Langkawi Geopark Discovery Centre at the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park

Langkawi was declared as a geopark by the #UNESCO since 2007 and I was fortunate to attend the launch of the new Langkawi Geopark Discovery Centre at the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park. Themed as ‘Making The Past Present For the Future’, the centre showcases flora and fauna, socio-cultural, with facilities such as exhibition centres, amphitheater, a mini library and a gift shop. The Langkawi Geopark Discovery Centre provides information on Kilim Karst Geoforest Park, Langkawi landscape as well as the famous Legend of Mahsuri, Matchinchang, Mat Raya and Mat Sawak.

During this event, OBIT was also being introduced. A trilobite, an ancient fossil arthropod, one of the earliest and longest living marine species 300 million years. It is from Palaeozoic Era a.k.a Trilobite Age which existed 540 million years. Obit can be found within the Machinchang sandstonean is the oldest fossil in Malaysia.

Kilim Karst Geoforest Park Langkawi are limestone formations that are over 500 million years old. You can experience this geopark by taking a boat ride around the mangrove area where you get to see not only the limestone formation but also the brahminy kite eagles and white-bellied sea eagles, otters, mud crabs, squirrels, monkeys and monitor lizards. It is situated about 20 minutes from Kuah Town whereby aside from mangroves and karst stone, one can also experience fossils filled caves with stalagmite and stalactites. Few caves that you can wander around with a certified guide will be the Crocodile Cave, Cave of Legends and Bat Cave (minus Batman and Robin).

Langkawi was the first Global Geopark in Southeast Asia being awarded the UNESCO Global Geopark status and there is only 147 geopark worldwide. Langkawi UNESCO Global Geopark comprises Machinchang Cambrian Geoforest Park, Kilim Karst Geoforest Park, Dayang Bunting Marble Geoforest Park, and Kubang Badak BioGeo Trail.

Machinchang Cambrian Geoforest Park

It is the oldest sedimentary rock in South East Asia known as Machinchang Formation (aged Cambrian period 550-505 million years). These rock layers form the mountain range of Machinchang which is famous for the legend of the fight between Mat Chinchang and Mat Raya.

Kilim Karst Geoforest Park

Caves were made here, as the karstic hill forms coastlines arches and islet. Langkawi Archipelago has at least 90 significant geosites such as Pantai Pasir Hitam or Black Sand Beach that contains rocks and minerals that is rich in black mineral called tourmaline, dropstones at Pulau Tepor, Kilim and Sungai Itau’s well-preserved fossils among others.

Dayang Bunting Marble Geoforest Park

It represents the Chuping Formation Limstone of Permian (290-250 million years). The limestone was formed into marble due to granite intrusion during the Late Triassic Period. Tropical weathering played a very important role in the birth of Langkawi landscape.

It also has information on the mangroves and its habitat, geoparks around the world, seascapes as well riverscapes of Langkawi island among others. I highly recommend for you to drop by Kilim Geopark and take the boat ride. I love it so much when I was there.

Operating hours

Monday to Sunday : 9am – 5pm

Boat fee

RM200 – RM500 for a boat and tour guide (for a group of minimum 8pax)

The Langkawi 2019 Media Fam Trip is in collaboration with Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) and all its sponsors with #GayaTravel Magazine as media coordinator.

Outdoor Activities in Langkawi

We all already know about the Legend of Mahsuri, the LIMA airshow, the Kilim Geopark, the chocolate and Pyrex Cik Kiah shopping, and etc. I guess the only thing for me to do is to share on outdoor activities that you can do in Langkawi (some of it are pretty new and some has been there for quite some time but not being highlighted enough).

Skytrex

Claimed to be the first of its kind in Malaysia, where one can ‘sky-trekking’ from tree to tree (reminded me of Chewbacca, I don’t know why) by either ‘flying’, swinging, gliding and dangling on the various obstacles course suspended to unleash the inner child in you. Skytrex Langkawi offers 3 circuits namely the Island Extreme (Advanced), Eagle Thrill (Intermediate) and Little Legend (beginner – the one I did). It is suitable for team building as it has a reasonable meeting room as well (for briefing/grouping).

Little Legend is designed with 23 obstacles for all age group (including children) and it is 3 to 5 meters from the ground and not to worry the maximum weight is 100kg (just incase there might be people asking kan). Eagle Thrill, an intermediate course is designed with 29 challenges at the height of 11 meters from the ground. It includes 8 ‘flying fox’, 5 horizontal challenges, 5 climbing obstacles and 5 descending tasks. The advanced course, Island Extreme consist of 30 of challenges to test your stamina and patience. It is also the largest circuit with 33 challenges at the height of up to 15 meters in the air comprising 15 ‘flying fox’, 5 horizontal challenges, 3 challenges of climbing and 3 descending challenges.

Excited? Make sure to include Skytrex in your itinerary for Langkawi.

Skytrex Langkawi

Jalan Teluk Yu

Kampung Kok

Langkawi, Kedah

Operating hours

Daily from 9am – 6pm

URL : https://www.skytrex-adventure.org/

Your Cruise

Ahh…. This one is suitable for honeymooners or a group of friends celebrating a joyous occasion. Where you can either join with another group of perhaps charter the whole boat for sunset dinner. So there are 2 things you can do here, one is the sunset dinner cruise and the other is the saltwater Jacuzzi, both are not to be missed.

The sunset dinner cruise takes 3 hours in total that includes and open bar free flow (softdrinks only for us), buffet dinner (mihun goreng, nasi goreng, BBQ sausages, garlic bread and etc) then of course there’s the popular saltwater Jacuzzi.

Few type of boats available, Sea Splash is the first and the only Non-Alcohol Cruise in Langkawi, then there’s Sama Sama Langkawi, a family cruiser suitable for event, and a few fleet of catamarans.

Romantic huh, try lah.

Your Cruise

Royal Langkawi Yacht Club

Jalan Dato Syed Omar

Langkawi, Kedah

Operating hours

Daily from 9am – 6pm

URL : https://www.yourcruiseservices.com/

Paradise 101

The latest venue/activity in Langkawi, Paradise 1-1 is a manmade private day-resort island where you can chillax, enjoy water sport activity or perhaps have your wedding here as they cater for private small function up to 1000pax. Paradise 101 is located near Telaga Harbour at Pantai Kok in Langkawi and can be accessed via boat shuttle, the journey takes approximately 10mins or less.

Paradise 101 Island offers a Paradise Day Pass, which cost RM240 per adult and RM120 per child (at the time of blog post) which includes welcome drinks, roundtrip to the island, towels usage, access to the floating water park, volleyball ground, kayak and water sports (at a discounted rate). Whereas for couples it is at RM450 and RM660 for families (2 adults and 2 kids). An evening pass costs RM70 per person that comes with a welcome drink at the OMG, live-band entertainment and access to the sunset decks. Additional charges for motorized sport and zipline.

Highly recommended for company event and wedding (especially wedding).

Paradise 101

Telaga Harbour Park

Pantai Kok

Langkawi, Kedah

URL : https://www.paradise101.com/

Mega Water Sports

This is fairly new to me as I have never tried a jetski tour before (and here I thought one only do jet ski joyride, boy was I wrong). The lowest package is RM600 for 4hours (abit steep huh and this is for riding alone, with passenger is RM700) inclusive of insurance coverage worth RM5,000,000.

The 3 islands are situated near Pantai Cenang; the starting point itself namely the Pulau Singa Besar (Island of Big Lion) where you may encounter monitor lizards, deer, eagles, hornbills etc. the 2^nd island is the Pulau Beras Basah that has a nice beach for swimming and snorkeling. Rebak Island is the last island where you will be able to check-out the lifestyle of rich and famous (yachts and sail boats dock here). You can also lepak for a yamcha session before heading back to the Pantai Cenang.

Mega Water Sports

Pantai Cenang

Jalan Pantai Chenang

Langkawi, Kedah

Operating hours

Daily from 9am – 6pm

URL : https://megawatersports.com/

Are you all set for Langkawi?

The Langkawi 2019 Media Fam Trip is in collaboration with Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) and all its sponsors with #GayaTravel Magazine as media coordinator.

Pantheon, an esports Centre : 1st NVIDIA platinum certified iCafe in Malaysia

I told myself that I must write about this place, it is gonna be a good content and guess what, I forgot all about it… until I was cleaning my phone, transferring all the photos then only I realized that I have missed out this article. Aiseyyyy…. Age catching up ke Lily (eyes rolling).

What makes me think this place is content worthy?

Adam!

Yup! Adam Faisal…. I recalled him seeking my advice on esport stuff for his thesis and I was giving him ideas and tips of which doesn’t much weight I think (as esport if fairly new to me, huhu). He did explain and all, and I do now that Syed Saddiq supported this but it never register what is esport all about. I have a vague understanding but I doubt it is of any use if anyone were to ask me. But nah-ah… now I understood clearly what esport is all about and how it will pave the future of sport and IT (or is it IoT? Hemm…). Anyway, if you are into esport, this place is huge and…. Wait for it ‘legendary!!!!’.

I was already mesmerized the minute I step in into Pantheon, this is way before the owner explain what is it all about, what his investment like, the future of esport and…. The stuff they have. The stuff they have to you awed me. I was practically gawking… kid you not. OK ok ok… gawking might be abit dramatic, I was with ‘ooohs and wows and a lot of nodding’. Obviously lah kan, he spend 5mil to build this center, 5 juta hokkay! He has investor and all but influencing and convincing the investors are not easy job tau.

Ok, so let’s get start shall we…

Virtual Reality

Yes… they have a few sets of these baby… and some of us tried, it was hilarious. If you ever come here or decide to do a birthday bash here (yes, you can block this place for event as well), make sure you get your friends to try this. Sumpah lawak.

VIP Zone

There are about 6 gaming sets (itu ke bebudak panggil? Basically CPU, monitor and etc lah) but whatr makes it cool is that the respective room is dedicated(?) to a brand. For example Omen by HP, Alienware by Dell, Legion by Lenovo, Predator by Acer and others. This allows you to try different gaming brand to see whether the suitability before purchasing one.

Racing Simulators

This one… you F1 lovers. Just come here lah… tak mau cakap banyak. Tengok gambar and imagine yek.

Tournaments Arena

Yes! The Pantheon has a 123-seater arena for staging tournament, you know how it looks right, screen on top (center), people playing beneath it. Viewers sitting circling the arena and there is also a commentator room. Giler lengkap hokkay.

Hemmm… what else? Well, they have PS4 zone, their chairs are all custom made and super comfy, and they also have high-end liquid cooling systems CPU. They have a lot more to offer (other than those I’ve mentioned), you guys just need to drop by and experience it yourself.

Oh! There are very very strict, only those above 12 years of age are allowed, unless accompanied by their parents. Students with school uniforms are a big NO-NO. So, don’t think you can ponteng and come here to lepak tau.

The Pantheon

Lot 2-27 ,The Square @One City

Subang Jaya

Selangor

Operating hours: 11am-11.45pm (daily)

Kota Damansara's Chocolate Museum

Little did I know that there’s a chocolate museum in PJ ie Kota Damansara. And little did I know, I can purchase all sorts of chocolate here… There goes my diet (dah lah dekat ngan office).

There are 2 museums, 1.0 and 2.0, and obviously the 2.0 is much better lah. I had fun and enjoyed the tour, it is not content heavy (ie dates, history etc), it is more on chocolate (briefly), collections, collaboration and the best part was the activity they organized for us. You know what, I think I gonna skip the museum content part and focus on the activity as I feel schools (primary, secondary, kindy etc) should make a trip here. The kids’ knowledge will be enhanced (on chocolate), though am not sure whether it’s a good idea to get their brain and them to be sugared high hahhahahhaaa…

They will first divide the group into a few team and each team will be given few types of chocolate/food décor to build…. a home! And once it is completed, you need to talk and upsell you home to others. Convince them that your home should be the winner. And the winner will bring home….. I pun lupa apa dia hahahhahahah…. I think it was like RM200 worth of voucher kot. Anyway, the activity was so much fun that I doubt anyone remembered how much the prize was.

There were debates, argument, justification, remodification and of course teamwork, but what I like the best was the presentation part. There was a love house, eco house, practical house, minimalist house, house withour doors, house without windows, house with and without gardens…so very very creative of them. And when one group finish presenting, the other group are allowed to ask questions with regards to that house… apa lagi kan hahahhahaaa… soalan-soalan cepumas keluar. Ventilation lah, loft lah, aexo friendly lah and many more. And this is when the team are supposed to defend their ‘architecture masterpiece’.

Basically what I am trying to say, it’s a great place if you want to learn/know about chocolate and you can bring your kids and family here too.

Chocolate Museum

2, Jalan Teknologi 3/5

Kota Damansara

Petaling Jaya

Selangor

Operating hours

Daily : 10am – 5pm

Entrance fee : RM10

URL : http://www.chocolatemuseum.my/

Good Food Only 9 - Eat Travel Write Selangor 2019 Media Fam Trip is in collaboration with Unit Perancang Ekonomi Negeri (UPEN) Selangor and all its sponsors with #GayaTravel Magazine as media coordinator.