An Eagle Stairways with Thousand Memories
Day 3. We continue our excursion around Langkawi Island.
Morning at our chalet.
Our first visit of the day. Apart from being a shopping haven, Langkawi is also famous for its cottage industry, especially on the production of healing ointments. Locally known as Gamat oil, the ointment, is made of sea cucumber which is found in abundance here. (A snapshot of sea cucumber that I encountered at Pantai Aceh, Klang. See HERE).
Gamat oil cooking process. The sea cucumber is cooked in a barrel called ‘rojam’ for three days under slow burning fire. Coconut oil and other herbs are added from time to time until the oily concoction turns black.
Dried gamat.
Gambir Sarawak is also available, a herbal product that is said can improve one’s libido.
We continue our journey to the second mountain in the Island, Gunung Raya. Most of the places in Langkawi are associated with some myth, and Gunung Raya is part of it. It is said that long ago two giants, Mat Cincang and Mat Raya was about to marry their kids when suddenly they broke into heated arguments. In the rage, pots and pans were thrown towards each other. A sudden struck of lightning change the two giants into mountains and the spot where a broken pot with spilled gravy is nowadays known as Kuah (gravy). The other places where the gravy seeps into the earth is now known as Kisap (seep) while the spilled of hot water is where Air Hangat is.
A winding road to the mountain top, some 800m above sea level.
Along the way we come across this spot with a catchy name, Tangga Helang Seribu Kenangan (which literally means, ‘The Eagle Stairway with Thousand Memory’). Wondering what it means, we stop by to find out.
It is actually a flight of stairs to the foot of the mountain. Sure hell of a ‘memory’!
Estimate time of travel via the stairway: 2 hours 15 mins. Err.. no thanks!
DH at the peak of Mount Raya. Lies below you could see a plateau, a result of a meteor impact some 10 million years ago.
We linger a while enjoying the panorama and then made our way down. There’s nothing much up here actually, the peak is privately owned and no trespassing is allowed. A naked tree branch caught my attention though.
We arrived some half an hour later to this spot, the Black Sand Beach. Black, due to some mineral composites such as granite and other oxides.
Fishing boats at the beach.
Late afternoon, we found ourselves strolling the shores of Kuah Jetty, killing some time before dinner. On the way to the loo, I manage to snap this significant landmark of Langkawi amidst the sunset.
Dinner time! Our hefty and mouth watering thai-style dinner, thanks to ma’am financier!
Next day at the airport, departing for KL. Our bags seem to have given birth to octuplets!
The End.
