Unusual Monsoon

Langkawi experienced an unusual weather in September 2025. During this month when the South West Monsoon is peaked and high rainfall is usually expected, it was hot and humid instead. The temperature on some days in September was 35C. I was out at the reeds on the third week of September and a Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus) here was observed taking a rest in the shade. 

And now came November 2025, when the beginning of the dry season is expected and instead, the island experienced higher rainfall than usual. One of the reasons was due to super typhoons happened in neighbouring countries like Vietnam and Philippines. And recently, from 23rd November the Northern Malaysia and Southern Thailand were hit with mini typhoon. Continuous torrential rainfall and super wind speed resulted in devastating floods and landslides in our Asean region. 

Soon after Cyclone Senyar developed and hit North Sumatera before passing Peninsular Malaysia on 28th November via Straits of Malacca. Senyar has disappeared now and this is the first record in history for Malaysia to experience such tropical storm. 

What will the next raining season be like for Langkawi next year?

As for this bird, Paddyfield Pipit is our resident bird species and commonly found in the open fields, reeds and paddyfields (hence the name). If any of you e-birders out there are guessing if a pipit you see is a Richard's or Bltyh's and you are unsure, it will be Paddyfield by default.

Strangling Figs, Hornbills and Blessings

The common types of strangling fig trees are those with red or yellow figs. When some of these trees produce figs, they can be seen along the road. During the fruiting time, the strangling fig tree becomes a stage for the bird enthusiasts.

In December 2022, there were three different productive strangling fig trees inviting the hornbills for free feasts of delicious vitamins and protein packed meals. One of them lasted till early January 2023.

My lucky guests who managed to photograph the hornbills feasting on one of these trees were Swales Family, Meyer Family, Jia Hui family, Dennis family, Ardish, Nasir and Nigel/Lucas Oh, Emily family.

Nasir from Singapore in joy of photographing a Great Hornbill

The photos here with Great Hornbill on a yellow and a red fig tree.

Great Hornbill female with yellow figs

Great Hornbill male with the red figs

Both are auspicious colours for the Chinese New Year. I like to wish everyone here a good year ahead with good health, happiness and prosperity.

Gong Xi Fa Cai 2023

Annual SandBar Walk At Tanjung Rhu, Langkawi

 

This is an event that I looked forward to every year and it is the famous sandbar walk at Tanjung Rhu, Langkawi. This sort of extreme low tide doesn't happen often and the season is during the peak of our dry season or North-East monsoon. The best period in my opinion, is during the spring tide from February till late-March. It is usually at the very early of the morning. Word of caution: Beware of the tide rising up quickly! Check the tide chart before heading out.

 

Dawn is breaking at Tanjung Rhu with Ms Gorilla Peak standing tall

During this time, it is fun to observe, photograph or even learn about our the marine diversity in that area. When the tide is low enough to walk to the island, you may find different varieties of corals on the fringe. Do not step on the corals!

It is common to see our locals heading out to find clams, crabs and shellfish for their own consumption. Each year, same spot and yet different wild marine species can be seen. For this year 2021, my friends spotted an octopus and Peacock sole fishes which were new sightings to me. 

  

A species of Peacock Sole Fish very well camouflaged and yet spotted by the Fiona and her friends!
Photo credit: Tisu Ying

Other sand dwellers :

I find this shot rather captivating. You know what sort of marine species this is. Lovely shot by Tisu Ying. Thanks for sharing this image.

You know what this is!

A rather bizarre creature which is a family of heart urchins call Lovenia Heart Urchin Lovenia elongata

I always like to do this walk at least once a year except for year 2019 after what I had seen that has put me off and pissed me off too. In year 2018, there were some tourists on that particular morning carrying plastic bags to the sandbar putting in whatever living marine creatures that they find fancy which includes any sizes of crabs, starfishes, sea urchins and even a sea horse! See photos below:

Flashback from 2018: A tourist with plastic bag

Flashback 2018: Tourists with plastic bag

I won't name where these tourists are from. There were individuals, groups of friends and families carrying plastic bags walking around. I love to see their keenness in exploring nature but I was furious with them taking mini crabs and starfishes. I was not enjoying my walk on that morning because I ended up going around to those that I can reach out to and attempted with my non-English language to let them know that they need to release those marine creatures back into the sea. Most of them didn't understand me and some ignored me because I am suck at their language. Those sea stars will eventually die after plucking them out of the water.

 

And so for this season and the previous one, these mini marine creatures had a higher chance of survival due to non-mass tourism. The Covid-19 situation is indeed doing a lot of good deeds for our nature and biodiversity, in a way. 

 

To all tourists visiting the sandbar. Please be reminded that even though the nature is here for us to enjoy, do respect them. Take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints!

Take nothing but photos! I guess the octopus didn't quite mind to be surrounded by the ladies - Tisu, Fiona and her friends.

Photo bomb by our shadows

Riding On The Rough Sea

Like most of us in the tourism industry, we are all in the same rough sea but on different boats. Some of them are on bigger boats with much stronger sustaining flotation. Some of us on small rafts rocking away and yet still keeping afloat. The worst hit will be the tourist guides. Diversify is the only key to survival in this trying time. The word hope doesn't exist but only look forward to different opportunities. 

 

 

I feel that this writer was probably over exaggerating a bit. Going out casting net to catch shrimps and small fishes is a common local Langkawians favorite past time. They can be taxi drivers, hoteliers, store keepers, managers, business owners or anyone!

Langkawi Made to South China Morning Post. Click here for the article. 

https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3106775/year-about-survival-langkawi-malaysian-holiday-island

First Official Excursion After the Lockdown

The drizzle after a short spell of heavy rain did not dampen the spirits of these four Malaysian friends. Instead, they were glad that such overcast weather was cool and pleasant. I agree and I am also glad that their presence marked my first official nature excursion since the Movement Control Order on 18th March. 

We headed out at 1:30pm and the clouds were lying low among the hills as a stunning backdrop of our  mangroves. This sight is not often and the rain is needed to create such landscape scene. And I didn't get any landscape photos because I was focused on my commentary.

As the tide receded, they had the opportunity to watch the antics of the fiddler crabs and mudskippers on the mudflat. 

Our Malaysian friends were intrigued with the varieties of these fiddler crabs that I had to signal our boat skipper to move on before the tide gets too low. 

I have been wondering on the situation at the usual feeding stations for the raptors and the Long-Tailed Macaques after the lockdown. 

Surprisingly, the Brahminy Kites and the White-Bellied Sea-Eagles were at their usual numbers when we passed by the area. The feeding practice has returned, sadly. A question came from one of them asking the reasons of not feeding them. It was my chance to educate. 

The feeling of being back into the calm and peaceful mangrove is indescribable. The calls of Collared Kingfisher, Brown-Winged Kingfisher and Mangrove Whistler. While we were absorbed into the enchanting forest in the narrowest bit of the tributary, I heard Yi-Wei asked, “Is that a snake?”

A Mangrove Pit Viper Cryptelytrops purpureomaculatus

My boat skipper and I were keeping a lookout for one and Yi-Wei was the first to spot one. Well done! They were overly excited upon seeing the viper that the boat was tilted on one side and the current began to sweep our boat away. My skipper had to reposition the boat to get closer to the viper. 

The Long-Tailed Macaques were at their usual feeding site when we were cruising on that stretch of the channel to get to Gua Buaya. I was expecting them to have moved on and left the area. Looks like the feeding has returned, sadly. I was watching one of them climbing up the tree very swiftly and I knew what was coming. I was right! As soon as she landed on the roof of the boat, I immediately told everyone to put their water bottles and other stuff into their bags. My boat skipper quickly hid his water bottle. It was a bit of chaos and hilarious at the same time. The female macaque scrambled around the boat looking for opportunity to grab something. No one dared to take their phone out to video or a quick snapshot. 

That stretch of the channel is what I name it as the Monkey Cafe. Boats with tourists often stop to feed them while encouraging the fearless macaques to hop on the boat. They are so used to doing that and even on boats that are not feeding. If that situation ever happen to your boat, first of all, stay calm. Quickly put your water bottles or any plastic bags inside your bag otherwise these things will end up as trash in the mangroves.  There are littering along the stretch of Monkey Cafe. And remember, macaques can bite.

When the maqacue has made it onto the boat, ignore it, do not challenge it and pretend it isn't there. It will come close to you to check out and when you ignore it, it will move on (fingers crossed). Attempting to take a selfie with it is not a good idea. The one we had on our boat eventually gave up after 100 meters and she dived into the water. 

When we got to Kilim, the floating restaurants are still closed due to very low demand. The Bat Cave was super quiet when we arrived and it was good. Also, the fact that it was already in the late afternoon which is usually quieter. 

I was thankful that the sea was very kind to us to allow us to head back via the coastline. And yes! Two finless porpoises showed up and that was the bonus for the entire package.

I like to thank Shahaanaz for bringing her friends, Joyce, Joel and Yi-Wei as well as taking me out on a boat ride into the mangroves. 

There was something that I have been craving for during the lockdown and I had quenched it on my way home. Yumz! 

Prawn Pad Thai from my usual stall

The Earth Is Happy

Day 36 of our Movement Control Order (MCO) and coincides with our Earth Day. Happy Earth Day 2020 earthlings and should I say, the Earth is Happy! As we all are aware by now of the current global changes and the huge impacts due to the Covid-19 pandemic. And so Mother Earth is definitely the happiest soul. The Earth Day is celebrated annually to remind us on the protection of our environment and this year is the 50th anniversary.

Exactly a year ago, I was spending couple of hours watching a newly fledged Great Hornbill and this year, we all have missed this as well as not able to say farewell to our migratory birds.

A newly fledged Great Hornbill on 22nd April 2019

It feels completely weird this year on this day. Eventhough I didn't get to spend time with nature, at least I got to hear two Blue-Winged Pittas calling at each other. Their SOS for love and breeding season has began!

And so what's up with me? In compliance with our government's order, I stayed home to stay safe and this is the best way to help our fantastic frontliners out there fighting with Covid-19. There were couple of short birding moments from my porch. Apart from the daily morning alarm calls and evening calls of the Asian Koels, there was a day when I heard a Banded Kingfisher calling from the scrub across the main road. That was my first time ever to hear a Banded Kingfisher in my residential area. Perhaps, this kingfisher has been there all this while but I was not at home to note its presence. 

 

A male Asian Koel feeding on the Jamaican Cherry (Muntingia calabura) tree that I planted years ago

One Collared Kingfisher visited for awhile. The rests were the usual Common Mynas, Asian Glossy Starlings, Yellow-Vented Bulbuls, Olive-Backed Sunbirds and Rock Pigeons.

Collared Kingfisher

For the first time in 33 years, Langkawi has shut down. From the busy beaches to the busy hilltop of Gunung Matchinchang where the Sky Cab is, all are given their well deserved rests from the madness of mass tourism. I am very happy to know that nature is given this best moment to rejoice while at the same time, I am indeed very eager to head out into the forest again. All tourism related sectors are badly affected by this pandemic, particularly the tourists guides. When the MCO is lifted, restaurants, cafes, hotels, motels, duty free retail shops, car rentals, boat services and other transportation services will be able to pick up some business back from the domestic travels. While the tour guides that are mostly or highly dependent on foreign market will have to wait a lot longer because we are aware of the situation in the Europe and United States. If we are fortunate, things may start to pick up perhaps as early as in December 2020. As a tour guide myself, we are thankful that the government did not leave us behind in their Covid-19 Ecomomic Stimulus Package. All licensed tour guides and taxi drivers were informed that we will be receiving a once-off payment of RM600 each.  I would also like to say a big thank you to my regular guest, Jane Miller who insisted in paying me when our tour was cancelled due to MCO. Jane and Keith managed to rush back to the UK safely. Appreciate your concern, Jane.

Thank you Jane Miller

I was fortunate to have a busy December 2019 and January 2020 which led me to think about having a good break. However, this is not the kind of break that I have asked for. As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for. As if I have preset my mind that I now have lots of time (to waste) before the next tour booking comes along, my first two weeks of MCO was me being a one huge slacker. Slacker in what I usually do or what I should be doing ie admin stuffs but I wasn't a slacker in learning and experimenting new things. You can say that this may be some sort of mental distraction, I have discovered more baking experience and experiments by learning from websites and YouTube videos. Most of my friends have expected me to gain some weights during this MCO with the amount baking that I have done. I am afraid I have to disappoint them that I have lost 3 kgs by now, without exercising. My fingers were on my phone A LOT! The more I tapped on social media stuffs, the more I attended free webinars. Hey, this is what webinars are for these days. My personal social media has been flooded with food photos like anyone else...until I am getting bored with food shots. Being a baker in probation, I have actually learned something out of it. Here are some of my successful products (the failed ones will not be posted here):

Baking breads teaches us patience, resilience and persistence. You want a good product, you must be patient. Time is an essence in baking. This is something I have learned after a few bread failures but nothing went to waste.

While in the mean time of waiting for things to be back to normal, I still have lots to do.This is a time for me to unlearn and relearn on subjects that I have lost touch. A time for me to sort out tonnes of my unsorted and unorganized photos that are waiting to be published or stored in their right location. Loads and loads of admin work to be cleared. Each day can easily slip away and is not difficult for me as an introvert to stay put at home.

Enough of my ramblings here. I would like to wish everyone good health. If any of my previous guest is reading my post here, it would be delightful to hear from you so I know that you are well at home. Do drop me a note on my Facebook page here or drop me an email wendynatureguide@gmail.com.

This is how I will look like after the MCO...My homegrown bean sprouts

 After many weeks of not being out there kayaking and birdwatching, I am missing my tanned legs. This photo of me was taken on Gunung Raya at night balancing on the water pipe 9 years ago! It was a windy night and my wind breaker was flapping in the wind. My fit physique back then...

😂

Stay safe and stay home to all my blog readers.

For this Earth Day 2020, I chose this image taken on Gunung Raya as my theme as a simple reminder that the key to sustainable living is to protect our natural habitat.

Happy Earth Day 2020

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2020

Amazing breaching of our Indo-Pacific Humpbacked Dolpin Sousa chinensis while on a boat with my lucky guest, Willi Van Boven

Another year came and went very quickly. While we are looking forward for a better year, let's not forget about the huge numbers of wildlife died when their natural habitats were destroyed by fires. 

Langkawi is still blessed with her natural habitats of lowland rainforest, mangroves and some corals that our wildlife continues to thrive. We must be very careful not to exploit these wonderful natural wonders in the name of tourism and development. 

I urge all visitors to practice responsible tourism. It has to start from you and not relying on the tour operators to make it happen.
“Responsible tourism is tourism which: minimizes negative social, economic and environmental impacts. generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well-being of host communities." definition by sustainabletourism.net

There are so many imaginable ways towards responsible tourism, such as 

DO NOT DEMAND for specific wildlife to feast your eyes

Watch any wildlife in their natural environment and DO NOT FEED them (Langkawi is not having any food shortage for the wildlife that we need to feed them)

Reduce waste

Support hotels that provide free water from their water dispensing machines

 Hire local guides as all foreign tour guides here are unlicensed

To those foreigners going around Langkawi with your hired motorbike, Put your damn shirt on while driving around as no one is bothered to count the number of hairs on your chest. This also include putting your damn shirt on while dining in a local stall. Have some respect and be culturally sensitive.

and many more...

Langkawi Nature Guide like to extend the abundance of positive energy, health and wisdom for this coming year 2020. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2020

Featured on Bryony Angell Dot Com

I cannot recall how Bryony and I were connected via Instagram many months ago or perhaps almost a year ago. After visited Bryony Angell's website awhile ago, I was impressed with her writings and especially her posts featuring female bird guides from different countries. And to my surprise in late May 2019, Bryony invited me for an interview via email for her next blog post feature. Her blog was only posted on 16th August due to the delay from my heavy schedule in June. Bryony was very patient with me, thanks!

Screenshot of Bryony's blog page

Thank you to Bryony Angell for selecting me to be featured on her web blog. Bryony is a freelance writer/blogger and also an avid birder. Her website has a specific focus on birding culture and women in the world birding scene, with clips in regional and national publications.

Screenshot of Bryony's blog page

My contents to her questions can be hard to stomach by some bird or eco tourism industry players or may be offensive to some simply because the truth hurts. While the word "sustainable" is so overused, almost to as "green-washing", it is challenging to strike a balance between ethical practices and profit making. Tourism practices follow the trend of consumers who are the tourists. Companies will continue to provide what tourists want in order to make huge profits. Like the saying goes, "If there are demands, there will be supplies". It takes more than two parties to ensure ethical practices in tourism or eco tourism but the greater power comes from the visitors or tourists themselves. It will be my dream one day to be able to witness all tourists to say "No" to wildlife exploitation in tourism. Likewise as guides whether we are freelancers or employees, we too have our roles to play as frontliners. We had our training when getting our licensed badges and it is part of our duty to educate the tourists and not spoiling them in the end. I usually lay out my rules before accepting a nature tour booking especially Bird Photography and Mangrove Boat tour. Some will accept and some will not. I also have been declined by some tour agents when I laid out my rules. At least now, I do not have a boss to answer to. I only have to answer to my conscience. It is never easy to practice full ethics as guides. 

Please click on this link here to Bryony Angell's latest blog post.

Once again, thank you Bryony for featuring and acknowledging female Birdwatching guides around the world.

A Mysterious Dainty Charadrius Plover of Langkawi

Langkawi generally lacks big mixed flock of migratory waders even though we have some coastal mudflats, reeds and mangroves. It has a very low variety of wader species and not a great place to study varieties of migratory waders. Having said that, the island occasionally does have a couple of individual waders that are either rare or vagrant. My wader highlight on the previous bird migration was the Red-Necked Stint and as far as I know, this stint has not been previously recorded for Langkawi. It was a delight to find a rare among the common ones.

On the third week of February 2019, I noticed a solo dainty wader walking up and down along tide line of a sandy beach at the Four Seasons Langkawi, Tanjung Rhu at midday. That was not my first time noticing this sort of lone plover along this beach. I have seen one a couple of times on different migratory seasons years ago. At that time, it was either I did not have my binoculars or my camera with me and that bird didn't give me a chance for a decent record shot. Until that day. 

These images have been sitting in my SD card of my Panasonic bridge camera for months until I recall this dainty plover now as I am currently updating the bird list of Langkawi.

After some cropping and editing of these two record shots, my first impression was a Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus. A comparison with my field guide has raised some doubts. The noticeable differences were:
1) The bill of this dainty plover is slightly longer and heavier

2) Broader white lore and brow than the Kentish plover (I have yet to see a Kentish plover)

3) Lighter or paler legs colour

And so it is not a Kentish. Or it is a Malaysian Plover Charadrius peronii? 

My image did have some resemblance to a Malaysian Plover but I am still doubtful especially on the colouration on the upperparts. And so I needed some help. I turned to Choy Wai Mun for help. Wai Mun is a passionate Penang birder/bird photographer/guide and also the E-bird reviewer for our Northern states of Peninsular Malaysia. And so, it is a White-faced or Swinhoe's Plover Charadrius alexandrinus dealbatus, a subspecies of Kentish Plover. My lifer! Yeah!

Wai Mun also pointed out that a Malaysian Plover has "scales" on the upperpart or variegated upperpart. That was my initial doubt. Thank you for this, Wai Mun.    

  

White-Faced or Swinhoe's Plover Charadrius alexandrinus dealbatus. Note the legs colour, size of the bill and broad lore as compared to a Kentish plover

Based on the old records, Kentish Plover was recorded at an unknown location with the mudflats and sandy shores on unknown date. (Gregory-Smith 1995; Medway and Wells 1976). While Malaysian Plover nesting was recorded on 19 March 1995 on an unknown location here. An adult male was collected on 23 April 1911 (Robinson and Chasen 1936). At that time when Yeap's journal was published, the status of our Malaysian Plover was reported as Rare and Threaten. For the past decades, there isn't any report on the sighting of Malaysian Plover on Langkawi. Could this species has extinct due to development on our beaches or the increased of predators such as feral animals like dogs, cats or even crows? Malaysian Plovers are considered as rare resident and their eggs are laid on the ground.

Armed with the species identification of this plover, I went on to dig further because this subspecies of Kentish Plover is not found on my field guide that I am currently using. The search based on the species keyword has led me to this blog on Swinhoe's Plovers in Beijing and subsequently to an article which is more than a decade ago by David Bakewell and Peter Kennerly on Surfbird's Malaysia's Mystery Plover

Initially, I was ecstatic about this plover being another new record for Langkawi but when I stumbled on Thaibirding.com which posted an article on Rediscovery of a long-lost Charadrius plover from South-East Asia, obtained from Forktail journal of  Oriental Bird Club (OBC), my excitement was diminished instantly. Surprisingly, there were samples taken as far back as in 1899. Holy! That was after the period of our Legendary Mahsuri and the last Siam invasion. 

Here are two screen shots from the article:

Specimens of Swinhoe's (White-Faced) Plover collected from Langkawi

Specimens collected in months 1899 and 1963 which is the migratory season for Langkawi

My mysterious dainty lone plover on the beach has finally been identified and I have entered into our E-bird for Langkawi's record keeping. We had Kentish Plovers in Langkawi's E-bird submissions from foreign birdwatchers previously. Could those be the dealbatus species? For future E-bird submission, it is best to attach a record shot so we know exactly which type of Kentish Plover. At input, you can click on the "Change Species" tab to obtain the Kentish Plover (White-Faced) Charadrius alexandrinus dealbatus.

Even though this species isn't a new record for Langkawi, it is a still lifer for me. I look forward to seeing this species here again and the next time with the Kentish Plover together one day.

A White-Faced Plover foraging. Notice the broad brow and supercillium giving him a "white face" look. The black band on the forehead denotes a male in breeding

References:
1. Gregory-Smith, R. 1995. Birds of Perlis and Kedah, Including Langkawi. An Annotated Checklist. Sarawak: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. 
2.Yeap C.A (2005), Report on Birds of Langkawi Archipelago. Malayan Nature Journal 2005, 57(1),107
3.  Robson, C. (2011), A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia,New Holland
4.  Bakewell, D. N. and Kennerley, P.R (2007) Malaysisa's mystery plover, http://www.surfbirds.com/Features/plovers1108/malayplovers.html
5. http://www.thaibirding.com/ornithology/lostplover.htm
6. (2012) https://birdingbeijing.com/2012/08/07/swinhoes-white-faced-plovers/

20th Malaysian Tourism Award 2016/2017

I was flabbergasted when I received an unexpected call from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC). They requested for my full name and announced that I am the finalist for 2016/2017 Malaysian Tourism Award under the Nature Guide category. "What have I done to receive this? How was I evaluated? When? Where?" These were the questions that came into my mind after receiving the call. More than a year ago, Puan Fuziah of Langkawi Tourist Guides Association (LTGA) asked for my email address and that was it. No interview, nothing to evaluate and qualify me as the finalist.

The invitation was emailed to me two weeks before the Malaysian Tourism Award 2016/2017 event on 28th February 2018 at the Putrajaya Convention Hall. I was unable to attend due to a birdwatching tour that I have confirmed on that day and the next. After a long thought of finding a suitable candidate to represent me, Raja Shaharil, my ex-colleague and a city guide from Kuala Lumpur Tourist Guides Association (KLTGA), came into my mind. Aha! Surprisingly, Raja Shaharil was also invited to this event as the finalist under City Guide category.  

Raja Shaharil kept me updated via Whatsapp on that grand and prestigious evening at Putrajaya Convention Hall.

The current Minister of Tourism and Culture, Dato Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz making his speech

At 10:40pm, Raja Shaharil delivered my first congratulatory wishes for the best nature guide award. And then followed by more photos and wishes via Whatsapp from Ashraff of Langkawi Canopy Adventure, Vijay from LTGA, Victor Lim from KLTGA and many more. News travel instantly these days!

Photos circulated in a Whatsapp group was forwarded to me

You can imagine me standing on this stage with an evening gown or baju kurung..LOL!

According to Raja Shaharil, Encik Basri Mat Ali represented me on stage to receive the award. Thank you Basri! And Raja Shaharil represented Muniesvaran from LTGA who won the best city guide award. Congratulations to you too, Raja Shaharil for being the finalist!  

Raja Shaharil had assignment in Langkawi on that weekend and he was kind to carry my award and delivered to me by hand. He revealed my judges which was published on a booklet that came together with the award. 

Was I shocked? Indeed! Well, I am not going to reveal the names of our judges here. Never in my mind that they were sent by the Ministry because I thought they were family and friends. They were arranged by an agent on a private mangrove boat cruise with me sometime in December 2017. I had a good laugh myself after knowing who my judges were.

Puan Fuziah (Secretary of LTGA), Othman and the committee organised our own award giving ceremony on 9th March 2018 which was held at Kampung Keda, Langkawi. 

LTGA from left: Puan Fuziah, Othman, Munieswaran, me and Encik Salleh 

...and a self-pose with my award :p

Evening gown not needed here! Photo by Kash of Kash Island Adventures

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Raja Shaharil, LTGA committee and members. Thank you so much to my family, friends, fellow guides for their congratulatory messages and to those who had supported my passion in any way, shape or form.