Blogs from Pulau Redang, Terengganu, Malaysia, Asia

We decide to go exploring. Google Maps seems to show a bit of a track around to the cove next to the resort, so we go to the end of the beach to look for it. We find lots of thick jungle, but no track, so Issy says we should ask someone. I'm pretty sure the resort wants its guests to stay on the grounds so that they spend lots of money on food, drink and activities, so I don’t think asking any of the staff would be particularly beneficial. I’m sure they’ll tell us that Google Maps is lying. Anyway I’m not into asking. I tell Issy that real explorers don’t ask; I bet Edmund Hillary didn’t ask someone the way to the top of Mount Everest, or Neil Armstrong the way to the moon, ... read more

I'm relieved to wake up and find that I don't seem to have developed rabies during the night. Issy's still feeling the after effects of the last two days' travelling, so I set off for breakfast on my own and see the resort‘s massive grounds for the first time in daylight. It's next to a harbour and seems to have lots of very good looking tropical resort type rooms in buildings called "blocks", each containing four rooms. I usually associate blocks with prisons or public housing estates, but this looks to be a step up from either of those. There also seem to be lots of excellent looking recreational facilities here including an olympic size infinity swimming pool, a gym, a soccer ground and a large children's playground. The only thing that seems to be missing ... read more

The last time I dived was 2005! So excited that I'll get to dive again yeh... Kinda anxious... Will I rem how to dive, despite us taking our refresher course 2 weeks again? Will I puke during the boat ride? Arrived at Redang after more than 14 hrs coach + boat ride. After checking in & light lunch, underwater world... here we come! To our horror, we had to dive with almost 40 other ppl (cos it's the Singapore National Day weekend). Each boat took approx 20+ pax... somehow, the dive masters seem to be in a hurry. Gear up now! Quick, jump in now! Being a beginner, it felt kinda uneasy to have to fight for space to gear up. And we had to wait for 20+ ppl to get into the water, which made ... read more

Selamat pagi (Good morning)! I’ll start by saying that I have added pics to the last entry so it should be a little more interesting now… I left off as we were about to embark on the last part of the field portion of the course, Pulau Redang. An hour boat ride across azure seas took us to what can only be described as paradise. Paradise might even be cutting it short. We pulled up to a diminutive sandy beach skirted on one side by coral reef and on the other by dense jungle. The beach was covered in short sticks coming out of the sand (more on that later) and there was a small hut for cooking, lectures, and where the couple of employees stay. It is called Pasir Mak Kepit, which roughly translates to ... read more

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 ... read more