Changes Since My First Trip If you've come here looking for the best way to get from Langkawi to Hat Yai, you’ve come to the right place. However, there have been quite a few changes to the Langkawi … [Read More...]
The Island Drum is a Southeast Asia based travel blog as well as a source for information about Langkawi, Malaysia and the surrounding areas. For Langkawi Information check out This Week in Langkawi and Langkawi Sights & Food. For more inside scoops and travel inspired blogs and reviews, be sure to visit The Island Drum Blog. If you need any other information, feel free to contact us!
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Bamboo Rafting in Sarawak: My Huck Finn Inspired Jungle Adventure
Like many American kids of a certain era, I grew up dreaming of rafting down the mighty Mississippi, just like my childhood heroes Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. Mark Twain’s fictional duo lived the … [Read More...]
Hooked on Terengganu: Squid Jigging, Culture & Endless Coastlines
Twelve years ago, Kuala Terengganu felt like a sleepy seaside town with an eclectic array of storefronts and seemingly no visible town theme. It was real, raw, and unfamiliar. Beyond the Perhentian … [Read More...]
Squid, Sea Legs & Salty Boats: A Real Candat Sotong Experience
Curious about candat sotong? This Malaysian squid jigging tradition takes place every year off the coast of Kuala Terengganu during the annual Candat Sotong Festival, and throughout the squid season. … [Read More...]
RWMF 2025: My Ten-Year Reunion With Rainforest World Music Festival
Although I had planned to return much sooner, somehow a decade slipped by before I finally reunited this year with Sarawak’s Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF 2025). Ten years ago, I shyly … [Read More...]
Langkawi’s Kuala Sungai Melaka Bridge Gets a Stunning Makeover
Known as the Kuala Sungai Melaka Bridge, as well as the Kuala Melaka Bridge, for years the slightly dated structure has also been lovingly referred to, by more than a few, as the "Ugly Pink Bridge” … [Read More...]
Rainforest World Music Festival 2025: One Earth, One Love
Let the countdown begin! The Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) returns to the Sarawak Cultural Village in Kuching from June 20 to 22, 2025, marking its 28th edition with the theme “Connections: … [Read More...]
Satun for Return Visitors: What You May Have Missed the First Time
Thailand and Malaysia border towns hold a certain fascination for me. I’m not sure why, maybe it’s the rich culture, or the fact that my minimal Bahasa usually gets me by on either side. With Satun, … [Read More...]
Sungai Petani, Malaysia to Betong, Thailand (What You Should Know Before You Go)
Getting from Sungai Petani, Malaysia to Betong, Thailand is relatively fast if you have all your ducks in a row. I did research ahead of time and had surprisingly few glitches in my overall plan. But! … [Read More...]
Langkawi De’ Windmills Selfie Park, the Most Whimsical Place in Langkawi
My visit to Langkawi De’ Windmills Selfie Park was completely unplanned. In fact, I hadn’t even known the place existed. So, imagine my surprise when the Google lady led me there! On a hot sunny day … [Read More...]
All Aboard! Riding the Rails from Kuala Lumpur to Perlis and Beyond
Train travel in Malaysia is a marvel. Especially along the west coast of Peninsula Malaysia. For a mere RM100 (about 21usd) you can get all the way from KL Sentral to Padang Besar, Perlis and the … [Read More...]
Best Langkawi Snorkeling is at Pulau Payar
Looking for the best Langkawi snorkeling options? About 35-kilometers from Langkawi’s main island is Pulau Payar Marine Park. Established in 1989, the cluster of four islands was the first official … [Read More...]