hi punkettes...
So here goes, my travel diary.
17th March 2009
Location: Home - JBEverything is ready, I've already pack all my stuff to bring for the trip the day before.
All done. I am definitely excited about this trip. When I woke up in the morning, it was raining. I was like, "Oh damn, rain again!"
But then as soon as it reaches noon, the sun shine brightly. I was happy to see the sunshine again after days of rain.
Then i hope it will continue to be like this throughout my tropical beach retreat.
My family have to wait for bro to return from work and from his part-time degree class before we could go off.
He came back around 11pm. We went to my grandma's house first as usual and we're going off early in the morning.
18th March 2009
Location:JB - Mersing - Cherating
I couldn't sleep the night before, probably I was too excited for the trip. I only managed to sleep for 2 hours.
So we set off from grandma's house at 7am. We reached Mersing (still in Johor) at about 9am for breakfast. Surprisingly many shops aren't open yet. Only a few of them. We ate breakfast and we continue our journey. I've got so many memories in Mersing, one legendary memory was I was admitted to the hospital because I got a very small peanut stuck right in my nose. Hehehe. I was about 4 years old that time. Everytime I see the hospital, I will smile and laugh to myself. LOL!
I am so damn glad that the sky is so blue and fair.
I was listening to DBSK's Kiss The Baby Sky on my mp3 and gosh I felt so happy and delighted, I also smilled to myself.I was getting bored in the car because there's not much to see but only oil palm plantations, villages and unkept forest.Then I fell asleep. It's typical me, I couldn't help it. I must fall asleep in the car no matter how long or short the journey is.
But then mum woke me up and told me to look at the coastal area. I was like, "Yes, finally a good view," It's so great to be travel along the coastal road.
We arrived in Kuantan, Pahang around noon. I had a very faint memory of that town. I couldn't even recall when was the last time I went to the place.
I think when I was 5 - 6 years old? I've remembered a few places, not all of them cuz my uncle used to bring me around town with my cuzin when he used to live there.
Since it's noon, so we ate lunch at the food court in the shopping centre. Then mum wanted to do some grocery shopping at the supermarket, basically she bought more crisps and crackers.
You know what, all day long, the song 'Because I'm Stupid' by SS501 was on my head till I started to hum the song by myself. I was humming in the supermarket while observing mum doing the shopping.
Then I heard Kim Kyujong singing then Hyungjoon and then Youngsaeng. No, I am not listening to my mp3 at that time. Nor it wasn't my phone.
To my surprise the song was playing in the supermarket, it was such a rare occasion. And so I sang along to it. Hmm, Boys over flowers is really really a popular drama right now, up to Pahang!If it's in KL, I am not surprise cuz there's plenty of Kpop fanatic there, but up in Pahang? Hmm? Hahaha!
After shopping, we went up to Cherating, about 1/2 hr from Kuantan. We arrived at the beach resort called Cherating Bayview Resort.
Aaah! THE BEACH!! Bro, Mum was pissed by the receptionist because she booked us the wrong date. And the chalet that we suppose to be in was taken.
WTH, but we've already booked it a week earlier. How could the receptionist misheard the date, are you deaf or something!
Mum asked for a discount for the other rooms available, but then the receptionist gave us the phone number of the manager cuz the manager wasn't in when we arrived.
We called no one answer. In the end, we end up paying RM15 more from the original chalet that we book for another chalet.
The room was ok, bathroom (most important!) is clean and it was air-conditioned. I don't really care with all the fuss though because all I want was to be near the beach.
After settling down, I couldn't wait and I hit the beach. First I just walk around near the shore and then a while later I changed my clothes and SPLASH! HAHAHA!
I LOVE THE BEACH! Ppadaeh nomu choayo! [I love the beach in Korean] YAY!! Then bro join and then dad.
At night, after eating dinner, we received a phone call. It was the manager of the resort that we tried to call earlier.
Urgh! The manager was rude! What kind of service is this, where's the customer always right policy?! At least apologise to us for booking the wrong date and all the inconvenience.
But SHE (the manager) didn't. WTF! I swear we won't ever come to this place again for the lousy service. Mark the resort!
19th March 2009
Location:Cherating - Marang
As usual, I was the last one to wake up. As soon as I woke up, quickly get the shower and dress up to leave the place.
Then off we go to our next destination. We ate our breakfast in a restaurant and then mum wanted to visit my 2nd cuzin house in Kertih, Terengganu.
After vistting, we're off to the beach resort called Angullia Beach Resort. Along the journey, the coastal road is so nice, tonnes of Palm and Coconut trees.
I thought of Junsu for a while there, I'm sure he will be happy seeing it, cuz he loves the beach too. [Sorry for that random fandom, hehehe]
The resort was so damn much better than the one in Cherating. Service was superb and the chalet face directly to the beach, just right in front of our eyes. Definitely I am in love with beach, it is so blue.Not crystal blue but it's better than the previous one. And in front of the chalet, we can see one of the island resort in Terengganu called Kapas Island, or in direction translation Cotton Island.It's nice to see some fellow Singaporean around, there's about 3 families nearby our chalet. It's like being in East Coast but much better.
We settle down for a while and then around 4pm, Bro wanted to drive around the town of Marang. We went to renown batik/handicraft centre to look around but then it turn into a shopping spree. Bro and dad bought batik pants each while I bought some batik cloths which I choose the design myself. I wanted to buy a batik pants too but no size. Hmph! Hehehe.
We sat down at a cafe near a river and have drinks to quench our thirst before going back to our chalet.
At night, I sat down by the beach reminiscing the stars, basically to let go off everything especially stress and worries.
Just sit there, doing nothing and be silent. It's a very nice moment, if you know what I mean.
That is why I love the beach, it gives you the sense of tranquility.
20th March 2009
Location: Marang - Kuala Terengganu
I was the last one to wake up again. I couldn't open my eyes because I've got a good night sleep (well quite) I quickly get my shower and get ready cuz today we're going the whole day. First we went to the so called shopping complex/market called 'Pasar Besar Kedai Payang'. Since it's a shopping complex, well it's time for SHOPPING!!!!! Well mostly me and mum, Dad & Bro went off exploring other place nearby. I bought a Jersey type Terengganu T-shirt and mum bought for me another Batik cloth. I also bought the girls some souvenir. Basically the whole stretch of shops were selling the same thing, BATIK. Hmm..Hehehe.
Then enough of shopping, we went to the newest attraction in town which is Taman Tamadun Islam. This place was known for the Crystal Mosque and the several replicas of other Mosque in other country in the world. It was scorching hot. So damn hot. But thank goodness I wore sunblock before going out.
After seeing the mosque. We went to the place where the mosque replicas is. But we were an hr early. The place was close for a while to make way for Friday prayers and will open at 2.30pm. Since it's lunch we eat at the food court there. Air-conditioned. After eating, we still got a couple of minutes more. So we just sit and relax overlooking the river. Exactly at 2.30pm, we went in.
There was a tram service inside there. So we took it. We got to go around the world without leaving the country. Hahahaha. Even the Taj Mahal was also there.
It was getting late. After visitting 'Taman Tamadun Islam'. We went to find 'Keropok' or fish Crackers. My 2nd cuzin's wife that we visited the other day had given us the address of where she bought the Keropok she fried for us. So we decided to search for it, since the 'Keropok' tastes nice. We didn't know where exactly the place is and we decided to call the number given along with the address. And the person gave the directions and at a certain point she told us to wait and she fetch us directly to the place. It's my first time in a Terengganu village. Obviously we have to buy a lot. A whole lot of 'Keropok'. Hahaha. After we head back to our chalet.
At night, I sat by the beach again, reminiscing. And I saw the stars of D100dgreez. Remember the entry where I blog about stars? I saw 7 very interesting stars which I represent it as my clique stars? I smiled thinking about my friends. Tranquility comes again. Thank you god.
21st March 2009
Location: Marang - Rompin
I decided to wake up early to see the sunrise. Since we're at the east side, so it's easier to see the sunrise. It was spectacular! My first time seeing an actual sunrise right in front of my eyes!
It's time to say goodbye to Marang as we're going head south again. And this time we head directly went to Rompin. On the way down, we stop by Kuala Kemaman to buy some local delicacies that I've never heard of but it taste great, called 'Sata'. It was made of fish again. It tastes like our Otah-otah, but it's not red/orangey in colour. It was wrap in a coconut leaf and shaped like a cone. We then ate lunch at a restaurant nearby.
Arrived in Rompin in the afternoon, yet we're at another Beach Resort. The inital plan was to overnight at Mersing but my aunt reconmend this place. We are lucky to have an available room since most of the rooms and chalet are fully occupied. I can't seperate from the beach yet. Hehehe. So I explore at Rompin beach. At the resort, there's also swimming pool but, nah, I prefer the beach. I had my one final dip in the sea.
22nd March 2009/ 23rd March 2009
Location: Rompin - JB - SingaporeYes, finally it's time to go home. Rompin to JB wasn't that far. About 2-3 hours of drive.
It was raining on the way back home. Which gave me another chance to sleep in the car. Hehehehe. Stop by Kota Tinggi for a quick lunch. Dad and Bro didn't eat much because they already had heavy breakfast complimentary of the Beach Resort. I didn't eat any breakfast in the morning ate a lot. Hehehehe.
We arrive at my grandma's house in JB around noon. Mum decided that we stay over at grandma's house for the night because everyone is feeling tired and also the avoid the traffic jam that is definitely going to happen. I had a very good night sleep that night till I had a very sweet dream.
And the very next day in the morning, we went back home.
End of Travel Diary.
So that's my holiday ppl. It's pretty long huh? Hahahaha.
I would like to thank god that my prayers for good weather comes true. Before the trip I've prayed that it wouldn't rain. Thank you! Can't wait for another retreat. But it won't be soon because I'm going to be super busy for my final year.
toodles...cheerio
Kayla Anika
