Around-the-World 2017 ✈ Langkawi

I've always been fascinated by the idea of traveling around the world, and I'm thankful to be able to fulfill a realistic version of this bucket list item for my 30th birthday. =) Our Round-the-World adventure brought us to 5 countries, 4 continents, covering 36,000 miles in 20 days. It was a great trip and I'll chronologically share about our adventures in the next few posts, so follow along!

Day 16-17
Langkawi, Malaysia

One of the main reasons for this home trip is to spend time with family. Besides, I wanted to give grandma and grandaunt a special treat, and also take the opportunity to celebrate grandma's belated birthday. They couldn't travel far these days due to their age so I figured a short getaway to Langkawi would be perfect. Besides, I've got a SPG free night award so I redeemed it for the Westin Langkawi Resort and Spa (Category 5). Both of them actually didn't know that I was going back to Malaysia, and were only informed about this Langkawi trip 2 days before departure. =P 

24 Aug 2017 (Thurs): Penang - Langkawi

Thanks to mom for helping to book grandma and grandaunt's flight last November (yes I plan very far ahead). The total cost for both their return flights cost only RM37 ($8). =)

After a short 35 min flight and a 20 min Grab ride, we made it to Westin Langkawi around 3pm. As I was checking in, the staff served cold drinks to grandma and grandaunt.

I was informed at check-in that we received a complimentary upgrade to the One-Bedroom Ocean Front Suite for our stay! Honestly, I've been eyeing this room since I made the reservation so I was absolutely delighted when I found out that we got a free upgrade to this room. =) The excellent customer service continued with a personal welcome from the customer service manager, Nor Burton, who then brought us to our room (*felt like VIP*). They were obviously prepared for our arrival with welcome amenity of red wine and snacks, and handwritten welcome notes already in our room.

I've seen photos of this suite online but it was even more astounding seeing it in person. All I could say was WOW!!!

Our room was at the top floor of the hotel and our suite had a private balcony with spectacular view of the Andaman Sea!

The bedroom and another balcony.

Pool view from the bedroom balcony.

Spacious bathroom with both walk-in shower and a tub.

My lovely models. =)

We spent about an hour taking photos all around the suite. =P

Continued our photo session around the hotel grounds. =P

Walked to the beach...

and decided to have dinner on the beach.

Delightful sunset beach dining experience surrounded by stunning views of the Andaman Sea and nearby isles.

When we went back to our room after dinner, we were welcomed by this wonderful surprise arranged by the customer service manager. I really can't give enough credits to this team for their impeccable service...very impressed! By far the best customer service I've ever experienced! Malaysian hospitality at its best. =)

25 Aug 2017 (Fri): Langkawi - Penang

I chose the complimentary buffet breakfast (for 2 person) for my Platinum welcome amenity and it was certainly a good choice. The breakfast buffet was extensive with a wide variety of food.

While grandma and grandaunt enjoyed the breakfast, I went around the hotel to take more photos and jumped into the pool for a quick dip.

  
And walked to the 'Float' for photos

This was what happened when there was nobody else around. I set the timer on my phone and took these jumpshot photos. 


I think I jumped at least 20-30 times until I almost got a cramp. :P

Finally managed to get a good one!

View of the villas and resort from the Float. 

Spent the rest of the morning and afternoon chilling and relaxing in our suite before checking out at 3pm.

Wrapped up our wonderful relaxing getaway with a visit to the Westin private lounge at Langkawi airport (for suite guests, villa guests, and SPG Platinum members) before hopping on our flight back to Penang.

Big thank you to the Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa, Nor Burton and team, for making our stay at Westin a memorable and wonderful one! Even though this was just a short trip, I think grandma and grandaunt enjoyed the entire experience. I'm blessed and thankful to be able to spend some quality time, share the experience and make memories with them. Hope that we'll get to do another trip like this the next time I go back home. =)

Langkawi Family Getaway

15-16 October 2013 (Tues-Wed) ~ Langkawi Family Getaway

It's been 2 years since our last family trip to Sabah. Seems like our family trip has become a biennial 'event'...wished we could do these more often though. =P Big bro was the one who planned this trip and our main purpose was actually to stock up on some wine for the wedding. It was good that all of us managed to take leave for this short getaway. =)

It's been more than 20 years since grandma & grandaunt last visited Langkawi! 

Lotsa things may have change over the last 20 years but the eagle is still there. Of course we've gotta take a family pic with this iconic eagle. =P

Sunset at Dataran Lang.

Thanks Sheng for booking this 5-rooms villa for all of us. =) 

Gotta have a meal at Red Tomato every time we visit Langkawi. =P

proposal/engagement in langkawi

21 Dec 2012: Finally completed my work and it's vacation time!! =) Thanks to Daniel and Donna, I had the chance to stay in Meritus Hotel in Langkawi...very nice hotel overlooking the beach!!! Perfect place to chillax and enjoy the sun, sea, sand!!

We managed to catch some skydivers as we were walking around the hotel...pretty cool!!

Dinner at Red Tomato.

22 Dec 2012: Itinerary for the day was to take the cable car in Langkawi, not knowing that there would be a surprise for me. =P

We arrived around 9 something and the queue was already quite long. The queue wasn't moving at all coz the cable car service couldn't start due to strong winds. We ended up waiting for 2 hours just to get on the cable car. Someone was almost freakin' out coz his plan would be screwed if the cable car doesn't work...lol!!

Going up Machinchang mountain in the cable car. 

Nice views from the cable car!!! Daniel is kinda scared of heights so the cable car ride definitely wasn't a pleasant one for him...lol!! 

Here comes the story. =P There are actually 2 stations for this cable car ride. All of us took a cable car from the ground station and everyone else got off at the 1st station apart from Daniel & I. So as we continued our cable car ride from the 1st to top station, he took out a photobook that he made from his backpack and asked me to read it. ♥ The content in the photobook was basically our story and the things we've done together since we first met in my UAH dorm back in Fall 2008. I'm quite impressed coz this is the first photobook that he made and it looked very nice!! =) As I was slowly flipping through the pages, we saw that we were approaching the station so he made me close the book first coz we had to get off the cable car. He didn't expect that the distance between the 1st and 2nd station to be so short...lol!! We went over to the viewing platform and I continued flipping through the photobook and the 'important' question was printed on the last 2 pages. He then took out the ring from his backpack and popped that very 'important' question. Even though he was nervous, he still managed to say his 'script'...I was touched. =P And of course my answer was YES...hehe!! Here comes the funny part, as he was trying to take out the ring from the box, I realized that there were gaps in between the planks of the platform so I quickly asked him to put keep the ring in the box so that we don't risk dropping it...hahaha!! Yes I'm that practical and realistic...didn't mean to spoil the romantic mood though...lol!! He then took out another box of present...yes the proposal present came in a 'package' (photobook+ring+ipad)...he definitely put in a lot of effort and thoughts for this proposal...thank you bby!! Love you!! ♥

Continued enjoying the breathtaking views after the proposal. Good job bby for picking a place with such beautiful view for our 'special' moment. =)

Too bad the skybridge was closed for renovation when we were there.

Made our way down the mountain on the cable car after taking in all the stunning views. Dad, mom, and bro flew back in the afternoon while we stayed on for few more days.

Strolling on the beach with my fiance. =P

So here are the 'packaged' proposal presents. He said that he spent hours picking out the ring...lol!! Thanks bby...me likey the ring...it's gorgeous!! ♥

Had dinner at the hotel restaurant coz we were all too lazy to go out. Daniel and his humongous burger...lol!! 

Beautiful day to chillax in the pool

Paradise!!!

Thanks to Donna for arranging this lovely sunset dinner to celebrate our engagement. =)

♥ ♥ ♥

A 3 hour dinner on the beach with wine, champagne, good food, good companion & nice sunset.