Logo Nomad Travellers

enarfrdeiditptrues
How can we afford to travel non stop?  

Discover

Mangrove forest in LangkawiMangrove forest in Langkawi

What we remember the most of Langkawi is no doubts our kayaking trip in the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park, a nice breath of fresh air, after one month plagued by the haze in Malaysia obstructing our view and our lungs. While the visibility was still not perfect, it was still an enjoyable trip in between the mangrove forest.
We were supported on this excursion by Junglewalla, o local company made of biologists rather than ordinary travel guides. After they picked us up around 10am, we were driven to Kubang Badak region, about half an hour away from our accommodation in the city and out of the boundaries of the protected UNESCO World Heritage Site and natural park.
Incredible to say, after so many years travelling, it was our first real attempt at kayaking so that we had to be taught all the basics by our guide Hemir, and that later we would have put into practice also in our amazing kayaking trip in Cheow Lan Lake.

Other two guests joined us for this fantastic experience, and once we wore our safety jackets we were ready to go. But exactly while we were entering our kayaks, Hemir told us that a couple of days before, a crocodile had been seen in the area, after over two decades they were missing! It didn't matter it was probably escaped from a not far away nursery, since our heartbeat started to race anyway.

But once we started we just relaxed seeing that we were totally protected with our guide in front and a boat from the company guarding our backs.

Our kayaking experience seen from our mobileOur kayaking experience seen from our mobile

Not only it was our almost first time kayaking, but it revealed to be even more complicated because we had a double kayak and we couldn't manage to coordinate our movements. Eventually me and Oti decided to take turns rather than lag behind, paddling just one at a time so that we eventually could manage to keep our kayak straight.

It was essential to stay close to our guide Hemir, since he was such a wealth of knowledge that we didn't want to miss anything! He gave us so many information about the local fauna and about the activities of their companies, involved also in night patrolling against poachers that he really deserves a great review!

While approaching the sandy banks, we could see many mudskippers, a strange animal that is considered to be a fish, but can stay also out of the water on the sand while looking for food.

A mudskipper in Langkawi islandA mudskipper in Langkawi island

Its peculiar characteristic are the eyes that are found on top of the head rather than on the sides. Next to the mudskippers there were also plenty of small crabs, some having bright blue colours, others with one pincer much bigger than the other. We were explained that the reason is that the crab is truncating one of its pincer, that later grows back in a smaller size, to grow the other much bigger and attract partners!

Macaques living in between the mangroves and the waterMacaques living in between the mangroves and the water
There were also the never missing macaques in the forest, that we discovered to eat the same food that humans do, so that they can be mimicked in case you are castaway! And there were of course also many eagles, considered to be the symbol of Langkawi island itself.

An eagle flying in between the MangrovesAn eagle flying in between the Mangroves

After about 90 minutes we finished our kayaking trip and were transferred to a local restaurant for the lunch. And the best part of it was not the food itself, but the possibility to listen to more insights of the naturalistic protection of Langwawi as experienced by Hermet and Junglewalla. We were even told unofficial news about very rare animals "secretly" inhabiting the island, and struggling for their survival.
After the mangrove tour and the restaurant, we concluded the day with a short hike to a local fresh water pool, where we took a refreshing swim, and we made ourselves ready to dive again into the Malaysian haze!

Davide enjoying a refreshing bathDavide enjoying a refreshing bath

Disclaimer: While our kayaking trip was sponsored by Junglewalla, our experience and opinions were totally honest and sincere.

Davide VadalàDavide Vadalà
In 2009 I quit my job to chase my dream of exploring our planet in a sustainable way and I haven't stopped yet. I love nature, sustainability, travel photography, handicrafts and hiking, and I never stop dreaming. More about Davide Vadala'.

You have no rights to post comments

paypal

 Where are we now: Spain, Italy

 Going to:  New Horizons

Sunset from the top of the Rock of Gibraltar

Our last sunset in Europe before going to Africa, was definitely one to remember with magnifi ...

View of Land's End arch and cliffs in Cornwall

Today we were lucky to manage to hitchhike to Land's End, one of the extremities of United Ki ...

Transfagarasan road in Romania seen at night

I took this photo on my second night spent camping next to Balea Lake, after hitchhiking on t ...

Fireworks in front of Castel San'Angelo in Rome

Since some years on June 29th in Rome, there is a historical representation called "La girand ...

Portrait of a local woman in a traditional Indoensian village

This is a portrait I took of a local woman in the village of Nage, in Flores, Indonesia. Nage ...

Sunrise in Jatiluwih rice fields in Bali

While we have seen many rice fields in Java and in the rest of Indonesia, the rice terraces o ...

Sunset between the clouds in Gunung Lawu, Indonesia

This year we decided to spend an alternative Easter. Far away from our families in the bigges ...

A magic place in Kefalonia island: Melissani cave

We still have so many amazing places to write about, but time is not always our friend. Last ...

Share this page on...

FacebookTwitterReddit

About Us

Davide and Oti

We are Davide and Otilia, two friends with itchy feet, living a non conventional life traveling around the world and learning everyday something new....
Read more

Follow us on...

FacebookTwitterRSS FeedNomad Travellers Google+

Popular articles

Backpacking Checklist: pack everything in your luggage

Backpacking Checklist: pack ev...

With our backpacking checklist you won't forget anything anymore when going on...

22 ideas to raise money for your trip

22 ideas to raise money for yo...

What if inside your backpack, you could pack also your working place,...

Hiking in Cinque Terre and exploring its vineyards

Hiking in Cinque Terre and exp...

Riomaggiore and the rocky cliffs diving in the blue sea of Cinque...

The Capuchin Crypt: the bone church of Rome explained

The Capuchin Crypt: the bone c...

The first chapel of the Capuchin Crypt A bone chandelier in the...