Langkawi - Eagle Island

Langkawi is an chain of 99 islands in the Andaman Sea , some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia . The islands are a part of Malaysia's Kedah state, but are adjacent to the Thai border. By far the largest of the islands is the eponymous Pulau Langkawi. The name "Langkawi" is believed to be related to the kingdom of Langkasuka , itself a version of the Malay negari alang-kah suka ("the land of all one's wishes"), centred in modern-day Kedah . The historical record is sparse, but a Chinese Liang Dynasty record (c. 500 AD) refers to the kingdom of "Langgasu" as being founded in the 1st century AD. 'Langkawi' means Eagle Island, it may be noted, and indeed there is a great abundance of eagles in the area. In Kuah , the capital, a huge eagle statue can be found.