When you need to see a doctor in Langkawi

Well, go to the hospital. I've had swimmer's ear recently (actually I'm still recovering now). As I live in Kuah Town, I went to the state clinic, Klinik Kesihatan which seems like a clean and big clinic. Paid 15 RM (~$5) and got into queue. I've talked to a Malay woman who supposed to be a doctor, I've told her that my hearing is a little blocked but I have pain in and around my ear as well. She told me over and over again "it's just too much wax, nothing", gave me a painkiller, an ear drop to clean the wax and sent home. After two days at 2 am we had to go to emergency because of my ear is swelling and severe pain. Paid 50 RM (~$17) and got into queue. Emergency doctor noticed the problem right away and gave me proper medicine and told me how to use them. Now I'm recovering with the medicine he gave me.

So to be brief, if you need to see a doctor in Langkawi, go to the hospital directly and exaggerate whatever you have so they take you seriously. Langkawi Hospital is quite close to town, actually somewhere close to the middle of the highway from airport to town. Don't forget, this is a tropical climate and nature, if you are not used to this kind of climate and nature you might get sick for reasons you can't even imagine. Another note; I'm allergic to some antibiotics. If you have some specific medication you need to use once in a while or in my case some certain antibiotics, don't forget to bring a couple of boxes with you. You may not be able to find everything here.

my stay

before i arrived i was looking at the perdana beach resort which had an apartment looked nice in photos. it had a pool, nice flats, by the sea etc. my friends were also living there back than. but the truth is it's in the middle of nowhere. not many people are living in it and there is nothing around it. also because of the wave breaker the sea is dirty and muddy. actually generally it's muddy here, because of the current, because of the all sand sea base, it's always muddy. you can't see anything. and especially these times there are lots and lots of jellyfish here. and they are big, really big.

when i arrived my friend has moved to a house in pantai cenang (cenang beach). a nice house which needs hell a lot of repairs and renovation. the former owners were most probably living like animals (as my friend said after his first arrived). it was much better when i arrived. i stayed with them for 2 months. living around pantai cenang is the best thing a tourist can hope for, life is here. it's a very nice and long beach, close to other nice beaches, bars, pubs, restaurants, shops , all here. so you might like to stay in one of the resorts or guest houses here. btw; they are paying rm1000 for the house (~$285).

but as a long term resident i needed a house or flat with furniture. so i started looking for it. there was only perdana beach resort kinda close to cenang beach. but when i went to see it, i definitely didn't like it. also it was quite expensive for island standarts, rm1500 / month (~$428). than i asked around and found out there are 3 apartments with furnished flats in kuah. kuah is the town in langkawi island. i will give the details in another post. the three apartments are century suria, kondo istana and sri lagenda.

century suria is close to the west entrance of the town, close to the sea. the flats and furnishing is kinda nice. but the pool is too small, almost like a pond. flats have 3 rooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen and a saloon. view is really nice, if you have a flat on higher levels. most of the rich people of langkawi live there. price is rm1800 / month (~$514). it also has a small mart, gym and sauna in ground floor.

kondo istana is very close to the town center. looks like century suria, 3 rooms, 2 bathrooms, open kitchen and saloon. very nice view (especially mountain side). when you ask the reception they say rm3600 (~$1000) / month. Yes, it's really expensive and believe me it doesn't worth it. if you are lucky you can find a home owner there and rent from them. than the price drops around rm1400 (~$400) which is logical. But the furniture might not be good.

sri lagenda is a budget apartment. monthly rents are around rm600 (~$170). Small apartment with poor furniture and no facilities.

than luckily, a guy from kondo istana has showed me a flat in chogm villa. that's the best place you can get if you intend to stay for a long time. or 1 month even. wonderful big and clean pool, single flats or doublexes in a very nice site. now i'm staying there with a very nice pool view. sauna and gym are right by the pool. very quite and windy. sometimes children are making a lot of noise by the pool but you get used to it. large windows to the balcony which i love. just open it all the way and enjoy your stay. we are paying just rm1200 (~$342) / month which is totally worth it.

the thing about staying in kuah is it's 25 min drive from pantai cenang. but it's okay if you like to drive, because the coast road is very nice and clean.