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Date Posted: Mon, Apr 05 2004, 14:55:25
Author: Ed
Subject: 
Diary of Redang Trip 1-3 Apr 04
I have gathered all the information available from this site to make my trip a very eventful one. So in gratitude I would like to write a short diary on my trip, hope that it may be helpful to those who are going. This is a non package tour, so I had to do a lot of searching, walking, exploring and conversing in half-hearted malay to get there.
Background info:
A couple of months back I had a 3D2N stay at Berjaya Redang with Berjaya Vacation Club for RM150. So decided to plan a trip there on.
Transport (Bus):
From this site, I gathered information to call transnasional via their HOTLINE. Not sure how valid is this, but according to the multiple times I have called and the 2 trips I made to Ken Air in Suntec and Transnasional at Lavendar Bus Station, you can no longer book tickets over the phone. Apparently, you got to be there personally to book the tickets. The fares are still the same. There are 2 buses that departs in the evenings for KT at 8pm and 9pm. There is no difference between the 2 for the 8pm one just has to detour to JB to pick up more passengers. I didn't take the Transnaional buses because the return bus was scheduled to depart KT at 8.30pm and my ferry reaches the bus station at around 4.30pm latest, so i had to idle around for a good 4 hours should I choose transnasional. I chose Five Stars buses instead. They are a tad more expensive @ $60 per pax but they depart KT at 12pm, and if I take the morning ferry I should be able at the mainland by 10am. At the point the ferry timings may sound a little confusing, but it is actually quite simple. There are 2 jetties in KT; Merang & Shah Bandah. If you are going to Coral Reef, Laguna, Pelangi etc...you go to the Merang Jetty. Shah Bandah jetty only has boats that goes to Berjaya Resort. And the ferries to Berjaya only comes twice a day; mid morning and mid afternoon. So it was a tad inconvienient.
Day 1 31-3-04
Reach Five Stars @ Golden Mile at 9.15pm to check-in with my bus tickets. You will get a receipt and a Five Stars Sticker to stick on yourself for the return journey. Once you have returned from Redang Island, at the designated time (which is 11.30am for me...) you will wait at the bus station with your stickers and the bus drivers will identify you. Should that not happen, you will be given a number to call for direct assistance.
Boarded the bus @ 9.40pm and the bus left promptly for the second link @ 9.50pm. Reach the link, clear the customs and then changed a bus that goes to KT. The original bus driver will point out the bus to you, so you got to pay very close attention to the buses you are boarding. Left the link at around 11pm with only 10 passengers. Went to sleep and woke at Yong Peng @ around 12.30pm(I think..), eat, smoke, go toilet etc etc.. please bring sweaters, jackets, pants, makeshift blankets etc, for air con of the bus is freezing. If u want a moderately pleasant sleeping environment, strongly suggest not to sit on the back rows, try to occupy the middle and front rows. They are relatively less bumpy during the journey.
Woke up at 4am at another rest stop, it was a petrol station, (no idea where it is but I guess it must be somewhere in Kuantan).
At around 5pm, the bus stop at this country club/resort thingy to drop off a couple of passengers.
We reach Shah Bandah Jetty @ 7.00am...and i was urshered off the bus half awake and half sleep. A mini bus/van came and took some passengers to Merang Jetty. There is a registration counter for Berjaya guest on the left side of the car park/bus station...and the ferry leaves at 10.30am.
Day 2 01-04-04
I wondered around the area, found a market further down from the bus station where the area above is a hawker centre. Ate prata(or roti canai as they call it...), mee rebus, curry puffs...
Went back to the counter at about 9am and check in. The ticket to and from Berjaya cost RM80 per pax. A bit expensive,was thinking maybe should have taken the bus to Merang, find a cheaper boat and land at Pasir Panjang then trek to berjaya...but a bit late for that already, so no choice lah.
The good thing though is after the counter people took my bag from me, I never got to see it till i reach the resort. Boat left at 10.30am. The entire boat trip is 1hr 15mins. Once on Redang, got bus from Berjaya to come pick you up and send you to their resort. I notice there are expanding the resort on the life hill. I dun think it is much of a concern, I hardly notice it was there. The beach is still beautiful and the water still clear. There are also some small fishes in the water also.
Then it's lunch at their resturant. Buffet lunch is @ RM28 per person, and I think the food is quite good considering how remote a place I was. Hit the beaches in the afternoon. Berjaya's beach is in a secluded cove on the north side of redang. It's kinda of like a private beach, so if u like quiet and serenity i guess this is the place. Personally I think I can tolerate the place for 3 days only, too quiet for me. Water is still beautiful especially with the afternoon sunrays reflecting off it. The best time of the day came at 4pm, HAPPY HOUR!!! Carlsberg draft 1 for 1!!!. Normal Price RM16 for one!!! Sat at the beach drank and doze till 6pm...
At 8, time to find dinner. The buffet dinner was a tad expensive at RM48 per person, though I must admit it did look a little tempting. Not to be faze, ask around for directions, and located 2 small restaurants outside the guardhouse/main gate. Less than 10 mins walk away.
Ate grilled fish, Sotong, kangkung, satay (not recommended), prawns. Price for 2 person = RM35..:)
At night, it is boring at the resort, they got no movies on tele (only a lousy channel called vision four). A recreation room with pool tables and that's it. So decided to find out about snorkelling around the island. I figured I cannot sit around the entire day at the beach, got to do something. You can either book thru the 2 agencies available at Berjaya, or u can get cheaper ones outside Berjaya near the restaurants. it differs by 10-20RM in price. I went with the more expensive one (60RM)cos they went out in a bigger yacht type of boat, got plenty of room and they look a tad more reliable.
Day 3 02-04-04
Woke up early to go outside to drink teh and eat prata, then left with the snorkelling boat at 9.30am
Round Island Trip, 4 locations, 3.5hours. Basically saw turtles, barracudas, napoleons, tunas, parrot fish and the best thing is I FOUND NEMO!!! The guide took us to 4 locations to see various sites and fishes. The turtles were magnificent. At turtle bay you can see the tracks left by the turtle crawling up the beach to lay eggs. I managed to see a small school of small barracudas...nearly panic...man those are ugly and nasty teeth.
Came back from the snorkelling trip sun burnt(sun block is a MUST!!!), tired and hungry. Ate the outside kopi tiam again, this time nasi padang. Cost 10RM for 2.
Laze under the shade on the beach till 4pm where it's time for happy hour again! Drank, doze and enjoyed the evening sun. Had more seafood for dinner. Cost 30RM for 2. Pack our bags as we had to checkout by 7am next morning to make the 8am ferry
Day 4 03-04-04
Woke up, check out, boarded ferry and reached mainland at 9.30am
Ate breakfast at the hawker centre. Cost 10RM for 2. Shop at the market for some souvenirs and foodstuff to bring back. Saw turtle eggs at the market for sale, wah heart pain for these magnificent creatures. We were supposed to be at the bus station at 11.30am with our stickers on for the bus drivers to identify us. We decided to be there early at about 10.40am, and it turns out that we are the only 2 passengers on the bus! So once we were verified, we got on the bus and it left the station before 11am. Then we headed to the country club/resort place and pick up a couple of passengers. Stop at a road side stall at about 1pm for lunch, which the guide assured us was cheap and good. I think it was alrite, nothing to shout about. Lunch 10RM for 2. While on route to Yong Peng, at around segamat area, the bus engine died. It would seem we have a faulty alternator. So got to get down from the bus and help push it to jump start. Kinda interesting trip, I would say. Reach Yong Peng around 6pm. Our bus cannot go anymore, so we had to hitch a ride on another bus to bring us into singapore. All in all, we reach Lavendar MRT at around 8.30pm
I found the return trip slower possibly because of the day traffic while returning from KT. Customs was a breeze it being a Saturday night.
Total Expenditure (for 2):
Room - RM150
Bus - SGD$120 (RM264)
Boat - RM160
Snorkelling - RM120
Food - 56+35+10+10+30+10 = 151RM
Beer - RM64 for 8 glasses
Total: RM909 (SGD$413) or 206.5 per person
I think could have been cheaper if I can find cheaper buses boats and snorkelling packages.
Things you aboslutely must have:
1. Sunblock - preferbly something in the SPF20 something one
2. Some moisturising lotion, in case the Sunblock fails and u get burnt
3. A good book to keep you occupied
4. Swimming goggles, unless u can endure the seawater
Hope this helps all whose going to the Berjaya Redang resort.
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Re: Diary of Redang Trip 1-3 Apr 04 -- TYS, Tue, Apr 06 2004, 1:49:55
wow- thanks for your little diary. I'm planning for a 3D2N trip too, but so far, difficult to coordinate with my friends, who're working. I hope we'll have as much fun as you had.
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Re: Diary of Redang Trip 1-3 Apr 04 -- Ed, Thu, Apr 08 2004, 14:15:43
I had a lot of help from this site and forums like these are a great way to share information and tips. Thanks Alex!
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Re: Diary of Redang Trip 1-3 Apr 04 -- Alex Kang, Fri, Apr 09 2004, 16:59:54
>I had a lot of help from this site and forums like
>these are a great way to share information and tips.
>Thanks Alex!
You're most welcome.
And thanks for taking the time to write and share your diary. I'm sure many planning to stay at Berjaya Beach will appreciate your tips.
Alex.
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Re: Diary of Redang Trip 1-3 Apr 04 -- cynthia, Thu, May 13 2004, 12:20:21
WOW Ed, thanks for your diary.
i'm planning a trip to Berjaya Redang this July for maybe a 4Days 3 Nights & this has really helped.
Alex, thanks for this wonderful site. it has provided me with so much info & now i'm not sure if i want to still stay at Berjaya Redang or Coral Redang... :)
Any suggestions?
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Re: Diary of Redang Trip 1-3 Apr 04 -- JL, Tue, May 18 2004, 16:20:37
Thanks ed for all the info, I will be leaving for Berjaya Redang this friday. I am also taking the coach from five stars. Will let you guys know more when i am back.
I am planning to dive during my trip there. :)
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