Essay:A place of interest in my country

A Place of Interest in My Country

                    Pulau Langkawi is a place of interest in my country.For the role it plays in the lives of countless visitors around the woeld,”The Enchanted Island” or “Paradise” is most aptly named.Pulau Langkawi is surrounded by a cluster of small islands and is situated in the north-western part of Peninsular Malaysia.It is always blessed with perpetual sunshine,adequate rainfall and refreshing breeze.In fact,Pulau Langkawi is a perfect tourist destination which is reserved for the kind of tranquility and transcendental experience that no other places can rival.A visit to Pulau Langkawi offers you an inexhaustible experience which is indeed rewarding.

                    
               First and foremost,Pulau Langkawi offers breathtaking and stunning beaches .One of the famous beaches which is situated in the heart of Pulau Langkawi is Pantai Teluk Datai.The beach is surrounded by emerald green sea and blanketed by sapphire blue sky.One can hear the soothing hum of gentle waves which creates a symphony of natural sound.Visitors can savour hours of serenity on the white sandy beach lined with swaying coconut trees .On top of that,one can relax his lethargic body on the hammock that swings between two shady trunks.At the seaside,you are able to take a leisure stroll while enjoying the kissing of the gentle breeze.Apart from that ,the beach is always filled with laughter and shrieks of joy as children are splashing around with one another.The beach also provides numerous watersports activities such as snorkeling ,windsurfing and scuba-diving for the adventurous.

                 Besides,the most striking scene in Pulau Langkawi is the night markets.It is indisputable to say that the night markets play an vital role in the night life of either foreign or local visitors.At the night markets,one will be surprised to discover the boisterous crowd.Everywhere,you can see people moving from stall to stall,young couples strolling around.Teenagers with multi-coloured spiky hair are window-shopping.Very often,at night the whole area will be illuminated by colourful and bright lights which exude a fiesta-like atmosphere.Within the short span of an hour or so,the whole area will be transformed into a shoppers’ paradise.Wholesalers and individual stall owners flock to the area in lorries and vans to unload their goods.They then sort out their wares on the makeshift stalls under colourful plastic canopies.On top of the canopies stand some colourful signs or flags advertising “Special Offers”,”Free Gifts” and “Discounts”.Soon, the potential customers will be making a beeline heading to every stall to start their spending-spree.Fashion conscious shoppers will be amazed to find out an array of blouses,T-shirts,dresses ,skirts,jeans and shorts that are arranged and displayed on the makeshift stalls.Housewives will have their wonderful time bargaining for better prices with vegetable stall owners or butchers.Obviously,stall owners are doing a roaring business at the night markets.

                         
               A little distance away from the night market holds a number of modernized and air-conditioned food courts and restaurants.In order to suit the taste buds of both foreign and local visitors,most restaurants and food courts offer a wide choice of dining options,ranging from delectable steaming Chinese dishes to hot and spicy Thai and Malay food.In every food court,one’s nose will be invariably greeted by the sweet and overpowering smell of spices.After that,aromatic wisps of delicious “satay”,”Fried Chicken”,”Laksa” and a variety of local cuisine which unfailingly invade the nostrils,sight and taste buds of customers.They are sure to salivate at the sight of hungry customers slurping their soup,munching their fried chicken,crunching their crabs,some even shamelessly polishing their empty plates of fried rice.Everyone at the food courts cannot resist their temptation!Certainly,the food courts and restaurants make the island almost like a gourmet’s paradise.

                   For the adventurous and nature-loving visitors,Pulau Langkawi pristine forests will be their perfect destinations.All the forests in Pulau Langkawi are well-equipped with facilities and have well laid out trails for jungle-trekking.Definetely,one can seize the golden opportunity to get closer with the nature as well as isolating themselves from the hustle and bustle of city life.When you cast your feet into the forests,you will be welcomed by the chirping of birds interspersed by the occasional calls of bizarre insects.Further inside the jungle,the smell of rotting leaves merged with the sweet fragrance of flowers wafting in the air.Dry leaves are rustling in the gentle wind.The forests have diverse flora and fauna – wild orchids and flowers of every imaginable kind grow among the tall trees and thick bushes.Colourful birds of various species soaring overhead.Playful monkeys swinging from tree to tree.Beautiful butterflies fluttering in between the flowers.A herd of deer dart across the trails.As you go deeper into the equatorial forests,you will be able to watch the majestic waterfalls cascading from great heights.On top of that,you are able to take some snaps of the picturesque freshwater lakes.

                       
                  It is true that Pulau Langkawi is one of the best cultural tourist attractions in Malaysia.Kuah is a quaint little town with a number of gorgeous classic wooden buildings.One of the classic buildings is none other than the traditional stilt house.Majority of the people who live in the stilt houses are Malays.Although,the façade of the house looks dull but the beauty inside the house will literally cause one’s jaw to drop!In the housing estate,housekeepers will entertain you with some cultural shows under a conducive environment.At the same time,you can let yourself indulge in the melody of traditional songs that reverberate in the perimeter of house.Nevertheless,you can get your first taste of some mouthwatering home-cooked dishes served by the local people.Outside the stilt houses,the smell of salty and fresh dried sea produce fills the air.Heaps of heaps of colourful and succulent tropical fruits crowd the fruit stalls.In fact, Kuah is a typical market in Pulau Langkawi.Here you can pick your choice,haggle and bargain over the prices.

                 For city dwellers who have to put up with the hassles of city life such as traffic jams,noise and crowds,Pulau Langkawi is undoubtedly an idyllic retreat that few other tourist destinations can rival.