Wednesday, June 17th 2009

Nothing much to talk about the day. It went around boyfriend had his hair cut, we surfed for laptop deals while waiting to check out from Radius, traveled from KL to Pch, went to pay summon, went to get my waterproof-digicam-case from post office, went to shop and.. fast forward, it was night time. Thanks to boyfriend’s friend for driving us to Putra station.

The waterproof case (up to 10 meter if not mistaken) ordered online from lowyat.net, RM98 free shipping to Selangor, Malaysia.

It was worthy to buy the bus ticket a day before, cause we got the second and third row, from front of course. Sweet. The bus ticket price from KL (Putra Station PWTC) to Kuala Besut (a small town at the northern State of Terengganu) is RM40 per person. It is actually better to take Airasia flight than bus, since price is not much different especially when you book during promotion period and so much more comfortable than 7 hours in the night bus. But I want to save the hotel’s fee so that’s why.

Night bus + air-con = very very cold. We’ve prepared jackets/warm clothes but it didn’t seem enough. Should have brought blanket which can cover from my toe to my head. The bus stopped for toilet break, twice in the middle of the night, around 12 and 2am I think. It arrived Kuala Besut at 5am, still dark and extremely quiet.

Thursday, June 18th 2009

The jetty was in walking distance from where the bus dropped us. We sat in front of a travel agent office, waiting for the office of Perhentian Island Resort to opened at 7.30 am. Count yourself how long did we wait.

That was not the end of the waiting. We needed to wait until there was enough passengers (for 12 people) for the boat to depart. So, we had a breakfast at a Malay stall nearby. Finally there was enough passengers and we departed on 9.30 am. *tired but exciting* My first island trip after all; put aside the Coral-island-trip (or whatever the island’s name is) 9 years ago.

Before depart, gotta paid marine-conservation-fee at RM5 per person.

Ignore my hair please. Short curly hair wasn’t a best friend to strong wind. -__-”

What a clear blue water just like in photograph and/or painting~! *sua pa mode on*

From blue to green-blue. So excited as we were getting nearer to Perhentian Island (both big and small island).

After around 45 minutes fast-boat-ride, we reached Perhentian Island Resort, located at Perhentian Besar. We booked 3D2N snorkeling package with them at RM543 per person, which included :

• welcome drinks – some orange juice at the reception
• 2 nights deluxe room
• buffet meals – 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners
• 2 snorkeling trip inclusive of snorkeling gears and life jacket
• return boat transfer from Kuala Besut Jetty

I almost couldn’t believe it. Refer to the clear blue water and clean white sand. *amazed* The cleanest beach I’ve ever been too! Take note, I only been to 2 beaches; Coral Island (or whatever the name is) in Thailand 9 years ago I can’t even remember how the beach was now except that we could see coral from the small boat and the dirty Pantai Cermin in Medan.

Some story behind this Perhentian trip. A month ago we planned to go Redang but Laguna was fully booked. Same thing with the other resorts there, like what the local travel agent told us. Asked the travel agent to suggest other travel destination and they gave 4D3N Vietnam, or 3D2N Macau. -__-” Sorry, but my/our budget didn’t allow us to take another international flight.

Out of desperate mode, I google-d for Perhentian package, came across a few travel sites and resort, and asked about availability. Several replied that they were fully booked included TunaBay, and Perhentian Island Resort replied that they still had the room. It was a huge relief to me although I wasn’t very sure about how the resort gonna look like, is it a cheapo chalets, etc. Can’t blame me, cause their dot com has a very oldish look and design. I immediately related the website look with their resort image, which was oldish. And also, “wtf? TunaBay fully booked and PIR still had room? Does that mean PIR is not that attractive (read: bad, ugly, other negative thought) ?”

But after reading some posts and pictures from blogs, I learnt more about Perhentian Island Resort that: 1. It has one of the nicest private beach in Perhentian Island, 2. Yes, it is the oldest resort in Perhentian (if I not mistaken) but it is more decent and not backpackers-type of accommodation. The two were the most important thing for me. Price was reasonable, somewhat like what Laguna Redang charged. So, problem was settled. Thanks to internet and Google. Travel agent is so yesterday.

Back to the trip. Upon arriving, we walked to the receptionist area – which was quite far from the resort’s jetty – dragged our luggages and checked in.

Lunch started from 12.30pm. It serves chinese food to western food. From main course to dessert like cakes and fruits. Eat all you can!

If you don’t order the complete package, here’s the buffet fee. Crazee!!

We went for snorkeling session at 2pm along with others. We were brought to 3 places, which I can’t remember the name.

Brother had a good time.

Being a lousy swimmer (I didn’t finish and ‘graduate’ from my swimming lesson ), I had a hard time in snorkeling. I drank the salt water several times. *euy* Luckily boyfriend was there, he brought me kia kia and saw the corals. Else, I would be floating at one place only until somebody dragged me back to the boat.

Launching my waterproof case. One of the places was about 10m, scare me dammit. After 1 1/2 hours, we were back to the resort. I took a nap while boyfriend online. I should have banned him from bringing laptop, but he had some urgent work.

After that, we had a walk at the beach side where so many angmohs were laying, sunbathing, while reading their books/novels. They can lay there for hours. Whew..

Bought this simple dress at a shop in Kuala Besut Jetty, RM20 didn’t even want to give me a lower price. -__-” The white sunnies was from Vincci, bought on the first day we arrived, RM18.xx after 20% discount on 2nd item. Slipper brought from Medan.

It was an effect from my digicam. Never know we can achieve such effect with digicam. I guess I haven’t explore my Canon enough.

The chalets where we stayed, at the very end of the resort. Next to it was the trees, sort of like forest. *scary*

There was this hut besides our chalet, which can serve as spa/massage place. But it seems to be abandoned with so many *huge* ants living at the curtains. And, at night time, the hut looked quite.. scary. Or it could be me who thought too much.

Friday, June 19th 2009

Second was basically a free relaxing day.

Applied sunblock, found a comfortable couch, sat and hide from the sun where all the angmohs exposing themselves to the sun. -__-”

Had our breakfast at around 8am.

So hot, we saw the coconut trees and thinking of drinking one but didn’t see it on their menu. And, “ice-cream soda float” something like that caught my attention. Boyfriend and I thought it was soda drink with ice-cream on top (like what A&W has) but.. we forgot to see that it was listed under “can drink”! Stupid. Guess how much is the price for 1 can-drink? RM5.50! excluded 5% gov tax. Wtf. Drink gold water is it?

Perhentian Island Resort also has a swimming pool. It was not only small but also dirty. Hey, why swim and play in swimming pool if there is a clear blue water within walking distance?

There was supposed to be a snorkeling trip at 10am, but we decided not to go, which came to a regret cause the highlight of the snorkeling trip was the baby shark and turtle. Aiks..

But we decided to go snorkeling in front of the resort and borrowed the snorkeling gear + life jacket from the resort. Yes, there is beautiful corals and fishes near the resort. No need to take boat if you are lazy like us and the water level isn’t that deep too.

We saw this… sea cucumber?

And, Nemo! Yay! I’ve been wanting to see it not from the aquarium but ‘live show’. Dream fulfilled.

The view from our room when I was laying upside down. So nice. Plus the wave sound.

Saturday, June 20th 2009

Time flew so fast. It was the 3rd day. Woke up early and had breaksfast at 7am.

Boat departed at 8am and reached Kuala Besut at 8.30am. It was fast and more comfortable than the first journey.

Once arrived at Kuala Besut, we went to PIR office and asked about the land transfer to Kota Bahru airport (RM30 per person). The lady told us to wait, that the driver would depart from the airport and arrived at 10am. So, we went to buy some souvenirs and soon it was 10am. But there was no sign that the driver has arrived. I didn’t feel good about that since our flight was on 12.20pm and it took 1 hour to go from Kuala Besut to Kota Bahru airport.

I asked the lady again and kept getting the same answer, that the driver was still on the way and that he departs from KB airport so it would take abit longer. Wtf? On the way, where? Give me a specific answer of his current location and the time when he arrived. I didn’t accept reason! Plane didn’t wait for the passengers one, okay? Although Airasia is well-known for the delay.

I almost created a scene (I raise up my voice and she did somewhat yell back too) but boyfriend stopped me since the driver came on the right time. This was the only unpleasant experience that I had with Perhentian Island Resort.

Expected, Airasia delayed. They changed the time not once but twice, from 12.20pm to almost 2pm or above, I forget. And, that’s the end of Perhentian trip. I miss it so much though I’m so much darker now. Not enough sunblock or what? -__-”

We went to Sunway Pyramid that night and it was Melaka trip on the next day.

Tags: Perhentian island, perhentian island resort