Redang Island

July 14, 2008

Okay here are the pics of the Redang trip. Redang is one of the bigger islands of Terengganu. Terengganu is situated at the East Coast of Malaysia. We took the bus there and it reached Kuala Terengganu (K.T.) around 5.40 a.m. Approximately the ride took 8 hours.

Our 'super VIP' bus

Once we reached K.T., the resort's bus picked us up to get us to the jetty.

Sunrise

Floating mosque (Tengku Tengah Zaharah Mosque) at dawn

It was drizzling when we reached K.T.

The bus stopped at a stall that had an East Malaysian delicacy - Kerabu rice and roasted chicken. I couldn't eat that early in the morning, so I just drank Milo. Kerabu is sort of a mixed herb rice salad. Normally the rice is blue in colour [colour is derived from a blue flower called the Telang flower (C. ternatea)] and is served with roasted chicken or dried fish.

Poor chickies being sacrificed

They used the fan to keep the embers burning

Kerabu rice with chicken

Then we reached the Merang jetty.

Polluted due to diesel and petrol leak. I was dreading for the worse for Redang Island.

All set for the sand with our flip flops

The ride from the jetty to Redang takes about 45 minutes. The colour of the sea was so blue!

Goodbye, Peninsular Malaysia

Some pics along the way. I'm really sorry as I don't know the names of the islands that I passed, I can only guess them.

Ling Island?

We also stopped here to snorkel. It was cut short as there were too many jellyfishies around. I just noticed that in this pic you could see the jelly fish at the bottom bit! Those brown blobs are eeevil I tell ya~ Let's call it 'that rocky island

Arriving at Long Beach. That resort's called Laguna

We've arrived! Amazing sea. Turquoise coloured sea..aahh this is the place to R&R!

We've arrived!

The resort we stayed at. Lovely. Redang Pelangi Resort. We had the second floor and we kept our room sand-free as possible! I saw a few of our friends' rooms and it was as if they lived on the beach =O filled with sand! The staff there are excellent and they are very friendly and courteous. Would definitely stay there again.

The main eating room

Thank God it wasn't raining..it was so hot! Scorching afternoon sun.

White sand, blue seas and skies..

Work, time and worries stop here.

Sunset

Dead corals washed ashore

The rocks on the right makes up Pulau Paku Kecil (Small Nail Island)

Lounging

The half-moon was so bright and the stars came out to play at night

I woke up extra early to catch the sunrise.

Pulau Paku Besar (Big Nail Island) at the middle and Pulau Lima (Five Island) on the right

Pulau Paku Kecil on the right

Saw this at one of the Dive centres:

Creepy looking creature

Kids playing a traditional game called Congkak

We went snorkeling at the Marine park, that rocky island and also one more place. The best ones were at the deep sea as those fishies can't get to me!! The guide brought us around and showed us all the underwater jewels. He showed us the giant clam, nudibranchs(sea slugs), christmas tree worms..they are so colourful and they close up when you put your finger near them (well the guide did, we just watched). I didn't see any turtles around, although some people in my group did see one and they also saw a shark (thank God I didn't; think I would freak out). I did see a Murray Eel and other colourful fishies..the parrot fishes are really pretty. I wanted to rent an underwater camera but it was all leased out..so I don't have any underwater pics.

Our bus home:

Some souvenior stalls at the jetty

The floating mosque in daylight:

We stopped by in Terengganu/Kelantan border (I think) to get some foodstuff..these ladies are making Keropok Lekor..It's very famous in Terengganu. Lekor's mostly made up of fish and flour.

They are rolling the paste and boiling them. I don't dig it..it's too fishy for me.

Local fruit called Buah Stan..I can't seem to find it anywhere online..maybe I'm spelling it wrong.

Local snack called Dodol - Made up of Gula Melaka (Brown sugar)and coconut.

We stopped by somewhere along the Grik Highway..Loved the view

Oh yeah, I got a spray on tattoo..what does it look like? I got answers ranging from tiger to crab to 2 birds to face to Chinese-opera mask! ....it's actually Mariposa's mariposa ;) (mariposa = butterfly) It's a tribal version though. I love it. It's like ink blot test! Everyone sees it differently.

All in all I had a great time there. I would recommend it to all before it all gets lost to pollution and Man's actions. Although Redang Island is a Protected Marine Site, I still have my doubts. I still see people collecting shells and what not, but they get asked to throw them back into the sea. If everyone takes back a little, the ecosystem would not be balanced anymore. I saw the boat handlers smoke and just throw their ciggies into the sea! While snorkeling, I saw one fish chewing on a cigarette bud, and one girl saw a lighter on the sea bed. On and off I would see an odd water bottle or thrash floating on the water..we really have to preserve nature people!