For the past 12 years, he has presided as resident Naturalist at The Datai. This is Langkawi's most exclusive hotel, renowned for its architectural design which merges the built and natural environments so seamlessly it is difficult to know where ...[ read more ]
Steering Langkawi
NATURE guide Irshad Mobarak pointed out a plant growing on a limestone rock by the mangrove river in Langkawi, as we cruised by in a speed boat. “This is an ancient species that’s endemic to the limestone formations between Langkawi ...[ read more ]
The Arden Naturalist
If changing the cat litter is the closest encounter you've had with animals, head for Langkawi. More specifically, head for the northern tip of the island where you are likely to find Irshad Mobarak. A big, broad-shouldered naturalist, Irshad works ...[ read more ]
Banking on Eco Tourism
Owners, and executives of the resort, located near the Gunung Matchinchang range, which offers one of the worlds oldest rock fossils and the much hyped tropical rainforest, are confident that the nature theme sells since it is also eco friendly. ...[ read more ]
Forest Trump
He said he'd just had his best ever holiday there, and advised me to stay at the Datai on Pulau Langkawi: "As a rest cure for the jaded it's a sure fire winner." We were talking in Hong Kong and ...[ read more ]
Edge of Darkness
Edge of Darkness A forbidden cave, a childhood prank, a sudden death; STUART WAVELL returned to Malaysia and retraced events that had haunted him for 40 years. The objective was a cave on a remote tropical island. It contained a ...[ read more ]
Adventure into Nature
Adventure into Nature. Borneo Bulletin. Sat/Sun 24/25 January 1998 . Irshad Mobarak speaks to Maria. A rapidly growing aspect of tourism is nature. Dubbed ecotourism, it is a timely effort towards preserving the natural heritage and environment of tourist destinations. ...[ read more ]
My Very Own Swamp
Deep in the Malaysian rainforest, Paul Mansfield does his bit for nature conservation-by planting mangrove. 0n the Malaysian island of Langkawi, there is some corner of a foreign field that is forever mine. Early one morning I set out with ...[ read more ]
Reserve Psychology
Reserve Psychology. Malaysian Tattler April 1995. Sina Maran Tadun. These days, Langkawi has been given the green light for some dramatic restructuring of the environment. In the corner of the island, however, Sina Maran Tadun finds that it is still ...[ read more ]
Forest Hideaway
The Datai Forest Hideaway A fusion of eco‘tourism and luxury make The Datai Resort, situated in 1800 acres of primary rain forest on North‘west Langkawi, the most talked about resort development in Southeast Asia. Sceptical of the developer's claims I joined ...[ read more ]