Paradise in Perhentian

Over Hari Raya weekend, we jumped in our car and drove across the country (literally!) to the east coast of Malaysia. Our destination was a beautiful tropical island called Perhentian Besar (meaning "big"). What a jewel we found!

The journey was an adventure itself, a lovely 6-hour drive past rice paddies and over windy, mountain roads leading across the central range. As it was a national holiday, there were no food stalls open and petrol stations were our only rest options, but I enjoyed watching the locals dressed up for prayers in their brightly-colored clothing. As for wildlife, I spotted a tapir, but wasn't lucky enough to see an elephant this time.

We arrived at the jetty and parked our car just in time to catch the 30-minute speedboat ride to the island. Upon arrival, we were greeted with lemonade and cool towels and given keys to our rooms: two adjacent bungalows with large porches overlooking a stream. No Wifi or TVs available here (though being resourceful parents, we brought Ipads for kids' downtime). Adam and I enjoyed the serenity as we sipped our brought wine, surrounded by the beauty of nature. We also saw fruit bats and monitor lizards, heard tropical birds, and watched coconuts fall.

Of course, that's not why we came to this island. Authentic tropical paradise abounds, and here, it's all about the ocean! Crystal-clear water, unspoiled coral reefs, and hundreds of tropical fish were in our "temporary backyard". What fun we had exploring the underwater world! The amazing variety of sea life was astounding; we saw black-tipped reef sharks, stingrays, and even a green sea turtle.

The Perhentian Island Resort where we stayed is fronted by the best beach I've ever seen, and certainly the best on this island. The water clarity and sugar-fine sand was phenomenal, and coral reefs were literally right in front of the hotel. I would definitely recommend the location! As for room facilities, they were comfortable enough, though better and cheaper food can be found at the adjacent Coral View Resort.

 
This was the best tropical escape we've experienced thus far; paradise really is out there! I think I am finally done peeling on the back of my legs from our long days spent snorkeling but it was totally worth it. Abby even found Nemo, but his picture is blurry!  =)