also a KFC outlet and a Starbucks outlet on the 2nd floor (departure level), left of the departure gates.

Getting there/away: Kuching city is about 20 minutes away by taxi, a fixed RM26.00 from the taxi coupon stand just outside arrivals. Ignore the touts, even if they show you price lists. From the city (Tune hotel) you can get a private vehicle (RM20.00) or catch a mini bus (RM8.00)leaving hourly from 8:30 to evening.

The Sarawak Transport Company (STC) Bus No. 12A no longer serves the 5 daily trips between the airport and the city centre. There is a series of other buses which can drop you off or pick you up approximatly 1 Km west of the Airport (turn left as you exit the airport and walk to the main T intersection, turn left again and walk until you reach the big roundabout (Have a look on google maps)and catch a bus heading north to town...3A, 6, 8g, 9). The most convenient place to catch these buses back to the airport intersection is at the main bus terminal located in the city.
[edit] By boat

The Express Bahagia and Express Sejahtera express boats run an alternating once daily service from Kuching to Sibu, each boat returning the next day. RM38 (RM45 1st class) one way and the journey takes 5 1/2 hours, with stops at Sarikei and Tanjung Manis. The boats depart from the Pending wharf to the east of the city at 8.30 am. You can usually buy tickets at the wharf. Getting there/away: Chin Lian Long buses No. 1A, 17 and 19 go to the express boat jetty. 60 sen one way. Taxis usually charge RM15.

By bus

Kuching's regional express bus terminal is located along Jalan Datuk Tawi Sli, also dubbed as "3 and a half miles", located south of the city, just before the Boulevard shopping mall. All long-distance express buses arrive from and leave for major Sarawak cities like Sibu, Bintulu and Miri, as well as Pontianak in Indonesia. Regional buses for some towns near Kuching such as Lundu (for the Gunung Gading National Park and Tanjung Datu National Park) and Sri Aman also arrive/depart from here. However, buses for some towns and destinations nearer Kuching, such as the Bako National Park, Bau and the Semenggoh Orang Utan Centre, leave from various locations in the city centre, depending on the bus company being used. See the individual destinations below for details.

* To/from Bau:

* To/from Bako National Park: Petra Jaya Transport(white and yellow) bus No. 6 departs from the open air market near Electra House in the city centre. RM1.50 one way,journey time 45 mins. There are also public mini buses for RM5 a little bit faster and more regular. The buses bring you to Bako Bazaar where you have to transfer to a boat to reach the national park. See Bako National Park page for details.

* To/from Lundu:

Sarawak Transport Company (cream and green) express buses depart from the regional bus terminal at 08:15, 11:00, 14:00 and 16:00. Buses depart Lundu at 08:00, 11:00, 14:00 and 16:00. Travel time approximately two hours. At Lundu, take a taxi or van or walk appoximatly 2.5 kms (north) to the Gunung Gading National Park. For Tanjung Datu National Park, catch a connecting Sarawak Transport Company bus to Sematan where you will have to charter a boat to the park.

* To/from Pontianak: Biaramas Express

(Tel: +60 82 456999 at the regional bus terminal, +60 82 610111 headquarters) buses depart Kuching regional bus terminal for Pontianak via the Tebedu-Entikong border crossing daily at 07:45. RM45 adult one way. From Pontianak, buses depart daily at 21:00. Fare is Rp140,000. SJS Super Executive (Tel: +60 82 456999) buses departs the regional bus terminal at 11:00 and cost RM70. Click Pontianak_to_Kuching for travel Itenerary on this route.

* To/from Semenggoh: Feeding times for the Orangutans are 9am and 1pm so catch the 7:30 or 11am bus. Sarawak Transport Company buses No.6 depart from their bus terminal (RM2.50, 1 hour) near the open air market in the city centre but are not so frequent (at 1 and a half hour or even rarely). Also there are plenty of mini buses at the open air market that can drive you there (public - RM5-10 per passеnger) and also more expensive mini bus taxies (bargaining starts from RM100 for the whole bus for return journey).

* To/from Sibu:

Various express buses depart from the regional bus terminal. Most of them go via Sarikei.

Sarawak is a huge state. The road networks connecting towns and places in Sarawak including Kuching are somehow quite satisfactorily maintained. However, long and winding roads with sometimes no rest stops in between might bore you or scare you. Here are the distance chart from Kuching to other towns:

Distance Table from Kuching to other towns in Sarawak

From	To	Distance/Accumulative Distance From Kuching (in Kilometre)	Rest Stops
Kuching	Sri Aman	193/193	Siburan, Tapah, Beratok, Tarat, SERIAN, Balai Ringin, Lachau
Sri Aman	Sarikei	179/372	Engkilili, BETONG, SARATOK
Sarikei	Sibu	90/462	Meradong, Julau, Pakan, Jakar
Sibu	Bintulu	202/644	Stapang, SELANGAU, TATAU
Bintulu	Miri	198/842	Suai, BATU NIAH, Sibuti, Bekenu, Bakam
Miri	Limbang	230/1072	Sg. Tujuh, Kuala Belait (Brunei), Seria (Brunei), Tutong (Brunei), BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Brunei)
Limbang	Lawas	1072/1200	TEMBURONG (Brunei), Sundar, Trusan

Get around

By bus

Kuching stage buses nowadays have quite a sad reputation for a few reasons. The most obvious fact is that the bus companies are still using old chassis (half of the fleet is 15-20 years old) despite covering it up with (apparently) modern bodywork. It results in cheap fares, but passengers will have to bear with the inconvenience of noise (like you hear in old cars) and heat (for non-A/C buses). Although all buses show route numbers, most (if not all) buses neither show names of bus termini (the last bus stops) nor en route landmarks or places of interest. Therefore, it is wise to ask the bus driver where the bus ends it route and whether your destination lies along that particular route before grabbing the seat of the bus.

Do not expect any brochures showing route information from the bus companies. It is best to just ask around if you really need a bus to wherever you want to go. To add things worse, the Kuching City Centre does not have a main bus terminal.

Local stage buses are run by 6 companies of colourful assortments, 5 of which are in a consortium, but there's a reasonably logical route numbering system and bus stops usually have some signage indicating bus route numbers.

• Sarawak Transport Company (STC) - these green and beige STC buses mainly serve downtown and along the protocol roads leading southbound out of the city centre.

• Chin Liang Long Motor Vehicle Company (CLL) - these blue and white CLL buses serve almost all routes (fixed, radial dan cross-town) within the Kuching City South limits.

• Matang Transport Company (MTC) - these orange and beige MTC buses serve the Kuching-Matang road and suburban settlements along the northern bank of the Sarawak River. This company is the only one not included in the Kuching City Bus Services consortium.

• Petra Jaya Transport - these white buses with red, yellow and black striped livery serve the outskirts of Kuching City North (routes ending at Damai and Bako) and also the Kuching-Kota Sentosa-Kota Samarahan route.

• Regas Transport Company - these brown and purple buses are rarely seen nowadays serving mainly downtown areas.

• Bau Transport Company - these brown and red buses serve the Kuching-Bau route.

Bus drivers and conductors do not actually have Public Relations and Tourist Guiding as part of their training syllabi. Should the bus conductor exist, kindly demand for the ticket because some bus inspectors might just walk inside and do a surprise inspection of passengers' tickets. There are some OMO (One Man Operation) buses that are equipped with a big coin box beside the driver's seat. Ask for the fare first before inserting the exact change into the box. Sit in the front half of the bus so you have easy access to the driver or conductor. Cheating, pickpocketing and sexual harrassment might sometimes occur in public buses, so be watchful of your surroundings.

Kuching city hotels had once banded together to offer a free City Tram (really just a bus) service that shuttles around major sights once every hour. You would just ask for a City Tram sticker and route map from your hotel lobby. As of the year 2008, the service has been terminated due to "technical problems".

Inconsistent passenger load along certain routes can lead to drops in frequency and thus, bus operators cannot comply to a fixed timetable and that results in frustrating delays.

By shuttle van

Yellow roofed kereta sewa or shuttle vans fill the void left by stage bus operators, offering somewhat more frequent trips throughout Kuching to as far as Tebedu and Bau. Each shuttle van has their own commuting routes so watch out the routes by reading the destination on the body of the van. Minimum fare for each trip is RM1 and increases with respect to distance. Fares also differ from one shuttle van to another plying the same route by commuting frequency, peak and off-peak periods and passenger load. If in doubt, ask the passengers, not the driver.

Car rental companies:

• Kuching City Car Rental (Kuching Car Rental), Ground Floor, Terminal Building, Kuching International Airport (Walk up towards the domestic arrival hall exit), ☎ +60128838318 (auto@catscity.com.my).
  
• 
  
• Car Rental Kuching (Car Rental Kuching), (Opposite of the domestic hall exit area), ☎ +6 0168621613 (kelvin@carrentalkuching.com) Special rate starts from RM95/day, accept visa/ master card.
• Sime Darby Rent A Car (Hertz Malaysia Licensee), GL20, Ground Floor, Terminal Building, Kuching International Airport (Just walk up to the booth after you claim your luggage at the airport), ☎ +60 82 450740 (kch@hertz.simedarby.com, fax: +60 82 450741). Mon-Sat 0800-1800, Sun & Public Holidays meet confirmed reservations. Rent starts from RM150/day, credit/charge cards only.
• Kuching Car Rental | Kereta Sewa Kuching (Kuching Car Rental, Kereta Sewa Kuching), AJ 205, 1st Floor,MJC Batu Kawah New Township,Jalan Batu Kawa,93250 Kuching., ☎ +6082 376 030, +6082-455 022, +6016 888 4020 (reservation@kuchingcarrental.com, fax: +60 82 455 422), Mon-Sun 0800-2100, Call to confirm reservation or book online. Rent starts from RM98/day, credit/charge cards only.

By motorcycle

• Three Bikes Rental & Services. Operate at Singgahsana Lodge No.1 Temple St, Tel. +6082233835 or email us threebikesrental@yahoo.com

By river taxi

For a leisurely commute across the Sarawak River, river taxis locally known as tambang or penambang offers daily services at various points along the Kuching Waterfront, with a one-way fare at RM0.40. The fare hikes up to RM1 from 10.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m. the next day. Kindly place the exact change on the designated plate instead of giving it to the operator, as you disembark the river taxi at your destination.

By boats

Boats are sometimes available for visitors who wish to travel from one place to another along the Sarawak River.

By speedboats

Speedboats are available for people who wish to go to Taman Negara Bako, Satang Island and Layang-layang Island from Santubong. Rate differs according to hotels, and in regards to public holidays, peak hours and etc. Check schedule and rates at the respective hotels, such as Damai Lagoon.

By helicopter

In case you are in hurry or in the event to experience luxuriousness, helicopter and other method of air transports are available by using Hornbill Skyways.

By cruises

Cruised might not be available at the posting date. Previously, it was available for tourists who wish to go for sightseeing along the Sarawak River.

On foot

Kuching is unusually pedestrian-friendly for a Malaysian city, with tree-lined sidewalks and pedestrian crossings, and the city core is compact enough to cover on foot. Good walks include the Kuching Waterfront and the pedestrian shopping street of Jalan India (Kuching's Little India).

source taken from: http://wikitravel.org/

KUCHING : WHERE TO SLEEP IN KUCHING

Budget

• Pinnacles Kuching, Level 1, Lot 21, Block G, Taman Sri Sarawak Mall, Jalan Borneo, 93100, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, Tel.: +60-82-419100, (http://www.pinnacleskuching.com). Located right smack in the middle of Kuching’s golden triangle which comprises Hilton, Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza Hotels, so rest assured that you will be strategically and conveniently located in close proximity to the best amenities and services the city can offer. Reasonable price and CLEAN. (http://www.pinnacleskuching.com)

• The Fairview, No.6 Jalan Taman Budaya, Tel.: +60-82-240017, +60-13-8011561, (http://www.thefairview.com.my). Colonial House with tropical garden, a nice place that feels like home.

• Singgahsana Lodge, No.1 Temple Street, 93000 Kuching (opposite Harbour View Hotel). Tel.: +60-82-429 277, (http://www.singgahsana.com/). A hip Back-packers lodge that is centrally located at the Kuching waterfront. Complete with longhouse decor and artifacts. The staff are a bit smug and self-important, but it is clean, safe and very reasonably priced.

• Berambih Lodge, No.104 Ewe Hai Street, 93100 Kuching (behind Main Bazaar). Tel.: +60-82-238589 (http://www.berambih.com/) New guesthouse, clean and friendly. Longhouse style. Highly recommended. Breakfast included.

• LODGE 121, Lot 121, 1st Floor, Sec.33 KTLD, Tabuan Road, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak.(Opposite Borneo Hotel and next to Kuching Prison along Tabuan Road ). Tel.: +60-82-428121 (http://www.lodge121.com/) New guesthouse, Come to Lodge 121 to experience the 'home-away-from-home' ambience. With our vast hospitality background, our primary objective is to provide visitors a Clean, Cozy, Comfortable and Safe place to stay when they visit the Land of the Hornbills. Highly recommended. Friendly staff. Breakfast with Kaya included.

• Newly opened budget hotel operated by chain linked to AirAsia

Mid-range

• Harbour View Hotel. Lorong Temple, 93100 Kuching. Tel: +60-82-274 666, (http://www.harbourview.com.my/index.html). A two-three star business-class hotel that is centrally located in front of the Kuching Waterfront. The standard rooms are actually quite basic and is nothing to shout about. Despite that, its still usually occupied by Tour Groups.

• Hotel Grand Continental. Jln. Ban Hock, 93100 Kuching. Tel: +60-82-230 399, (http://www.grandcontinental.com.my/continental_kuching_home.asp?propertykey=13&roomtype=0). A comfortable 3-star hotel located about 15 minutes walk from the Kuching Waterfront.

• The LimeTree Hotel (http://www.limetreehotel.com.my) - A 50-room & suites boutique hotel in city center adjacent to Chinatown and minutes away from the Waterfront and malls.

• Kuching Park Hotel. Lot 606 Pandungan Road, Kuching. Tel: +60-82-239 888, (http://www.pinganchorage.com.my/malaysia_hotel/kuching_park_hotel.htm). A standard 2-3 star hotel located a short drive away from the city centre.

• Kingwood Inn. Lot 618 Pandungan Road, Kuching. Tel: +60-82-330 888, (http://www.kuchinghotels.net/index.html). Another standard hotel that's probably abit better than Kuching Park Hotel.

• Damai Puri Resort & Spa. Teluk Penyuk Santubong P O Box 3058, 93762 Kuching. Tel: +6082 846900. This resort fronting Damai Beach has 207 beautiful guestrooms and a Spa Village, which boasts secluded massage villas, a yoga pavilion, hair spa, and a tea house that serves organic gourmet. Damai Puri Resort & Spa also has 2 outdoor pools, tennis courts, a 600-cap ballroom, and meeting rooms, and organizes jungle treks and water sports. Wi-Fi Internet is available.

Splurge

• Riverside Majestic Kuching, Formerly known as Crown Plaza Riverside Kuching, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, tel. +60-82-247777, (http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/6c/1/en/hd/kchrs). Despite the name, this is the one riverside hotel that isn't actually riverside (although it's just across the street).

• Hilton Kuching, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, tel. +60-82-248200, (http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=KUCHITW). Probably the top digs in town, with great riverside location. Make sure you get a river view, extra but well worth it.

• Grand Margerita Hotel, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, tel. +60-82-423111, (http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/6c/1/en/hd/kchmy). Formerly known as Holiday Inn Kuching. Visitors can gain access to the Sarawak Plaza, a shopping complex situated adjacent to it. You can also go to Tun Jugah and Parkson conveniently. International franchise outlet such as Starbuck, Kenny Roggers, KFC and McDonald's are nearby.

• Merdeka Palace Hotel, Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, tel. +60-82-258000, (http://www.merdekapalace.com). Kuching's oldest luxury hotel, its rooms aren't quite as spectacular as the lobby, but the hotel has infinitely more colonial character than the riverside set. Located right next to the Sarawak Museum, yet still within striking distance of the riverfront. The rooftop pool has a great view over Kuching. Rack rates steep at around RM300, but steep discounts in the off season can chop that in half.

• Somerset Gateway Kuching, Jalan Bukit Mata, tel: +60-82-250958 (http://www.somersetgatewaykuching.com/). Part of the Ascott group of hotels, they offer comfortable serviced-apartments in the city centre.

• 360 Hotel. Hock Lee Centre, Hotel Tower, Jalan Datuk Aband Abdul Rahim. Tel: +60-82-484888, (http://www.360kuching.com). A five star business-class hotel that is located beside Hock Lee Shopping Centre.

• Four Points Hotel by Sheraton. A brand new four star business-class hotel, located at Jalan Lapangan Terbang, 5 minutes away from Kuching International Airport.

Hotels coming soon includes:

• Pullman Kuching
• Marriott Kuching
• Cititel Express

source taken: http://www.guidepicker.com/

KUCHING : GET AROUND KUCHING

By bus

Kuching stage buses nowadays have quite a sad reputation for a few reasons. The most obvious fact is that the bus companies are still using old chassis (half of the fleet is 15-20 years old) despite covering it up with (apparently) modern bodywork. It results in cheap fares, but passengers will have to bear with the inconvenience of noise (like you hear in old cars) and heat (for non-A/C buses). Although all buses show route numbers, most (if not all) buses neither show names of bus termini (the last bus stops) nor en route landmarks or places of interest. Therefore, it is wise to ask the bus driver where the bus ends it route and whether your destination lies along that particular route before grabbing the seat of the bus.

Do not expect any brochures showing route information from the bus companies. It is best to just ask around if you really need a bus to wherever you want to go. To add things worse, the Kuching City Centre does not have a main bus terminal.

Local stage buses are run by 6 companies of colourful assortments, 5 of which are in a consortium, but there's a reasonably logical route numbering system and bus stops usually have some signage indicating bus route numbers.

• Sarawak Transport Company (STC) - these green and beige STC buses mainly serve downtown and along the protocol roads leading southbound out of the city centre.

• Chin Liang Long Motor Vehicle Company (CLL) - these blue and white CLL buses serve almost all routes (fixed, radial dan cross-town) within the Kuching City South limits.

• Matang Transport Company (MTC) - these orange and beige MTC buses serve the Kuching-Matang road and suburban settlements along the northern bank of the Sarawak River. This company is the only one not included in the Kuching City Bus Services consortium.

• Petra Jaya Transport - these white buses with red, yellow and black striped livery serve the outskirts of Kuching City North (routes ending at Damai and Bako) and also the Kuching-Kota Sentosa-Kota Samarahan route.

• Regas Transport Company - these brown and purple buses are rarely seen nowadays serving mainly downtown areas.

• Bau Transport Company - these brown and red buses serve the Kuching-Bau route.

Bus drivers and conductors do not actually have Public Relations and Tourist Guiding as part of their training syllabi. Should the bus conductor exist, kindly demand for the ticket because some bus inspectors might just walk inside and do a surprise inspection of passengers' tickets. There are some OMO (One Man Operation) buses that are equipped with a big coin box beside the driver's seat. Ask for the fare first before inserting the exact change into the box. Sit in the front half of the bus so you have easy access to the driver or conductor. Cheating, pickpocketing and sexual harrassment might sometimes occur in public buses, so be watchful of your surroundings.

Kuching city hotels had once banded together to offer a free City Tram (really just a bus) service that shuttles around major sights once every hour. You would just ask for a City Tram sticker and route map from your hotel lobby. As of the year 2008, the service has been terminated due to technical problems.

Inconsistent passenger load along certain routes can lead to drops in frequency and thus, bus operators cannot comply to a fixed timetable and that results in frustrating delays.

By shuttle van

Yellow roofed kereta sewa or shuttle vans fill the void left by stage bus operators, offering somewhat more frequent trips throughout Kuching to as far as Tebedu and Bau. Each shuttle van has their own commuting routes so watch out the routes by reading the destination on the body of the van. Minimum fare for each trip is RM1 and increases with respect to distance. Fares also differ from one shuttle van to another plying the same route by commuting frequency, peak and off-peak periods and passenger load. If in doubt, ask the passengers, not the driver.

By taxi

Taxis are somewhat expensive in Kuching. Although taxis are metered, the drivers seldom use it and normally they will charge you any fare they like. Reasonable taxi fare from Kuching city centre to Santubong is RM42 (after considering June 2008 petrol price hike). Some hotels provide their own shuttle vans or buses to designated tourism spots and city centre. Kindly check with your hotel should they provide this kind of service.

By car

All major roads in Kuching city and suburban areas are well tarred and fairly maintained. Driving orientation is on the left (like most of the former colonies of the British Empire) and is generally slow-paced. Speed limits on dual-carriageway roads can reach a maximum of 90km/h and can be reduced to 80km/h or 70km/h during festival seasons.

Tourists from cosmopolitan cities may not appreciate the driving attitude of local road users. Some drivers tend to make a turn or overtake without using indicators, and others drive beyond the speed limit. You may also find a handful of road hoggers (cars, lorries and even motorcycles alike). Honk car horns and flash high beams with careful discretion.

Self-driving in and around Kuching can be challengingly fun. Directional signs in Kuching are so inadequate and it takes a good road map and a good sense of direction to get you around.

Car rental companies:

By motorcycle

Three Bikes Rental & Services

3 Bikes Rental & Services is the First Licensed Motorcycle Rental Co. in Malaysia. Why Choose 3 Bikes Rental? Simply because with us you are Licensed and Legally renting a bike in Kuching, Sarawak Borneo. For more information, Please Contact The first licensed Motorcycle Rental Company for Tourists in Malaysia 3bikes Rental Company (Kuching) email: threebikesrental@yahoo.com or http://www.borneorental.blogspot.com/ Safety and Customer’s satisfaction is our priority.

By river taxi

For a leisurely commute across the Sarawak River, river taxis locally known as tambang or penambang offers daily services at various points along the Kuching Waterfront, with a one-way fare at RM0.30. The fare hikes up to RM1 from 10.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m. the next day. Kindly place the exact change on the designated plate instead of giving it to the operator, as you disembark the river taxi at your destination.

By boats

Boats are sometimes available for visitors who wish to travel from one place to another along the Sarawak River.

By speedboats

Speedboats are available for people who wish to go to Taman Negara Bako, Satang Island and Layang-layang Island from Santubong. Rate differs according to hotels, and in regards to public holidays, peak hours and etc. Check schedule and rates at the respective hotels, such as Damai Lagoon.

By helicopter

In case you are in hurry or in the event to experience luxuriousness, helicopter and other method of air transports are available by using Hornbill Skyways.

By cruises

Cruised might not be available at the posting date. Previously, it was available for tourists who wish to go for sightseeing along the Sarawak River.

On foot

Kuching is unusually pedestrian-friendly for a Malaysian city, with tree-lined sidewalks and pedestrian crossings, and the city core is compact enough to cover on foot. Good walks include the Kuching Waterfront and the pedestrian shopping street of Jalan India (Kuching's Little India).

source taken from: http://www.guidepicker.com/