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Langkawi Nature Blogs
THE BEAUTY OF LANGKAWI
By Kamila Delart
It was love at first sight. Pristine island surrounded by the turquoise Andaman Sea, ancient rainforest with trees rooted in the depth of thousands of years, and their branches daringly reaching towards the sky. Bright orange of wild heliconias, and deep red of the ginger flowers. The tantalizing smell of a jackfruit in the air…
As per definition, ‘Love at first sight’ is the phenomenon of an instant attraction, inexplicable romantic feelings bordering on madness… A description implying that this state of sensory intoxication is far too intense as that it could last.
A year has passed - and I am still waiting for my emotions to settle down. Eagerly waiting to spot every morning hibiscus flowers that blossomed in my garden over night - just to make my day colourful, missing a few keyboard strokes to watch a hornbill indulge in a ripe papaya as I look out of the window. And there is nothing more exquisite than diving at night into the cool sheets of my bed, closing my eyes, and letting the frog symphony lull me to sleep.
Although… My love to Langkawi did change! There are more layers now, a depth to my feelings. Going far beyond the magical beauty of the island. It is hard to explain, but there is this unique energy - bringing together people that seem to be on the same wavelength.
Caught in the daily rat race, we all find ourselves occasionally wondering whether there may be more to life: daydreaming about starting over, about defining our happiness anew, about living more in tune with who we really are. But like a forceful river, the current of our life continues carrying us in the familiar direction, letting these moments vanish as quickly as they emerged.
Now - imagine finding yourself surrounded by people who actually followed the calling! Who managed to withstand this powerful pull, and hold still long enough for the vague feeling to become a path. I am not talking about escapists who ‘checked out’ of reality, running away from their responsibilities.
In fact, most of the expats on the island are pretty busy. – Making their dreams come true, whatever that means to each of them: cooking delicious meals - hoping for a satisfied look on the diners’ faces rather than for a Michelin Star, creating natural products from healing rainforest plants, exploring the depths of the soul - and developing innovative holistic therapies… Success is still part of the equation. Just the definition is a different one. Rather than being the ultimate goal, it is the natural consequence of following one’s passion.
Having traveled the world, I never came across a place with such a pure energy! I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what makes this island so special. And I believe, I found the answer. In the warm smiles of the local people I encounter wherever I go. In the words ‘Mat Salleh’ - not being whispered behind my back but told straight to my face. Because all it means is ‘a white foreigner’. Nothing but a simple statement of facts. With no judgment attached.
We are who we are. White, little impatient, with all these crazy ideas in our heads. Not expected to change. Not forced to fit in. We are free to follow our hearts! And that is the real beauty of this magical island…
