This would be a mainly pictorial report on our recent long weekend trip to the nearby resort island of Langkawi, which I had never visited before. Flight up would be on AirAsia while return on Tigerair for the best timings and fares.
Boarding passes were self-printed prior and we approached one of the many AirAsia check-in counters at Terminal One for document verification an hour before departure.
Some plane-spotting, but mainly only Jetstars and AirAsias.
Rather long queue for security as flight was totally full with long weekend holiday makers.
04 October 2014
Air Asia
AK 733
Singapore (SIN) - Langkawi (LGK)
A320
9M-AJK
Budget Class
A rather new A320 with sharklets (my first ride on a sharklets-fitted Airbus) would be operating the flight.
Reached our seats near the rear at 25E/F. View out the window.
Aircraft cabin and seats were brand new but legroom tight as always.
Seat pocket contents.
Boarding was rather efficient for the totally full flight, with crew proactively assisting passengers with their bags. Rather good service by the AK crew!
Pushed back slightly late and started taxi to runway for our 1h15m flight. The weather gradually got worse while taxiing to Rwy02C. Combined with heavy traffic, it was quite a lengthy trek to the runway.
Visibility was really low with the heavy downpour.
And then we go, hurtling down Rwy02C in heavy downpour.
Weather smoothened out shortly after takeoff.
First up, pre-ordered meals and drinks were delivered from the front of the cabin by the crew.
Where we received the following items to be shared among both of us. Well, I had some Air Asia credits to use up, thus splurged all on the meals, which were actually of rather decent prices compared to our Singapore-based LCCs.
Mee Goreng Mamak was very tasty as usual, my current favourite AK onboard meal!
Uncle Chin's Chicken Rice. Also not a bad choice, especially the chilli sauce which tasted totally authentic.
Nasi Tomato with Ayam Percik. A new dish onboard AK flights. Was alright but slightly bland.
Dessert of a delicious pineapple tart and a KitKat chocolate bar. We also had 4 cups of water along with the meals.
Crew conducting sales of BOB, with rather good business from the passengers. Well, smells of our delicious meals definitely prompted fellow passengers to order similar ones as well but unfortunately these were only available for pre-orders due to the short flight time and limited stock.
Rest of the flight was spent just entertaining myself with the views outside.
Descending into Langkawi, the weather did not seemed too good.
Aargh, the rain followed us to Langkawi! Landed in a very wet and gloomy Langkawi Airport Rwy03.
Parked at the stand, with Firefly beside us, Malindo and MH in the distance.
Firefly passengers being handed umbrellas during disembarking.
Waiting to disembark.
However an announcement was made that due to safety reasons (not sure why), only the rear door would be used to disembarkation. Being seated near the rear, we ended up as the first ones off the plane!
View of the brand new leather seats during disembarkation.
Umbrellas were also handed our to us at the foot of the stairs.
Short walk to the terminal in the rain.
Different coloured umbrellas for the different airlines' passengers. Interesting sight!
We stayed at the Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort, which was only a 10min overpriced (for Malaysia standards) taxi ride away. Well, prices in the holiday island of Langkawi are definitely not cheap (other then cigerattes, alcohol, chocolates and cars, which are all duty-exempted). Rooms were huge and nicely furnished, and resort grounds were beautiful and well-kept.
Beach area in resort grounds, with airplanes landing into Langkawi airport in the distance.
Along Pantai Cenang beach during sunset.
Main street along Pantai Cenang. Reminds me a bit of Bali.
We booked a half-day mangrove tour on the second day. However, it remained cloudy and drizzly almost the entire day.
Boarding area for our tour boat.
Down the mangrove river!
Many yachts were parked along the river, due to the low parking fees.
Visited a fish farm, with the guide hand-feeding a stingray!
Through the narrow gulleys, the Grand Canyons of Malaysia, joked the guide.
Eagle-feeding
Some nice scenery.
At another fish farm, where we had lunch.
Lots of monkeys rushed to the edge of the river as we passed by, anticipating to be fed.
Almost seemed like touring the Amazon jungle!
A tight seat pitch, but a decent BOB. I like the pictures of lines of passengers under color-coded umbrellas. I wish we had a similar umbrella service on the tarmac in France (they do that in Taiwan too). Thanks for this report and its bonus !