Saturday, September 1, 2012

Spending Eid Fitri in East Coast


In our recent balik kampung journey to Bachok, Kelantan for Eid Fitri, we took the route via Pantai Timur highway and Jalan Pantai, Terengganu. The main reason was of course to avoid the traffic jam we used to suffer when we took the Gua Musang route. Besides that is of course to enjoy the breathtaking scenic view of the coastlines throughout the journey. From Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu, driving at a constant speed of 100 km/h, it took us about 6 hours to arrive there. 


 We stayed for one night at Sumai Hotel; in Kuala Terengganu. Since it was in the fasting month of Ramadan; the hotel gave discounts for their rooms. We took a Studio Room for only MYR170. The sahur time was from 3am to 5am in replacement for free breakfast.



The next day, we continue our journey from Kuala Terengganu to Bachok, going through Seberang Takir, Merang, Kampung Raja, Besut and Tok Bali. With the same speed, the journey was approximately 3 hours. We arrived at Bachok on Saturday afternoon a day before Eid Fitri. Celebrating EidFitri in a countryside or kampung we called it, is very satisfying for me. The air is clean, cool and gently windy (our kampung just merely 500m from the beach). No haze!! No acid rain!! No more inhaling carbon monoxide (CO). I think my lungs are rejuvenated each time I’m here. My children are happy running around with their cousins, playing their little games and fireworks.


On the 3rd day of Eid Fitri, we hit to the town! Kota Bahru, what else! shopping la! We went to Pasar Siti Khadijah (wet market) for fish chips, (keropok kering), beef/chicken floss (serunding daging/ayam) and others titbits that we rarely seen in the city. 


At Kompleks Bazaar Tok Guru we go for the batiks, caftans and sarongs. The prices here are much cheaper, moreover you could also bargain to get better deals.


After spending a few days of Eid Fitri in Bachok, it was time to head home. On the way back; this time around we stayed at Merang Sutra Resort. It is approximately 2 hours’ drive from Bachok.










                                                                                 Here the beach is absolutely stunning and clean! the hotel is well-positioned facing the beach with such a picturesque view. We could catch the glowing sun rises slowly over the pool, bringing a gleaming light to the beautiful sand and sea. Whoaa! It was really spectacular! The cafĂ© here serve a variety of local delicacies as well as western food. 

We spent the one night there, the next afternoon we checked out and headed home, however as we passed Dungun, we heard from our stereo that there was a congestion at Karak & Gombak tolls. Hence; since it was almost dark and it rained that evening so we decided to stay for the night at Cherating. Most of the hotels there were fully booked, luckily there was one motel called Mercu Beach Resort, had some vacant rooms. 

The next morning, it took us less than 3 hours to reach home. It is nice to be home again and it was absolutely fantastic to spend the Eid Fitri holiday back at our hometown with all of our loved ones.