Another Island Getaway (Pangkor Revisited)

Pangkor is my first choice to go for a remote hideaway secara adhoc basis dalam jarak 200km below.

Asal mahu ke Siam tetapi kerana Fatiha tidak mempunyai passport, tak bawak plak kesian, nak bawak plak beratur kat imigresen macam banyak songel, maka kami decide pegi tempat yang boleh layan pantai.

Banyak peristiwa best dan banyak juga yang tak best.

Yang Best :

1. Dapat sewa motor dan round island. Memang adventure lalu kawasan teluk dalam tu.

2. Dapat island hoping dua orang sewa bot RM50 pastu snorkelling masuk sekali.

3. Dapat layan angin pantai dan suasana tenang. Jauh dari hiruk pikuk kota, chewah.....

Yang Tak Best:

1. Pangkor macam dah tak cantek sangat. Sampah merata.

2. Harga makanan mahal. Makan dan minum lauk biasa seorang dah almost RM8. Mak ai....

3. LCD Screen DSLR aku retak masa tinggal di chalet. Maka, jangan sewa chalet murah kalau bawak equipment riban-riban. Aku dah serik. Sewa chalet RM90, tapi ongkos nak menggantikan screen dah cecah RM250 kat servis center. Baik check in Damai Laut dan amik pakej spa gitu huhu. Or next time hangkut la semua equipment ke mana-mana.

Overall, estimate la dalam RM300 gitu kalau nak jalan pangkor semalam berdua (termasuk minyak kereta). tol takder sebab kami guna jalan lama.

Another Island Getaway In Terengganu (Lang Tengah) - May 2009

Lang Tengah is a sister island to the famous Redang and it takes about 1 hour to travel from Merang Jetty, the mainland. I was invited by a friend who purchased a three day-2 night stay package in Matta 2009, approximately about RM369 per pax.

We took a returned flight package with Fireflyz (RM250 per pax) to and forth from Kuala Terengganu Airport in 1st May 2009. The year when all my major travelling to be in mid of every year...

This is the first snorkelling trip for my daughter, Nurul Fatiha which left me worries whether she could make it to the deepest water. She was all excited to go for this one. The pictures tell that :)

I have seen dead coral...

Everywhere on the sea bed and the enthusiasm sunk immediately.

Spending 4 days in a island where it was supposed to be best-kept secret and I think it has been exaggerated.

Perhaps it was 10 years ago, or 20, I think.


However, a good news from this diver was a big relief.

"today's murky water due to this coral sponing"

"Yeah, I have seen it only in National Geographic"

And the hope grew again for some reason. And for the same reason, I swam 100 meter from the shore, 7 feet deep, alone with my mask and snorkel equipment.

Just to see some new coral lying if it is there, growing.


As the temperature of the water was getting colder, I had no guts to go further.

A big round coral with yellowish color was just beneath me.

And another brownish sponge-y looking type was somewhere near.

It was like finding a life form on a barren Mars.


And thanks to Kerajaan Barisan National who built the big concrete jetty to the island, the future resort or the existing ones.

The destruction was a mass one.

I wonder, why a big jetty for 3 small chalet?

Another white elephant in the future?

First Snorkelling Moment : Redang Island (2006)

First Day, 14th July 2006

The great afternoon arrival

What can I say more? Sand, sea and breeze make a good place to fantasize. The trip came in the middle of chaos, which could make a great temporary escape and it was true.

Me and Alin, on the bus to jetty transfer.

We boarded on the 7.30 flight from KLIA to Kuala Terengganu. jetty transfer took around 45 minutes. As soon as we landed, light turquoise colour water and sandy beach was the most rewarding sight!

As the sea level goes down deeper, coral and numerous species of fish swimming in groups was a breathtaking view. It was like being a tiny human being in your normal aquarium, only my size bigger was than the rest of the entire living species.

Evening

Unfortunately, we were supposed to have this excursion to thebeach for the Blue Sand sightseeing when the rain poured heavily. The tiny coral segments emitting striking blue light thingy during night time was something not to be missed but the weather did not allow us. My friends and I ended up playing card in hostel room.Second Day (15th July 2006)

Taman Laut Pulau Redang

Encounter with more coral species and colourful fish. The fee park was RM5 per person. Standard rate.

Afternoon

I went for banana boat riding with my colleagues. Z even persuaded me to go back feeding the fish somewhere near our resort, which I could not resist, so we spent the rest of evening in the sea again. I drank too much sea water.

\

Evening

Since it was post-World Cup, we found ourselves dancing samba . Befriending with the local was a bonus point. Had great time knowing these people and exploring every aspect of their job which I had 15 minutes being the captain of the boat.

Third Day (16th July 2006)

It was the day for us to go home after some island hopping .

The last hours spent at Kuala Terengganu for shopping spree time where we stopped at Losong and Pasar Payang before departed back to KL. Redang is truly a gem!