Pantai Hiburan, Kuala Rompin, Pahang

Last Monday I took the day off.  So, I had 4 days off because Tuesday was a public holiday.  But we couldn't go anywhere far because Nina had extra classes in school.  So, on Sunday we traveled to the south of Pahang to Kuala Rompin.  We didn't know what to expect except that there's a beach there.  We started off a it late in the afternoon and arrived there at about 5.30pm.  It was about 1.5 hours drive from Kuantan.

 It was a bit late when we arrived but there were still a lot of people on the beach.  Anyway, the sun wasn't setting yet.  It was just the haze and the atmosphere was a bit gloomy.

While I was waiting for Papa to move the car to a nearby spot, they went to buy some ice-creams.

We found a spot with a bench.

The haze made the sun looked pretty.

That's not fog but haze.

As usual, Zoey's the only one enjoying the sea.  We didn't want to take a dip with her because the waster was too shallow and the restroom was a bit farther away from the spot where we're picnicking.  So, she joined a couple of husband and wife while Papa and I just looked on.

There weren't a lot of interesting subjects for me to take pictures.  Papa saw this small crab having a baby marlin's head for dinner.

Another sea creature which I didn't know what but looked like some sort of shelled creatures hanging on to some roots.

Another one of those.

 A view of the stretch of the beach.

Asha was as usual busy sketching something, even if she only had a piece of newspaper as the medium.

We decided not to overnight there because it wasn't that far from Kuantan.  So, by about 7.00pm, we left and stopped in Pekan for dinner.

My verdict?  Not a choice of beach but then. it's better than nothing.

Chendor Beach

We passed this stretch every time we go to Terengganu but we always missed the turn because it looked like an alley going into a village.  Since we're driving slowly this time around, we didn't miss this.  However, I was not really into going there at first but relented since Papa said it's just for the fun of finding anything new.

The beach was actually filled with a handful of people - not on the beach itself but under the shades of the trees.  Most were relaxing and eating at mobile hawkers like the one in this picture.

She's fast!  She couldn't help it every time she sees  the sea.

As she was approaching the water, she started to slow down a bit. Taking her time and checking my facial expression - to go or not to go.

As I didn't say anything, she slowly stepped into the water.

Getting excited but I had to remind her that we didn't bring any extra clothes.

The water was shallow and clear.

 A wide expanse of beach.  At the foothill on the left sits the famous Club Med.

Many beach-goers were under the trees but you can't see them here.

Another view of the beach.

The view from the sea.  The beach sloped down towards the sea so we couldn't see anything or anyone up there.  It's also dangerous if parents let little children wander off to the sea without guidance.

I couldn't stand the heat.  So she had to follow me back towards the shades with pouting lips.

Purposely walking slowly, taking her time and enjoying the sands.

 Her next venture - a nearby tree.

Happily relaxing on the trunk.

We were enjoying some fish satay and keropok lekor in front of the tree trunk.

Overall, the Chendor Beach was beautiful.  During the pre-monsoon season, the sea is a bit rough, but not too dangerous.  It's a haven for surfers.

*Image taken from google - for more info, visit here

We'll definitely go there again for a picnic - and maybe a bit towards the late afternoon when the sun is not too hot.  

Re-Visiting The Turtles In Cherating

This was 2 weeks before the fasting month of this year started.  We decided to visit places near the seaside before hibernating at home.  The fasting month is not the time for me and Papa to venture outside.  We're always tired after work and the weekends are always for relaxing at home.

Stopping for lunch before finding the places to visit.

So this time we decided to venture up north.  Since we didn't have any particular place to go, we decided to just stop at the first place encountered on our way.  And that place was the Turtle Sanctuary of Pahang.  We've been here before but this time around we got to enter the hatching ground!

An old house converted into an exhibition hall.  There's no entrance fee but visitors were encouraged to donate any amount and I put in RM10 into the box.

  Visitors were greeted by this large picture of a turtle.

Some corals on display.

There were a whole lot of other things on display but since we've been here before, there's no need to snap the same pictures over and over again.

After a tour inside, we went outside to watch the turtles (again!).

 There were a few small pools outside housing different types of turtles and fresh water turtles.

These hatchlings were not set free to the sea.  Maybe the authority wanted people especially little children to enjoy them.

 This was at the second pool housing the fresh water turtles.  Of course one had to endure the smell. It's not that bad, really. I just have an aversion towards the smell of animals including cats. They gag me.  So, I wouldn't speak and tried to hold my breath for as long as I could. Ya! I know! I'm vain!

Then somebody asked whether we (us and other tourists) wanted to venture to the sands outside where they have the hatchery.  And we're not gonna miss that!

The day was hot so there's a lot of heat on the sand but we're not allowed to wear our shoes there for reasons unknown.

 The area where they kept the turtle eggs was fenced.  We could only take pictures from outside.  The eggs were gathered and kept together in the sand based on dates.

Some eggshells.

Listening intently to the explanation given by a freelance guide.  He was trying to get us (everybody in the picture) to go and watch the turtles laying eggs at night (between March - August).  Anyway, we got a lot of firsthand information from him. Since Papa had another engagement that night, we decided to go after the fasting month.  So we just took his phone number.

Meanwhile, nearby....

I'd love to have one of this cool swings.

And Papa was teaching and helping Zoey to climb the rope.

Managed to hang there for a few seconds.

And finally succeeded!

A yatch in front of Club Med - off-limit to the locals and non-patrons.

Shelters along the seaside and still within the compound.  For now the beach is off-limit as the state government is upgrading and beautifying the site.

A small entrance behind Nina leading to the hatchery.

On our way out, we saw a large glass cupboard.

We'll definitely contact the tour guide to go and watch the turtles laying eggs after the eid.