Pulau Redang

We were planning for a last minute school holidays trip. Kota Kinabalu, Bali, Chiang Mai, Cambodia and Vietnam were some of the destinations under our consideration. We narrowed down to Bali and Chiang Mai as the prices seem to be reasonable when compared with the other packages from the same travel agency. When my wife and children checked their international passports, they expired about a year ago. So we had to forego the overseas trip and plan for a local destination instead, and Pulau Redang was already on my mind. My son did not want to follow us so long as the holiday package chosen was not for abroad. Anyway, his semester just started for about a week, he thought it was not worth to take leaves and be away from his college just for a local tour. He could opt to go anytime he feels like it in the future. That seemed to be a good excuse but he missed out the fun of being in one family going places!

My wife and daughter followed me all the way back to Cukai Kemaman and took a short tour of Kuantan town center when I drove in from Gambang toll. We had dinner in a Japanese restaurant opposite Megamall and returned to Cukai passing through Beserah, Balok and Batu Hitam. They prefer Kuantan than Cukai as they are more used to the big city life-style.

The booking of hotel rooms at last minute was always a problem during holiday peak season until I called a travel agency advertisement that hang on the wall of a coffee shop in Cukai. After a few rounds of communication and rooms were finally available on Monday night onwards and we took on the package for RM380 per head ex-Merang jetty inclusive of lodging and food but exclusive of RM25 snorkeling gear rental and ocean park fees. That was really cheap! The excursion arrangement required us to travel all the way to Kuala Trengganu and then to Merang jetty early in the morning at 5:30 am from Cukai.

I enjoyed the early morning drive on the east coast trunk road passing by Dungun, junction to Jerangau, Rantau Abang etc. and eventually reached the jetty with someone from the travel agency leading us half way through the journey and giving us the direction. Parked my car under shed and paid RM30 for 3 days and waited for 2 hours before boarded a speed boat. The ride took about 35-40 minutes with about 10-15 persons inside. There we were finally arrived at the Redang Reef Resort. My wife was in good spirit after taking her sea sick pills and the rough ride did not affect her at all compared to her previous trip from Penang to Langkawi, which was relatively a bigger boat and smoother ride but yet she vomitted!

Redang Reef Resort is at the far end of the beach but with access road and bridge linking to Redang Laguna and other resorts. The resort program was simple and straight forward, 9:30 am to 11:30 am snorkeling and 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm another snorkeling session! The rest of the time was eat, sleep and free and relax time. Redang island is famous for its beautiful beach line and crystal clear water and I am attaching some photos here which speak a thousand words.

The best part of Redang holiday was not the sun shine and sandy beaches but the snorkeling. I discovered snorkeling in Redang was such an incredible experience though this was not my first trying (My first was probably Pulau Kapas many years ago). The corals under the sea are so beautiful and the fishes swim around you as though you are part of them. Yes, it is true that the sea fishes of all species are not afraid of the intrusion of humans. When you feed them with breads and they just zig zag across your fingers. The sea fishes are very colorful and I used to keep some of them in my salt water aquarium long time ago. For the first 2 snorkeling sessions, I wore my spectacles inside the goggle but the light refraction after the sea water seeped in did not give me a good and clear look at the under water. I finally decided to take off my glasses and just putting on the goggle for the last snorkeling session, and the view under the sea became so wonderful and you could see every details of it. Fishes are so friendly and attractive, it is a temptation to touch them but they are so skillful in their swimming that you could hardly get hold any one of them even though they were just an inch away from your finger tips. You will be amazed at  how our Creator had created this underwater world, it was simply a splendid view beyond the description of words. All creatures big and small reminded me the wonderful hands of Al-mighty God and how great thou art!

Riding a smaller speed boat back to the mainland with a 250 hp Yamaha outboard engine behind was rather rough. The powerful engine would tend to lift up the front portion of the boat. Every time when the lifted portion on its way down again and met the crest of an oncoming wave, the fibre glass body just hit hard on the sea water and the impact could be felt most if you were seated in front. The more comfortable seating positions would be at the end of the boat near to where the engine was situated. We had our lunch at Madam Bee, a "peranakan"  cuisine restaurant in China Town Kuala Trengganu before heading home to Cukai.

It was indeed a great trip and my wife said she wanted another snorkeling trip of the same nature probably to Perhentian island, Tioman or even Sipadan! My daughter missed her brother as she did not have the companion to share and play with during the trip!