Sleep on top of the sea and fish for your dinner without leaving your chalet. For ALAN TEH LEAM SENG, these things make a memorable holiday IMAGINE lazing over crystal clear waters that teem with fish in dazzling colours. The gentle sea breeze and lapping waves lull you to sleep in your cosy abode on stilts. Then the distinct call of the hornbills in the virgin forest just next door nudges you awake. You wake up and discover nothing stands between you, the sky and the deep blue sea. Reality check… no, you are not dreaming and you are not in some foreign land thousands of miles away from home such as Bora Bora, the Maldives or West Indies. You are right here in our own tropical haven of Langkawi… basking in luxury at the recently launched Premier Chalet On Water at the Berjaya Langkawi Beach & Spa Resort in tranquil Burau Bay. The chalet you are in is a sea-front bungalow built on stilts over the breathtaking emerald waters of the Andaman Sea. It is one of 23 such chalets built at a cost of RM10 million and designed to give guests a luxurious accommodation like no other in Langkawi. Expect VIP privileges, services and facilities including personalized check-in when you stay at the chalet. A definite plus point is the chalet's well-placed long bath that gives an unobstructed view of the sea. For me, taking a leisurely soak while listening to the sounds of waves and feasting my senses on the loveliness of the expansive blue sea was the ultimate indulgence.

The calming and therapeutic waters at the Ayura Spa will wash away all your stress and troubles

I derived lots of pleasure too, from watching colourful fish swimming in between the stilts. I threw a line with bait that the resort provided. It felt great engage in a spot of fishing from the convenience of my chalet balcony.

The best bait to use is sliced raw squid and the best times to cast your lines are either in the early morning or evening when the fish are hungry. The most common species caught here are siakap and garouper. Imagine catching your very own dinner and not even having to leave your chalet! You can request for the fish to be cooked just for you.

For breakfast, premier chalet residents get to eat away from the other guests. Breakfast is served at the seafront Pantai Restaurant, giving you premium service and a wide choice of food.


Nature Walk And More

Though activities available here range from snorkeling trips and island hopping to jungle trekking, mangrove tours and other in-house beachside recreational activities, I opted to join a group on a nature walk.

Resort general manager Noel Vendawall says beachside activities and the two km nature walk that starts from the doorstep of the resort is very popular, especially with guests on shorter stays and who prefer to remain within the resort area.

Leading us was Mohd Firdaus Dev Abdullah, 45, well-known as a naturalist in Langkawi. Better known as Dev, he says that 65 per cent of the island is still covered in rainforest.

"We are fortunate to have twice as many butterfly species as the whole of Japan. Langkawi has about 400 species of butterflies while the British Isles has less than 70 species. This is why many butterfly enthusiasts and entomologists consider the island a haven for insect life."

It's best to go on the nature walk early in the morning, when most of the animals and insects are especially active searching for food.

The walk takes 45 minutes and you have to wear good walking shoes and bring enough drinking water. Insect repellent is not necessary, Dev says, because though the resort is located in the midst of a lush forest, mosquitoes are scarce.

"Langkawi has 98 species of bats and many of them are insectivorous; mosquitoes are a part of their voracious diet," says Dev. He believes strongly in the importance of preserving the natural environment, saying that all organisms in the vast ecosystem is related in a very complex food web and any slight disturbance will bring dire natural consequences.

Along the way, Dev showed us the hiding places of the elusive flying lemur (Cynocepahllus variagatus). Being nocturnal mammals, these animals seek out deep crevices in the trunks of huge trees during the day and only emerge in the evenings to climb up the trees and glide gracefully in search of food.

The walk was short but proved useful in giving us a peek into the rich biodiversity of Langkawi.

Fellow guest Jorge Trabuco, 42, says he truly enjoyed the walk. "I can't wait to tell my friends back in Portugal about the natural beauty of Langkawi. I also enjoy the rustic local attractions like the night market where I bought a couple of bags at a very good price," he says.


Nearby Attractions

Within walking distance from the resort are the Oriental Village and the Langkawi Cable Car. You can buy cable car tickets at the Berjaya Langkawi Beach & Spa Resort Tour and Transport Desk and get a complimentary one-way shuttle to the cable car station.

The ride from the Oriental Village will take you up Mount Matcinang for a truly breathtaking view of the island and the Andaman Sea.

How Much

In conjunction with the opening of the Premier Chalet on Water, the resort is offering a special introductory package for locals and tourists from Asean countries at RM888 nett per person based on twin sharing valid until October 31/ 2006.

The package includes two nights accommodation, welcome drink, and daily breakfast at the Pantai Beach Restaurant, one-hour aromatherapy massage at Ayura Spa and return airport transfer.

For details and reservations, contact Berjaya Langkawi Beach & Spa Resort, Burau Bay, 07000 Langkawi, Kedah. Tel: 04-959 1888; Fax: 04-959 1886; Website: www.berjayahotels-resorts.com; E-mail: resvn@b-langkawi.com.my

GETTING THERE

By Air: Langkawi actually consists of 104 islands, many of which are small and uninhabited. It was referred to as Junk Ceylon by ancient British mariners. It is about 55 minutes flying time from Kuala Lumpur and Malaysian Airlines and Air Asia make several daily flights. Flights from Singapore take approximately one hour and 15 mins. There are also several scheduled international direct flights to Langkawi's International Airport. The airport is 20km from Kuah and approximately 10km to Berjaya Langkawi Beach & Spa Resort.

By road: The drive is some five to six hours from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Kedah, while the journey to Kuala Perlis is seven hours. Luxurious high-speed ferries operate from Kuala Kedah and Kuala Perlis throughout the day. There are also regular ferry services from Penang as well as from neighbouring Satun in south Thailand.

Once on the island, getting to Berjaya Langkawi Beach & Spa Resort is easy as there are many taxis and cars for hire. Roads are good in Langkawi. Just follow the road signs.

By Rail: Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) provides a comfortable and fast rail service through its Express Langkawi to Alor Setar (Kedah) and Arau (Perlis). From there, just hop on a taxi or bus to either Kuala Kedah or Kuala Perlis and board a ferry to Langkawi.

Accommodation

Berjaya Langkawi Beach & Spa Resort offers more than 500 tastefully furnished rooms, suites on water and chalets in typical Malay-style architecture. Guests get a glimpse of the mesmerizing blue waters of Burau Bay and the natural beauty of the dense tropical rainforest. The staff members are courteous and will ensure that your every need is attended to.

Must Do

Go for the nature walk and remember to bring good walking shoes. Participants are charged RM30 each and must register at the resort's Recreations Desk at least a day earlier. The maximum number of participants is 15 but Dev is willing to conduct the walk even if there is only one participant.

Also, take a walk along the seashore and look carefully for the residents that are endemic to the sand. You can go fishing in the morning or evening (rent rods at the Recreations Desk). Along the way, stop and enjoy the fresh sea breeze and look out for the local fishermen casting their nets.

View the magnificent sunset while having evening drinks at the Poolside Bar or Pantai Beach Restaurant. Remember to occasionally look up to catch a glimpse of the white-bellied sea eagle swooping majestically across the sky or the pied-hornbill making its way back to its mate in the dense jungle-clad Matcinang Mountain.

Dining

Dayang Cafe: Coffeehouse serving western and local fare, including buffet breakfast and theme dinners. All-day-dining menu available.

Oriental Pearl: Chinese Restaurant open from 6pm to 10.30pm. Serves Cantonese cuisine and seafood steamboat. Private dining rooms available with prior reservations.

Lobby Lounge: Open from 11am to 1am. Relaxing lounge with a scenic view overlooking the serene Burau Bay. Happy Hours from 5pm to 7pm.

Pantai Beach Restaurant/bar: Open from noon to 11 pm. Enjoy a nightly theme buffet, a la carte menu, grilled times as well as Japanese cuisine at the teppanyaki counter.

Burau Beat: Open from 7pm to 1am. An entertainment complex that comes to life at night, complete with fun pub, live band, darts, pool, billiard, football and its very own sports corner. It's the place to let your hair down and party all night long!

Poolside Bar: Open from 11am to 6pm. Offers refreshing drinks for those who have worked up a thirst after a hearty swim.
Seafront Tandoor Cafe: Open from 6pm to 10.30pm. Indian Moghul Cuisine with traditional tandoor cooking. Strategically located to give diners a marvellous view of the sea.

Spa Cafe: situated in the Ayura Spa amidst tranquil and natural surroundings. Offers a wide selection of healthy snacks, herbal tea and chilled beverages.

Mizumi Japanese Restaurant: Open from noon to 3pm and from 6pm to 10pm. Offers udon noodles, teppanyaki and tempura. Do not miss the traditional Japanese Manju Cake, freshly produced from the one and only Manju cake making machine in the country.

Indulge in sea sports or beach volleyball