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Published: September 23rd 2008
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A 3 days 2 nights glimpse of Redang Island / Pulau Redang (in Malay)
The trip is from 28th June - 30th June 2008 with friends:- Rafiee, Zilan and me 😊
We already booked this package beforehand to avoid unavailability of rooms since it was peak season. We stayed at Redang Holiday Beach Villa and spent around RM400 on this package and another RM100-200 for return bus tickets and some knick knacks.
27th June 08 - We took a bus called Transnasional at Seksyen 17, Shah Alam. We prefer them because the bus is comfortable and the driver drove very safely and accomply the law. We departed at 12am and the journey itself took about 8 hours. So it is important to have a comfy bus and 2 bus drivers. Along the journey Rafiee and me chat and chatting away while other passengers were sleeping. We stopped talking and feeling sleepy only about 3am. lol. There was 30 mins stop at the R&R for us to move the muscles around and have a cup of coffee. Even coffee could not keep our eyes from dropping asleep. The bus made a few stops for the passengers once it
Arrival
Zilan and me...arrived at the Redang jetty reached Terengganu. Last destination was Kuala Terengganu, the main city of Terengganu.
28th June 08 - Arrived at the Kuala Terengganu bus station at 6 am. Quite early eh? We headed to the nearest 7-E to buy some hot cup Maggie mee. Yumm Yummm. Later got ourselves some coffee at the foodcourt. Some of them were open to cater the morning crowd for breakfast. I was impressed at the Kuala Terengganu bus station...it was big and looks new. Maybe they just been renovated. Big crowd eventho early morning, so no worries. We waited for Zilan who came all the way down from Singapore.
Alas, about 8am she arrived. We hurrily called our agent because fear of missing the boat! We hopped into a van together with other travellers and off to Merang Jetty. The journey was about 30km from Kuala Terengganu. The jetty itself has become touristy spot with rugged-looking stalls been set up selling shirts, hats, shorts, swim wear, sun dress and souvenir. We all had a look around before going to the boat. Thank god it was not a small speedboat because I am not ready for a bumpy ocean! lol. It was a mid-size boat
snorkel crowd
crowdy...like illegal immigrants wanted to sneak in Malaysia. HAHA. where we can choose to sit inside or outside deck. Safety jacket was provided. The journey took about 40 mins and at some point it was bumpy but it was okay. Nearing the island, all traveller already fall asleep...who does not? Being sway like in the cradle and the cooling sea wind, anyone would be. lol.
The jetty was not like Langkawi or Pangkor jetty, mind you. It was just a floating woodplanks all the way to the beach. Lucky we don't have to carry our bags because the staff carried it themselves. But of course not all the way to the resort...they just dumped it at the beach. So we took our bags and walked towards the resort. Mygod...the ocean is so blueish-turquoise. Water is crystal-clear. Sand is white. Welcome to heaven folks..! Really..this is the first time I've seen an island as beautiful as this. We must have come at the right time!
First impression of Redang Holiday Beach Villa was..."cool, they have sea-view open bar". Second impression "love the open dining area...definitely gonna have my sit there..open and sea-view". lol. I just looove the open and sea-view concept. Actually this resort is situated on the far
right on the island. The farthest right. So, the view was marvelous. Only a bit disadvantage was that it was quite a walk to get to the farthest left side of the island. But, not a tiring walk...only fun fun fun...to see people lazing around, playing beach volleyball, snorkeling, taking pictures etc. Before you know it, you already there! lol. Thank god we chose this side because the other side's beach was full of dead coral and it was painful to walk along the beach ya know. However, they have good snorkeling site...so there is a pro and contra of it.
As soon as we checked into our room, we got changed into swimwear and off to the beach. After that, we had lunch provided by the hotel and headed to the beach again. About 3pm, we were off to our 1st snorkeling trip! All snorkeling gears were already included in the package, so we didn't have to pay anything extra. I had a little incident during hopping the boat. My feet suddenly had a cramp and I couldn't even climb the boat. Lucky a lot of caring considerate people there helped me. So, I got into the boat
fishes
feeding fishies... anyway...but I had doubts whether I could do snorkel. Cramp feet/legs were a nightmare to me. I hate it. I churned out some guts and decided to snorkel anyway. We snorkeled at Pulau Lima, the depth is about 5 meter and we saw a lot of beautiful corals and fishes. The snorkeling guides brought breads to feed the fishes. I tried to feed them...however I felt like being attack of a school of fishes...which is scary. HAHA. I just giggled and screamed. The sea at that time is swim able...for a non-swimmer like myself. Alas, the fun ended and we headed back to the hotel. Had teatime, lazed and swam until sunset!
Nightlife in Redang especially Long Beach is everything but boring. For karaoke-goers, can sing a song or two at the resort's open bar or headed down to Laguna Redang Resort's bar where there was a lot more selection of songs. Redang Beach Resort on the other hand were having a beach party and a mini celebration of their guest's birthday. Actually not that mini because in the end there were fireworks..maybe brought by his friends or courtesy of the hotel itself. The best show of the night
RUNNNN!
Rafiee running Baywatch style in my opinion is...tadaa...shooting stars!! Lots and lots of them! We all laid our asses on the beach...gazing at the trillions beautiful stars and counting shooting stars and verbally made a wish! Head to our room about 3am and hit the bed.
29th June 08 - I woke up late while my friends were up early and already frolicking and cam-whoring at the beach. LOL. Second day was much like yesterday...sun, sea and sand bliss! We all missed the second snorkel trip which was at the Marine Park...but in time to catch our third and final snorkeling trip near Kalong Bay. Initially it should be Pulau Paku Kecil but found out a lot of jelly fish there. This time, it was deeper than yesterday's and I saw a humongous coral/rock formation and also a pretty big table coral. We also saw lovely small fishes which swam passed by us! And they swimming jumping out of the sea! So cute!
That night we had a BBQ dinner. The night would be a blast if it wasn't raining. Rain came down pouring heavily thus we just hang out at our room.
30th June 08 - We
pose
nice view, and nice pose there too haha packed our bags and hop onto the boat at 11am. Au Revoir Redang Island! We got a lot of time to kill while waiting for the night bus so we took a look around Kuala Terengganu. Paid a visit at Crystal Mosque and Islamic Civilization Park at Wan Man Island. We met a friendly local bus driver whom offered himself to guide us through Kuala Terengganu. He took us to keropok lekor place, Tengku Tengah Zaharah floating mosque and brought us to a wonderful stall that sold local dishes nearby the mosque. We had Kerabu rice, Dagang rice, chicken satay, grilled fish, grilled cockles and jumbo size fruit juice! Finally, it was time to leave Terengganu. Took a Transnational bus and arrived in KL at about 5 am.
Terengganu certainly has its charm. Be its rustic fish villages, a fine Kerabu rice, its new attraction - Crystal Mosque on Wan Man island or its breath-taking seaview at Redang island....everyone would have their own piece of cake when they are in Terengganu.
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