A lovely overcast day in Langkawi, nice and cool after the hot and humid past weeks. We're off to the center of the island to explore new vistas.

Our route takes us through a small village where we stop for brunch at a roadside food court, a large open sided roof with tables and chairs and a number of stalls from which you can order whatever takes your fancy.

We enjoyed an amazing Langkawi Buffet with about 40 dishes on offer. You pick up a plate of rice then help yourself to a great selection of fresh seafood, chicken and beef dishes with loads of salads and veggies too. After heaping our plates we enjoyed the wonderful food.

Together with Iced teas and a number of delicious deserts we paid 8 Ringit - about 1.60 Euro each!

Then on to Gunung Raya, the central and tallest mountain of Langkawi island. The entry fee of 50 Sen (Euro 0.10) paid, we drove slowly up the long paved road to the top. Little traffic, we passed only two vehicles while stopping often to watch beautiful hornbills and other birds.

The mountain is covered in forest and the sounds of birds followed us up. It's a long way up as the road twists and winds back on itself, at each turn stunning one with unexpectedly beautiful views of the surrounding lands and sea. The 99 islands of Langkawi are mostly quite close to the main island, so the seascapes include a fascinating variety with islands of many shapes and colors.

The variety of birdsong told us we were not alone. We watched a pack of monkeys crossing the road soon before the first lookout point.

Close to the top we stopped at the top of the staircase. A concrete staircase climbs this mountain from Kuah Town! The sign proclaims it comprises 4,287 steps, with the lowest just 55m above sea level and the top step at 788 meters.

The delightful looking teahouse we had heard about at the top is closed for repairs, so no snacks and drinks at the top, but we had a chat with the security guard who let us use the rest rooms. The ministerial hideout on the peak is a concrete bunker that would look at home in a Star Wars movie.

It is used by the government as a mountaintop 'Camp David' for meetings every few years. The view, in spite of limited visibility due to our being in the clouds, is spectacular. Being a few degrees cooler at the top, I imagine it will always be a nice retreat on a hot day. There is no public transport so you'll have to rent a car or motorbike and make your own way. Take a water bottle & camera along!