.. Retaining Bits and Pieces of Time - RF's Little Place
Hiu and myself made a trip down to Tioman Island off Pahang coast on Thursday morning. It was a rush planning - we decided to get away for a couple of days and go diving. Tioman is the obvious choice since I've just got back from Redang on late May. Tioman will be different than the Redang/Perhentian Island area, we reckoned. (Read More)
Some photos from the trip:
1. Above Water - http://travelgaia.com/gallery/Tioman2007_Above/
2. Under Water - http://travelgaia.com/gallery/Tioman2007_Under/
It was May, and it is almost a crime to not visit the one of islands of East Coast Malaysia. This is the best time of the year to enjoy the sunny beach and calm South China Sea.
We've been talking about this trip since Feb and I really can't wait anymore. Arriving the island on 25th May (Friday), I was put off by the throng of tourists (and almost all are Malaysian Chinese, go figure) on the Pasir Panjang but hey, I couldn't care less as long as I can get my diving doses.
I've visited Redang Island once 1.5 years ago and was staying at Berjaya Beach Resort, which is very nice but secluded in its own lagoon. This time around, we will be staying at the ever popular and crowded Pasir Panjng (pic) for a change... (read more)
See mome photos (mostly underwater) here: http://travelgaia.com/gallery/redang_2007/
It was after our first dive at Mak Cantik that the dive master Jan Shir was asking, "Do you guys wanna see something different?" and let us think about it during the surface interval. The 'different' site is called just 'Sandy Bottom' (and I heard the divemaster calling it 'Twilight Zone' but I might be wrong) and there will be no corals and no big fishes, but he guarantees we will be seeing something different. Even though Redang is not known for great muck diving site, Bill and me are all game and we want to see something different than the coral reefs.
We started to get prepared for this special dive after our lunch at Redang Pelangi. Our friend Gan didn't show up on time at the dive shop so after a bit of waiting and briefing we start our journey to the dive site. JanShir talked about the normal stuff but put emphasis on lost buddy as well as underwater navigation. In this type of terrain (Sandy Bottom) navigation can be assisted by observing the sand pattern, the current flow direction (coolness on the left side or right side, if any), and the sun orientation (sun over left shoulder or right shoulder). Well I was like, aye aye, and can't wait to get to the dive site. (More)
Expenses
Transnational Bus: RM60/pax for 2-way KL->KT, 33-seater, comfortable reclining seats. Do wear long shirts/pants or a jacket as the night journey can be very cold as the aircon is quite strong. It is recommended to buy bus tickets (2ways) few weeks ahead at Putra Bus Station.
KL->KT: We bought the night bus on Thursday night 11pm and bus arrived at KT on 5:30am. 1 stop at Chenor.
KT->KL: Sunday 2pm starts but the bus was damn slow and arriving at Putra Station, KL at 10pm. 2 stops, one at Chenor and another at Termerloh R&R.
Redang Holiday 2D1N Package: RM180/pax (including 2-way boat transfer from Merang<->Redang Island). 2 Stars.
Redang Pelangi 2D1N Package: RM120/pax. 2 Stars.
Taxi from KT -> Merang: RM40/car (i.e. RM10/pax)
Bus ride from Merang -> KT: RM10/pax (see item#1 below)
Diving package @ Redang Pelangi: RM200 for 3 dives. Normal pricing is RM50/dive w/o equipment rental. Equipment rental is RM25/dive, and flat rate RM50 for 2 or more dives. Nice people here (our dive master is Jan Shir).
Total Cost for the trip: ~RM600, which I think is pretty reasonable considering this is the super peak season (starting of school holiday and at weekend). A few other friends booked Laguna Redang Resort and that set them back almost the same amount like us, but they were snorkelling package (3 snorkelling trips) while ours included 3 dives and we sneaked in a snorkelling trip as well. Of course, Laguna is more luxurious.
General Information
1: if you don't have pre-arrangement (well, just like us :p), just go to the end of the Merang Jeti area where you can spot many tour buses stopping on roadside waiting for pre-booking clients. The drivers mostly will be having tea and 'lepak' at the gerai there. Approach any of them for a bus ride back to KT, it should set you back for RM10/person.
2. Most of the Redang resorts offer 3D2N package, which includes all the 3 meals plus a tea break, 2-3 snorkelling trips and 2-way boat transfers (Merang <-> Redang). Snorkelling gear rental normally is not included in the package price and it ranges from RM20-30 per set. Fin is not recommended to be used especially for shore snorkellings to avoid damage to the coral reef. There is no discount to the package price even if you opt to not go for the snorkelling trips (well you will save the equipment rental cost, of course). Most tourists have booked tour package before coming to Redang. 4 of us probably were the only ones that didn't have any packages and do walk-in.
It was a short 3D2N trip to Perhentian Island, and the journey was tough - we drove instead of taking flight, but the trip was fun and more importantly, quenched our thirst of diving. I've served my 'surface time' for over 4 months since last dive in Bali, I need some fix!
4 of us (Hiu, Bill, Kenny and myself) started off from Hiu's house just over 10pm using this route:
KL -> Karak Highway -> Kuantan -> Dungun -> Kuala Terengganu -> Kuala Besut
This probably is not the closest road but the beach roads from Kuantan to Kuala Besut is straight and in good condition. We reached Dungun at 2:30am and stayed at Mayang Resort , which is just beside the beach road and situated about 5km from UITM Dungun.
The resort offers either rooms or one of the many houses (one house consists of 4 rooms, a living room and a bathroom). We rented 2 rooms in house#6 and cost us RM140 (including a simple Mee Goreng + coffee/tea breakfast). Rooms are equipped with air-con and 2 single beds. Some rooms having attached bathroom (master bedroom in the house), and some others will have to share another bathroom in the house. Overall the room is spacious and relatively clean, and we couldn't complaint - it was already 2:30am and we desperately need a place to get some rest!
See More photos from the trip here: http://travelgaia.com/gallery/perhentian_html
