Travel In Tee

Ways To Travel to Singapore From Kuala Lumpur

2011-11-02T04:54:00.000-07:00

Thinking of going to Singapore sometime soon? Wondering how to travel to Singapore from Malaysia? Well, there are several ways to travel to Singapore that you can consider if you intend to depart from Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia.

The first way and apparently quite famous among travelers is taking a bus or luxury coaches. Naturally standard buses are cheaper. For buses that go to Singapore you need to go to Bersepadu Selatan Bus Terminal located nearby the Bandar Tasik Selatan LRT and train station. There are a few bus operators that manage the buses and you just need to buy the tickets at the bus counters based on your arriving destinations. Check out the schedule from the official Bersepadu Selatan Bus Terminal website to decide on your departure. At the same time, you can also see the bus operators name and through their individual webpage are listed the fares. So give them a call if you needed further information.

For luxury coaches, the departure and arrival points are based on the bus operators. Some of the more recommended luxury coaches are Aeroline, First Coach and also Nice Express Bus. Give them a call to get more information on their services and also the fringe benefits that they provide.

As for other ways to travel to Singapore, you can still opt for train, air travels and also self drive. Trains are operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) and are easily accessible through KL Sentral. However, for the time being, it only has one trip daily and it does take a longer time than buses to reach Singapore. Though if you still want to experience the train ride then you can buy the tickets at the KTM counter in KL Sentral itself.

Now, the fastest and more expensive way would be by air travel. Malaysia offers two options that are by Malaysia Airlines which depart from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) or Air Asia from Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) daily. KLIA are easily accessible by taking a bus or by Ekpress Rail Link (ERL) from KL Sentral. It takes around 20 minutes to reach KLIA by ERL but you do need to check on the ERL schedule. It would be same for LCCT but the ERL will stop at Salak Tinggi station and you will need to board a free shuttle bus to bring you directly to LCCT.

The last but not least option is to actually drive to Singapore from wherever you are in Malaysia. You can take the causeway that bring you to heart of Johor Bahru or you can take the second link that bypass the city and it is connected to Singapore highway. To use the second link you have to be on the PLUS Expressway; also known as the North South Expressway. This would be the same expressway used by buses and coaches.

Personally, I would recommend luxury coaches as you could also enjoy the view throughout your journey and you could still have a good level of comfort along the way. Driving may seem fun too but you have to understand several requirements needed to drive in Singapore and you might find yourself unable to enter Singapore because of that. So learn some of the requirements before you decide to drive.

Sleeping in LCCT Kuala Lumpur

2011-09-30T09:13:00.000-07:00

There were only two flights from Miri to Kuala Lumpur by Air Asia on that day, way back in August 2010. One was in the afternoon another was at night; arriving at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal Kuala Lumpur (LCCT KL) by midnight. I wanted to spend longer time with my family so I took the night flight. Anyway, the prospect of staying overnight at the airport itself is strangely appealing.

So after my one week hiatus, I arrived in KL just after midnight. I met a guy on flight that actually offered me a ride home after I told him my plan. Sure, you’ll say that it would be dumb of me to follow a stranger. But he was a Sarawakian too and he gave his business card. Then again when I looked back, it doesn’t seem wise to even consider that option. Anyway, I decided to still sleep at the airport itself. So there I was looking around a still busy hub. At 12.45 am there are still transportations going to KL. Buses are moving along and taxis are rampant by the sideways. There are a few foreigners still moving around. Some I think are Australian, a few guys probably from France, two businessmen from United State and a family from Middle East. I think some of them opted for an overnight stay at a hotel near LCCT Kuala Lumpur.

I look at the bus schedule and they are still taking passengers up until 1.00 am. Eateries were still open and at LCCT KL, you can actually 24hours McDonald, Kentucky Fried Chickens, Starbucks, Old Town and nearby there is a food court known as Food Garden.

But it was really cold so I dismiss it as a good place to sleep. Though I saw a few people had set their ‘sleeping arrangement’ there; form by their backpacks and I saw somebody unrolling a sleeping bag.

I went to enjoy coffee and burgers at McDonald. Saw some people already slumping over the tables at the corner. Not a good place to sleep too unless you like to hear others chatting over your heads and staff walking around cleaning up.

I saw some kind of mural on and decided to leave my own mark there.See whether you can spot my signature among the hundreds.

Around 2 am , I walked around to catch some more photos but my camera batteries are dead. Another 30 minutes of more wandering till I find a solution for that. An open electrical socket at the arrival section. And to me the arrival section is a good place to sleep too. It was an open space with chairs that could be arrange. It was cool but not freezing. More like minded people already set up their sleeping bags at some corners. There were even some police officers patrolling around so it was quite safe. You know, I did notice some people actually slept outside the terminal. It looks okay but I felt it was safer inside. You can opt for the outside space which are warmer but make sure you are in a group and not going solo like me.

I arranged some chairs as my ‘bed’ but I didn’t sleep for I need to recharge my camera. I think I finally went to sleep around 3 a.m. It wasn’t really comfortable and I wished I had my sleeping bag so I could sleep on the floor. It was quite but I can hear some people still moving around and talking. Though I’m not used to it I manage to sleep a few hours.

I woke up around 6 a.m, Took a picture of my self made bed, freshen up in the bathroom and catch a bus going back to Kuala Lumpur. The bus ride took around two hours so I manage to catch some more sleep too.

If you’re not a backpacker, then you might think I was silly to sleep at the airport when I actually have transport to go back home. But some experience is just worth experiencing. At least, I won’t be anxious next time to sleep at another airport when I go for travelling.

So here my infamous bed for the night.

Low Cost Carrier Terminal Kuala Lumpur.

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Malaysia Places To Visit – Kedah & Langkawi

2011-03-29T12:17:00.000-07:00

Somewhere in the far north of Peninsular Malaysia, there is a state with vast expenses of paddy fields, old

Kedah is Malaysia main rice producing state and its land dominated by paddy fields and traditional Malay wooden houses. melancholic townships, limestone outcrop, green hills and pleasing views.

Alor Setar is the capital city; a mixture of old and new buildings. Together with Sungai Petani, Jitra and as well as Kulim; one of Malaysia major industrial site.

So what can you do in Langkawi?

The main tourist spot for Kedah both locally and internationally is Langkawi. There are many travel agencies providing Langkawi Packages and Langkawi Tours. The island itself borne of fascinating legends and folklore. It boasts of 99 secondary islands off the coast of Kedah with fine beaches, luxury resorts and unique natural attractions. The island also has the distinction of being the Geopark accorded by UNESCO. Making it one of the more preferred travel destinations in Malaysia. Travelers came from Australia, United Kingdom, United States, Spain, Japan and from other parts of the world.

Visit the Eagle Square or Dataran Lang which is the prominent landmark of the island. Then go to Kuah Town to enjoy a variety of duty free goods. Sun kissed beaches awaits you in Pantai Tengah and Pantai Cenang which are among the liveliest beaches in Langkawi. But for more tranquility you could try Pantai Mok, Burau Bay, Tanjung Rhu and the more secluded Datai Bay with luxury resorts adorning the coastline.

For nature lovers, try Pulau Paya Marine Park. Take a speedboat or a catamaran. It takes about 45 minutes from Kuah Jetty. Other options are boat cruises through Kilim River where you can take pictures of mangrove, its distinctive inhabitants and of limestone formations. Take a trip to Dayang Bunting Lake, Langkawi Wildlife Park or stroll around vast paddy fields.

One of the foremost attractions of Langkawi is the Langkawi cable car. With swift ride up to Mount Mat Cincang you can view the marvelous Andaman Sea and the islands surrounding it. Close by you could see overhanging cliffs and pinnacles.

The cable car is situated at the Oriental Village in Burau Bay about 30 minutes away from Kuah Town. The Geopark Centre is also in the Oriental Village where you can get more info on Langkawi geological heritage.

Now, away from island, right in the other side of Kedah, you can visit museums, temples, mosque and traditional Malay houses. Have a taste of archaeology in Bujang Valley. Or trek through jungles in Ulu Muda Eco Park, Bukit Hijau Recreational Forest Reserve, Mount Jerai or visit Mount Keriang Caves. For the more adventurous, try white water rafting in Sedim River or visit Mount Inas Forest Reserve for more jungle trekking, mountain hiking and also overnights camping.

Those who needed a relaxing getaway, there are many resorts that provides all the necessity for a personal or family retreats. There are golf resorts; the more famous one being the Cinta Sayang Golf & Country Resort or the Black Forest Golf & Country Club. Those who want more native experiences should try for homestays in Kedah. Recommended are the Kampung Relau Homestay and Kampung Raga Homestay. There are a few other homestays so choose the one nearer to your main destinations.

So how to get to Kedah?

You can get to Kedah by air. You can get daily direct flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) by Malaysian Airlines System (MAS) or use AirAsia from LCCT to Kepala Batas which is about 20 minutes from Alor Setar. Getting to Kedah by land also quite easy. Either drive by your own using the North South Expressway or take a bus from Hentian Duta Bus Terminal or Puduraya Bus Terminal. You can opt for a train ride by Keretapi Tanah Melayu that provides daily rail service by the Senandung Langkawi Express. The main station is at Kuala Lumpur Sentral.

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Personally, I think Kedah is a place to visit if you are more of a nature lover. The best way to explore the state is by driving. But if you’re interested more in the some of the forest reserve, you should be prepared with a good backpack and hiking equipment.

For more information on Kedah and how to get there do check out the government tourism site.

Tourism Malaysia – Kedah.

Online travel link from Malaysia

2009-01-22T05:18:00.000-08:00

Thinking of going for holidays in Malaysia? There are a lot of sites that you can look over to consider holidaying in Malaysia. I would suggest that holiday goers looked into travel forums as it usually have more down to earth and honest experiences. Or go for sites with reviews from fellow traveler.

However, it would be good to go ground level if looking for a more comprehensive sites. So I list some local updated Malaysian websites that can be considered.

E Malaysia Travel
Travel Malaysia Guide
Malaysia Tourism Guide
Malaysia DotCom
Cuti-Cuti Malaysia
My Cen
Journey Malaysia
Virtual Malaysia
Malaysia Budget Hotels
Malaysia Vacations Guide

There are many travel blogs that are written by fellow Malaysian. I managed to dig up some high ranking blogs specifically done by Malaysian. Most of them are food blogs but it would be a good start to surf for local perception on Malaysia.

Steven Goh
Terry Tsang
V Keong
Ipoh Chai
Kashenza

Do drop some comments or any links that are useful for travel goers and I’ll added it to the link above. But do make sure it was specifically written about traveling in Malaysia.

Pulau Jarak-First Diving Experience, Malaysia

2008-07-28T07:20:00.000-07:00

In Feb 2006, I finally made up my mind to get my Diving Cert. Somehow with a chance meeting with a lovely lady named Angie, I made my appointment with a Dive Master (who is now a certified PADI dive instructor) named Hanee. You can find his Friendster page here.

I had been wanting to try out diving so it was like a dream come true for me. Find it quite a surprise as its not as 'easy' as it seems to be.

I know this is suppose to be about Pulau Jarak but it was also my first diving experience. So I'll talk a bit more about that.

Aha ha...I guess, this also should be titled 'How to get your diving cert.'

Anyway, down I went to Hanee dive shop in the Plaza Berjaya to start my basic course. There, me and a young lady, Woan Mei, watch instruction videos from PADI, had a few in class sessions & finally take up the paper test.

Woan Mei & I got our result. Which we had enough marks to pass & proceed to the next training. Indoor water dive. This was when we had to put our gear & hit the water. It was really awkward at first. Getting yourself to 'float' underwater wasn't as easy as it sounds to be. But after that it was all fun so I was looking forward to the real open water dive.

And finally, off to Pulau Jarak. Where is Pulau Jarak? Its somewhere off the coast of Lumut,Perak, just some distant from its more famous cousin, Pulau Pangkor. It is actually a famous fishing spot which are haven for anglers looking for big bites.

Pulau Jarak however is not a tourist destination island. Its actually a military post with a lighthouse. Though nobody would really mentioned it is a military post. Well, let just say it as a lookout point. Read more about Pulau Jarak here.

We took a few hours ride from Kuala Lumpur and ended at a jetty in Lumut. There in the middle of the pouring rain we sped off on a speedboat to a larger diving boat named Kaleebso. It was a boat specially made for those who wanted to go for diving and fishing. When I arrived, I found it was surprisingly nice, clean & comfy. Set with sleeping bunkers, sun deck, diving deck, fishing deck, kitchen, washroom, a living room with TV and the front deck set for rest & dining. A middle sized boat with all needed facilities. Read more about Kaleebso here.

Then after all other participants arrive, Kaleebso set into the night towards Pulau Jarak. Woan Mei and I with two other girls set our things in a cabin fitted with four beds.

That night we had our briefing with my diving instructor and had our first taste of the famous Kaleebso seafood. The reason it is famous because the fishes are very very fresh and cooked by the lady of the boat who happen to have a good tongue for spicy food. Ahh...the memories of it. Fishes, prawns, crabs...set in spicy thai sauces. Fried. Steamed.

Okay, enough with the food. I'm missing Kaleebso already.

During the night while we slept, we reached Pulau Jarak. My first training started with a descent from a smaller speedboat. In which I faced my first problem. I couldn't sink. It was funny now but I was a lil bit frustrated then. With a little help and a lot of patience from the dive instructor, Aldrin, I manage to get myself underwater.

It would be too long to tell all the details here. But what I can say is I had a spanking good time with among the nicest & professional people. Aldrin was really good and took his time to deal with beginners like me. Yet he would let me have more freedom to look around the corals when I got the hang of it. Still remember that he was always reminding me to breath because I kept on holding my breath underwater.

And not forgetting the food. Ahhh... the food, the food...

One thing though, Pulau Jarak is known as a safe diving site especially for beginners. It has a wide variety of coral reefs and a astounding diversity of sea creatures. I had the pleasure to see urchins, beautiful strange slugs, eels, schools of shimmering silver fishes, nemo (aha ha...), angel fish...hope I could put up the video here. Then anybody could see the diverse underworld of Pulau Jarak diving site. Then anybody could see how awkward I was underwater.

If you want to know more about Hanee, the person who arrange my diving experience, contact him here and Kaleebso, give them a buzz at their website.

Another note, open water diving is not as easy as it seems but not that hard as anybody could do it. Though it is a more leisure type of hobby where you could basically just drift underwater, it could also be dangerous if it was underestimated. I've mentioned that my instructor keep on reminding me to breath. This is because not doing the breathing properly especially during ascending could result in death. So being properly trained and certified is a must. Don't be fooled and reckless to accept invitations to dive without being certified first.

On a lighter note, diving can be a very interesting hobby. Its not everyday you could see diverse species in their natural habitat at one particular spot at a time.

So I do encourage diving.

Kek Lok Si, Penang, Malaysia

2008-07-24T12:12:00.000-07:00

During my Penang visit in 2006, one of the most interesting place I've visited is the Kek Lok Si Temple. Its one of the most magnificent Buddhist temple in Malaysia. Read the following excerpts from Wikipedia. Photos are from my own personal collection.

Excerpt from Wikipedia.

The Kek Lok Si Temple (Penang Hokkien for "Temple of Supreme Bliss"; Simplified Chinese: 极乐寺; Traditional Chinese: 極樂寺) is a Buddhist temple situated in Air Itam in Penang and is one of the best known temples on the island.

Mahayana Buddhism and traditional Chinese rituals blend into a harmonious whole, both in the temple architecture and artwork as well as in the daily activities of worshippers.

History

The construction of the temple began in 1890 and was inspired by the chief monk of the Goddess of Mercy Temple at Pitt Street. With the support of the consular representative of China in Penang, the project received the sanction of the Manchu Emperor Guangxu, who bestowed a tablet and gift of 70,000 volumes of the Imperial Edition of the Buddhist Sutras.

The primary benefector of the Kek Lok Si Temple in 1906 was none other than Kapitan Chung Keng Quee.

In 1930, the seven storey main pagoda of the temple or the Pagoda of 10,000 Buddhas, was completed. This pagoda combines a Chinese octagonal base with a middle tier of Thai design, and a Burmese crown; reflecting the temple's embrace of both Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism.

In 2002, a 30.2m bronze statue of the Kuan Yin was completed and opened to public. The statue is located on the hillside above the pagoda.

A temple in the making

As the fairly recent date mentioned above may suggest, the temple is still growing. Generous donations from the affluent Chinese community allow the construction of additional buildings. The current focus is to create an ornate shelter for the Kuan Yin statue. 16 carved dragon pillars are being built, the concentric roof will be inspired by classical Ming architecture, reminiscent of the roof of Prayer Hall for Good Harvest in the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.

Visiting the Temple

Most visitors approach the temple as they ascend a stairway, roofs of which provide shelter to a multitude of shops selling souvenirs and other - mostly secular - commodities. They pass by a so-called Liberation Pond, following the buddhist tradition of merit-making, turtles may be released into freedom, albeit a limited one.

The temple itself consists of several large hall for assembly and prayer, here, statues of Buddha, various Bodhisattvas as well as Chinese gods are being venerated. Intricate woodwork, often brightly painted and a plethora of laterns add to the visual impression.

There is an inclined lift to carry pilgrims and visitors further uphill. On the elevated platform, you can find a pond filled with Koi and the towering statue of Kuan Yin, Goddess of Mercy, which can also be regarded as Avalokitheshvara, Bodhisattva of Universal Compassion.

Annual Events

The temple is a focal point of festivals of the Chinese community in Penang. The Chinese New Year celebrations are particularly impressive: for 30 days following Chinese New Year, the temple remains open until late at night whilst thousands of lights turn the scenery into a sea of light.

I had an enjoyable times at Kek Lok Si and quite some spiritual moments too. The sound of chants, the smell of incense invoke the feeling of peace. Its a place I would love to visit again.

Mount Kinabalu; Sabah, Malaysia

2008-05-29T09:51:00.000-07:00

Sometime in June 2005, me & my cousin,Cindy pack our bags and went to climb Mount Kinabalu. So this post is a bit out dated for about 3 years but then again the mountain had been there for millions of years so this is just a tiny fraction of time :-)

Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain in South East Asia, a world heritage and situated nicely in Kota Kinabalu Sabah, East Malaysia or commonly known to some as the head of Borneo.

Our trip started from a van ride taken at Kota Kinabalu. The van ride was enjoyable enough if you don't mind the open windows and other locals. But the scenery were priceless as the van whizzed through hills and lush green vegetations at each side.

Arriving at Kinabalu Park we proceeds with our registrations. Our accommodations were booked months before (this is very important, especially to get a sleeping spot at the top of the mountain). We got ourselves two beds at one of the hostel and walked around the park. The park is cool even at mid afternoon so it was really refreshing. Had our lunch at a really nice restaurant a few minutes walk away. Really nice and we actually could see the mountain when the weather cleared.

The food were really up to our taste and I tried coffee mixed with liquor to heat my body up.

The next morning, we started our climb by taking a van ride from the Park HQ up to Timpohon Gate. Both me & Cindy opted for a walking stick. I knew I needed it as my stamina were not in the highest state.

The climb, I remembered had about 10 stops. Each stops have a small open hut with toilet and water pipes that actually provides fresh mountain water which are safe & actually better to drink. So to those who intend to climb, you don't have to worry much about water supply.

So after around three hours climb, we reached the height where the vegetation were stunted and the hard earth turned more into hard boulders. This when some climbers had to stopped and 'rearrange' their breathing as the air becomes thinner. Some also started to experienced altitude sickness at this point. Luckily, Cindy & me had no problem with those except for me who really had to pushed myself. If it wasn't her first climb & just being sympathetic with me, I think she could've arrived at Laban Rata much earlier.

"Laban Rata Resthouse"

So I told her to go first following and I managed to reach Laban Rata an hour later than her. We thought of going out to experience the surrounding but the weather had a bad turn so we had to stay indoors all the time. Pity.

The next morning, at 2 am actually, we started the second leg of our climb. Equipped with flash light and our helpful young guide we trudged on the rocky surface. At this point, some had to turn back because of altitude sickness and the freezing cold.

The first challenge were the thousand wooden steps that we had to take. To me, who didn't particularly like stairs, that was really tiring. But we reach the top of the stairs I looked back and the view took my breath away. It was still dark but we could actually the expand of the surrounding areas. Far off we could actually see the twinkling lights from Kota Kinabalu.

And as dawn approached, the rocky surrounding became visible. When things looked near but actually so far away. And I couldn't help but keep on asking 'Are we there yet?'. At this time my breathing had some problems but I kept on. It was hard, yes, but the surrounding pushed me on and the fact that the peak were not far off.

Later, with the help of my guide, I finally reached Low Peak which is the summit of Mount Kinabalu. I actually gave long whoop at the peak for finally reaching there. The peak is actually a crop of jagged rock & few climbers already sat there. So I had some time to get my photo taken.

Thought we could spend more time on the peak but our guide advised us to go down quickly. But at least we managed to really enjoyed the view & played around a bit. I got to take some photos and happy that many turns out well.

When we reach Laban Rata then we realised why our guide asked us to come down quickly. By then thick fogs covered the peak and it would be dangerous if we stayed up longer.

After resting a while at Laban Rata, joking with some of the guides, we made our way down. Some may find going down was harder but I knew from my first failed climb (yes, this was my second climb) it would be easier if you 'run' down. Seriously. There is a special run not the usual 100 meter dash. Asked your guide to show you how.

And our guide actually showed us a short cut and our climbing down are cut into half.

Finally we reached Timpohon Gate and our climb was over.

How did I feel personally? Tired & exhilarating at the same time.

Three years had passed, the Park had undergone some major changes. Prices had increased but I heard a lot of things had improved.

There are many articles on Mount Kinabalu for those who wanted to climb. But for me, Mount Kinabalu are not hard to climb for those who had no problems climbing stairs. For those like me, it might be quite a challenge. Its relatively safe to climb but never underestimated nature. Those who did had suffered from them. The worst was the case of young Australian girl who got lost in the fogs & died due to cold.

But fret not, its safe. I'm planning on my third climb.

If you want to booked your room you can contact Sutera Sanctuary Lodges. Advisable to book months early. Its not easy to the get the room at Laban Rata. There are other huts too but I would recommend Laban Rata though I heard it had become a little pricey.

Oh yes, after finishing the climb, you will be given a climbing certificate. The extra sweet topping of a memorable time.

Cherating; Kuantan Pahang

2008-02-10T04:47:00.001-08:00

On the 2nd of Feb/08, me & a few of my online members of Bidayuh Info decided to pack our bags & head out to Cherating, Kuantan by car pooling. Bidayuh Info is an online group of mostly Bidayuh from Sarawak, Malaysia. You can get to know about Bidayuh in other blogs The Bidayuh Take or the simple testimonial on the group here.

Our first meeting point was Genting Sempah, where we had a hearty breakfast. I had nasi lemak with a sliced of marinated chicken & super spicy sambal.

This would be a start to our enjoyable dining plans ahead. Though there are some complaint of the super spicy food which end up some of us peeking the washroom longer than planned.

But we went on our journey using the Karak Highway; stopping for a while at a rest station.
The journey breezed on with me car pooling with my long time pal Barbara aka Babe & her fiance, Joneses on the wheels.

I looked out the windows enjoying the sights of lush greeneries lining the roadside. But in due time, neither the trees or the blaring hip hop music on the stereo would stop me & Babe drifting to sleep.Being a true gentleman, Joneses kept his attention on the road, driving the compact Kancil towards Kuantan.

Around 12 p.m we reached Cherating zone but the group decided to go for lunch first. Set out for a famous restaurant in Chukai; we anticipated a rare recipe of baked crabs.

Wheezing through the slow moving traffic, Joneses found his way to Chukai & we had our second enjoyable meal for the day.

And what a meal that was! Restoran Malaysia is an awesome place famous for its baked crabs & fresh seafood.Though short on complex interior design, the restaurant aka coffee shop styled are basked in simple white crisp interior with a particular wall decoration. Shells of tiger prawns with price attached?

Meal was done slowly, as it is, due to its reputation. But our merry group find our own entertainment by teasing each other, the 'many layered' fruit juice & even the lady owner. Earning a few strange looks from other customers and an amused lady.

When the food came, the wait was really worthwhile. To taste something out of the ordinary and seafood that are almost unbelievable fresh. We had the famous baked crab,clams,fried chilli prawns & steamed fish; all names I'd forgotten to take note.

It was one heck of a lunch treat & was more a treat as one of our member decided to paid the bill himself. That earned him a 'kow tow' from us.

After that, we stopped for a more humble setting by the roadside to experience the famous Terengganu Sata;fresh minced fish wrapped in pandan leaves & barbequed over hot coals. Set in triangular shape a small piece of very spicy chilli was put inside. So you'll have a contradictory taste of sweet fresh fish and hot chilli. Again the taste was fantastic.
For a moment, I began to wonder my taste had something to do with getting out from the more dusty KL to a fresher Terengganu air.

Then after our short 'desert' we headed out to our chalets at Cherating Bayview Resort. It was a little confusing to find the place as it was nicely tucked somewhere among other chalets reached only by dirt sandy roads. Somewhere nearby was a Muslim graveyard, so for a moment we thought we've made a wrong turn. But the chalets was nearby and due to the greeneries nobody really noticed the graveyard. And it was quite far too.

Priced at RM135 for its two Queen sized bedroom with attached bathroom, the chalets were clean and comfortable. A very wise choice, I must say. I would recommend it to others. In fact I heard it recommended by expats to our very own Uncle Bob. The area were enclosed in wire fence and the beach were just a very short walking distant.

After unpacking, we headed out to the beach. The water were too tempting that I decided to take a swim. But later retreated as the current was quite strong.

Then we had fun posing on the beach. Photos of Willy conveniently sun bathing for all to see were posted several times on our forum.
The guys were enjoying their half nakedness under the cool sun. The ladies also had fun posing & enjoying some female bonding.

I was drenched in salt water but I really couldn't care less. However, I do realise my cloth are not water resistant and definitely see through when wet, so I made a hasty retreat to my room to change.

At one point, me and another member, Herman ran after a moving 'entity' that we later found out a strange plant blown by the wind. I felt I had a 'hilarious' run but what the heck. Feeling the excitemennt of a child for that one brief moment.
Later, I passed my time on the chalets ground as I snapped some more photos. I was joined by Agustus as we took the chalets surroundings and later discovered a family of monkeys nearby.
Some of the members decided to have a swim at the swimming pool but I preferred to stay in the room instead. I still yearn for the sea water but it was beginning to rain so I opted resting.

In the evening, we grouped again & had a good talk at the receptions area. The ladies were having a blast as we exchanged joke and the word 'Koteh' comes out. Spontaneity were alway the best thing as me,Babe,Junett,Jasmine,Carol and Cat broke out in laughters overriding the guys group nearby.

Then we head out for dinner; another set of enjoyable meal and then seek out entertainment for the night. This however turns out a bit frustrating as we moved from one spot to another. In the end, we ended up in a rather dinghy Karaoke room. As I belted out Indonesian song, struggling with a bad microphone & a bad voice to boot, I was a bit surprised it didn't actually rained.

The stars were bright as we headed back around midnight. I wanted to stray to the beach but it was pitch dark and I'm sure the gate was closed. So I tucked in with Babe as Jasmine decides to join some members for a late supper.

When she came back and knocked the door, a surprised, sleepy, confused Junett added a another funny episode for the trip. Waking up in a strange room, she woke up asking me where is she. I think at that brief time she also couldn't recognise me. Me, being a light sleeper, was also a bit surprised and confused. Staring at a long haired lady staring back at you in the dark was not something somebody should wake up to.

But it was in seconds, as I processed the fact that Jasmine was outside and I groggily open the door. Only the next morning, we found ourselves amused by the incidents.

Babe however, was sound asleep and I don't think she'd known.

Morning came and we all woke later than expected with Ejol knocking our windows and we simply ignoring him. But somehow, we still manage to grouped together again for another fantastic breakfast at Hai Peng Coffee Shop in Chukai. I ordered nasi lemak and a dose of recommended Vietnamese Coffee. And some buns with homemade 'kaya' or sweet paste.

The coffee was done with its filter on top. Served piping hot. Complimenting the kaya bun. Thanks to Jeffrey for recommending that.

In fact, it was so good that I ended buying a box of Hai Peng coffee.

Then car pooling with Willy, me and Babe made a detour to the famous Awana Hotel and then a U turn, stopping to buy some 'keropok lekor.' Keropok lekor are minced fresh fish enveloped in flour to be fried in oil. I bought some lekor for my housemates and the special chilli paste.

After packing, I took some time for more photos with Jasmine and a little time alone at the beach. I stood there under the sun, feeling the energy of nature flowing into me as I walked barefoot on the sand. Call me strange but I do feel that I'm like a rechargeable battery sometime. Funny, under the sun I was recharge.

By 1.30 p.m, we packed our bags and headed back to Kuala Lumpur; again Joneses on the wheel.

We decided to take the Pantai Timur Highway but Babe compact Kancil (Joneses, the driver. :-o ) made a wrong turn and our little group of three was cut off from the main group. Luckily, we found our way back through an opening and a serious reversed drive. Again something of the trip worth remembering.

We reached Temerloh rest station and had our good byes for the day. Later, after a brief lunch, we picked up Agustus at Genting Sempah and proceeded back to Babe's place.

And finally worn out, Babe took the wheel from Joneses and we arrived at 7 p.m. One the way back, we noted pelicans perching on lightings poles. That was a rare sight. Four or five pelicans perched with their long legs on the roadside poles. It was almost statue like but it was moving in the slow rain. I bet they are migrating & couldn't find trees to rest.

Too bad my camera couldn't snap that moment. It was raining, cloudy & my little Olympus are unfortunately not endowed with such special specs to take better photos.

After taking his car, Agustus dropped me off later at my place. I settled for the night with the lingering taste of fresh crabs, the smell of hot Vietnamese Coffee and the soft swaying of the sea.

A short but memorable road trip with amazing group of people. I'm looking forward for another.

Check out the whole album here.