Nami island

Namiseom Island (남이섬 종합휴양지) or Nami Island 

Senibong Seafood, Johor

Opposite to Sembawang industrial estate, Singapore, Senibong is well known for their Malay fisherman village and one of the best seafood restaurants. These restaurants were erected on the muddy shore and seems floating on the water when the tide comes. These restaurants offer fresh seafood from both local and international suppliers. Why international suppliers? It is because in one of my visit I found lobsters imported from Canada. For local fish and seafood, you can find the exotic tropical fishes as sell as crustaceans such as snails and clam families which are difficult to find in common market. Those seafood are cooked according to your favourites such as grill, steam, deep fry or simmered which referring to Malay or Chinese cooking style. During holiday this area will be crowded with customers and it is better to make a book during Ramadhan. How to get here? If you're from Johor Bahru, just take the JB East coast highway (no.35). Once you pass through the Permas Jaya Golf Club on your right, you'll find a big Jusco shopping mall at a junction. This mall is very apparent because it is very near to the junction. At the junction, turn right to enter the Jalan Permas Selatan. Then take Jalan Permas 13 on your left and you'll find a small junction that leads to the Senibong Foodcourt at Senibong Village. This village is still in Permas area and if you had reached Pasir Gudang thats mean you had surpassed this area. Meanwhile when you're from north, you can take pasir Gudang Highway (no. 17) or again try to find the 1403B Bakar Batu exit from the North-South Expressway.

Ao Nang Beach and The Islands nearby Krabi

The first and foremost thing to do in Krabi is of course being a 'sea gypsy' for a while. Sea gypsy huh? What else? Swim, boat riding, snorkeling with fish, having barbecue by the beach, exploring the sea cave as well as kayaking. Getting wet, dry and wet again. The rest, there are many other things to do, depending what you're going to discover. The main issue is where to go? It is no need to worry. There are few sandy beaches here; Noppharat, Ao Nang, Railay and Khlong Muang which are facing the bright blue Andaman sea. Ao Nang beach is the longest beach in Krabi at it take around 30 minutes from Krabi Town by car, depending on traffic. It has a long of shop lots facing to the sea and this shops opens till late night. Restaurants, pubs, souvenirs, banks, pharmacy, money changers, textile retailers, swimming accessories shops, massage parlour forms the terrace of this shop lots. Besides, there are many tourist agent counters that offer packages for your trip to the nearby islands such as Koh Phi Phi, Poda island, Chicken island, Koh Yao Yai and many more. The trip to those islands starts from Ao Nang beach or Krabi town. In fact, you are also could go to Phuket from Krabi by selected ferry or boat. The nearest islands to Ao Nang and Railay beach are the Chicken island and Poda island. It takes just few minutes from Ao Nang beach by boat. Bigger islands such as Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta has resort where you can stay overnight. 

Shaolin in Malaysia?

Have you heard about Shaolin? Skillful monks with kungfu? It sounds familiar if you're in China or Tibet but have you heard about Shaolin in Malaysia? This picture was taken when I visited Penang Hill. Shaolin in Penang huh? However I am not sure whether you could find the shaolin monks here as you watch in tv. Anyway, just make a visit if you're going to find out. 

Wakaf Che Yeh, Kelantan

The Insight

Your tour in Kelantan especially in Kota Bahru would be incomplete if you don't visit the famous night market at Wakaf Che Yeh. At least you have an option for your nightlife when you are in Kota Bahru. What can we have here? In the morning this is a wholesale area while at night it becomes a lively night market. At the night market, you can buy souvenirs, dining or just chill out at the coffee shops or enjoying the street foods. Here you can buy apparels, cloths, local fruits, toys, body accessories, watches, blanket as well as electronic gadgets at reasonable price and do not forget to bargain. If you are hungry, it would not be a problem because there are a lot of stalls selling street foods and there are also many restaurants surrounds this area. Kerabu or Malaysian salads is one of the famous street food that you must try here. There are few options of kerabu such as seafood, beef, chicken, vegetables, squid or beef tripe. Basically the mixture of  fish sauce, fresh chillies and lime juice gives a strong flavour of the kerabu. There are few recipes but the most distinct kerabu is the one which has the right mixture of its ingredients. 

How to get there? It is located by the jalan Kuala Kerai and approximately 7 km from Pasar Siti Khadijah, which is in the heart of Kota Bahru. You can take taxi or drive by yourself. If you're driving, just take Jalan Kuala Kerai (JKR no.8) heading to Ketereh. The other way is to drive along Jalan Pintu Geng from Kota Bahru city centre until you reach Kota Jelasin or Jalan Puteri Saadong. If you plan to stay here, there are choices of accomodations; from 5 star hotel to family-friendly homestays. Holiday Villa hotel is just opposite to the main gate. 

Trivia:

Wakaf Che Yeh is located adjacent to Kota Jelasin. Both place is near to the Kelantan river. Kota Jelasin is well known for the residence of Puteri Saadong, a Kelantanese legendary princess who was also an adopted daughter of Che Siti Wan Kembang, the legendary Queen of Kelantan. There are few versions of her story but the most important thing is, her stories show that the independent Kelantanese Kingdom emerged since hundred of years ago and had become rivalry to the current Thai Kingdom for few centuries.

 Location of Wakaf Che Yeh and Kota Jelasin

 Jalan Kuala Kerai. Bus stop for Wakaf Che Yeh.

 Jalan Kuala Kerai picture, taken from Wakaf Che Yeh. Not far from the main gate.

 Body accessories are sold here.

Multi choice of apparels; jerseys, cloths, shirts, blouses, baju kurung etc.

 Electronic devices and gadgets.

 Local fruits and street foods.

Fresh laichees

 Fresh mangoes; ready to eat, kerabu or chutneys; its up to you.

This is one of a fine and fabulous kerabu that I had ever eat; the seafood kerabu.

Krabi

I had arrived here once, but it was an incomplete visit. Now, this is the real Krabi visit for me. Swimming with the fish, tasting the Andaman seawater (accidentally), enjoying the real tom yum as well as walking down the street along the beaches, it was wonderful. To reach this place, together with my colleagues, we took a long journey by bus from Bukit Kayu Hitam border. We arrived at Krabi beach in the late evening with few stops in Danok, Hat Yai (Padang Besar in Malay) and Trang (Terang in Malay). I stayed in Sunda Resort near Noppharat Beach. It was a pleasant resort and the most important thing is they serve halal food. My favourite activity, swimming and snorkeling took place started at Chiken Island and it surrounding island. Then we had lunch at Poda Island and again enjoyed swimming and treasuring the limestone cave by the sea. Being wet, dry and wet again I finally ended up my seafaring activities at Railey Beach. While in Krabi, we spend our night by having fine dinner at halal restaurants, walking along the street at night market and chilled out at Ao Nang beach. Before reached Malaysia, we had the opportunity to visit the saline hotspring in Khlong Thom in Krabi and experienced the thrill cave exploration by sampan at the Le Khao Kop near Trang district. As the conclusion, what can I say about this trip is; it was great!, I learned a lot of new things and all of them left in my heart in eternity. I really, really miss this moment. Alhamdulillah. 

 Long journey, started from Malaysian border in Bukit Kayu Hitam and ended in Krabi, Thailand.

 I stayed here. It belongs to a Muslim owner and they served halal food. Good service, clean room 

and near to a mosque.

Nice view at the Sunda Resort.

 Have a fine dinner at this halal restaurant.  One of the best tom yum and steam seabass (siakap) I ever had. Normally in Malaysia I won't take steam seabass because I don't like the taste but here it was marvelous.

 Ruantalay Halal Restaurant. Nice shot from my camera.

 We're heading to Chicken Island by boat from Ao Nang beach. Here I come....Ahoy!Ahoy!

 Poda Island. Me and my friends had nice lunch here after snorkeling with the fish. Thai curry was simply the best. Can I have it at home?

 On the way home, we visited this saline hotspring.

 Hmm, this is the tremendous, exhilarating, creepy and breathless place to explore. A lot of feelings.

 Well, the limestone cave and we explored it by sampan.

Selamat Menyambut Hari Kebangsaan ke-58