Driving East Coast Malaysia (Terengganu 2)

Bukit Puteri with Cik Gu Razak's family

Maziah Palace from Bukit Puteri



Kuala Terengganu town from BukitPuteri



Kuala Terengganu town from Bkit Puteri

Though I have been to Kuala Terengganu many times before, this time it was different. Before, it was always work and rushed, rushed and rushed. This time, time was my own.

Pretty river view of Kuala Terengganu

Abidin Mosque, Kuala Terengganu

I like Kuala Terengganu which is calm and unrushed. At Pasar Payang I met a nice family. The husband was a teacher and he was bringing his two young children to visit historical sights in KT. I joined them to visit Bukit Puteri or the Princess Hill next to Pasar Payang.The view of Kuala Terengganu town was magnificent, overlooking the river mouth on one side and the town the other side. From the hill we could see clearly Maziah Palace and its beautiful garden.
Police motocycle riders seemed to be everywhere and I wondered why. Later I was told that the Prime Minister was paying a visit and would have open dinner in Dungun. No wonder a lot of hotels were fully booked. I was lucky I got a single room at Primula Beach Resort.


Batik aglore at Pasar Payang in Kuala Terengganu

Pasar Payang has not changed much. Almost all the stalls there are selling batik. Terengganu and Kelantan batiks are different from Indonesian batik. The design is bold with merry bold colours with glitters. There are some pretty pastel colours as well. Some really looked enticing but the glitters didn''t catch my eyes. I did some batik shopping to take home. The atmosphere there was enigmatic, making me feel reluctant to leave. I was fascinated but I wonder how do they sell their batik when every stall is selling the same things?
I left Pasaar Payang to go and visit other places like the floating mosque, Abidin mosque and others which I didn't have the opportunity to visit before. But I couldn't find where Perigi Simpul is. Even Cik Gu Razak doesn't know. Maybe my next visit I'll try to find it.


No trace of the old fort at Pulau Duyong?

Leaving KT the next day, I took the coastal road to Merang (not to be confused with Marang). On the way I stopped at a few interesting places like Pulau Duyong. Pulau Duyong was a disappointment to me. The place was so sleepy and uninteresting. There was a sign showing Duyong Fort but when I went there, there was nothing except houses. I wonder what happened. The row of shops by the river were mostly closed. I met a couple of young Malay boys sitting there and I chatted with them. They are part time fishermen while waiting to get better jobs. I hope they will succeed in achieving their dreams. My interest in Pulau Duyong was to see the boat building industry but unfortunately I totaly forgot about it. It was a terribly hot day and I was dying to stay in my aircond car. I'll go again there one day. Insyaallah.


Clean pristine white Merang beach at the old jetty to Pulau Redang.

The old jetty to Pulau Redang, now an activity and recreation center for UNISZAR

Captivated by the white,  clean beach of Meranga at the old jetty

My next stop was the jetty to Pulau Redang in Merang. It was packed with people - Sunday. I didn't wait as finding a parking was a nightmare. The old jetty to Pulau Redang now becomes an activity center for UNISZAR students. A lone guy I met there explained that they have to move because the sea water has receded and not able to accommodate boats. I think the students there are very lucky. The beach is so clean, white and soft.  Merang definitely has pristine white beach. My hope is that training and education would help them to be responsible to keep the beach clean.

The chalet where I stayed in Aryani Resort

The old Malay house where the massage and spa is

Clean Merang beach in front of Aryani Resort

Aryani Resort and Spa chalets

The attractive entrance to the reception area at Aryani Resort and Spa.

The drive along Merang road was a pleasure with scenic villages, coconut trees, bushes and very few cars. I was heading towards Aryani Resort and Spa. The main gate to the resort was so insignificant that I almost lost it. Lucky I stopped at Petronas petrol station and inquired  The entrance was opposite the station. Aryani Resort and Spa was tucked a few meters away from the main road. I was impressed at the welcoming reception driveway. I checked myself in for 2 nights and paid RM360 for a night single occupancy. Izzy, the receptionist was friendly and accommodating  I was brought to chalet 16 - quint and pretty. The bed was so huge and the decor was simple but tastefully done. The resort reminded me of a chalet I stayed in Bali. Though not facing the beach, the gentle sea breeze lulled me to sleep after a long drive. Staying by the beach is not a big deal to me as my apartment in PD is directly facing the beach. It was the calm, relaxed and quiet atmosphere that was most enchanting.  My PD resort apartment is a nightmare mostly during weekends, public and school holidays. I hate those times.
I love body massage. I do it regularly at Serenity Cove in PJ. The massage and spa area in Aryani is tucked away from the main area in an old wooden Malay house over a hundred years old. The masseur is a Malay lady a bit younger than me and she did the traditional Malay massage. It was so pleasant that I dozed off. I booked a body scrub the next day.
The beach was so clean, white soft sand stretched as a private beach. A pity, the beach bar was closed and left in dilapidated state. I picked a few plastic bottles on the beach brought by the tides and threw them on the rubbish dumps there. I hope the gardener will collect the rubbish there and keep the beach clean.
On the whole, my stay at Aryani Resort was pleasant and I would return one day but I hope the owner would upgrade and maintain the place to its former glory so that more visitors would come.



From Pulau Duyong across Kuala Terengganu town

Kuala Terengganu waterfront from Pulau Duyong

I left early to continue my journey to Kelantan. So far I am so thankful to Allah for keeping me safe and my car in good condition. I do believe Perodua Myvi is a tough car because it has undergone many mileage driving me across the country. Thank you my beloved Silver beauty.

Driving East Coast Malaysia ( Terengganu)

   Still in Pahang State on 11 July 2012, I drove north on country coastal road towards Kuala Terengganu. After making a round at the Cherating beach, I stopped at Pantai Chendor and had a simple lunch at a food stall there. It was quiet and blissful. The beach was clean with white sand. According to the stall operator, Chednor beach is busy and packed with people during weekends, public and school holidays as in any other beaches in Malaysia which leave the beaches dirty and full of rubbish by irresponsible and stupid visitors. Lemang stalls were found in Kijal area. I stopped to buy some lemang with rendang for my dinner. The road to Kemaman was a nightmare. Road work slowed the traffic but the traffic jam was not as bad as in KL during peak hours.

Reaching Dungun I deviated to Kuala Dungun to take the coastal way. There is a fishing village which I at randomly drove in and met with pleasant surprise. Unfortunately I forgot to write down the name of the village. It was fun having a conversation with a group of primary school students there by the beach.  They were so thrilled when I taught them how to take photographs using a digital camera. I guess they have never had the experience of handling one. Like many other children, they were shy at first but warmed up after some time and asked a lot of questions out of curiousity. Even small children couldn't believe that I drove alone from KL but looked up at me with admiration.I hope I was able to instill in them that they could do anything they wanted to if they put their minds into it. Suhaidi, Haikal, Sharum, Idayu, thank you for the pleasant interaction. By this time I was tired of driving and it was getting late. I decided to stop at the first Hotel or Resort I found along the way. At Kuala Abang, just a few kilometers away from Rantau Abang, I stopped at Merantau Inn to stay for a night. What a mistake! The resort has seen glorious days when it was first opened in 1984 but now it looked so run down and quiet. But the location is so ideal, by the beach near a river.I was the only guest there and paid RM82.00 for an aircond room.It was OK. I was tired and I needed to rest.

I did have a good night rest and left early the next morning  and drove to Kuala Berang for Sekayu Nature Park with the intention of staying there for a night or two. Luck was not with me, all chalets and rooms were fully booked by groups of students who have their Bulan Sabit Merah camping there.

However I was quite happy for being able to dip myself in the cool river near a small waterfall. The security guy there told me to keep away from the waterfall area because there is an underneath swirling pool which has claimed 47 lives so far. There were about 5 University Azhar, Egypt students swimming there and we chatted while I soaked myself in the cool river. I just love river. Not wanting to be caught in dark evening, reluctantly I left Sekayu to Kuala Terengganu where I stayed at Primula Beach Hotel for a night.

Driving East Coast Malaysia (Kuantan)

t"You drive alone!!?? Masyaallah, beraninya!" That's the common comment I received throughout my drive in coastal Terengganu and Kelantan. I wonder what's the big deal driving alone around the country. To me it was just something normal but got big disapproved head shakes from people I know as well as from strangers. I guess it's because I am a Malay woman touching 70 that makes it unusual to do this. Whatever people think didn't bother me much and I have enjoyed the trip tremendously. Driving alone really gave me the freedom to do and go wherever I wanted. I didn't have to deal with negative vibes from my traveling companion. I know it's more fun having a companion with you but if the companion doesn't function on the same wavelength, it can create stress. I have experienced driving with a companion who has the same interests with me and it was fun and rewarding but to find one like that is not easy.

My trip started on 10 July 2012, leaving PJ in the morning towards Kuantan. I stayed overnight with my nephew Saiful and wife Liza at their house. I needed to talk about family matter with him. On the way I decided to go to Gambang Hill Resort to see what it looks like. It's huge, lonely and not much activity during weekdays. But I like the greens surrounding the resort. I may spend a few days there one day.
GPS helped me to get to Saiful's house in Kubang Buaya. Nice to see them and daughter, Zira.
I have been to Kuantan several times but this time the coastal road is my route.

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The next day, I drove towards Beserah and stopped at Black Stone Beach and found a nice Black Stone Beach Resort hidden further on the road. It's a good place to stay I think.

Going up north driving leisurely in the morning I noticed there were a lot of white tents by the beach. Out of curiousity, I parked my car and talked to a guy there who explained that it was not a carnival but SUKMA sailing competition. The competators were waiting for favourable winds in order to start the race. I had the opportunity to talk to a few students representing Negeri Sembilan. Most of them came from Port Dickson. After chatting with them for a few minutes I left and wished them good luck. This event took place at Pantai Balok, Kuantan.

I deviated my route and drove into Kuantan port area to see what's going on there. I didn't want to go through the hassle of security check up, so I just drove around. I did wonder where are they shipping the soils to - red soil, black soil, earth colour soil. There was nobody on sight whom I could ask.
 I stopped for a short whole chatting with a fisherman at Pantai Kampung Selamat, Pelabuhan Kuantan who explained that he was waiting for a fisherman's boat to land there. What a pity, I couldn't wait too long.
I enjoyed the seaside scenery along this country road. Reaching Cherating, I took a small road towards the beach where there were a lot of small resorts. Since a sign board showed that there was a Kompleks Budaya there I made a visit. A pretty building by the beach but was deserted with only one security at the closed entrance gate. It seemed this government Kompleks Budaya has become a white elephant and did not function since 3 years ago. It's such a waste of money to build a pretty complex but abandoned it later.
A government project gone sour.

My No 1 Man in my life

Gabe showing his dimple on 1 June 2012

6 July 2012 happy Gabe with Nenek.

When he is in good mood, he will smile and clucking softly, displaying his adorable dimple. Holding him close is like hugging a well-padded pillow, so cozy and comfortable. Oh how I love him. Thinking of him makes me smile and wish he grows faster and acquires the skills that are delightful. In my eyes, Gabe is an angel sent by Allah to make me happy and proud. Thank you Haidi and Izrin for giving me this bundle of pure joy. My first experience of spectacular joy was when Rania was born. Being my first grandchild, I was humbled by feelings which I couldn't describe in words. Syukur alhamdullillah, I am very much blessed by Allah.  

Gabe on 6 July 2012 (3 months old)

Gabe was shaved bald for the second time. 15 June 2012

Gabe with favourite toy, Mr. Kurita from Nenek.

Gabe with variety of facial expressions. 29 May 2012

Gabe is 3 months now and learning to respond to familiar faces with smiles and happy baby babbling. He is healthy and tough , fed with breast milk and demands his milk almost every hour. Then he will go to sleep contented until the next hungry pang. As he grows, he looks more like his mother but retains Izrin's jet black hair.

September 1978 Izrin (Gabe's father) as a chubby two month old baby with curly jet black hair.

1978, Izrin (Gabe's father) at 4 months and 4 days old.Photo taken with mummy and second sister, Maz.

1978 Izrin with Mummy, Yong and Yang

As a baby, Izrin, Gabe's father,  was such a happy baby, very generous with his toothless smiles and giggles to anyone who paid attention to him. I remember when he was a few months old, I have to take him to Assunta Hospital to check his stomach problems that caused diarrhea. The pediatrician had to calm him down as Izrin laughed and giggled so much every time the doctor put his stethoscope on his belly. He was so delightful. I hope Gabe will turn to be a happy smiling baby flashing his deep dimple.

Family photo after Gabe's Qeqah kenduri 20 May 2012.

23 June 12 Gabe and cousin, 6 months old Delia, Haidi's sister's daughter.

Gabe and his parents. 23 June 2012

Gabe at 2 weeks old meeting cousin Kak Rania, Nenek and Mak Yong Ika (Rania's mom). 13 April 2012

Gabe at 1 month old with his Nino ( Haidi's mother) at the hospital.

Rania learning to hold 3 weeks old Gabe. She simply adores baby Gabe. 13 April 2012.

Gabe with Pak Long Justin 3 June 2012.

Gabe and daddy bidding goodbye to Nenek at KLIA before she flew to Central and East Europe. 5 May 2012.

Muhammad Shah Gabriel Bin Izrin Zamir, you're my No. 1 Man and I love you to bits.