Thrilling Terengganu

To get to Kelah sanctuary, we need to get on a raft to cross the river.

Read more: Thrilling Terengganu - Travel - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/life-times/holiday/thrilling-terengganu-1.576962#ixzz31YN1mpgV

IT is not all about squid jigging. The one-week Terengganu International Squid Jigging Fest 2014 is filled with inland adventure, fun and cultural exchange as participants go on excursions in the State.

SETIU WETLAND, WEAVE EASY

All seven coaches start from TH Hotel and travel in a convoy, with police escorts no less, to Setiu Wetland. The 75-minute drive along coastal road is dotted with scenic views of colourful fishing boats anchored on the country’s longest beach by the South China Sea. It reminds us why fishing is an age-old tradition in Terengganu.

Setiu is also famous for its enchanting beaches, traditional fishing villages and nature, especially its wetland areas where we are heading. Here, aside from learning about the importance of mangroves, we plant more mangrove trees.

Meantime, in the shade of a make-shift tent not far from the mangroves, old women are giving a demonstration on mat weaving. Seated on the floor with their legs tucked sideways as kampung folk do, and armed with nipah, rattan and bamboo, they showed us how this was done. Most have over 10 years experience in weaving and are often commissioned to weave mats and baskets for chalets, restaurants, resorts and individual homes in Terengganu.

Besides weaving fruit baskets and floor mats, the women also show how to weave attap leaves, often used as roofing material for gazebos and beach huts.

As some members of the media struggle at their first try, these women make it look like a piece of cake.

STOP, I’M TICKLISH!

It takes about an hour to get to Gawi jetty from Kuala Terengganu. From there, we board several boats to a few attractions on Lake Kenyir, the biggest man-made lake in Southeast Asia.

Our first stop is Orchid Garden. Located on Hulu Selimbar Island, 20 minutes’ from the jetty, here you can find various wild orchid species and exotic hybrids of local and international species blooming in an array of colours.

We then board our boat and head for the tropical garden on Tekak Besar Island, an eco-tourism, research and development centre for diverse types of fruits — tropical, wild, exotic and indigenous fruits which are close to extinction.

While the visits to both places are educational in nature, it is our visit to Kelah Sanctuary that we are excited about. It’s located on Petang river, 45 minutes from the jetty. The river is fed by 91 streams. As the river is shallow, boats can only reach up to a point where visitors get off and continue on foot.

Fret not if jungle trekking is not your thing for a new walkway makes Petang river more accessible and trekking easier.

Fishing activities are strictly prohibited at the sanctuary. However, what is thrilling is the opportunity to swim with, catch and release many species of kelah.

Our feet, legs and hands are nibbled at. Ahhh...hahahaha! Woohooo! Mak Oooiii! When the kelah feeds off your palm, the experience can be very ticklish. Upon setting foot in the river, the friendly kelah will swim towards you and start nibbling away at your feet.

REWARDING REDANG

The 90-minute journey from Merang jetty to Redang island in a big air-conditioned ferry is pleasant and smooth.

Of all the islands in Terengganu, Pulau Redang is not only blessed with tourism infrastructures but it also boasts many great dive and snorkelling sites.

Redang offers an abundance of marine life and beautiful coral gardens. A few shipwrecks will thrill scuba divers all the same.

To me, Redang is most gorgeous in the afternoon. Against the clear blue sky and white, fine sandy beach, the blue sea looks out of this world. It is on par with some of the most beautiful islands in the world such as Maldives.

You don’t need to snorkel far to see beautiful corals at Marine Park Redang. “I thought the corals must have been destroyed but I was wrong. I’m so impressed by how well the corals have been taken care of,” said a blogger from Finland. By Shuib Taib

Read more: Thrilling Terengganu - Travel - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/life-times/holiday/thrilling-terengganu-1.576962#ixzz31YMj9QnK