Celebrate Heritage! Hidden Retreat The Road ... - The Expat Group

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Colonial house LANGKAWI IS FAST BECOMING one of the most popular tourist destinations in Malaysia. From its beaches and mountainous rainforests to the Langkawi Cable Car and its panoramic vistas, there is lot to embrace on your holiday here. However, the heart and soul of Langkawi lies beyond the more popular attractions. It is captured in its people, its culture, and history… its untold stories. The origin of the name of the island is not clear; however, there are two opinions on this matter. The first is that it came from the kingdom of Langkasuka, founded sometime in the first century in what is now Kedah. The second and more accepted version of the name’s origin is from old Malay, helang meaning eagle and kawi meaning brown or strong. The island is teaming with Brahminy kites and sea eagles, giving credence to this more popular concept. Langkawi is also steeped in legends and folklore. You will find most locals are familiar with their own version of the island’s legends as told to them by their parents and grandparents. One of the most agreed-upon is the naming of Kuah, Langkawi’s major town. The legend is that two families were in conflict over the involvement of one family’s daughter and the other’s son. The families did not approve and during a festival, the fathers became upset and the conflict turned violent. Punches were thrown, and in the rumble, pots were kicked and overturned. Where the pot of gravy landed became the town of Kuah – gravy in Malay – and where the pot of hot water overturned resulted in the hot springs that are found on the island. After a long silence, it was noticed that the heads of the two families had been transformed into the two mountains on the island, Gunung Raya and Gunung Mat Cenang. This is one version of this old tale and only one of the many legends that make up the oral history of Langkawi. From the story of the Cave of Legends, to Mahsuri’s Tomb, to the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden the island’s colourful history is reflected in the many legends handed down over the generations. The island’s heritage is also reflected in its varied architecture. Traditional architecture is slowly being replaced to bring in the new economic future. The proud and well-designed traditional Malay home is giving way to more modern costeffective concrete and block. Less efficient and aesthetically inferior these ‘new’ structures not only deprive the island of its architectural history but rely on modern air-con and technology to gain their foothold over tried-and-true conventional Malay dwellings that, through their design, incorporated convection cooling and more ambient light. Malaysia, formally Malaya, has a very deep architectural history. Indian and Chinese traders came here centuries ago and left their marks. Then with the Dutch and English traders, the colonial architecture came into influence. A microcosm for Malaysian architecture can be found on Langkawi today. The traditional Malay wooden houses with their peaked roofs and stilts and the Chinese-influenced timber structures with their pinned hinge doors give way to more colonial style buildings of brick and concrete with their wide verandas, tall ceilings. and wood casements. Night market Penang International 29
Langkawi: The Jewel of Kedah BY TC GERRARD • WWW.THEISLANDDRUM.COM Traditional Malay house You will see these various styles scattered about the island. However a good example of all these styles in one location is the Bon Ton and Temple Tree Resorts, whose rooms are situated in renovated buildings of all these styles. The local islanders have a long history in boat building, fishing, and agriculture. With a little exploration through the seaside villages and small kampungs (villages) here you will still find Langkawians that are living the lifestyle of their parents and grandparents. You will find traditional boat builders still using their finely learned skills handed down by their fathers and grandfathers, farmers working the rice paddies, fields, and orchards, and the local vendors plying their wares by the roadside or in small markets. A visit to the Laman Padi Museum in Pantai Cenang gives you an insight into just how labour-intensive rice cultivation is. You will learn how this all-important grain has influenced the local culture over the centuries not only in agricultural technology but also in skilled craftsmanship and celebrations. The diversity of culinary influence is seen everywhere on the island in its local eateries and markets. A visit to Langkawi should include a visit to at least one of the night markets where food and produce is presented in an evening festival atmosphere. 30 Penang International
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Celebrate Heritage! Hidden Retreat The Road ... - The Expat Group

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