Boats & Sunsets

9.32 a.m. – Shasha and I have just finished packing and met at the lobby to check out of the Sheraton Langkawi Beach Resort. After thanking Puan Rosidah for her gracious hospitality and also the hotel hospitality directors for kindly accommodating us the last few days, Shasha and I called a cab and headed straight to Sunset Beach Resort at Pantai Cenang, where we would be staying for the next couple of days.

The Sunset Beach Resort is a cosy little resort right on Pantai Cenang Road. It has a somewhat ‘backpackers’ feel to it, due to its casualness and budget like accommodation. Once stepping into the Sunset Beach Resort, I felt as though I was staying at a hippy community village! It was quaint, cosy and very comfortable. I was surprised to find that my room was very decent. It may not have a huge plasma TV or a bathtub, but for RM196 per night, it was clean comfortable and pretty hip!

Room inspected, and settled in, Shasha and I rushed to the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club, which is located in the main town of Kuah, just a 2 minute drive from Jetty Point, where we had an appointment with their Executive Director, Mr Wicky Sundram for lunch. Once we got to the club, Shasha was thoroughly impressed by the aesthetics for the club itself. It was a gorgeous building. With a rising roof, which looks similar to the shape of the ship’s hull, stonewalls protecting and enhancing the beauty of the structure and a veranda with beautiful finishing. The Langkawi Yacht Club just oozed beauty and class.

After being greeted by a friendly receptionist, we were directed down to the club café, Charlie’s Place. This café was located at a prime spot; on the pier, overlooking the beautiful marina full of luxury yachts and timeless sailboats. A few minutes after being seated, Mr Wicky and his colleague Mr Rahman Mahani, The Senior Manager, joined us at our table and we begun our casual interview.
The Langkawi Yacht club is one of the forerunner sailing clubs responsible for the rejuvenation of the sailing sports and industry in Langkawi. Since its opening in 1996, the club has grown in tandem with the Island’s development, and now has one of the best facilities for yachts, sails boats and catamarans in the region! We are told that the Langkawi Yacht club has berthing capacity of 200 berths in the water, 8 of which can take super sized cruisers that go up to 150 feet, 24 hour security patrol and even a wireless internet network which covers the entire marina, so that internet can still be used while the boats are docked there.

Mr Sundram went on to speak about the care they put into their boats..

“We used to have a very big problem with the ferries coming into and out of the harbour. There are designated areas where the ferries need to slow down, but because they have to reach a certain quota, they ignore this rule. Now, when the ferries speed close to the marina, the waves that come through will rock the boats on the marina and may cause damage to the boats.

To put a stop to this, we have constructed a sea wall that takes the impact of the waves, decreasing the affects towards the boats berthed here.”

Apart from the marina the Yacht club also houses 2 restaurants, Charlie’s Place and also the Captain’s Deck Bar & Grill on the second floor, all overlooking the sea and famous Pulau Dayang Bunting. These restaurants have been popular dining spots on the island, and their catering team is also capable of managing functions, themed parties and private island catering as well.

After speaking about topics such as the history of the club, and even a proposed plan on making a hotel on the empty lot of land opposite the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club, Mr. Rahman suggested we take a tour of the Yacht Club.

After the tour, we sat back down at our table and had lunch at the Charlie’s Place Deck Bar & Grill. Coincidentally, all of us decided to order the Ceasar’s Salad (Ruining my chances to pick on what Shasha was going to order. Darn it!) The salad was presented in a Nuevo-esque style, and tasted absolutely delicious! There is definitely no lack of quality in the food area at the Yacht Club! Over lunch, Mr. Wicky elaborated on how The Royal Langkawi Yacht Club do not base their club on a ‘members only’ policy as it will not help tourism and also, having a club as beautiful as it is, why restrict it to a select few! After having a after lunch coffee, we thanked Mr Wicky and Mr Rahman for their kind hospitality and bid them adieu.

It was a fascinating day for us at the Langkawi Yacht Club as we were treated to great architecture, classy ambience and par excellent food ! Kudos and many thanks to Yg Mulia Tunku Datuk Yaacob Tunku Abdullah of the Melewar Group Berhad and the management of the Langkawi Yacht Club for their hospitality and for their valuable contribution to the sailing community on this Legendary Island of Langkawi !

We decided to head back to our hotel to take the rest of the day easy.

(From Journal)
6.20 p.m. – Shasha’s just returned from the spa down the road and I’ve just finished the draft of blog. We’re hungry. Going to walk down Cenang to find food. Mmmm food.

Shasha and I decided to walk down the Cenang beach to find a place to eat. With us, it would take ages to decide on a place to eat, NOT cause we were both picky eaters, but because we both were easy eaters! So, as Shasha and a grouchy-due-to-hunger version of me walk down Cenang, telling each other random stories, we make it to the middle of the beach just in time for Sunset. It was a beautiful sight. The children running around in the sand, couples in each other’s arms, even locals trying to offer us cheap island hopping packages…

… But for 2 minutes, while the children were running, and the couples were in each other’s arms and the locals were offering us packages everything went into slow motion. Even though I was still in the middle of conversation with Shasha, my mind was glued to the image of that beach at that particular time.

The sky was in a battle of colour; the Sun’s orange tinge entangled with the cooling soft purple of the soon-to-be dark sky, caused a soft, yellow equilibrium right in the middle of the heavens. The silhouette of the mountains and reflection of the islands in the ocean made it look as if the sea and land were in matrimony, making one true entity.

Sigh..
… Alright enough sappy stuff!

After getting off the beach and onto the streets of Cenang, the cute suite and I decided to dine at the 1st restaurant we laid eyes on!.. “Café Italiano Cenang – serving Arabic food, Western food & Indian Food” Uh-huh yeah, you know your spaghetti isn’t going to taste like it’s fresh out of Sicily when your Italian themed restaurant of choice advertises food from every other continent except Italy!

Two blocks down the Café Italiano Cenang was a small quite restaurant with only a few patrons. We didn’t know how good the food would taste, or even if they were open! But I guess we had a gut feeling about this place.

Chicken cooked in garlic. Kangkong Belacan. Garoupa cooked in Soy Sauce. Omelette for two. Yum.

After dinner, Shasha and I took a slow walk down Cenang Road to check out the shops and nightlife there. Many of the shops only open after 7 p.m. The same goes for the pubs and lounges around this area too. Everything and everyone was so alive! the lights were flashing and the people were buzzing around. The hustle and bustle down Cenang Road was even reminiscent of Phuket's Patong Beach!

(From Journal)

10.56 p.m. -- Just got back from dinner and a walk through Pantai Cenang. So busy and lively! Must bring Nadia and crew here!

-- It's getting late and we have a long day of Island hopping ahead of us. Lights out!

Till the next post..

Harith The Konked Out Beach Bum

Kindly Sponsored by Rahsia Estates Sdn. Bhd. and a Special Thanks to The Royal Langkawi Yacht Club