Pulau Langkawi... Gentle breezes ripple the waves as they reflect the rays of the sun; nearby, the majestic red eagle spreads its wings, ready to fly as high and as far as the eye can see. Today, at the beginning of the new millennium, Pulau Langkawi, like its namesake - the eagle, is set to soar to greater heights and new-found fame.

At the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia, where the Straits of Malacca meets the Indian Ocean, there lies a cluster of mostly uninhabited islands just 30 kilometres off the coast of Kedah state. Of the 104 islands, only two are populated. Pulau Langkawi is one, and it is by far the largest island of all, at around 478.5 square kilometres. The interior of the island is hilly with dense forestation. Hardly surprising, as its equatorial climate favours plants with thick foliage. It sees lots of rain from April to October while its dry season is much drier than most areas of Peninsular Malaysia. Almost all the surrounding islands are not habitable as they are merely tiny deserted atolls.

Pulau Langkawi, a predominantly Malay area, has a duty-free status which makes it a popular shopping destination, especially among Malaysians.

Efforts have been made to introduce Pulau Langkawi to the international crowd and Pulau Langkawi now plays host to a multitude of visitors, both foreign and local, with international events like the Tour de Langkawi, an annual cycling competition which starts in Pulau Langkawi and ends in Kuala Lumpur. World class athletes make their way to this tropical island to compete in a prestigious event that is given world-wide coverage by the international media.

There is also the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace show or more popularly known as LIMA, held every year around November. Visitors to Pulau Langkawi during LIMA are naturally drawn by the opportunity to see the congregation of flying machines which have fascinated mankind since time immemorial. They simply cannot resist the temptation of being able to witness the flying stunts of pilots, both military or otherwise. The island also beckons with promises of lazy sun-soaked days at the beach with the waves lapping at one's feet, not to mention the intriguing legends that abound in Langkawi.

Development on Pulau Langkawi is concentrated on its western coast. Tourism got off to a start in the mid-1980's when the duty-free status for Penang was withdrawn and given to Pulau Langkawi. Since then billions of ringgit have gone into developing Pulau Langkawi and now the island lays claim to excellent roads, impressive resort hotels as well as numerous shopping centres.

The three western bays - Pantai Cenang, Pantai Tengah and Pantai Kok - are the most commercialised as they are the main beaches of Langkawi island. Pantai Cenang is by far the most popular one with its wide choice of comfortable accommodation at reasonable prices and its numerous restaurants and eateries. That is not to say that there aren't any luxurious and expensive hotels there - there are indeed, and there is something to suit almost everyone.

Langkawi, in its original form is very pleasant. It boasts of pristine beauty; a mountainous inland with limestone outcrops, the vivid green of its vegetation contrasts greatly with the white sands of its beaches and the inviting blue-green waters just beckons to visitors.