Terengganu – Beaches and Hills in Kuala Besut...

"Sounds of the wind or sounds of the sea make me happy just to be..." - June Polis

(Bukit Keluang Beach walkway)

From Rhu Sepuluh we drove direct to Kuala Besut and stayed the night in IZ Village Resort.

IZ Village Resort is located in the outskirt of Kuala Besut, not far away from Air Tawar Beach and Bukit Keluang Beach. The resort has ample parking space and it provides bikes for hire for guests who want to explore the surrounding area. All units in the hotel are equipped with air-condition, TV and free wi-fi. The resort is quite popular for groups as it is used as a transit point for travellers before they catch a boat to Pulau Perhentian.

(Arriving at IZ Village Resort)

(Ample parking space)

(The room rate is quite reasonable)

(Suitable for family and groups)

We checked-in late in the afternoon. After we performed our prayers and took a short rest, we drove to Bukit Keluang Beach located a short drive away from our resort. Bukit Keluang has some of the best coastal scenery lovely beaches, a wooden walkway along the cliff edge, sea caves and a 141 meter high hill with a superb view over the South China Sea. 

(Bukit Keluang is a hill by the sea) 

(Steep stairs, the start of a hike)

(Detail description of Bukit Keluang)

Next to Bukit Keluang Hill is the Bukit Keluang Beach Resort. The resort exquisite chalets with a touch of Malay architecture, strategically located fronting the curve beach to give a panoramic view of crystal clear waters and mesmerizing sunsets. There are some gazebos for picnics and some concrete chairs and tables under the casuarina trees. 

(Scenic view of the sea)

(Bukit Keluang beach during sunset)

The base of the hill was right on the water's edge and there were steps leading up to a wooden walkway built on the rocks above the water line. The walkway clings to the hillside and leads to a couple of sea caves inhabited by bats. At low tide it is possible to walk round to the caves but at high tide it is safer to walk on the walkway.

(The start of the walk way)

(The walkway clings to the hillside)

(A tall cliff wall of Bukit Keluang)

(Rocky beach surrounding Bukit Keluang)

(One of the caves by the shore)

(The end of the walkway)

It was already dark when we drove to Restoran Zul Ikan Bakar for dinner. The restaurant is quite popular with the locals as well as visitors. They only serve grilled seafood with rice. There is no vegetables or egg omellete to compliment the grilled seafood dishes. 

(The only established Seafood Restaurant)

(Not much choice of dishes)

(IZ Village Resort, peaceful and serene at night)

Terengganu – Free and easy in Kuala Terengganu...

"The state of your life is nothing more than a reflection of your state of mind..." - Wayne Dyer

(The draw bridge looks beautiful from the food court)

It was a bright sunny day for a leisure drive from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu via the LPT. We will be spending a day or two in Kuala Terengganu and Kuala Besut then will join the girls from Kota Bharu for a 3D 2N vacation in Pulau Perhentian.

(A beautiful day on the LPT)

(A simple lunch at Paka R&R)

With only one stop at Paka R&R for lunch and prayers, we reached Kuala Terengganu early and drove towards The Tengku Tengah Zaharah Mosque or Terengganu Floating Mosque. It is the first real floating mosque in Malaysia situated in Kuala Ibai Lagoon near the estuary of Kuala Ibai River, about 4 km from Kuala Terengganu Town. The mosque combines modern and Moorish architecture; incorporating the use of marble, ceramics, mosaic works and bomanite paving. The white structure of the mosque covers an area of roughly 5 acres and can accommodate up to 2000 attendees at a time.

(Floating Mosque at Kuala Ibai)

(Beautiful background of the mosque)

After a couple of photo shots at the mosque we went to town centre and checked-in KT Beach resort situated next to a newly opened KTCC Mall and a short walking distance to the night market and the Kuala Terengganu draw bridge.

(Window shopping at KTCC Mall)

(The Terengganu Night Market)

After a short rest in the room we walked to KTCC Mall then to the food court next to the draw bridge to have a seafood dinner. Kuala Terengganu Drawbridge or Jambatan Angkat is a bascule bridge which crosses the mouth of Terengganu River. The bridge is the fourth bridge in Kuala Terengganu City area that straddles the river after Sultan Mahmud Bridge, Manir Bridge, and Pulau Sekati Bridge. The drawbridge is a part of the projects for the East Coast Economic Region. It is the first drawbridge built in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.

(The drawbridge at sunset)

If you come to Kuala Terengganu, it is not complete if you do not try Terengganu Nasi Dagang. So very early the next morning we drove to the famous Restoran Nasi Dagang Atas Tol situated in Kampung Pengkalan Setur. Unfortunately it was closed on Tuesday. We ended up eating Nasi Dagang at Restoran Berkat Nasi Dagang Gong Pipit. There are too many variations of Nasi Dagang flavors and Terengganu Nasi Dagang is different from that of Kelantan’s, which is a little too sweet to my taste.

(One of the many Nasi Dagang restaurants)

(A set for two, enough to fill hungry tummies)

After breakfast, we checked out and drove towards the north. We took the scenic coastal road T145 passing traditional kampong houses and fishing villages. Midway we took a detour and stopped at Pantai Batu Rakit. It was scorching hot and we could see some fishing boats and fishermen hauling their catch or mending their nets on the beach. The sweeping views of the clean beach and the brightly painted boats make a stunning photo shots.

(The beginning of the coastal route)

(Cool and relaxing drive in the morning)

(A short rest at Pantai Batu Rakit)

(Fishermen hard at work)

(Taking a rest after the day's work)

(A clean and unspoilt beach) 

We drove on to Rhu Sepuluh to have lunch at Mr Chelup Tepung Station, one of the many stalls along this beach that serve a variety of ‘celup tepung’ options. The dining atmosphere here is very comfortable and relaxing.

(One of the ICT restaurants at Rhu Sepuluh)

(A light lunch for us)

After lunch we drove direct to Kuala Besut and checked in IZ Village Resort at the outskirt of town.

PKPP - Quality time with the grandkids..

"Take hold lightly. Let go lightly. This is one of the great secrets of felicity in love..." - Spanish Proverb

(Alia and Arif at Sunway Putra Mall)

Sara's family was in KL and stayed in Putramas apartment for a week.

As it was still not safe to be in crowded places during the PKPP, the grandchildren spent most of their time in the apartment. Some of the days the cousins Alia, Arif, Hana and Amir enjoyed themselves swimming with their grandpa. 

To break the monotone, one of those days we drove to GPO and had lunch at Absolute Thai and later had coffee and cakes in Starbuck. Even during the PKPP, there was quiet a large crowd in GPO but people were adhering to the SOP by wearing masks and keeping a safe distance from each other.

(The grandkid engrossed with their gadgets)

(Having coffee at Starbuck in Genting Premium Outlet)

(Shopping for chocolates)

Kelantan - True friendship is rare...

"Having a sharp memory is a good quality of the brain. But the ability to forget the unwanted things is a far better quality of the heart..."

(Warung Acu Tera at Pantai Sabak)

Best friends are like stars, you don't always see them, but you know they are always there.

We stayed a few nights at Tanjung Inn Kota Bharu and visited my brother Ngah Aman's house and pusara Kak Idah in Kampung Bangol.

On Sunday we joined a few friends at Warung Acu Tera in Pantai Sabak to celebrate Ani's birthday. Since becoming the talk of the town a few years ago, the Warung Acu Tera has always been packed with locals and tourist especially during school holidays and weekends. The warung opens daily and serves fresh celup tepung shrimp, fish, squid and crabs supplied from local fishermen. Keropok Lekor and other dishes are also served here.

On Monday before we drove back to KL, we had another birthday celebration at Kota Bharu Eon Mall. I was really glad that Kid could join us this time and the Big Five gang missed Bee who was in KL looking after her ailing mom.

(The new Eon Mall in Kota Bharu)

(Ani birthday cake from Baskin Robbins)

(Ani and Kid, my best friends since we were kids)

(Waiting for Ubai and Yatie before we ordered)

(Nandos flame-grilled chicken and side dishes)

Pahang - Braving the congestion in Cameron Highland

"Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek but a means by which we arrive at that goal..." - Martin Luther King, Jr 

(Cool highland weather in Cameron Highlands)

It is not the best time to visit Cameron Highlands during this time of the year.

With the relaxation of restrictions for cross border travelling during the CMCO, we decided to drive to Kelantan taking the Sungai Koyan road to Cameron Highlands then to Gua Musang. It was a relaxing drive in the beginning until we entered Cameron Highlands main road through Ringlet when the traffic started to slow down. Massive traffic congestion in Cameron Highlands during long public holidays or long weekends is not uncommon.

From Ringlet to Blue Valley Kampung Raja, tourists flocked the famous tourist attractions and cars were parked recklessly along the road, making the traffic completely paralysed. A short distance of a few kilometres would require hours to reach.

We tried to stop at the Tea Houses along the route but they were overly crowded and people were not complying to the SOP of social distancing. We were stuck in the crawl for almost four hours. By 4.30 pm we managed to break away from the jam and stopped at a road-side restaurant and had our very late lunch. We made a brief prayer stop at Masjid al-Huda, Kampung Raja as the mosques in Cameron Highlands were closed to tourist. At Masjid al-Huda we performed our prayers along the corridor as the main prayer hall was locked. Traffic from Brinchang to Gua Musang via Lojing road was bearable even though it was raining all the way.

It was already dark when we arrived in Gua Musang. Before we checked in at Goa Inn, we visited the famous unfinished Masjid Razaleigh in the old town for some photo shots.

(The start of our long tiring journey to Kelantan)

(A few Police road blocks along the way)

(Less traffic on the Bukit Koyan Road)

(The vast green Tea Plantations)

(A welcoming signage in Tanah Rata)

(The start of the traffic Jam)

(A long queue at the Tea Houses)

(Spending hours in the car)

(A short break for a late lunch)

(Nasi Ayam Penyet for hungry tummies)

(This mosque was too crowded)

(Masjid al-Huda Kampung Raja)

(Not many visitors stopping for prayers here)

(A clear bright sky on the mountain road)

(A heavy downpour at Lojing)

(A beautiful rainbow after the rain)

(Majestic Masjid Razaleigh, an unfinished project)