Nature - Mother nature has seen to it that the island is blessed with it... and, lots of it. Reportedly, geologists found the oldest trace of fossil in a siltstone bed which could be dated back some 500 million years ago! So, with such an early headstart there is a king's ransom in knowledge awaiting discovery... if only we could somehow get past the gigantomachy-and-storiology mentality!

Oh... gigantomachy is, in Greek mythology, the struggle between giants; storiology is the study of folklore and legends.

Newspaper - The "civilized" habit of reading the newspaper while having breakfast does NOT, regretably, apply!

It's not that we're UNcivilsed or anything of the sort (even though we curse a lot!) but it's just that the newspapers are UNavailable until well after 9:00 in the morning.

You see, there aren't any night ferries or, for that matter, early morning flights to Langkawi, so the newspapers can only be transported via the first ferry and by the time the papers get sorted out and delivered, it would be about 10:00 a.m.-- which isn't altogether a bad thing, if you are a tourist, because there's nothing much to read anyway!

However, if you still insist on sticking to this habit... breakfast at 10:00 a.m. or later!

Caution! ... If you do not wish to disrupt your routine, please remember that the demand for the 2 English-language dailies outstrips supply on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays! Remember to get your copy early because, if you don't, you'd only be left with the Malay-language dailies. The reason for this?

Ahh, yes... the 3 state-licensed lotto companies have their draws on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays and the results are published the following day, so punters buy the newspapers to check if they've won. Needless to say, the Malay-language dailies do NOT carry the results!

Night Market - As innocent as the name implies, it is a market that enjoys brisk business at night. Quite simple and straightforward really, although the concept isn't! It is much more than a market... it is a social event. An occasion... a gathering of sorts, a social interaction where you get to see and meet a multitude of people living within a localised community. In any case, it is the best alternative for the locals to have a semblance of a night-life.

Pasar Malam, as it's called in Malay, used to have allure and an air of romance. The allure of the "unknown" and the romance of good bargains!

Those were the days when there was a plethora of imitation goods, though quality is "unknown" but at bargain prices, who could resist? So what if the colours ran, the pictures faded, the clockwork jammed, etc... there was always the next pasar malam to look forward to and for more bargains. Alas, those days were the days... now, we have joined the "civilised" world!
Sentiments aside, the usual practice is to have these night-markets at different sites and on different days of the week. In Langkawi you'd find them on:

• Sundays - Padang Matsirat
• Mondays - Ulu Melaka
• Tuesdays - Kedawang
• Wednesdays - Kuah
• Thursdays - Temonyong
• Fridays - Padang Lalang
• Saturdays - Kuah

Night-life - If you are expecting a pulsating and vibrant night-life like Phuket, or Bali... boyo, are you in for a major DISappointment! Don't despair, as with everything else with life, there is a silver lining.

As moths are attracted to flames, so are the "bad-elements" attracted to the bright city-lights. And the proof is in the pudding... so, the bonus is you get to stroll everywhere and at any time, in peace!
Many seasoned travellers have commented on the fact that Langkawi must be about the only major holiday destination in the world, where you can afford to walk along it's beaches after midnight, and still return to your hotel-room in one piece!

O is for...

Occupation - Changing jobs within the same sector might be easy, but it is not so simple when the sectors are completely different... an occupational hazard, you might say!

Prior to 1987 the main occupations of the islanders were either in agriculture or fishery. But all this changed, dramatically, when Langkawi was turned into a tourist destination with more jobs being created in this sector than all others combined. The first resort to operate in Pantai Cenang had the dubious honour of having to experience this not-so-smooth transition.

One amusing anecdote was when a department supervisor found, to his horror, that half of the male workforce didn't turn up for work the day after pay-day! It later transpired that the absentees simply took a couple days off to go spend their money in Satun, Thailand, which from their point of view, was completely justified because that was the "accepted" practice when they worked the fields or went to sea. Theirs is a simple philosophy: you work to earn money and when you receive it, its time to go and spend it and to resume working when all the money is gone! It goes without saying that the Human Resources department had a tough time trying to re-orientate the personnel, afterwards!

Open - This is NOT something remotely related to any sporting event, like one would associate tennis with the Australian Open, for example. Or, golf with the U.S. Open.

No... in Langkawi the only open that we know of are the open days and the "open houses" which have been officially "encultured."

Open days, by definition, are days when the public can visit organizations, schools, etc. and see the workings of the various systems. Quite naturally, special programmes are drawn up to keep the visitors amused and the top 2 items on the list are the Karaoke competition and colouring contest for children, which have become obligatory.

Now, "Open Houses" are only held during religious festivals and shouldn't be confused with the definition given by most dictionaries to mean an American version of a British open day.

In the revised Malaysian version, "Open Houses" are, basically, government sponsored free-food public relation events to ostentiously make a show of our ability to live harmoniously in a multi-religious, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society... which we do and are, anyway!

However, on these days you get to see the "real" Malaysians... irrespective of religion, race or colour... we are gluttons, wastrels and totally inconsiderate! If you see the behaviour of my fellow Malaysians... pushing and shoving their way through to get as much of the free food as possible... it makes you wonder if you're not in a zoo at feeding time! But, then again, what else would you expect when you give away free food to the already well-fed?

Perhaps, one of these days, someone might make the connection and provide free food to the needy and poor, who will appreciate it more and make the already well-fed do what is good for them... work!

Outsider - Coming soon!

Over-booking - Its something which you, the tourist, would NOT like to be involved with, although it has to be said that this happens much too often (either with the airlines or hotels/resorts) than it should! Maybe it's a good idea to re-confirm your bookings so as to avoid this slight hiccup in general human efficiency..