Leaving city life to return to Langkawi
It is often said that dreams are what make life worth living. Whether it’s landing that big promotion or buying that fancy car, dreams add meaning to what we call life. And some people, like Anna Amrina Sayra, believe in putting in the effort to make those dreams come true instead of just waiting for the stars to align.
From catching flights and selling luxury cars in Petaling Jaya to building a floating sanctuary in Langkawi, Sayra hasn’t just made a life by the ocean – she’s built one for it. This is the story of her love for paddleboarding and island life, and how she found both in Langkawi.
A born-and-raised island girl
Langkawi-born and island-bred Sayra was never wired for four walls. As beautiful as her surroundings were growing up, the she felt stifled by school classrooms as a child. Her real education came through activity and movement – sports competitions, outdoor adventure, and a street-smart instinct that can only be acquired outside of textbooks.
“I prefer being street smart,” she told us with a smile. In secondary school, she often skipped class to play sports or attend competitions. Pursuing higher studies wasn’t her initial choice either, but she ended up obtaining a Diploma in Hospitality at Taylor’s University anyway.
Image credit: @h2ocean_langkawi via Instagram
During an internship, Sayra realised something crucial: she wasn’t meant to serve someone else’s legacy – she was here to build her own. And deep down, she always knew she wanted to do something for her hometown of Tanjung Rhu.
Though feeling unsettled, she completed her formal studies. Once university was fully behind her, she threw herself into helping build her family’s resort in Tanjung Rhu. While this likely sounds like a dream project to many, there was no silver spoon for Sayra. With just a piece of land gifted by her grandfather filled with coconut trees and roaming chickens, Sayra rolled up her sleeves and got to work on developing the resort.
To fund the project, she turned to real estate and luxury car sales. During her two-year stint at Sime Darby Auto Connexion in PJ, she managed to thrive in a male-dominated industry, working with top-tier brands like Jaguar and Bentley and closing multi-million ringgit deals. But all of this came at a cost. The hustle culture of the city soon began to take its toll on Sayra, and she realised the life she was living wasn’t aligned with her heart.
When asked what her dream was, she replied, “Ever since I was a child, I have always wanted to give something back to Tanjung Rhu”.
From catching flights to paddleboarding
As her sales career blossomed, an unexpected opportunity came through a friend: a cabin crew role with AirAsia. Initially hesitant, thinking she’d only fly locally, Sayra accepted the job. She soon found herself flying internationally with AirAsia X.
Between shifts, she explored new cities and new parts of herself. Then came the moment that changed everything: a layover in Australia where she stumbled upon a stand-up paddleboard studio. She gave it a try and fell in love.
“It’s freedom,” she says. “You can stand, sit, lie down – it’s not about speed, it’s about flow”.
During her time in Australia, her paddleboard became her constant companion as she explored the pristine beaches. All through this, she held onto a new dream: “I have to bring paddleboarding to Langkawi”.
In 2021, Sayra got married. She and her husband, Muhammad Hakim Azly, began navigating life between Langkawi and the US, where he was based for work. As she continued paddleboarding through this time, her dream to bring the sport home to Langkawi never faded.
A floating dream comes to life
Image credit: @h2ocean_langkawi via Instagram
In 2018, Sayra and her husband fully traded their life in the US for a quieter, purpose-led life in Langkawi. “While living in the US, I realised this is something I have to do, even if it means staying in Langkawi permanently”, she recalls.
On her return to her hometown, she took the first steps to introduce paddleboarding to the island. She started small, buying six paddleboards, mapping routes through hidden mangrove caves, and offering a new kind of water experience that was peaceful, soulful, and deeply connected to nature.
One day, while paddleboarding, she came across a floating mee udang restaurant called Rakit2. Enchanted, she asked the owner if she could offer paddleboard sessions to his diners. He agreed.
However, in 2022, the tides shifted. The owner could no longer sustain the business and had to shut it down, which meant Sayra had to halt her paddleboard sessions, too. Her first instinct was to buy the space, but she didn’t have the funds at the time.
Then came a twist of fate. On a flight back from the US, her husband spotted a competition, the Airbnb OMG! Fund, which was offering $10 million to build unique stays. With only two days left, and Sayra in the air for 24 hours, he submitted the application on her behalf.
Whether it was destiny or divine timing, they won.
Image credit: @h2ocean_langkawi via Instagram
And so Coconest was born: a floating, eco-conscious haven where travellers can stay, paddle, and drift into the wonderful hidden world of Langkawi. Sayra became not only a paddleboarding operator but also a resort owner, fulfilling her dream of giving something meaningful back to Tanjung Rhu.
Today, the Langkawi paddleboarder offers curated stand-up paddleboard tours that explore Langkawi’s untouched beauty – mini caves, serene inlets, and tranquil waters. Packages begin at RM200 per person, with each session specially tailored for each curious soul.
Leaving the city to fulfill her dreams as a paddleboarder in Langkawi
There are few places in the world where you can drift under limestone cliffs, lie back on a paddleboard, and feel completely, utterly at peace. Sayra made that place possible with her resort, and her son will grow up not just knowing the grind, but also balance in life.
Her story is a reminder that freedom isn’t just a feeling or a place. It’s a practice. And when you build a life aligned with your truth, every paddle forward feels like coming home.
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Cover image adapted from: @h2ocean_langkawi via Instagram
Some quotes have been edited for brevity and clarity.
TheSmartLocal Malaysia would like to thank Sayra for taking her time to make this interview possible.