Perhentian's Tropical Beaches

By: Richard Ryan

There’s just something about visiting a mostly deserted tropical island that always piques my interest. Perhaps it’s an element of the unknown – I may be safe on the beach, but how far away are the vicious monkeys or enormous lizards?

Arguably the best of the best Malaysian beach retreats are the Perhentian Islands that lie approximately 10 nautical miles (19 km) off the coast of northeastern Malaysia in the state of Terengganu. They are the perfect place to take a break – even down to the name; ‘perhentian’ actually means ‘stopping point’.

As they lie only 64km or so south of the Thai border they are every bit as beautiful as their Siamese counterparts but, importantly, significantly less developed.

The two main islands are Perhentian Besar (translated as Big Perhentian) and Perhentian Kecil (which means Small Perhentian). The small, uninhabited islands of Susu Dara, Seringgi and Rawa lie off Kecil and are the perfect place to spend an afternoon living out any fantasies of being shipwrecked on a paradise island.

What makes them special? Well, the Perhentians belong to Pulau Redang National Marine Park, which means that fishing, collecting coral and littering are strictly prohibited. It also means that steps have been taken to protect the natural beauty of the islands. You’ll find no luxurious, sprawling hotel complexes here. Instead, your accommodation is likely to be a simple shack on the beach.

Of these shacks, one of the most popular is Tuna Bay Resort on Pulau Perhentian Besar near Pasir Jong. The word resort might be a slight exaggeration of what they offer (no spas, pools or room service here) but what isn’t lacking is the atmosphere – it’s terrific.

Popular with families, this is a place to relax and have fun – as oppose to being the perfect escape for honeymooners wanting a quiet getaway. There’s a holiday feeling permeating through the bay that makes you feel as if you could walk up to anyone and say hello.

If you want a second simple recommendation, ask for “Pasir Panjang” (Long Beach) on Perhentian Kecil. You’re unlikely to have it to yourself, but it is a very beautiful beach with postcard-perfect white sand and crystal clear water. Take some snacks and you’ll be set for a picnic that will last long in the memory.

Another activity that makes for unforgettable memories is diving. Both islands are fringed by stunning reefs and crystalline water which are host to a wide variety of coral, sea-turtles, jellyfish, small sharks and reef-fish.

It’s easy enough to get PADI qualified and go quite deep (the diving school at D’Anyana House is recommended) but, to be honest, simply strapping on a snorkel and splashing about will still bring you in contact with an incredible array of sea life.

For me though, it’s all about being on land. The sea may fascinate some, but I live for beaches.

About the Author

Richard Ryan is a professional journalist who has worked in the UK, Malaysia and Australia. For more information visit http://www.richardryan.co.uk

(ArticlesBase SC #676018)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Perhentian's Tropical Beaches

Photo Tuna Bay Resort thanks to The Shifted Librarian License Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0).

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24 Hours in Kuantan, Malaysia

By: Richard Ryan

If you’re an early riser, a morning hike up Bukit Panorama in Sungai Lembing (a 90 minute drive from Kuantan city in Pahang) could be an ideal start for a fantastic day in Kuantan. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes to reach the peak of Bukit Panorama – but you can rest assured that it’s called that for a reason. At 1,200 metres above sea level, the sunrise is a must-see for nature enthusiasts.

10AM
If you fancy a bit of history, you can make your way to the Sungai Lembing Museum. Sungai Lembing is a tin mining town 42 km northwest of Kuantan. Lembing is Malay for spear, and "sungai" means river. According to the local legend, the ruler saw a vision of a spear in the nearby river and thus named his town after this vision. The museum, highlighting the tin mining industry, was opened in 2003. Housed in an old colonial bungalow once used by the mine manager, you can an interesting collection of mining artefacts here.

11AM
On the way to Sg. Lembing in the small town of Pancing is Gua Charas, a temple cave that is a popular tourist destination. The limestone cave was formed millions of years ago and carved out by the forces of nature, offering an interesting sojourn for everyone.

The Sungai Pandan Waterfalls, located 25 kilometres from the city, are also nearby. Consisting of cascading falls making a large cooling pool underneath and an ideal place for swimmers, it is well maintained and a clean area with recreation facilities, shelters, food stalls, which is good because you might be feeling peckish by now. A suspension bridge spans the river offering a clear view of the entire waterfall from its centre.

2PM
Time to hit the beach! The famous Teluk Chempedak beach is only five kilometres from Kuantan and is an excellent venue for sailing, surfing, jet-skiing and sunbathing. Beyond the main beach, there are excluded bathing spots and ardent sun-lovers can jungle-trek through the TC Forest Reserve into the idyllic Pelindung beach. An alternative route will lead you to the Teruntum Park which has a mini zoo where children and adults alike can have fun. For golf enthusiasts, an afternoon on the greens is possible at the Royal Golf Club.

7PM
Kuantan is undoubtedly famous for its seafood. One place where you can find some good grub is at Pak Su Seafood Restaurant. Located at Beserah beach (near the Swiss Garden Resort) this restaurant is open from lunch till late in the evening for dinner. The stuffed crab and black pepper venison are quite the big hits among locals. Oysters and lobsters are also available. Another option is to have grilled fish in Tanjung Lumpur, located about five kilometres from the city, near the Kuantan River.

NIGHTLIFE
The city’s famous Swing Club and Lounge is a favourite among the locals and tourists for a night of karaoke and just hanging out. Nearby are also mamak stalls and ‘Kopitiam’ cafes for a bite after partying.

About the Author

Richard Ryan is a professional journalist who has worked in the UK, Malaysia and Australia. For more information visit http://www.richardryan.co.uk

(ArticlesBase SC #676104)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - 24 Hours in Kuantan, Malaysia

Foto Sungai Pandan Waterfall danke an zh1yong Lizenz Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) .

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Diving at Redang Island, Malaysia

Author: Marilyn Chew

Redang Island, called Pulau Redang in the local language, is located at 45 km offshore of Terengganu, a state at north east of Peninsula Malaysia. At the size of about 7km long and 6km wide, it's a small island. Together with some other islands, Pulau Pinang, Pulau Lima, Pulau Ekor Tebu, Pulau Perhentian Besar, Pulau Perhentian Kecil, Pulau Susu Dara, Pulau Lang Tengah and Pulau Kapas, these group of islands forms the Pulau Redang Marine Park which is abound with marvelous marine fishes, turtles and coral reefs, provides a great snorkeling and scuba-diving experience. There are more than 500 species of live corals, 1000 species of invertebrates and almost 3000 species of fishes which includes manta rays, stingrays, sharks and whale sharks, all living in harmony in the reefs fringing the islands.

Redang Island is famous for it's white sandy beaches, crystal clear blue sea, brilliant underwater world and has among the best coral reef in the world. With more than 20 different diving spots, it is a heaven for diving enthusiasts and underwater photographers. Some of them are black coral garden, shipwrecks near Pinang Island, a mysterious submerged chamber and Mini Mount.

The dive season at Redang starts around March and lasts until early October. The daily temperature ranges from 22oC in the early morning to 34oC at noon. The visibility averages 15 metres. On good days, it can improve to 30 metres. Some of the favourite dive locations are:

Big Mount

Located about 50 to 100 meters off the northern tip of Pulau Lima, Big mount is a completely submerged oval seamount. This is arguably the best of all the dive sites around this island with a large coral pillar and highly rated by local divers.. The shallowest portion of this reef at 20 meters and the boulder terrain drops to 30 meters and is filled with many varieties of hard and soft corals, gorgonian fans, sea anemones and whip coral gardens. Divers can expect to encounter huge clownfish, sea cucumbers, starfishes, stonefish, groupers and parrotfish.

Mini Mount.

100 meters east off of Pulau Kerengga Besar, with the deepest portion at about 20 meters. The surface of the boulders are carpeted with a variety of soft corals, tubastrea corals, sea squirts, sponges and stinging hydroids. Also, here divers can see a unique blend of sponges, shrimps, moluscs, echinoderms and soft corals. This is a popular choice for night dive where divers are rewarded with an abundance of night creatures foraging for food around the reef.

Terumbu Kili

Lies at the southern tip of Pulau Pinang, this is one of the top dive sites at Redang. The rocky seascape is encrusted with both hard and soft corals at about 15 meters, and slopes down to 20 meters at the sandy bottom. Fish life includes cardinal fish, damselfish, chromis, snappers, parrotfish and soldierfish. While in the open water you are likely to encounter jacks, fusiliers, yellowtail, batfish and black tip sharks. Due to the strong currents, this site is best left to advanced and more experienced divers as you can get swept out to sea if you're not careful.

The waters around Pulau Redang also contain two historic shipwrecks: The HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, sunk here at the start of World War II.

Other dive sites includes Tanjung Lang, Tanjung Tokong, Tanjung Gua Kawah, Pasir Panjang, Batu Mak Chantek, Pulau Paku Besar, Pulau Paku Kecil, Pulau Ling, Batu Chipor, Terumbu Putih, Black Coral Garden, "Mysterious Submerged Chamber", The Southeastern Side, The Northeastern Side, Pulau Kerangga Kecil and Pulau Ekor Tebu.

Divers, packed your bags and heading to Redang Island already?

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/diving-at-redang-island-malaysia-100102.html

About the Author

Marilyn loves travelling and maintains a travelling blog - All About Travellings.

Photo reef fish Redang thanks to "amateur photo bore" Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) .