Cherating Trip Details

According to the itenary set by my ex-colleague V, we were to meet up at the Projet station right before the Karak toll at about 8am. Because we're car pooling, I have to get up early to meet up with a few guys travelling from Klang at about 6:30am. After a detour to pick up another guy, we managed to reach the station right on time. Some of the others are already waiting while there are still 2 cars yet to arrive. So we had some light breakfast at the 7-11 (I thought all Projet convenience stores are called Destina, when did it became 7-11?)


On Karak

About 8:45am we managed to gather everyone and began our journey to the East. The highway is quite straight forward so along the way there's not much complications. We stopped by a few rest areas before approaching Kuantan at about 12pm. Planned to have lunch at the famous kopitiam in Kemaman, but we accidently went into Kuantan town. Kuantan is a mad town with countless traffic lights. Wasted almost an hour just to get out of it. Finally we past by Cherating and went into Kemaman town around 1:30pm.


Some fancy clock tower thingy in Kuantan town

The Kopitiam is filled with people, and we had to wait for a while before getting a place. The parking system there was really confusing, my ex-boss said probably it's done on purpose so they can collect more fine... Haha. Probably because we're late, most things were sold out. Even the "roti bakar" they're left with the buns version. It was good nevertheless. After the meal I saw the 91-year-old owner sitting at a corner. I smiled to him and he made a signal asking me to go over. Chatted for a short while with him asking me where we're from and stuffs. Then we left for the turtle sanctuary.


Hai Peng

The sanctuary is not a very big place. It's located just outside of Club Med cherating. Inside you can see a pool with some grown up turtles and another smaller pool with a few snapping turtles. In another room we found several turtle hatchlings in a plastic box and another side we can see a mini museum. After the tour we left for our resort.


Turtle at the sanctuary

After checked in, we rested a while and we're supposed to go out at about 4:30pm for some snacks. But unfortunately we were left behind and only 4 cars went. So we just went for a dip in the pool and later the sea. When they came back, they "tapau"-ed some otak otak and another type of kuih in banana leaf for us, leaving out the lekor because it's only nice to be eaten hot on the spot. That's how I missed my lekor :(

Later at night we went to a place in Kemaman for seafood dinner. And after the dinner we went to the turtle sanctuary again, this time to see the staff release some turtles back to the sea. By the time we arrived, they just finished releasing a bunch. We're quite disappointed to have missed it, until the staff mentioned that they have more to release upon receiving donations. (Haha, does that count as bribery? :P ) So we donated some money and get to see a bunch of turtle hatchlings racing for the sea. Quite a fun and interesting experience I'd say.

Later we went back to the resort and have our "drinking session". We brought a few cartons of beer to be shared among us. Drank until about 1:30am before we call it a night.


Yum seng!!!

The next morning, I set my alarm to ring at 5:15am so that I won't miss the sunrise. Waited until about 6:10am when the sky starts to show some signs of light. Some of the bunch joined me as we go to the beach side. All of us presence at the beach took a lot of shots of the sunrise. Then as the sky gets brighter, there are even a bunch of people who laid their yoga mat and have a yoga session right on the beach.


The first light that my camera phone can capture (looks like crap :P)


Nice tone... too bad the sun is hidden behind some clouds on the horizon


Finally see the "egg yolk"


Pinch pinch "egg yolk"... haha

We then proceed to have our buffet breakfast. And after some rest, we played some beach volleyball and ping pong. My friend's son went to the seaside and caught quite a lot of hermit crabs being washed up the shore.

At about 12:30pm, we checked out and went out for our lunch. Lunch was good, better than the dinner the previous night, but comes with a price to pay (Almost doubled our dinner's price). After lunch we proceed to a dry goods store and some of them bought salted fishes, squid snacks etc. At about 3pm, we left for home.


Yum yum lunch...


The sign says it all :P