Welcome to paradise....

Welcome to paradise....

Friday, June 08, 2007

Tips for a Perhentian Holiday!




















1. Book your holiday via internet (a surcharge of only RM10 will be imposed). But mind you, the rates can go as low as RM30. Just specify your budget to the agent and he will arrange everything for you including boating arrangements and any excursion that you might want to take! Don’t be too stingy, these guys do not charge high in the first place plus they need to make a living too, knowing that during monsoon nothing happens there


2. For most chalets, the electric runs only from 7pm to 9am since we are expected to be out of the bloody hot chalets to enjoy what the island has to offer. So for those city dwellers lazy bummers who cannot afford mild sun stroke or if you have babies or very delicate 'puteri lilin', you guys better opt for the slightly more expensive resort that offers 24 hours electricity with air-cond to boot!


3. The beaches in front of those expensive resorts are good enough to snorkel. In fact, if you pay to go on the snorkeling excursions, these will be some of the locations. In conclusion, you may need to pay extra to stay there but you don’t have to pay extra for excursions…kinda like chicken and egg situation! However, there will be some spots that you will miss unless you choose to go hiking on your own to those spots which are namely the turtle, shark and fresh water points.


4. Bring a hammock! Bring a book! Bring simple games!
Eg. Cards, Uno, Jenga or my favourite game of all time…scrabble!


5. If you would like to go for deep fishing or ‘candat sotong’, common quoted prices would be around RM300 to RM450 per boat! Fear not! You can go around and ask the fishermen if you can join them and they will gladly welcome you aboard for a mere of RM150 per trip (5 of us went so it was just RM30 each! Bloody cheap!) but don’t expect super hospitality service lah… no food provided, no cushy seats, infact you’re expected to help out with the chores on board.
6. If you do catch some, its pretty cheap to rent out the Resort’s BBQ, so you just pay for the drinks

7. What to wear??? Sunglasses, a hat, simple, light, easy to dry, recyclable clothes, a beach towel and flip flops (rubber not canvas) and anything that doesn’t trap sand. It can be quite aaaargh! Sand everywhere….

8. Food is cheap at Abdul’s Chalet i.e. RM5-7 for B’fast, RM10-20 for Lunch or Dinner, RM15 for barbeque.

Water is essential, it’s amazing how much water u need. We brought in 10 litres of Diamond Water…..it helps for a big family

9. Insect repellent, moisturizers, good conditioner and max SPF sun-block (preferably 65)

10. Try to be as environmentally friendly as possible, use less linen, less chemicals and avoid plastic packaging….. the rubbish must go somewhere right….might as well be biodegradable cause I don’t believe they will compile all the rubbish to be boated back to mainland 30 minutes away…after all, we just celebrated ‘World Environment Day’!

11. Be nice to locals, mat sallehs are nice to locals, we should be naturally nicer

Would I go again? Yes definitely. Why?

For those who were brought up in JB in the 70’s would remember swimming and enjoying picnics at Lido Beach. Today dipping yourself there with its extremely toxic waters would mutate one into a sea creature of some sort or the very least ED (erectile dysfunction). My point is since my trip coincides with Environmental Day, not many Malaysians are environmentally conscious. Before we loose the Paradise….. experience it, love it, preserve it. A good caption taken from Patek Phillipe, you don’t own it, you’re just borrowing it from your future.
How many of you out there recycle? Or even try? Shame on us…..
Anyway, do go! Go on and take a break!

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Note: Talking about break, what's with Paris Hilton trading a 12-by-8-foot cell for her 2,700-square-foot Hollywood Hills home for home confinement after only three days behind bars?

The legal system in america is so out of whack that i am suprised the sheriff did not serve her time for her. The rich and powerful, once they are placed in jail, should stay there, too. Shows how money can talks. So much for equal justice!

All things considered, Hilton is more likely to die from alcohol poisoning or overdose at home than from suicide in prison.