Kuala Perlis

GRAND TOUR – continued

Kuala Perlis with Langkawi Jetty in the background.

Perlis is by far the smallest of Malaysia’s 13 states with an area of just 821 square kilometres and a population of about 250,000. It is also the northernmost state and is surrounded by Thai territory to the west, north and east. Nowhere in Perlis is further than 15 – 20 km from the Thai border.

Kuala Perlis is the state’s second largest town after Kangar, the state capital. It is located on the mouth of the Perlis River and it has the closest ferry terminal for those wishing to travel to Langkawi (a 75 minute journey costing RM18 one way).

There are a few modern restaurants and budget hotels near the terminal  but apart from the ferry jetty I would have to say that there is not a great deal to attract the tourist. The older part of the town is built on stilts over what was once mangrove swamps but the mangroves seem to be struggling.

Mangrove or open sewer? 

I followed a few pedestrians over a rickety bridge crossing the estuary to get a better view of the town.

Rickety Bridge over the Perlis River

Only later did I work out that the sign says Caution: Bridge is closed to all users due to safety reasons.

Dodgy Bridge at Kuala Perlis 

It is quite a busy fishing port. Kuala Perlis is supposed to be famous for its seafood restaurants with popular dishes such as ikan bakar and assam laksa.

A quaint fishing village scene.

Looking at the condition of the water and smelling the rather overpowering stench I was not feeling hungry. Kuala Perlis would really benefit from a more efficient rubbish collection service.

Not so idyllic here.

Here the river is saying ‘I just can’t swallow any more of your garbage – take it back!’

5 thoughts on “Kuala Perlis”

  1. My family from Kuala Perlis. Originally from the older part (I can see the roof of my grandparents’ former house in the third picture) but now on the newer part (you may have noticed many single storey housing areas). Nothing much about the place. People go there to take ferry to Langkawi and by nighttime, it is bustling with many ikan bakar places. On weekends, people come from as far as Kedah and Penang. Yummy!

    Couldn’t agree more with the last picture, the reason I seldom go to the older, kampung-side of Kuala Perlis.

  2. i was born at Kg Pulau Ketam,Kuala Perlis,Thanks for the reviews . (;
    Kuala Perlis,part of the landing of marine fish in Malaysia.But today,,actual figure is decreased in the marine fish landings,to much factor affected. ;(
    About rubbish..we should go to basis,Actually i’m totally disagree ,but it’s not totally belong to Kuala Perlis community. A big gap is there (:

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