I’d planned this trip before April and took advantage of the MATTA Fair offers in early April. One date change had to be made when the original start date was the day following with my sister’s hospital appointment and we both made changes to the check-in and hospital appointment dates. Oh well.
Wednesday, 16 September 2026
I left home after Isya’ prayers and made my way to Gombak Integrated Terminal. I’d booked a bus leaving at 00:30. I had the misfortune of sitting next to an elderly man who kept asking me if we had arrived at Melati station. I told him I didn’t know as I was more familiar with the stations between Jelatek and Abdullah Hukum. He was being a nuisance and I smelled something unpleasant on him. I surmised that he was drunk and was praying he wouldn’t suddenly spew on me. Alhamdulillah, he got down at Taman Melati station, so I had peace for the duration of one station.
Thursday, 17 September 2026
My bus arrived early so after boarding it, I quickly found my seat and tried to catch some kip. The driver drove fast and all too soon, we’d arrived at Terminal Sentral Kuantan. I checked my watch: it was 03:25 then.
I spotted some chairs and went down and tried to rest. I just say that Terminal Sentral Kuantan is one miserable building. It has a roof but no walls. I think at least two of the bathrooms didn’t work. I was so happy when it was finally time to perform morning prayers.
After prayers, I went up to catch the C33 bus into the city. The fare was RM2. The bus went into the International Islamic University Malaysia (Kuantan campus) grounds so I got to see how the campus was like. I went down at a stop near Indera Mahkota and after a while, I walked up to KMI Kuantan Medical Centre. I had some breakfast, performed dhuha prayers and freshened up. Then I walked out and cross the road to get the bus to Sungai Lembing. However, Google Maps marked the bus stop wrongly so the bus didn’t stop for me.
Hopping mad by then, I decided to turn back and walked to Lotus Hypermarket. I sat in there reading for an hour before leaving. This time, I crossed over to Tengku Ampuan Afzan Mosque to wait for the next number C50 bus which was due at 10:20. The bus came, I flagged it down and boarded it. The fare to Sungai Lembing was RM4. A bargain for a 40-km ride! We reached Sungai Lembing after an hour.
I got down with my bag and wheeled it along. The museum which I wanted to visit is on a hill and I almost groaned when I saw it. I spotted a prayer place and thought of leaving my bag there but it was barred so I continued on to the museum. Thankfully I managed to leave my bag in the security guard’s office. The museum ticket was RM2 and I walked up the steps leading to the entrance.
Visitors must enter bare-footed so I shed off my sandals and walked into the museum. There was a group of elderly Chinese visitors ahead of me. Sungai Lembing was likened as El Dorado of the East as it was here that a British Settlement existed in Sungai Kenau Valley. Mining activities had created a town for the last 100 years, making it famous as its mines were the largest underground mines in the world. The building that houses the museum used to belong to the manager of the tin mining company. I spent 35 minutes at the museum.
I then walked to Kolong Pahat Suspension Bridge about ten minutes’ walk away. I crossed the bridge to Kolong Pahat Village and walked through the peaceful village until the Rainbow Suspension Bridge where I crossed back to the museum side. The villagers also cross the bridge using their motorcycles.
I retrieved my bag and thanked the guard. I stopped to buy some sugarcane drink before walking to the bus station. I wanted to catch the 13:00 bus back to Kuantan and as I didn’t think I had enough time for lunch, I had the sugarcane drink and buns I bought at Lotus instead as my light lunch.
From the city bus station, I made my way to AC Hotel Kuantan and checked in. It rained shortly after. I ventured out after 18:00 and walked into the city. I must say I didn’t like the road surface in Kuantan and the lights were just too long! I walked along the riverfront and was surprised to find it deserted. Of course the haze was there but I was still surprised that there weren’t more people out and about.
I wandered to the art street and then had dinner at a restaurant at Jalan Mahkota before walking back to the hotel. It was starting to rain again as I neared the hotel.
Friday, 18 September 2026
I decided to have a late breakfast so I went down at 09:10. I bumped into a colleague and she insisted I join her for breakfast. She left after 40 minutes and I continued on eating slowly.
I checked out just before noon and left my bag at the left luggage. Then I walked to the nearest bus stop and waited for bus C20 to Teluk Cempedak. It’s been ages since my last visit to Teluk Cempedak. I walked along the beach past Hyatt Regency Kuantan Resort before turning back. I was hoping to find the hiking trail but didn’t see it. Oh well, no biggie.
I took the C20 bus back to Jalan Teluk Sisek and walked back to the hotel. I sat there at the small library reading while waiting for my nephew and niece to pick me up. They arrived at 17:45 and we drove off to Chukai. It was peak hour then and the long lights didn’t help but we finally arrived at the Airbnb my nephew had booked at 18:55.
We walked to the nearby shops and had dinner there.
Saturday, 19 September 2026
We left just before 10:00 and drove to Dungun, stopping at a few beaches en route, namely Pantai Teluk Kalong, Old Cruise Ship Jetty Kijal, and Pantai Tampin Kemasik. We met this friendly cat at Pantai Kemasik who was resting by the boulders and ended up feeding some of the stray cats when we stopped for some refreshments.
We reached Tanjong Jara Resort about an hour later and waited to check in. Unlike Pangkor Laut, this process took us some time. We weren’t shown around the resort either; the lady at the reception just directed us to the big resort map and showed us the key buildings. We then rode a buggy to Nelayan Restaurant and waited a while for our orders to arrive. The lady at the reception had promised to send our room keys to the restaurant but they weren’t there when we left so I asked for the keys to be sent to the Games Room. The Games Room is bigger than the one at Pangkor Laut which was a bonus at least. Finally we managed to enter our rooms but our bags took a while to arrive. After prayers, I pumped the iron before going down to join the Village Life where hotel staff and guests participated in traditional games like takraw, congkak, stilt walking, and batik canting. I had some pulled tea and keropok lekor and a complimentary shoulder massage too. It ended at 18:00 and the staff were busy preparing the area for dinner that evening.
I went with my niece to the Teratai pool and sat there until 18:45. The mosquitoes were starting to come out and I was their target. I returned to the room, showered and performed prayers.
Dinner that evening was Taste of Terengganu and was an informal affair. We went to the Games Room after dinner and amused ourselves with foosball, billiard and Jenga.
Sunday, 20 September 2026
It rained overnight and when I went for an early walk, the stairs were still wet. I walked along the beach and watched the sunrise. The haze was indiscernible in Dungun and I was thankful that we managed to escape it albeit temporarily. My sister and BIL came along shortly after and at 07:45, we walked to Di Atas Sungai restaurant for breakfast.
My sister and niece joined Sucimurni Exercise at 08:30 just off the reception area. I had signed my BIL, nephew and myself up for Jara Hill Walk that would begin at 09:30. I returned to the room to change footwear before returning to the reception. There were two Caucasian men and a Chinese father and adult daughter also joining the walk. We walked to the end of the villas then turned into the jungle. Our guide took the time to explain about the flora and fauna and wild animals that could be found at the resort. The first part of the walk took us up and down the hilly terrain and we stopped every now and then to listen to the guide’s explanation. We also enjoyed a bird’s-eye view of the beach from a platform up the hill. Then we came out from the jungle and walked in the village before entering a secondary jungle which was easier as it was mainly flat. All in all, the walk took an hour. I returned to my room and had a soak in the bath tub.
We walked to Nelayan Restaurant for lunch again today. The service was slow again but we had Chef Anne today to chat with us. The whole lunch affair took about 100 minutes! We then hurried to the Games Room for our karaoke session (the karaoke room is above the Games Room). We’d booked the room when we arrived.
After the karaoke and some foosball games, I went to a gazebo and sat reading until the mosquitoes started coming. I returned to the room, had a quick shower and performed prayers. We had booked dinner for 19:45 and chosen yakiniku and steamboat. I wasn’t too thrilled with this but the others wanted it. My nephew and niece helped to boil the food and grill the meat and vegetables.
After dinner, we went to the Games Room again. I returned to the room ahead of the others though and began packing.
Monday, 21 September 2026
I brought my bags down and we stored them in the car en route to breakfast at Di Atas Sungai. The others chose to have the resort help with their luggage. We left right at 10:00 and stopped to get some fish sausages before heading back to KL.
That would likely be my last visit to Tanjong Jara…
