Langkawi Geopark Established
What do a tropical island paradise off the coast of Malaysia and a geopark have in common? This may be the first question one would ask when seeing the name Langkawi Geopark.
Quite simply it’s a new branding for a very old and geologically significant island.
Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 tropical islands off the northwestern coast of peninsular Malaysia, about 30km from Kuala Perlis on the mainland and a few hours boat ride away from Penang. The main island is Pulau Langkawi. The archipelago has some of the world’s most pristine rainforests, limestone and karst formations (Karst topography is a sci-fi landscape shaped by the dissolution of bedrock), caves with stunning stalactites and stalagmites, and some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, washed by clear, emerald waters teeming with marine life.
The rich marine life not only makes Langkawi a diver’s paradise, it also nurtures the curative sea-cucumber (known locally as gamat), which is synonymous with the island.
Since the early 1990’s Langkawi has been run by the efficient Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) who saw the potential in Langkawi as an international destination in its own right, rivaling nearby Phuket in Thailand. The main objective of LADA is to jump start the tourism industry.
According to LADA’s CEO, Dato’ Karmarulzaman Abdul Ghani, “There is nothing more prominent and foremost now then to establish Langkawi as Langkawi Geopark. We will move the agenda aggressively at every opportunity locally and internationally. Langkawi Geopark will be the best in the world and will be a benchmark for other geoparks the world over.”
Langkawi is definitely poised to become an important geopark, given the rich geological history of the Archipelago. In a small area the oldest sedimentary rock unit of the country was deposited. The unit also represents the oldest strata development in Southeast Asia. This geological succession of events arguably represent the most complete in Paleozoic history in the region, starting with the early Cambrian period or even earlier to the Permian to the late Triassic period without any major break in the record.
From the geological to the simple island lifestyles, to the five star resorts, Langkawi has it all. A quick trip to two of the most exciting hotels on the island offered varied alternatives.
Redefining luxury resorts in Asia, Four Seasons Resort Langkawi is an unparalleled private beach retreat on the legendary isle. An intimate tropical hideaway fringed by ancient rainforests and the emerald waters of the Andaman Sea, this private village of 91 pavilions and villas enchants with inspiring Four Seasons service, enhanced by time-honored Malaysian hospitality (www.fourseasons.com).
On a different scale but oozing charm is the Bon Ton resort, close to the airport and set in a lush tropical setting. It is a small, intimate hideaway created by Australian Narelle McMurtrie, who got tired of city life and the stress that went with it. She decided to sell her restaurant in the city, trading it for a hotel in Langkawi.
McMurtrie’s three-acre resort offers one of the more authentic Malay experiences on the island; the resort includes seven Malay traditional wooden houses on stilts, which date back to the 1900s. Authenticity is the allure here, especially in the restaurant and bar.
