Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
240
4
PANGKOR
Pangkor's claim to fame is the spectacular , award-winning Pangkor Laut Resort, nestled
on its own private island—without a doubt one of Malaysia's best known. Pangkor's main
island supports a wee village and some smaller resorts. For a while, the Pan Pacific group
operated a fine r esort her e, but no w the o wners operate it themselv es as the P angkor
Island Beach Resort. Other than that, there's not much to see.
If the exclusivity of seclusion is exciting for you, then Pangkor is your place. If you feel
you need to br eak up the r esort experience with something else, Langkawi (later in this
chapter), to the nor th, has luxur y resorts that ar e all that, plus gr eat restaurants and a
range of adventurous natural activities.
The easiest way to get to P angkor is to hop a flight.
Berjaya Air
(
&
03/2149-3731;
www.berjaya-air.com) flies five times a week, and the trip is only 30 minutes. Compared
to a 3
1
/
2
-hour drive from KL, then a ferr y ride to the island, it sav es a lot of hassle.
Pangkor Laut Resor t
This private island r esort comprises priv ate wooden
Malay-style chalets perched atop stilts, connected by wooden boardwalks over the green
sea. P angkor Laut cr eates an effect that is r ustic and natural, y et uncompr omisingly
sophisticated and luxurious. Each r oomy villa is adorned with warm wood interiors,
uncluttered contemporar y wood furnishings, king-siz e beds, and writing tables with
Malaysian arts and textiles throughout. Each has a private sun deck furnished with chaise
lounges. Some rooms intentionally have no TV, but some villas come with their own CD
or iPod sound system on which y ou can play CDs fr om the resort's library. Spa and sea
villas sit on stilts, with big pictur e windows that open out o ver the water. Lower-priced
hill and gar den villas ar e housed in double-stor y buildings, hill villas commanding the
best sea views. Spa villas connect directly to the resort's full-service Spa Village, a seaside
collection of landscaped buildings and pavilions wher e you can select a range of tr eat-
ments developed from Malay, Chinese, and Indian natural beauty and health secrets. You
won't get bored with dining options, either. Pangkor Laut has seven outlets serving either
food or bev erages. A ctivities include char tered cr uises, sailing, windsur fing, kayaking,
and jungle trekking, and golf can be arranged on the mainland. f you take your seclusion
seriously, Pangkor Laut has eight full-ser vice private residences on the property as well.
Pangkor Laut Island , 32200 L umut, Perak.
&
05/699-1100.
Fax 05/699-1200. w ww.pangkorlautresort.
com. 142 units. RM1,368-RM2,150 ($397-$624/£246-£387) villa. AE, DC, MC, V.
Amenities:
4 restaurants;
3 lounges; 2 out door pools; 3 out door lighted tennis courts; 2 squash c ourts; health club; spa; Jacuzzi;
watersports equipment; c oncierge; r oom ser vice; bab ysitting; TV r oom.
In r oom:
A/C, minibar , hair
dryer.
13
5
PENANG
Penang is unique in Malaysia because it has many things for many people.Tioman Island
(see chapter 14) may have beaches and forests, but it has no shopping or historical sights
to speak of. And although Melaka has historical sights and museums, it hasn't a grain of
decent sand. P enang has all of it: fun beaches, beautiful r esorts, rich histor y, div erse
culture, and delicious food. I f you have only a shor t time to visit M alaysia but want to
take in as wide an experience as y ou can, Penang is a good choice.
Penang gets its name fr om the M alay word
pinang,
in r eference to the ar eca plant,
which grew on the island in abundance. The nut of the tree, commonly called
betel,
was
