We reached Kuala Trengganu at about 6 plus in the morning. A guy brought us by a small bus to the Ping Anchorage’s ‘Travellers’ Café’ which is just 2 streets away. We had to wait there and have breakfast until 8 am which the coach comes to bring us to Merang Jetty. Merang Jetty is quite dilapidated, at least the one that belongs to Redang Reef Resort. It’s rather low-cost and not well-maintained. We took this boat with about 20 Malaysians also going to Redang Reef Resort. We had to wear PFDs and the boat was very cramped. At first it was crawling out of the narrow river, but soon gained speed and was speeding on the more open waters. Redang was not that near as we could not see the island from mainland. When we approached Redang, it was surreal, heavenly and unbelievable. Maybe because I’ve never seen such clear, blue waters before. There were generally 3 different shades of blue in the Redang waters due to the different depths and “undergrowth” – diluted copper (II) sulphate, aqueous copper (II) sulphate and aqueous copper (II) hydroxide. The waters near the shore was of such light blue colour that it looked just like a swimming pool. It was so tempting, calling out to us to jump into it! Redang Reef Resort is the cheaper kind of resort. Laguna is right beside and more posh and of cuz more expensive. I shared a room with Wanling and Shuying. The room was a little sandy and had humongous mozzies in them.


blue waters!


swimming pool?


naked gals hanky-pankying

Started off with snorkeling after lunch. Had “starters” at the beach first. Saw sea cucumber and ‘nemo’s! Took a boat to another smaller island. It was so fun and such a unique experience to be swimming together with the fishes. Saw more ‘nemo’s, “ikan bilis”, colourful fishes, “ikan kuning”s and so many other kinds of fishes. We tried to reach out the touch the fishes but the fishes were quick to sense the vibration and swam away before I could touch them, thanks to their “lateral lines”.


Day 2:

Yet more snorkeling! Ooh… Went to Marine Park on Pulau Pinang in the morning. More fishes in the “aquarium” of different shapes and sizes and there were pomfrets too (or at least they look like pomfrets to me). It was funny how I communicated with Wanling in the water, when we saw a dead jellyfish being eaten by fishes. Then I used my finger to make the shape of a diamond and the eating action to tell her that I want to eat the pomfrets! My favourite edible fish ok! Even saw an eel. The instructors seem to know where the creatures’ homes are. “Sharkman” dangled a dead fish outside the entrance of the eel’s home, which is under a big black reef. The ugly eel wriggled out and attempted to take a bite of the fish, but “Sharkman” pulled it back and continued to lure it out for us to see. Soon it grew tired of not getting to eat the dead fish, and swam back to it dark dark home. On the way back to Pulau Redang, saw a turtle swimming away from our boat. So cute! We were so lucky to see the turtle! =)

There was another snorkeling trip in the afternoon in another snorkeling spot. Saw the same things – same kind of fishes and reefs. I think we saw so many of them in these two days that they don’t seem to fascinate us as much already. We were fed with such rich and natural colours and clear water that they don’t seem to surprise us that much already. But, it’s really so contrasting as compared to Singapore waters. Saw mushroom coral which is rather hard, though it looked slimy.

Went for another snorkeling trip after tea to see sharks. Of cuz we din see the great great white sharks. We merely saw the baby great white sharks. So cute though they still look carnivorous and fierce. Saw more clownfish! Clownfish are my favourite fish too! Saw a baby trigger fish, but I couldn’t catch sight of the baby barracuda. Saw eyecow seashell, which really looked like an eye. Later, “Sharkman” brought us to see stingrays. He went to kajiao the stingrays by poking their tails and they swam away in fright. Haha… They were camouflaged on the sand and it was not easy to notice them.

At night, we went out to the beach and tried to rub the sand for blue sand. At first, Nini and some others saw it while I did not. It was rather disappointing, but we continued to rub and rub and soon I saw 1, 2, 3… It was luminous and emitted blue light. It was unbelievable. The instructors told us that those were parts of corals or was it shellfish, and when we there’s warmth will emit light. So cool!!! We kept screaming each time we saw a blue sand, such that "Sharkman" teased us about and imitated our high-pitched screams.

The beauty can't be captured totally by our cameras but will be remembered for a lifetime in our memories...