Monkey Go Places

Showing posts with label Island. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Island. Show all posts

Saturday, 14 March 2015

Pulau Redang, Malaysia // 2015

Pulau Redang is an island off the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, in the state of Terengganu.

So, this is my 4th time here.

I still remember the first time I fell in love with this place 13 years ago! That was the first time I saw a beach so beautiful and water so clear. Even in the middle of the day when it was scorching hot, the sea is so tempting with the water in just the right temperature, that me and my friends just forgot everything else and spent all afternoon in the water. The result, when I went home after the 3D2N vacation, my mom almost couldn't recognise me because I look totally burnt! But, it was so worth it.

The view of the mountains as we flew from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu early in the morning. That little bit of black shadow on the left is the plane's propeller :)

As far as I know, all the resorts in Pulau Redang provide full board packages. That includes boat transfers, accomodation, snorkeling trips and all meals (breakfast, lunch, tea time & dinner). Standard package is 3D2N but of course you have the option to extend.

This is how we arrive at the island. The boat will stop as near as it can get to the beach and we get down from there, straight into the clear blue seawater. One of the bigger and more luxury resort have their own jetty on the other side of the island so guests don't have to get wet. But honestly, I prefer to arrive like this. Hey, it's a beach vacation, get wet! When you get down from the boat, the waves could hit you high enough to wet your butt, but you don't have to worry about carrying your bags. The resort staff will transfer your bag to the beach and they carry high up so your bags won't get wet.

The sand on the beach is so soft, fine and white.

The water is so clear it's like a huge swimming pool and as bonus, there's fishes swimming with you.

In the afternoon, I would just sleep on the hammock under the tree, just like this mother and son.

But I didn't take a selfie like she did. :P

The view was breathtaking not just in the daytime. If you're lucky, you get gorgeous sky at night too.

I kinda fell asleep on the deck chair. Suddenly, I open my eyes and saw this round and bright moon, showing up in between the clouds, shining upon the sea.

The moon keep moving upwards (well, actually it's the earth moving), towards a different sea of clouds. It was so windy at night, it can get quite cold. You may need a jacket like I did. 

It feels like heaven waking up to a view like this.

Even though the temperature is quite hot, but it's quite windy so it's okay. 

There are many squirrels around. They mostly come to the resort's cafeteria. One of the staff say the squirrels will eat biscuits but not bread, so I gave them biscuits. This resort actually provides free flow of biscuit, coffee, tea and drinking water 24/7. Cream crackers and Kopi-O (local black coffee) can be just the perfect supper when you're hungry late at night.

I think all resorts have their own snorkeling and dive center.

In the evening, everyone comes out and play at the beach. It is also a good time to swim with the fishes because it's not hot anymore.

Volleyball is a popular game here. And these guys were actually pretty good at it. 


Splash!

And a bigger splash!

Some girls decorating the space for a birthday celebration.

Some of the resorts have a bar, some have live bands or DJ console for those who wants to chill and have a drink. Well, there's pretty much nothing else to do anyway.

This is the first time I'm staying at this resort - Redang Pelangi Resort. I thought the service was very good. Their staff were very efficient and friendly. The place is basic but clean (only maybe the bathroom could use some refurbishment). Food, not as much variety of choices compared to the luxury resort but taste was better than I expected . And I think the beach at this resort is nicer compared to the other stretch towards the right side. It's also more windy on this stretch of the beach. I would come back and stay here again.

Sadly, this was a short vacation and we had to leave on the third day morning.

Our flight back to Kuala Lumpur is at night, so we have hours to kill in Kuala Terengganu town. Another thing that I liked about the resort is that since we have to leave the island in the morning, they actually took us to their office in town, and we can leave our bags there and go explore the town on our own, or we can just rest at the common area. There are board games to borrow or you can just watch Astro and relax. They will then send you to the airport when it's time to take your flight. 

The office is just right opposite a bus station. 

We then spotted a few of this beautiful buses. The bus is designed like a traditional house. They are just regular town buses so we decided to get onto one for a ride.

The inside of the bus is just as beautiful as the outside. There's wood carvings and even batik on the bus ceiling.

And the seats are like garden benches. Cantik sekali! 

I wish it was a longer vacation.

Wednesday, 26 November 2014

Pulau Langkawi, Malaysia // 2014

21 - 23 October

I suddenly craved for another beach holiday. And lucky me, managed to get cheap flight tickets! *yay*jumps up and down*

So, I landed in Pulau Langkawi for just a short, 3 days vacation. 


That golden hour, the golden girl @ Pantai Cenang.

Monday, 24 November 2014

Taipei :: Kenting :: Kaohsiung, Taiwan // 2014

17 - 24 May

Every year, in May, we go for a trip to celebrate our wedding anniversary. This year's destination - Taiwan. I actually lost some photos when my laptop went cuckoo recently and had to reformat it *cries*. 

// Taipei //


In Taipei, we went to this famous breakfast place that sells soy milk and flatbread and fritters and etc etc. Probably the longest queue for food you'll ever find in Taiwan. The queue goes all the way from the stall on 2nd floor of the building, down the staircase, to the outside... and around the building. Really. No kidding.

The queue ... is crazy.
Fu-Hang Dou Jiang 
2nd Flr, Huashan Market Building. Open 5:30am - 12:30nn. Close on Mondays.
By MRT, take the Blue Line to Shandao Temple Station. At Exit 5, the Huashan Market building is on the right. 

After a very full breakfast, we walked about 500m to explore the Huashan 1914 Creative Park. It's a very nice place full of artsy-fartsy stuff. Good place to spend a couple of hours while waiting for food to digest.




Huashan 1914 Creative Park 
No.1, Section 1, Bade Road. Open 9:00am - 10:00pm. Close on Mondays. Free Entrance.

Next, to the original Din Tai Fung shop for some xiao long bao goodness. Not disappointed. Service at the shop was just excellent.

Somewhere on the road, we bumped into cute little oink oink.




Din Tai Fung 
194, Sec.2, Xinyi Road. Open 10:00am - 9:00pm (Mon - Fri), 9:00am - 9:00pm (Weekends, Holidays)
By MRT, take Exit 5 at Dongmen Station.


// Hengchun // Kenting //

We took express train from Taipei to Kaohsiung, then to Kenting by minivan arranged with the guesthouse. Taking train in Taiwan is so easy, convenient, comfortable and they're very punctual. 

MonkeyTips: I purchased our tickets online and enjoyed a 5% discount on the fare. For travelling on HSR (Taiwan High Speed Rail), you can get up to 20% early bird discount when you buy early.

Eating 'bian dang' is a fun thing to do while travelling on a train in Taiwan :)
The best way to enjoy Kenting is definitely on a scooter. We didn't have a fixed plan... just ride along and stopped at wherever and whenever we feel like. 



I especially love the ride along the beautiful coastline with fresh air and breathtaking views.


We chanced upon this quiet and beautiful spot in the evening. No tourist. We could enjoy the view all to ourselves.




Honestly, the view was very amazing. I don't think this picture actually do justice to the actual view.


  


// Kaohsiung //

In Kaohsiung, we went to buy the award-winning bread from Wu Pao Chun Bakery. IMHO, I didn't think the bread is that great-lah. It's just huge and somewhat expensive.


Us, and the award-winning bread, outside the bakery. See, the bread is as big as hubby's head.
Wu Pao Chun Bakery
19 Swei Road. Open 10:00am - 9:30pm.

In Kaohsiung, we stayed at this lovely guesthouse with rustic feel. Somehow, the common area of the guesthouse has this smell that reminds me of my grandparents' place back in the kampung.




These are not ketchup and mayonnaise. These are shampoo and shower gel provided in the bathroom.
Old Taiwan (Liouhe) Hostel
No.8, Lane 6, Zili 1st Road, Xinxing District. 
oldtaiwanhostel@gmail.com

We rented bicycles near the Pier-2 Art Centre, cycle around the area and took the ferry over to Cijin Island. You can bring the bicycle over on the ferry. Otherwise, there are also bicycles for hire on the island itself.









So, that was our trip to Taiwan in May.