21 Apr - 25 Apr 2009 Pulau Kapas


Federation of Malaysia
Negeri Terengganu Darul Iman
Pulau Kapas
Mak Cik Gemuk Beach Resort +6096245120
Basic and rugged, Malay-style sea-view chalet, right on the beach, with a double room for MYR 75.- or US$ 20.- per night.

Click below for an interactive road map of the Mak Cik Gemuk Beach Resort on Pulau Kapas and for directions:





 



Allowing this beautiful tropical island with its steep and densely forested hinterland to take our breath away whilst hanging out under the warm sun at the soft, palm-fringed beaches (Pulau Kapas means Cotton Island, because the sand is as soft as cotton) on the northwest side of the 265 million years old island, waiting for the rays to jump, swimming in the crystal-clear aquamarine water, snorkelling in company with a variety of reef fishes over healthy table corals and colourful soft corals at the reef off the island's north side (opposite little Gem Island aka Pulau Gemia) and, shortly before midnight, watching a giant green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) of 1.20 m length with an estimated weight of 150 kg laying about 120 eggs on the north beach, her nesting beach, and wondering if she was as old as we together.

"Now more than ever do I realize that I will never be content with a sedentary life, that I will always be haunted by thoughts of a sun-drenched elsewhere..."

Jungle-trekking through the lush undergrowth of the rainforest to the island's east coast, which every year turns into a wild lee shore during the northeast monsoon between November and February, and spotting big butterflies, monitor lizards of all sizes and birds as diverse as kingfishers, sea eagles and herons.



Riding the MGH Ferry from Pulau Kapas back to Marang (MYR 15.- or US$ 4.- per person) and thereafter a local bus to Kuala Terengganu (MYR 2.- per person), strolling along the new waterfront on the bank of the Sungai Terengganu and exploring the colourful central market and the compact Chinatown, killing time with a bunch of friendly locals at their long-stretched kampung beach near the airport and eventually flying with Firefly (“Your Community Airline”) in an ATR 72-500 from Kuala Terengganu’s Sultan Mahmud Airport back to Kuala Lumpur's Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport at Subang for all inclusive MYR 35.- or US$ 10.- per person, one way.



Click below for more blog posts about West Malaysia's scenic east-coast islands
22 Feb - 10 Mar 2013 Pulau Tioman
19 Jul - 22 Jul 2011 Pulau Tioman
22 Mar - 25 Mar 2009 Pulau Perhentian Kecil

Click below for a summary of this year's travels

2009 Map Konni & Matt

Visit the Konni & Matt Online Albums and order high-res travel photos 
Konni & Matt Travel Photos


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