Mid-Year School Holiday; 5-9 June 2009

Balik Kampung and the Scenic Drive Home

School holiday is here again and due to the current H1N1 scare, air travel is off limits. So we went back to basics and took a drive back to Alor Setar (Alog Setag) and came back to Subang Jaya via the scenic coastal route - Kelantan, Terengganu & Pahang. It took 2 days and 2 nights to get home with frequent stops along the road, as and when we fancy; but the whole trip was worth it!

The things we often took for granted...

Changlon & Alor Setar

Durian tree behind the house

Chempedak waiting to ripe

Rice field as far as the eyes could see...


What joy...

Muhairiz & Dania

Sights along Grik-Kroh route

An unidentified mountain along the highway, normally covered by curtain of clouds.

Gunung Reng, Batu Melintang, Jeli

Pantai Cahaya Bulan (PCB), Kota Bahru, Kelantan

The colourful PCB

Sun shining from behind

Adin's favourite... feeling the waves splashing on his feet

A subtle hint of colour coordination

Don't have to go to Turkey to shop in Istanbul... Just go to Kota Bahru.

Tok Bali

Tok Bali Bridge

Sup Belut (Eel soup) at Tok Bali... a delicacy? Indeed.
Just like Unagi in soup...

Terengganu

Pantai Bukit Keluang, Kuala Besut

Another scenic beach in Terengganu - Pantai Penarik, Setiu

As we enter Kuala Terengganu town center....

Pantai Kelulut... close to heart with fond memories...

A morning walk on the beach

Reminiscing...

Good Morning!

Sunsrise on Pantai Kelulut

Pantai Kuala Abang Revisited...

Finally, Burger King at Mesra Mall, Kerteh... Another of Adin's favourites


The Road Trip in Summary...
Approximate total distance: 1700 km

Tenggol Island, Terengganu; 7-9 March 2009

Roadtrip to Dungun, with nostalgic detours and stops...

Its a family holiday over the Maulidur Rasul weekend. Just the 3 of us, bonding as a family for a snorkelling trip at Tenggol Island, off Dungun.

Accomodation: Ulek Beach Resort, Dungun





Ayah & Adin preparing for the trip... getting personal googles and snorkels

Detours
Breakfast in Mentakab...

Hmmm...Nasi lemak sotong...


Beautiful scenery of the beach at Sungai Ular, near Cherating

And Ulek, here we come...
The reception

Breakfast at the terrace




Around the resort & ready for the island trip...



Tenggol Island, here we come...


Corals seen from the boat as we arrive at the island...




Brain corals, right on the beach

Tenggol Island Resort

All geared up...

Adin testing the water

Adin, on a snorkelling trip at 4 years old - life wasn't so complicated then...


WR... One with nature...

Me... trying to be friendly with nature...


Adin...trying not to be afraid of nature...


Something underwater caught Adin's interest. Tengok...

After a humbling underwater experience

Encounters in the South China Sea on the way back to Dungun
Fishing boat in the open sea

Fish, caught for a living

Tuna in their natural playground

After the island trip

The scenic Kuala Abang Beach near Rantau Abang after the monsoon.

Adin & Ayah at Pantai Kelulut, Marang (Pulau Kapas on the background)
Adin & Ayah at the same spot 11 years ago...

Pantai Kelulut holds fond memories for us. During a trip to Terengganu in 1998, we stopped to see Pulau Kapas from Pantai Kelulut. Adin saw the water and immediately wanted to get in... His words to Ayah... "Ayah, nang eghh..." Ahh...Those were the days...



Visiting Terengganu is not complete without having nasi dagang. The famous nasi dagang at Cabang Tiga in Kuala Terengganu is not as popular as before, so we were told. The current popular spot for nasi dagang is Warong Norzila in Kuala Ibai.



Rows of pots filled with the heavenly nasi dagang, nasi kerabu, nasi minyak, pulut kuning...


On the way home...
Tenggol Island seen from the mainland, Dungun

Kemasik Beach, near Kerteh
Scenic view of the beach

Row of fishermen's boats seen on the beach

Taking a puff under the Mengkuang Pandan tree

Kemasik Beach, from another angle...


Tenggol Island, we will be back!