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Situated on Pulau Dayang Bunting,
south of Pulau Langkawi, is Tasik Dayang Bunting (Lake of the Pregnant Maiden). It is
believed that barren women who drink from the lake will be able to conceive. It is also
said to be the inspiration behind the magical tale of "Puteri (Princess) Dayang
Sari": Legend has it that the picturesque lake was the celestial Princess's and her
entourage's favorite bathing spot. On one of their visits, they were spotted by a human
prince, "Putera Teja", who of course fell desperately in love with the princess.
Teja wooed her with poetry and songs of mythical legends but to no avail. The anguished
prince then sought the advice of a wise man, who told him that the princess was under a
spell. To break that spell, he had to obtain mermaid's tears. Undaunted, the prince laid
in wait and by a stoke of luck, a group of mermaids ventured from the sea to cavort on the
beach. The passion driven prince persuaded the mermaids to play with a golden ball. So
engrossed were they in their game that the forgot the time and the fast receding tide.
Later, angered and ashamed by their own folly, they wept. Gleefully, the prince collected
their tears in a golden bowl. With the spell broken, the prince won the princess' heart
and they were soon wedded. However, because of the prince's unscrupulous methods, their
first child died shortly after birth. By then, the princess had realized the consequences
of her husband's actions. The much agitated princess returned to the heavens leaving the
baby in her much beloved lake. Before leaving, however, the princess blessed the waters
with the power of fertility. Henceforth, childless couples would be rewarded if they drank
from or bathed in the lake.
An alternative story is the tragedy
of the beautiful court maiden, "Telani", her warrior prince suitor,
"Telanai", and their forbidden love affair. Telani was banished to the deserted
island of Dayang Bunting, where she gave birth to a son. Longing to see his son, Telanai
sailed towards the island but wrathful gods sent a huge clap of thunder crashing down to
earth. This startled the sleeping baby who fell into the water. Telani's efforts to save
her child were in vain, and as the heartbroken mother wept, an ethereal of mist shrouded
the lake. When it finally cleared, a rock stood on the spot where Telani had been. Telanai
had also been transformed into an island, separated by a narrow strip of water from his
beloved. In between the two, a white crocodile now swims. Locals have deemed it the
reincarnation of the couple's lost child. Whatever the myth or legend, couples today
continue to visit the lake to send flower petals skimming over the water surface, in
appreciation of the lake's magical powers.
 In the pristine waters of Pulau Payar lies one of the world's most spectacular
coral gardens and Malaysia's best Marine Park. This island is so small that it is but a
mere 2 x 0.25km in size. Your experience with Langkawi Coral starts with a luxury cruise
from Kuah, Langkawi, to Pulau Payar - a comfortable 45 minute trip in an air-conditioned,
high-speed catamaran, which can carry up to 162 passengers. On arrival the catamaran moors
a 49 x 15 meters reef platform. The platform's underwater observatory, glass bottom boats,
snorkeling equipment, and diving facilities allow people of all ages, even non-swimmers, a
close-up view of the coral and the prolific marine life.
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