The marvels of Redang, one of the most incredible islands of Malaysia

I never imagined that Malaysia could offer a sea like that of the Seychelles Islands. Nature and pristine forests, deep contrasts, and especially a culture that has nothing to identify those in Europe. But the big surprise was just the sea, the beauty of this island which is located on the east coast of Malaysia.
Reach the island of Redang from KL requires a good dose of patience because the transfer is long and complex journey can be quite tiring. There are some options:
1) direct flight from KL. And 'certainly the least painful. You have to take a flight in the second airport in the Malaysian capital Subang Airport and buy a ticket in the company charter Berjaya Air "takes a direct flight to Redang island, where there is a small airport. The flight cost guidance of 100-120 € rtn including taxes per person bisgna but agree to travel on a private plane with 40 seats ... that cross the Malaysian nation. We have not trusted but you see it. You can also visit the company website to see the device www.berjaya-air.com and reservation (in the summer should also do well in advance). Attention because the frequencies are not many and you have to fit your needs and above all always remember: the departure from KL is not the same airport where you arrive from Italy ... and therefore considered more an hour to transfer from the two airports. This is because I read that someone has missed the flight back to Europe for this reason
2) Air + Ferry. In this case, the KL International Airport, KLIA Airport, with Malaysia Airline. It arrives in about 45 minutes to Kuala Terengganu with a flight on a plane all colored with 120 seats. This is a scheduled flight of the airline, professional and efficient. The price we paid is about 45 € a / r all-inclusive but if purchased with 15 days in advance the price can drop up to 25 € a / r. Arrived in Kuala Terengganu you take a taxi to the port (jetty). The taxi takes about 40 minutes considering the traffic. Once the port you have to take a fast boat that takes 2 hours to reach the port of Redang. The wait, however, can exercise quite long because the boat does not start in the evening and during the day there are only three starts. The boat is completely enclosed, like a torpedo with high air conditioning ... also implies the lack of fresh air for those who have weak stomach, a seasick pretty strong. Long waves (also with calm sea) complete the work ... after many an hour using the envelopes (the trash!) That hang from the ceiling of the boat to be sick ... I personally have been very bad leg and almost I do not make the weight patatrack while I return my good Travelgum to avoid worse trouble. Once at the port of Redang you need to do another 20 minute boat-barge that will take you to the resort. I can not tell the individual cost of these transfers because we bought a package directly from the resort with all these trips included. Most tourists do so because those who bought through the resort also have the harness priority than those traveling individually.
3) The bus from KL to Kuala Terengganu which should add then transfer by boat. The bus tour might be interesting for the landscape but takes over 5 hours and the heat could be quite important not to mention the waste of time since the arrival times can not be reconciled with the presence of the boat to Redang.
We choose option number two we left the hotel in KL at 5.30 to arrive at 14.00 at Coral Redang resorts we had booked from Italy.
Coral Redang Resort
We booked the resort www.coralredang.com.my Italy on site. The site corresponds exactly to the resort, even if I have to say the truth is diminution than that then you in reality. The rooms are quite comfortable. Coral Redang is a resort for travelers on-budget "or do not want to spend big figures, has a minimum capacity of adaptation and no great demands on services, those classic big hotel so to speak. Who does not recognize this description strongly suggest going to the lagoon or at Berjaya (or soon to Sari Pacifica).
The complex is highly integrated with the surrounding nature and the rooms are in small but comfortable bungalows are located close to the jungle behind the beach. There are about a dozen bungalows, most a small house has two apartments. Each bungalow is obviously independent. There are a few bungalows "solitary" and then there is a small two-story building small rooms. For those who want more comfort (or use a special occasion) is also a suite on the beach, this is a detached bungalow on the sea and much larger than the others. We had also tried to take it but the Chinese lady explained to us that we need to move a few weeks in advance because it is often booked.
Our bungalow (shared) was facing the pool with a beautiful lawn in front of the entrance. Each structure is made entirely of wood and the entrance is a little tap water to wipe their feet. Within a double bed and two nightstands, a desk and a wardrobe (rather small) with safe practice. Obviously, an air conditioner, two chairs and a low coffee table (there are also two comfortable chairs on the porch) and then the bathroom decor is decidedly spartan with a very old, with tiles rather worn and shabby. It 's definitely the sore point of the resort. The shower has a mat on the ground that there never raise council to avoid discovering what's under (then obbligarie slippers) and also the sink has a small shelf and a 10W light with which impossible to shave if "no memory". Overall, the room turns out to be fairly clean but there is a light smell of mold that will accompany you in the days after. Another sore point change linen is not quite done but when you take possession of the room. We were told that is done once a week because of environmental issues related to washing with detergents. We stayed a week with the same sheets ... but towels are changed daily. In addition, there are towels supplied daily to the sea (for free). The room has no design and is certainly not inspired architecture Malaysian seems to be done with furniture 20 years ago that is still patched to allow it to añadir forward. Forgetting: on the bed there is also a mega ventilatroe but we tried to turn the room and almost took off! We opted for a classic Air Conditioning! Excellent view to the pool and the sea. Not recommend the bungalows that give to the jungle if only for the "noise" Night of the thousands of frogs that fill a small lake and monkeys that feed into the resort. I would say that it is better to opt for those found near the bar. Also do not recommend the standard in the small building because they are really small and even more spartan. There isn't in any case, the room service.

 

Redang

It was not very polite note in us that we had to take off our shoes to climb on stools at the bar: after a journey lasting six hours from Kuala Lumpur perhaps we also need a minimum of understanding ... because it is the period that the resort does not presuppose a landing dozens of customers daily. Fortunately, however all other servants of the hotel were very nice and friendly, always very discreet and always available to give information. There is no animation is then a place for relaxation without the anxiety and anguish of "no thanks". Very prepared Regazzi also scuba dive center. The bar of the resort was open from 10 am until 1am. It 's the most experienced of the resort early in the morning you hear the blender in action ... smoothies, fruit mix ... go like hotcakes. The two boys are very nice and always friendly. The prices very acceptable, ranging from two euros for a frullatone fruit to a maximum of 4 euro for a cocktail of alcohol. Wide choice of drinks but the bar still is not possible to eat only when you open the restaurant. The pool is behind the bar. Is not very big but large for the structure because almost everyone goes to the sea. There is also a swimming pool for children, the introduction has the shallow water. Very successfully exploited by scuba center to teach the basics of diving for beginners who choose to embrace this wonderful sport. In front of the resort is a little volleyball (you can ask the ball gratutitamente at reception) and can take some canoe rental. You can also (in fact you MUST!) To rent equipment for snorkeling and the prices are quite low. We did a lump sum of roughly € 5 a week for a mask, snorkel and safety jacket or a small jacket Life jackets (like those found on rafts). Insist much to make you take for security reasons: no rent because the fins to avoid damage to the corals. If you have your enessuno will tell you nothing but the lease to anyone unless you do not scuba snorkelig. So without fins in some areas the Life jackets will give you aid because after a few hours in the water are tired and sometimes the currents there exhausted. The restaurant is very nice: built on a raised floor, as if a pile is completely open and the evening (or when it rains) will be closed by curtains of reeds, very nice and scenic. There are several ceiling fans that make the environment comfortable being on the beach but we have never suffered from the heat during meals because of a pleasantly airy.
The variety of food is not the strong point for lunch and dinner are always offered four meals, not including salad, soup and fruit. Normally there is always a dish of chicken, a fish, a type of pasta dish, possibly a Chinese / Malaysian. There is no bread but only white basmati rice. We say that if you stay a week not suffer very serious because repetition is the second week begins again ... when the menu! Breakfast however is always the same: there are croissants, bread, eggs and sausages. Sometimes I have also seen a Minister for the beans or rice (Malay). Tea and coffee are always there for lunch and dinner. The only seeker free drink is water (micro-filtered so they say) and orange juice for breakfast. The rest you can order. The Sabbath is made with a wonderful barbecue pork curry, chicken (inevitable) and fish (shrimp). Saturdays are also many people from other resorts then you should move on time, unless you want to stay hungry.
The other "not nice" is that the main dishes are hardly "integrated." If they end, there is more. This becomes annoying because you'll have to order a la carte. Times are fairly strict: breakfast 8-10 lunch and dinner 12:30 to 14:30 19:30 to 21:30. As I said there should never go near the Off Valve choice because you will not find. If you (or if you opt for all inclusive like us) you can order the menu. It costs a lot more expensive than the plate I saw was no more than € 10. Of course you can also opt for the all-inclusive policy with the menu and pay separately. The barbecue is included instead (otherwise it costs € 10 per person). The service is only for a la carte orders otherwise is self service. However the boys room is always very nice and willing to do anything. Usually for lunch the restaurant is besieged by cute squirrels (squirrels are but I do not think like us). I'm really big kids andthey are afraid to come to your table begging for a piece of your food. Obviously you see the hilarious scenes with ladies who yell at their sight, with children who are fascinated with someone ... but that does not bear its own! As I said there is no nightlife at Coral Redang relief. We say that in absolute turmoil on the island there is a great evening. The resort frequented by the Chinese are more "lively" and some of these sketch even a disco evening on the beach. Among them certainly Pelangi Resort, which seemed to be the most eventful but also Redang Beach Resort was disco night, in addition to Redang Beach is a tattoo (temporary ones) and a kiosk where batik painting. At Laguna the evening (except Monday) is a kind of vocal entertainment at the bar on the beach with three Chinese singers. Many walking on the beach and moving from one all'latro resorts taking two steps and going for a drink in a bar in another resort. In short, there is much quiet but if you want to spend a few hours you will not find joy in difficulty. Instead if you look real clubs, the ones with people dressed in their Sunday best and made up with the wild deejay (Ibiza-style) you have the wrong place and you will be very disappointed. Excellent but the beach: beautiful, spacious, wide, delicate. I must say. The sea is wonderful, warm, blue shades most unexpected and full of fish and corals. And 'the very same beach in the Seychelles with more fish, more corals (which we found in the Seychelles). A little annoying: the boats that take tourists around snorkeling and diving (even 3 times a day for each resort) or the small boats that load and unload goods (there is also someone who loads the garbage ....) . The other thing that is not really nice is a stream that passes close to Coral Redang and arrives at the beach. In relata told us that is a river in the jungle but to us it seemed that it was also used as the discharge of "not black". Fortunately the river was dry and not reach to the sea only after a violent night shower. In any case there seemed to be polluted or give strange odors or colors .... maybe they were right. Coral has available to holidaymakers of sunbeds (many) and umbrellas (a few). In the morning you will notice that the most clever put a towel on the deck for the post but we have never found a shortage of chairs. Many of the guests go around, go to the sea make snorkeling. Few are those who are sedentary sitting reading.

Redang Marine Park

Redang Island Marine Park is probably the most important and most famous attraction of the island. To access must be accompanied by a boat (just ask the resorts, the trip is scheduled every morning leaving at 9.30) and pay a sort of entry fee (which serves to protect the park) or 5-MR € 1. The ticket is valid for 3 days but allows you access for one so if you want to repeat the visit you will repay. The first ticket is paid directly to the jetty in Kuala Terengganu when you take a boat to Redang (pay anyway even if you go there) and any other visits are paid directly to the Dive Center welcomes you. Each morning Coral Redang, resorts that host us, arrange a visit to the Marine Park. Also in the morning, never in the afternoon. We sail south for about twenty minutes by fast boat. When you get the water takes the color that is difficult to describe because it takes on shades of blue and green incredible ... there are many islands that line the cliffs to reach the park which is also located on an island near the front the Berjaya Golf Resort and near the only airport on the island. The island is home to a resort and then only you can access the beach where you land: if you want you can also do a walking tour you will prevent anyone from entering the resort even if you do not recommend swimming in the pool . But the real pool is on the beach or the sea. The only real downside is that to avoid disturbing guests of the resort island focus of all resort visits only in the morning ... then there is an overcrowding crazy. Chinese armed groups of bread that you dip to give ilcibo to fish and to be photographed surrounded by thousands (not a random number, believe me) might be small and the big fish ... that concern you, hungry to find bread!

The part where the snoreking is not very big partly because the channel separating the island from the main island has a strong current (seen with the naked eye) and accompanying you will repeat ad nauseam not to exceed buoys for eviatare being sucked into the current channel.

There are lots of fish and corals .... many predominantly green and yellow. We also saw a wonderful thirty kg of grouper that blessed and Pacios dozing under a big boulder. Near the shore is really besieged by thousands of silvery fish looking mollichella some bread (not clearly distinguish the Chinese from the Europeans!). The water is as hot in the island even if we were besieged by sea fleas or insects that live above the water and you let go of the pinch annoying, leaving small bubbles on your skin that will go away after a few hours. To overcome this problem I recommend at least a shirt to limit damage to the legs. We also asked our hostess and we confirmed that there is a particular remedy than to cover himself. Fortunately we found these nice friends so concentrated only here but in other areas of the island there are definitely less. It seems the concentration depends on many factors ... ph water, outdoor climate, the temperature ... mah ...

The stay does not last more than an hour and then you have to queue to get on the boat dock and share each of its resorts. Here's the bad thing is this idea of "transhumance" that lifts the enchantment place it deserves. Obviously I'll never get a room in the resort island whereas this crowded beach worthy host in August there every morning. What we thought is, fortunately that is the end of September we dare not imagine what could be midsummer.

However, a hike that is definitely worth the stress of mass. Some things can not be visited by "lonely" and therefore we must adapt. But the visit to the grouper and his friends are worth it!

The beach

At the end of your vacation when you return home from Redang and your friends and family will ask, "Well, how 's island? What is the sea?" hardly find the words to do justice to this paradise. You will not believe because there are none to describe a place that is a perfect union and harmony between the wildness and the serenity of the desert island. A beach almost two kilometers long and consists of two huge loops separated by a headland. Fine white sand almost like talcum powder ... always cold due to the presence of microcoralli which prevents overheating even during the hottest hours of the day ... the turquoise water, hot and almost never move. And then all areas for snorkeling to make you spend hours glued to watching the seabed, with the mask in the evening will leave marks on the face of your passion. This should mean the return, but believe me no one will understand. Along this beach are almost all resort Redang (except Berjaya). Are all discrete (except a few very invasive) and adapt beautifully to your needs: international, local, Chinese, messed up, clear, stark, luosso. At Long Beach you will find everything you want.

The beach is an opportunity for long walks, take pictures, visit the resort, take a drink (during the central hours of the sun beats down but the heat even more). And of course, sunbathing, swim long and then, especially along the rocky coast, just meters from the shore and go snorkeling in a documentary by Folco Quilici. Troverte fauna very rich with fish of every kind and every color. You will find a cold sweat when the black tip sharks, creatures that swim about 1.5 meters near the tropical reef or watch with an ignorant curiosity more queer fish (and feared) of the barrier, or trigger fish. Not to mention the hundreds of fish or grouper sergeant with the colors silver and yellow stripes. But there are also parrot fish who spend their days scrape rocks and small stones or fish butterfly beautiful and elegant as if they went to the theater. And the backdrop to this film are the green coral reef, seem almost designed by a skilled caricaturist, and even more it's like being in a Disney film when anenomi meet the sea ... look carefully and closely because you will certainly find some clown fish that you can not fail to mind the cartoon of Nemo.

Hours and hours spent in water. This beach just because you live the most of your time you stay wet. But in the afternoon, holding a merviglioso cockaitl fresh fruit, sit on a deck to smell the scent of these lands. Other than nostalgia for Africa but saudade: I'm back since I do is think of Redang, a paradise lost.
Island Pets
In the forest behind the various resorts there are many monkeys of different types and species. They say cuts of small and medium. Especially in the morning and at night they show the edge of the forest, but they bring very careful because they are unpredictable and especially the older ones are aggressive. I say aggressive ... not doing the pilfering but trying to jump on his mouth wide open. They do if they feel threatened and to avoid this you must not come closer than it should. We have too much to take pictures but we were attacked by a couple of specimens that have not only jumped on a chance (we screamed so loud that you are scared!)
Varani. There are many both inside and on the beach but animals are very shy. They do not like chaos, confusion and man, so if you see (and do not ever fear) always go away quickly. They are also skilled swimmers and we saw them in the crevices of the most isolated beach only swim but I think to reach other beaches remain without water for long.
Pisces
Near the headland of the beach are black fin shark five feet long, very beautiful and harmless. The fish are many and are all generally not dangerous except fish crossbow. Ask your resort to show you pictures (in English trigger fish) or drawings of this fish is the "madman" of the group. It 'pretty aggressive when not needed. There are no special tricks, when you see it you are calm and turn off ... that's all.