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.