Beach bumming Day 2 on Perhentian Island

The next day began at 930am when we rose for breakfast!

It felt pretty good because I realized that I was on a vacation and there's no rush for anything else in the world. So we washed up and headed down, curious at what food awaits us.

Breakfast was served buffet style. I personally loved their fried potatoes with onions. The hubs was really psyched when found out that the resort has an egg counter so he placed an order for scrambled eggs with mushrooms (several times). Croissants, cereals, sausages, slices of really good cheddar, beef and chicken ham, stir fried noodles, and a few others were laid on the table for guests.

After breakfast, we decided to laze around the beach (like duh!). I happily got onto my Fifty Shades of Grey (book 1) while my better half roamed around to take some "pro" shots around the side of the island that we were on.

The second day at Perhentian Kecil wasn't that sunny. Usually monsoon hits the islands on the east side of Malaysia from October onwards to February and September is probably the last month you'll be able to enjoy the beach properly. The clarity of the water won't be as clear, so if you want to have really good visibility underwater during snorkeling, I suggest you visit during June. That would be the best time.

Anyway, the island was pretty small. A walk back and forth probably takes about 15minutes, 20 at most. There's nothing much to see except Ang Mohs sun bathing (not nude) and reading under popped up umbrellas on the beach. We even came across a group of locals doing Oppa Gangnam Style and they recorded it.

Came evening it was really beautiful because it drizzled a little and we saw two rainbows forming while I was having coffee at the resort's cafe. This little kitten came over to greet us. He was really manja and it made me miss my cats so much.

We decided to walk towards the "happening side" of the island for dinner. There's this really laid back all-rasta place which attracted alot of the island tourists during the night. They have pizzas, pastas, burgers, kebabs, cocktails and movie night. Walking into the area a little we found ourselves in front of Panorama Cafe. They serve really good food and they host movie night at 815pm every night. A great way to keep guests in place and get them ordering snacks until the movie ends. And just like that, Panorama became our favourite dinner venue during our stay.

First night, we watched Ben Stiller in Tower Heist. It was super hilarious and having so many random people watching and laughing together was ..something. It felt, like home. Like I was watching a movie with a group of friends and having dinner together. It was good, really.

Soon, the movie ended and we made way back to the resort. The night was pitch black, all we had was a little torch from the phone. We walked by the beach, listened to the sound of waves crashing on the shore and the hubs got scared when he heard leaves rustling in the jungle to the left..overall it was pretty romantic. LOL.

Our journey to BUBU Long Beach, Perhentian Island

I think that every time I visit the islands around the east of Peninsular Malaysia, I died a little and went to heaven.

To date, I have visited almost all of Terengganu's Islands ; Perhentian Kecil & Besar, Gem, Redang & Lang Tengah and I have to say that my favourite, in terms of the best accommodation, service, snorkelling, food, atmosphere and the end story has to be Gem Island. However, I am here to blog about my recent island escapade to Perhentian Kecil, Kuala Terengganu and where I stayed for 4days and 3nights.

We pushed off from Kuala Lumpur at 330am, estimating a 6hour drive towards north Malaysia to make it in time for our first boat which will be ferrying us from Kuala Besut Jetty to Perhentian Kecil at 11am. We would have made it, that is if our ride didn't come across a porthole along Simpang Pulai, cutting through Cameron Highlands.

The drive across Cameron Highlands was breathtaking. It was 6 in the morning, I've just woken up and we didn't have time to stop for sight seeing. It was a shame that I didn't bother to grab a few shots as I believed that at one point we were actually driving on the peak of a mountain, overlooking the most beautiful sun rise we've ever came across and the hills were covered in mist. If you've just pictured heaven, you were pretty close.

As we reached Gua Musang, one of our rims cracked. That was why we couldn't make it for our first boat. You can say that we were sort of unlucky, but you can also say that we were VERY lucky. Unlucky that the rim cracked, which caused the tyre to deflate. Very lucky that we were actually in a town. After driving for god knows how many hours through nothing but trees and valleys, the rim actually decided to give way in a town. We soon located a tyre shop short from where we were and one of the workers pointed out the problem. The guy was really nice and he spoke Cantonese, so it was easy for us to communicate but he couldn't fix the rim. Our option was to either get a pair of new ones, or head over to another mechanic to get the rim sealed. So we went to another shop which repairs cracked rims and here we thought that all Gua Musang people are nice and friendly, instead we experienced the worst customer service ever.

The position that we were in, put the meaning of beggars really can't be choosers to the dot. This guy, who works at the mechanic shop was a total ass (still is). He knew that we weren't local so he decided to toy with our time. We were actually the first customer because we waited at their front door even before they started opening for the day. He made us wait 2 whole frigging hours, whilst wasting time, smiling, laughing, chit chatting with his regulars. He even gave us very reluctant one word answers, never bothered acknowledging our thanks and was really ignorant. Once the rim was sealed, we had to rush in order to make it for the next boat at 1pm because they don't have another until 5pm.

The journey from Gua Musang to Kuala Besut usually takes 2 1/2 hour but we made it in two. Through tight winding roads and occasional traffic backlogged, we really had no idea how we did it but we reached right before the boat was leaving and managed to hop on board on the 1pm ride. It was probably due to the fact that I was chanting "we can make it, we can make it" for the whole 2hours that got us through.

Alas, we reached the island where we begin our worry-free holiday. Bubu Long Beach Resort was our sanctuary for a total of 3nights. It was July when we placed our booking for their September Room Package. We opted for their 4d3n Free & Easy Package at RM500/person. This package was inclusive of a two way boat transfer, deluxe Room, breakfast for two, sunset discovery and a jungle tracking trail.

I thought that it was pretty reasonably priced, seeing that most of the island resorts that we have visited had a similar rate, except that we usually go for a full board package with meals but this gave us room to explore other food places on the island. Besides, we've heard of a few positive reviews from our friends during their stay at Bubu, so that mostly sealed the deal.

Upon checking in, we were shown to our room. Nothing much to shout about, really. One queen bed that's lopsided ; mattress and pillows were very comfy though. Dressing table and a wardrobe. Balcony overlooking the sea. Tiny toilet with hot water available for showering but lack of nice toiletries.

The most ridiculous thing that I found the room lacking of was a water boiler and the fact that they do not provide you with coffee or tea packets. The one time that I actually brought my own 3in1 coffee packet (because I usually dislike Nescafe 3in1 that hotels provide) that I found myself without a water boiler. I believe that if a resort claimed itself to be "the ONLY deluxe resort hotel on the island" they should have a water boiler, at the very least.

I also found the resort to be very calculative. Guests are not allowed to fill their water bottles.. They expect you to buy water from them. At RM3/small bottle. I found this to be really foolish of them to be treating their guests like that.

Apart from not being able to obtain normal drinking water from the resort, guests have to pay RM5/day for beach towel rental. Here you are, thinking that you are going to have a great time on an island, at a beach resort and then everything stops when the least expected thing hits you, you find yourself having to pay RM5/towel just to laze by the beach. Lucky I brought my own spare towel. Seriously.

Snorkeling equipment rental price at RM30/set! All those island vacations that I've had, never ever have I come across such a rate! At most it was RM15 but not RM30! In the end, we did not even snorkel because we figured, we've seen the best of corals and sea creatures when we were on Gem Island. Coral Reef was just located behind the island and the snorkeling equipments were complimentary to guests of the resort. So, we gave this one a miss.

If guests are able to really relax and have a great time without being put through ridiculous calculative measures from the resort, being one, I really do not mind paying RM500 for my stay but small matters such as water and towels that you can't even bother to provide for your guest, the amount spent staying at your resort is not even worth it.

Overall, Bubu Long Beach Resort is still the best place to stay on Perhentian Kecil if you are looking for somewhere comfortable. However, I still favor Tuna Bay Resort at Perhentian Besar, if given the choice again.

Anyway, putting the cons aside, our entire journey to Terengganu took a toll on us right when we checked in. So we slept until sun down and woke right up for dinner. You can say that we wasted the entire day sleeping but it was a much needed rest. Besides, it is supposed to be a relaxing vacation.

Dinner was not too bad. We decided to check out the island and came across a row of mamak stalls on the beach. What looked like mamaks were actually small shops serving fusion food. Took a seat at this place called Family Cafe and had a simple dinner.

I ordered a family breakfast meal. I know what you are thinking. Can't stay away from an American breakfast even when I'm on an island. But I just wanted a good meal after such a tiring first half journey. So yea, my meal came and it wasn't as impressive as how it looked on the menu but nothing much can be expected from a mamak cafe.

The hubs ordered battered chicken chop which came with cheap black pepper sauce (those that taste really nasty). Chicken wasn't that bad, tasty but slightly overcooked.Still enjoyable though.

And two glasses of juice to replenish our lack of Vitamin C for the day.

Soon after dinner, we went back to our room and crashed. So, I shall end Day 1 here and continue the next in another post. :)

Mexican by the beach, El Cactus at Port Dickson

Not too long ago during the Raya break weekend, I took a little trip down to Port Dickson. I used to visit that place often, like once every year when I was younger. Most of my mom's side of the family grew up in Seremban and Port Dickson was the place of their mini retreat. An hour from Kuala Lumpur to Seremban, another half hour towards Port Dickson brought back so many memories of my previous family vacation we've had there.

Coming from a family of non Christians, we took the opportunity to spend the long holiday at Port Dickson by renting a big-enough service apartment to accommodate us all. Aunty Elsie would be in charge of her famous curry chicken, Aunty Cheryl most likely was in charge of nick nax, and if I remembered correctly, my mom would be in charge of drinks. The cousins and I were the ones in charge of bringing games, mostly for ourselves. And we will be having the time of our lives staying in Port Dickson for 2 nights, at the very least.

So, this trip actually brought back memories. Happy memories.

It was way passed lunch time when we arrived, Autogridz boys, Sharmayne and I. Instead of going for the usual, e.g seafood restaurant where one would always suggest during a visit to the beach, we headed towards a quaint Mexican joint, off the corner along Port Dickson road.

El Cactus, probably the least expected restaurant in Port Dickson, caters delicious Mexican dishes that will surprise your taste buds. If you are craving for something different, opt for one of their main dishes, Chimichanga in beef. It is the most delicious Mexican food I've ever had and every bite spreads zesty, sourish, beefy goodness sensations onto your taste buds. Very satisfying! This dish feeds two.

Being told that the juices are freshly squeezed. Instead a mix of fresh orange and cordial was being served. Despite having asked before I ordered, to make sure that I get my juices fresh, this irritated me a little. Decided not to make a fuss of it because it was clear that the servers weren't educated enough of our language or of the contents of the menu.

Young decided to order their Breakfast Set. It came with grilled chicken sausages (option for beef available), sauteed mushrooms, a small portion of baked beans, grilled half tomato, sunny side up and a separate plate of butter and jam with toast. According to him, the sausages were nice, but the rest was normal.

As for Sharmayne and Charles, they shared a plate of Grilled Chicken. Looks extremely appetizing, doesn't it? I took a tiny bite and was pretty impressed with how it tasted. Lightly grilled to perfection. The chicken wasn't overcooked. The mayonnaise gravy that was on it practically went hand in hand with whatever the chicken was marinated with. Definitely a must try if you are there.

Seeing that the whole point of being at Port Dickson was to find a good spot by the beach to shoot the two Volvos that Autogridz had during the holiday, we finished lunch quick to get on with our hunt for the perfect spot. Drove a couple of blocks down the coastal road and stumbled upon a little lane towards the beach, which looked promising.

It opened out to a wide section of the beach, which was perfect for the shoot. So we chilled for a while, had ice cream and did the shoot. It was bright and sunny, trees for shade, I had Fifty Shades to keep me occupied, it was close to perfect. If only the water was cleaner on the west.

Anyway, we ended our trip slightly after 630pm. We gave Thistle a visit. Sadly, our hopes for having a good cup of coffee to end the day with did not even come close to being fulfilled at their coffee house. Their coffee, I would say was the third worst coffee I've ever had in my entire life.

Being so highly recommended of its' place, I really don't think they kept up to their standard of a great resort to stay in if you are in Port Dickson. So, if you are considering it, I would suggest that you look through Tripadvisor for a better option.

El-Cactus Bistro & Bar
Lot 2674, Batu 2,
Jalan Pantai,
71000 Port Dickson

Sunset along the way to Grik

I realized that I've kept the most important part of my Penang trip tucked neatly in my PG album, untouched. Sad to say that I've absolutely forgotten about it and it has been a whole month since my PG trip. Well, before I enthusiastically pen down my recent activities, I think we should go with my trip to Grik Road first.

Leaving Penang, was rather difficult. Not because I loved the place so much, but because I slept at 430am the night of Johnnie Walker and was forced to get up at 11am because check out at Shangri-La was at 12pm. Bummer. I would so love to laze on their ridiculously comfy bed.

Upon checking out, the hubs bought me a heart shaped, ... pastry. Totally forgotten the name of this pastry because it has been a month, so please excuse me. It was rather sweet though.

Lunch was at a food court centre in the heart of Penang city. What's the name? I know not, but apparently it is quite famous. I went for my last meal of Loh Bak, who knows when will I ever taste this delicious dish again.

Soon, we departed for Grik Road. It is a long drive down, or rather across because Grik Road shoots from Penang to Terengganu, absolutely close to Thailand border. The drive across was breathtakingly gorgeous. The view of mountains and valleys which we never knew existed or come across along our north south highway were hidden along roads such as Grik and I was so blown away by the beauty of Malaysia. I now understand what people on the Discovery channel meant when they said Malaysia is a true beauty of nature.

Never leaving Malaysia before, I would say that the drive to Grik Road was a true out-of-the-country experience. I've never thought that we have such beautiful scenery, apart from the usual misty hills along the roads to Genting Highland or hills and valley up towards Cameron Highland but this, this would be much better if expressed by scenic photos which I've gotten in my camera along Grik Road. Photos do speak louder, as I've captured the beauty of it all the way. :)