Ah, Langkawi. A land shrouded in myth and legend.

Some of the more popular ones include the tale of Mahsuri, a beautiful wife who was falsely accused of adultery by a jealous rival while her husband was away. During her execution, Mahsuri cursed Langkawi to never prosper for seven generations, even as her blood flowed white, proving her innocence. There’s also the story of how Kuah – the island’s main town – got its name: from two giants fighting over a feast and spilling gravy (kuah) over the area. Said giants are now two mountains: Gunung Mat Raya, and Gunung Mat Cincang.

It is at the foot of the latter that H and I found ourselves one gloomy Saturday morning on our recent Langkawi trip. Towering 2,339 feet above sea level, this majestic mountain offers stunning views of the island and the Indian Ocean on clear days. Visitors come mostly for the Langkawi Sky Bridge, one of the world’s longest curved suspension bridges, which features a single pylon jutting above the emerald landscape like a giant steel monolith.

To reach the bridge you’ll need to hop onto the Langkawi Cable Car, which spans some 2.2 km and has three stations. Once at the top, there’s a funicular that you can ride to the foot of the bridge. Since the structure is held up by a single pylon and multiple cables, it’s closed for safety whenever there’s bad weather. Unfortunately our visit coincided with the monsoon season, so the peaks were shrouded in heavy clouds when we arrived.

Since we were already there, we ascended anyway thinking that perhaps the weather would clear later in the morning. There is a recreational park at the foot of the mountain, which features a large pond and traditional Malay-style buildings floating over the water. You’ll also find souvenir shops, food kiosks, cafes, and the like here.

H and I bought the cable car package (IIRC, it was RM45 for Malaysians). It included access to a couple of attractions too, like the Skydome and the 3D Art Museum.

Each gondola seats six. It takes roughly 15 minutes to get to the top.

Despite the gloomy weather, the views were still stunning: the ocean and Langkawi’s outlying islands were behind us, while a thick dipterocarp forest blanketed our surroundings. We could also see several large waterfalls gushing crystal clear water from between sections of the mountain range.

Even amidst the soft pitter patter of rain against our ride’s windows, we were able to hear how alive the place was with wildlife: chirping birds, the mating calls of animals, the deafening buzz of insects. If anything, I think the rain and clouds lent everything an air of ethereal mystery, befitting Langkawi’s moniker as an island of legend.

Alighting at the middle station, we were buffeted by cold winds and mist. Not so good for tourists who were there for the scenery but personally, I enjoyed the cool and wet weather, which was a nice change from the unbearable mugginess at lower altitudes.

Visibility was low – on a clear day you’d be able to see miles of lush forest blanketing the landscape. But it has a certain mysterious appeal, don’t you think?

It started raining heavily halfway through our visit, so we sought shelter at a nearby cafe. Without much success, because even though it had a roof, it was exposed to the elements on all sides, and we ended up soaked from the wind and rain billowing into the open space.

Then again, it was nice to sip on cold drinks in cold weather. I now understand why my ex used to drive all the way up to Genting with his friends just to have cold coffees at Starbucks.

The weather cleared for a moment to reveal the Eagle’s Nest Skywalk, a paid attraction that features a deck that juts out like an outcropping from the side of the mountain, with nothing between you and the valley below. Part of the attraction also includes a mini dinosaur park.

Finally, a clear look at the Langkawi Skybridge from afar. We got our hopes up for all of five minutes before the clouds and rain returned, and it remained so for the rest of our time there. Better luck next time, I guess.

The top station has smaller observation decks, since people come here mostly for the bridge. Temperatures were even colder here and I could barely see people more than 10 metres ahead of me. I would have liked to stay longer, but I could tell H was shivering since we weren’t dressed for the weather, so after a quick look around we hopped back onto the cable car and started our descent.

I’ve now experienced Mt Mat Cincang in two very different scenarios.

When it’s sunny, the views are absolutely breathtaking, as you can see almost the entirety of Langkawi and its lush landscapes framed by the azure waters of the Indian Ocean. But rainy, cloudy weather has its charms too – for me, it felt like walking amongst clouds, and it lent an ethereal air of mystery to this ancient place, teeming with unique flora and fauna that have called this place home for millions of years.

BONUS

Our ticket included complimentary access to the 3D Art Museum, which is a great place for families with children. The murals are actually pretty impressive, but not something that interests me – so I’ll let the pix do the talking.

Some key highlights include the dark room with glow-in-the-dark paint, and the giant murals depicting scenes of ancient Egypt and fairytale castles, which tower several storeys high.

And that was our Langkawi Skycab experience! While it’s a shame that we didn’t get to go on the bridge, I think the trip was still worth it, and a definite must-visit if you’re ever in Langkawi.

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LANGKAWI CABLE CAR (SKYCAB)

Jalan Telaga Tujuh, 07000 Langkawi, Kedah

Operating hours: 9.30am – 6pm (6.30pm Sat & Sun)

Getting there

Langkawi’s public transport is almost non-existent, but they have Grab services on the island. You can also rent a car, or enquire with your hotel if they provide shuttle services, since this is one of the island’s most popular attractions.

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PS2: All travel expenses are out of my own pocket unless otherwise stated. Views here are my own and are based on my personal experience. They are not meant to endorse or disparage businesses in any way.