Monday, February 5, 2007

My First Ever Trip - Jun 1989


I started to travel on my own at the age of 22. My first trip is to Trengganu. I remembered doing research on Trengganu at the library. Beside, I had asked around from those people who had visited there once.


I chose Trengganu cause I just love sea sides, islands, waterfalls, snorkeling and what more I heard Trengganu has beautiful islands. Furthermore, I wanted to see my penpal who stayed in Trengganu.


My companions for the trip were my primary school mate- Syed Izzat, my mum third cousin, Salleh and my dearest partner Noy. Salleh and Izzat are neighbours. We started our journey at Lavender by taking a Transnational express bus which ply mostly to East Coast of Malaysia. At that time, the bus fare is only $18.00. We departed at 7 pm and arrived the next day at about 2 in the morning.


First we headed to Salleh's relative house at Kuala Trengganu. Here we were serve breakfast and was brought to our hotel later. Being a newly employed person, we do not have much cash, so we just stayed at a chepo hotel.. Cant remember exactly what is the hotel name, like Sri Trengganu or whatever but I still remember the location if I'm at Trengganu now.


We planned to explore Trengganu for 5 days. On our first day, we only roamed around the city. We headed for Sekayu Waterfall the next day. It is so exhalirating to enjoy the waterfalls. Not many people as it was weekdays. I went back a few time after this trip, but its not that nice and natural any longer as Sekayu has became too commercialised.


Next we went to Marang to hire a boat to Pulau Kapas. Marang is a destination for you to take boats to other island around Trengganu. Now you can also see a fishing docking area. Go there very early if you wish to experience the hustle and bustle of fishmen autioning off their catch to fishmonger and the locals.
We took a small boat to Kapas Island fromMarang at a cost of RM20 per person including a snorkelling accessories. There we rent a chalet at "Makcik Gemok". It only cost RM30 per pax for a nite stay with breakfast and bbq dinner for two. Its a great offer back then. Try it now, I don't think that you can ever get that price any longer.
The beach is a so white and smooth. No wonder it is called Kapas Island (Kapas is Cotton in English) We stayed for 2 nite here. Since there is no activities at nite, we just lazed near at the beach grazing at the sky with full of stars and listening to the ever popular song at that time "Sejati". I'm smiling away and shaking my head now, remembering the innocent way of my life seating at the beach with men who are not my mahram. Astagfirullah! May Allah pardon my sin.
We headed back to the mainland after we had our breakfast with darker and tanned skin.
From here, we went to Salleh's auntie place again. Salleh cousin is actually my penpal. Since its her birthday, we brought cake to celebrate her birthday. We stayed there for one nite and headed back to Singapore with a lot of keropok instant, songket and batik trengganu ..and of course our memories of the beautiful Kapas Island and the splendid Sekayu Waterfall.