Paradise island for duty-free shoppers

When you arrive at Langkawi airport or the island's port, you will be greeted by big billboards:"Welcome to Langkawi, the Duty Free Island".

The billboards speak the truth, and the prices of many goods are much lower compared to similar items available in Kuala Lumpur or Jakarta.

For my daughter, I bought a Barbie doll for RM 41 (US$11) at a shopping mall in Kuah, the main town on Langkawi. The doll -- which I was surprised to learn was made in Indonesia -- goes for Rp 199,000 ($22) at a Jakarta hypermarket.

A box of chocolates cost only RM 30 ($8), while the same brand costs RM 49 in Kuala Lumpur.

Beers, wine and cigarettes are also marketed at lower prices: A can of Carlsberg of Heineken or a pack of American cigarettes cost less than $1.

A bottle of red wine is about $, while the same could cost double this in a supermarket in Jakarta.

However, not all goods come with a lower price tag. Electronics products are more expensive there than those that can be found in Glodok, Jakarta.

To be fair, though, who could beat Glodok's product range and bargain prices? -- JP