Blog Malaysia Story » Terengganu http://blog.malaysiastory.com Helping you to learn about Malaysia Tue, 04 Jan 2011 23:23:46 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Perhentian Island http://blog.malaysiastory.com/perhentian-island-2/ http://blog.malaysiastory.com/perhentian-island-2/#comments Wed, 13 Jun 2007 04:48:42 +0000 admin http://malaysia.alltheline.com/2007/06/13/perhentian-island-2/ perhentian islandThe gorgeous azure sea, stunning blue sky, soft beige sandy beach and wonderful sea breeze that leaves a tangy salt taste on ones lips are all I could think of Perhentian Island (pulau perhentian) even way before setting foot on the shores of this east coast gems. It has been three years since I last dived into its stunning water and ventured to its reefs to be mesmerised by the sea dwellers that live down in the deep blue. Three years I thought is way too long to be away from a place I have considered to be a home away from home. Located half an hour’s speedboat ride off Kuala Besut (RM60 for a return ticket), this famous holiday destination, which consist of two islands, Perhentian Besar and Perhentian Kecil, is a haven for foreign travellers. Families, couples or singles, find the lure of the sparkling water and blue sky too hard to resist.

It’s noon and the speed boat ride to Perhentian Kecil, where we will be staying in Bubu Resort – the only resort considered luxurious on Perhentian Kecil’s long beach, is rather smooth when compared to the one I had during my last trip here. With our hair blown by the wind and our eyes squinted to avoid the splashing seawater, the boat cuts through the vast South China Sea, home to an array of fascinating sea life and diving sites.

pulau perhentianAt times, schools of anchovy-like fish leap to the surface, their shiny scale glistening under the hot sun, probably startled by the boat or perhaps swimming away from predators beneath. The boat service regularly takes visitors to Perhentian Besar, catering to family packages and couples who prefer solace. On the other hand during the month of June, the 800-metre stretch of beach on Perhentian Kecil’s long beach, becomes a haven to hundreds of backpackers, mainly from Europe who come in droves to discover life under the east coast sun. Captivated by the relaxed and laid back lifestyle the island offers, it is not surprising that some visitors keep coming back for more, which incidentally sparks the only dilemma on these beautiful islands – accommodation. According to many chalet owners, many tourist come here planning to stay for only a couple of days but usually end up living on the island for weeks to even months. As there are only 580 rooms available on Perhentian Kecil, with prices varying from RM25 to RM420 per night, most guests are advised to come early in the morning to check for room availability as only resorts like Bubu Longbeach accept bookings for rooms.

“Its not because we don’t want to take bookings but its difficult to promise a room on a certain day when we don’t know if the current guests will be leaving on that day. Most of the time, they end up extending their stay,” explains the manager of Panorama Chalets. During the peak season, it is a norm to see people sleeping on the beach when there are no available rooms. Aside from the famous longbeach, guests can also opt to stay at Coral Bay, which is the stretch of beach on the other side of the island that is accessible via a 15minute forest trek that cuts across the island.

What makes Perhentian Kecil a stronger attraction to its sister island is the atmosphere, sea activities and swinging nightlife. Unlike Perhentian Besar which is more subdued as the sun sets, long beach on Perhentian Kecil becomes alive with its array of games and fire shows that is normally organised after 11 pm at either outside of the Palm Tree cafe or on the beachside just in front of Bubu Resort, located on the far right of the beach. Among the many fascinating acts one can feast their eyes on include the fiery sticks juggling act, the fiery baton act and the Dragon Breath in which the performer spews fire out of his mouth.

If day activity is more your cup of tea, then there are just so many on offer on the beach. One can join the daily snorkeling trips that take tourists to several different snorkeling spots located around the two islands. Among them are the Turtle Bay, where you can swim next to a turtle and Shark Point, to catch a glimpse of the docile Black Tip reef sharks. Those who have always wanted to learn how to dive, Perhentian Kecil has a few dive schools like Sunlight, Spice Divers and Turtle Bay Divers that offers several courses, among others, the Open Water Diver course, Advance Open Water Diver, Medic First Aid, Rescue Diver and Divemaster course at reasonable prices.

Other attractions include the island hopping ride of which you can include the spectacular and secluded Rawa Island and Saji (where fish swim right up to the edge of the sand in the crystal blue water), the Turtle Sanctuary to view how work on turtle conservation is carried out, banana boat rides, kayaking, beach volleyball and doing a 40-minute trek through banana plantation slope for a scenic view of the beach. When it comes to food, tourists and visitors are spoilt for choice as being on the beach, this seaside destination serves a wide range of seafood dishes done in BBQ style or ala carte aside from the normal array of food from its menu card offering a variety of Western, Chinese and Malay style dishes such as chicken chop, fried rice, noodles and typical mixed rice.

Getting There

The departure point for all ferry rides to the islands is Kuala Besut, a tiny fishing village about 2 hour’s drive from Kuala Terengganu or 30 minutes from Kota Bharu in Kelantan. If you’re from Kuala Lumpur, it’s best that you take a flight to Kota Bharu and take a bus or charter a taxi to Kuala Besut. Alternatively, you may take a bus from Kuala Lumpur (the journey takes about 9 hours) to Kuala Besut and ask the driver to drop you at the jetty. There are a few companies providing ferry services to the islands. You may choose to take the fast boat (30 minutes) or the slow boat (45 minutes – 1 hour), and let the boatman know which island you intend to stop at. Generally, the fast boat makes three journeys to/ from Kuala Besut per day and the slow boat, two.

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]]> http://blog.malaysiastory.com/perhentian-island-2/feed/ 2 The Legend Of Ulik Mayang http://blog.malaysiastory.com/the-legend-of-ulik-mayang/ http://blog.malaysiastory.com/the-legend-of-ulik-mayang/#comments Mon, 11 Jun 2007 12:42:53 +0000 admin http://malaysia.alltheline.com/2007/06/11/the-legend-of-ulik-mayang/ ulik mayangThe fishermen of this region have a number of superstitions. One of them is not wearing anything green when going out to sea because green is the royal colour of the Spirits of the Sea. Another is to touch the water when arriving at a fishing spot, and asking permission from the Spirits before throwing in the net. Other superstiti include ritual bath ceremonies, sacred offerings, and even worship to the spirits of the sea. While most, if not all of these sacraments are no longer practiced in Malaysia today, one particular myth has evolved into a cultural dance masterpiece. It tells the story of man’s encounter with the Spirits of the sea.

This is the legend of Ulik Mayang

ulik mayangThe story of this dance began a long time ago. According to legend, a band of fisherman living on an island off the coast of Terenganu went out to sea one evening to catch fish. they rowed their sampans (narrow wooden boats) far out to sea where suddenly, they encountered a terrible storm. The wind blew unnaturally from every direction and waves crashed into all their sampans. All the fishermen were tossed violently into the sea, where each of them struggled to keep their heads above the water and swam with great difficulty towards the shore. Eventually, they tired out and submitted themselves to the mercy of the raging waves. A stormy night passed and the next day, the bodies of the fishermen washed up to the shore. Miraculously, the fishermen woke up one after another, thankful to be alive. Almost all that is. One fisherman remained in a deep state of unconsciousness. He remained motionless, as if dead. The other fishermen were saddened by this, as he was a great friend of theirs. They suspected that while physically he was on the beach, his soul might have been enticed to wander into the another world. And so they summoned a bomoh (shaman) to bring their friend back. The bomoh prepared several items for the summoning ritual. Among them were kemayan (incense), coloured rice and mayang pinang (strings of areca nut flowers). Night fell, and the ceremony to revive the lost fisherman began.

Shaking the mayang pinang (palm frond) and chanting over the body of the fisherman, the bomoh falls into a state of trance, and discovers that the fisherman has been put under a spell by playful Spirits of the Sea. A Spirit Princess had tried to charm all the fishermen, but only one surrendered to her seductive beauty. He now wanders in a state of daze in her world. The Spirit Princess is garbed in an exquisite traditional dress with a beautiful yellow sash shawl. Her hair is held in an elaborate French pleat and she wears earrings of fine ivory. The bomoh attempts to bring the soul of the fisherman back to earth. Sensing that her grip over him is slipping, the princess summons her sister, and the two of them put charms on the fisherman. In a fierce battle between the medium and the spirits, two more sisters are summoned to charm the fisherman, and then two more.

A fearsome battle between the bomoh and six Spirit Princesses erupts and shakes the world. The earth quakes but the steadfast bomoh battles on. As the clash built up towards a devastating climax, a seventh – the eldest – Spirit Princess enters the showground. Far more beautiful, more powerful and the wisest of her sisters, the bomoh takes this opportunity to plea to her for the return of the fisherman’s soul. Learning of the mischievous behaviour of her sisters, the eldest Spirit Princess puts a stop to the battle. “I know all your origins,” she tells and commands everyone, “Let those from the sea return to the sea, and those from the land return to the land.”

ulik mayangGrateful for the release of the fisherman’s soul, the bomoh presents the Spirit Princess with coloured rice. The fisherman awakens. From then on (and until the introduction of Islam in Malaya), offerings were ritually presented to the Spirits of the Sea, whom the fishermen once worshipped. Over the years, this story has evolved into a number of versions. Nevertheless, they all tell of both the treacherous and caring relationship between the fishermen and the Spirits of the Sea. The legend of the Ulik Mayang is unravelled in an amazingly choreographed folk dance, which was once a form of spiritual worship, but now performed purely for cultural appreciation and entertainment purposes. Most popular in the state of Terengganu, the dance is accompanied by its song which is both haunting and vigorous. While the music of the song has several contemporary interpretations to it, as seen in the 2000 Malaysian movie Spinning Gasing directed by Teck Tan, many dance troupes prefer a composition of traditional instruments. These include traditional drums, gongs, seruling (a flute) and rebab (a bowed lute).

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]]> http://blog.malaysiastory.com/the-legend-of-ulik-mayang/feed/ 1 Terengganu Beaches and Islands http://blog.malaysiastory.com/terengganu-beaches-and-islands/ http://blog.malaysiastory.com/terengganu-beaches-and-islands/#comments Sun, 14 Jan 2007 06:00:02 +0000 admin http://malaysia.alltheline.com/?p=141 Terengganu probably has the best beaches and islands in Malaysia! It has a 225 kilometre long picturesque coastline. Off its coast are dreamy islands washed by turquoise waters. They have tong been favourites by scuba divers. Pantai Batu Buruk is the nearest beach getaway when you are in Kuala Terengganu, the state capital. Pantai Batu Buruk offers wide sandy beach with lots of eating outlets, hotels and water activities. Get up early if you want to watch brilliant sunrise. Strong undertow during rainy months November to February. Avoid swimming during this period. Situated along this beach is Gelanggang Seni (Cultural Centre). About 140 km north of Kuala Terengganu Lies the Dendong Beach Park, a quiet beach while southwards lie Rantau Abang, the famed nesting grounds of the giant Leatherback turtles (Dermocheleys coriaca). Turtle sanctuaries have been established in an effort to reverse the decline of leatherback turtles. Collection (except by licensed turtle egg collectors) or eating of turtle eggs are forbidden. A few kilometres away from Rantau Abang is Tanjung Jara, an enchanting wide golden beach washed by inviting turquoise waters. It rose to fame with the building of the Tanjung Jara Beach Resort, which won the Aga Khan Award for best Muslim architecture in the 80s. About 6km from the fishing village of Marang lies Pulau Kapas, long been the favourite of snorkellers and divers. Boats to the islands are available at Marang. The islands offer chalets and facilities for water activities. Another choice island destination is Pulau Perhentian, which really comprises Perhentian Besar (big) and Perhentian Kecil (small). The latter is inhabited by mostly fishermen, whilst Perhentian Besar is the ‘touristy’ island. Hence, Pulau Perhentian refers to the bigger of the two. The island is blessed with lovely white sandy beaches and coves and crystal clear waters. There are a great variety of dive sites ranging from colourful coral gardens to drops hundreds of metres deep. Pulau Redang, an archipelago of islands, needs no introduction to dive enthusiasts. The underwater rock caves, reefs and pelagic fishes are divers’ delight. The waters have been gazetted as a Marine Park. Collection of corals is prohibited. Accommodation is in form of an international hotel to chalets and camping grounds. Pulau Redang is accessible via air or via a 45minute ferry ride from Merang on the mainland.

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]]> http://blog.malaysiastory.com/terengganu-beaches-and-islands/feed/ 0 Bukit Keluang http://blog.malaysiastory.com/bukit-keluang/ http://blog.malaysiastory.com/bukit-keluang/#comments Thu, 11 Jan 2007 21:49:17 +0000 admin http://malaysia.alltheline.com/?p=117 The view in this area is one of the most breathtaking and magnificent in Malaysia. It is also an ideal site for swimming, snorkeling and wind surfing. Its distinctive features are caves which are easily reached by walkways.

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]]> http://blog.malaysiastory.com/bukit-keluang/feed/ 0 Pulau Bidung Laut http://blog.malaysiastory.com/pulau-bidung-laut/ http://blog.malaysiastory.com/pulau-bidung-laut/#comments Thu, 11 Jan 2007 21:48:43 +0000 admin http://malaysia.alltheline.com/?p=116 Pulau Bidung Laut was once a refugee camp for about 60 thousands Vietnamese boat people from 1978 to 1991, and it is now the site of war and refugees monument. Some dilapidated temples and churches all act as the silent reminders of recent history. No accommodation provided in the island.

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]]> http://blog.malaysiastory.com/pulau-bidung-laut/feed/ 1 Redang Island http://blog.malaysiastory.com/redang-island/ http://blog.malaysiastory.com/redang-island/#comments Thu, 11 Jan 2007 21:47:45 +0000 admin http://malaysia.alltheline.com/?p=115 Consisting of a cluster of seven small islands, Pulau Redang is the largest of Terengganu’s archipela goues. It has been designated as a Marine Park, and the island is truly a heaven for underwater enthusiasts with its dazzling array of marine life. No fishing is allowed within 3.2km radius of the island, and the collection of coral and aquatic life is prohibited.

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]]> http://blog.malaysiastory.com/redang-island/feed/ 0 About Perhentian Island http://blog.malaysiastory.com/perhentian-island/ http://blog.malaysiastory.com/perhentian-island/#comments Thu, 11 Jan 2007 21:46:50 +0000 admin http://malaysia.alltheline.com/?p=114 Blessed with a long stretch of white sandy beach, Pulau Perhentian is the ultimate sun-n-surf paradise. The crystal clear water of the island are perfect for snorkeling, scuba-diving, wind surfing, sailing and deep-sea fishing. The island is developed with chalets and campsites.

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]]> http://blog.malaysiastory.com/perhentian-island/feed/ 0 Rantau Abang http://blog.malaysiastory.com/rantau-abang/ http://blog.malaysiastory.com/rantau-abang/#comments Thu, 11 Jan 2007 21:44:56 +0000 admin http://malaysia.alltheline.com/?p=113 Rantau AbangRantau Abang, 60km south of Kuala Terengganu, has long been famed as the nesting grounds of the giant leatherback turtles (Dermocheleys coriaca). Turtle sanctuaries have been established in an effort to reverse the decline of leatherback turtles. Collection (except by licensed turtle egg collectors) or eating of turtle eggs are forbidden. Famed as one of the only six places in the world where the giant leather back turtles laying eggs. It is the month of May to September. Turtle sanctuaries have been established in an effort to reverse the decline of leather back turtles. Collection (except by licensed turtle egg collectors) or eating of turtle eggs are forbidden.

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]]> http://blog.malaysiastory.com/rantau-abang/feed/ 0 Tasik Kenyir http://blog.malaysiastory.com/tasik-kenyir/ http://blog.malaysiastory.com/tasik-kenyir/#comments Thu, 11 Jan 2007 21:43:32 +0000 admin http://malaysia.alltheline.com/?p=112 Reputed to be one of the largest and most fascinating man-made lake in the world. It is Malaysia’s largest rock-filled hydroelectric dam. It comprises of 340 islands, more than 14 waterfalls, rapids, rivers and limestone caves. The lake and its surrounding dam is ideal for jungle trekking and nature walks. Kenyir Lake is also popular with anglers with wide variety of fresh water fish.

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