Idyllic Terengganu beckons - Part 1

The award-winning Tanjung Jara Resort, Dungun, where we spent time for lunch whilst admiring its azure seascape.

This would be the first time I treated my family to a vacation. It was April 2012 hence we avoided the daily downpours one might expect during the long year-end school holiday. Amidst the excitement and nervousness of it all, I managed to drag my parents and youngest brother all the way to Terengganu! I've never been there before but hell it looked great on the internet :)

I think the road trip took us about 9 hours from Johor Bahru on an average speed of about 100 km/h with a few stops in between - my father and brother insisted on driving their manual car (a bit too leisurely by my standards) instead of my automatic one. It's been a long time since I drove a manual car, so I left it to them to do the driving, hah!

A meander amongst the traditional-style accommodation at Tanjung Jara Resort will get you to Nelayan Restaurant.

We stopped by Tanjung Jara Resort in Dungun at around 2 p.m. just in time for lunch. They have a highly rated restaurant there called Nelayan (fisherman in Malay). From the car park, a 10-minute relaxing meander amongst award-winning traditional-style accommodation and gently swaying coconut trees would get you to the seaside eatery, located only steps away from the infinity pool and spa. The welcoming sea breeze interminably caressing your cheeks if not the breathtaking vista of the azure sea can persuade any visitor to stay there a night or two longer I imagine.

Post-lunch photoshoot at Nelayan Restaurant :)

But we're here strictly for lunch and not a minute more because I've secured bookings at another fabulous accommodation (I hoped). So after filling our tummies with the (ehem, slightly overpriced) club sandwich and spaghetti (my mum despised the al dente experience, she rated it as undercooked, hehe), we're off northbound to Setiu, where the lonely Terrapuri Heritage Village awaited our long due check-in.

And when I say lonely, I really meant the less-than-a year-old resort was quite far removed from other hotels and resorts. Unbeknownst to me, it sat smack at the end of a long and quiet village road. Initially my mum was verbally worried that we had lost our way and advised that we should turn back. As it was already 6 p.m. and quickly getting dark, I was worried too, you know :( But we persevered on our course and much to everyone's relief, we found it at last with a tiny plaque announcing the resort's name! Phew...

Dear Management, your resort does not deserve this tiny plaque. Its fabulousness demands a bigger one ;)

Our rather late arrival was promptly greeted by a staff member and checking in was a breeze. Our suspicion that we were the only guests around for the day was confirmed during our chat with the staff at dinner (I opted for the 3 day 2 night offer which included breakfast and dinner). Later on, we also found out that this dainty resort had only 4 personnels running it. Nevertheless, I was personally impressed by their willingness to make us not feel alone but at the same time being non-intrusive. Every mealtime would end with a warm friendly conversation and they even showed us around the grounds the next morning (a personal tour, wow). As it turned out, the traditional spa and a wooden tower were still under construction at the back of the resort - reasons why I should come here again, I believe ;)

Climb up those stairs to reach enlightenment, or really good food :)

My admiration for the non-Malay owner's dedication in preserving hundred-year-old Malay traditional houses and turning them into an eclectic mix of resort-style villas has never waned even after we left the place. The addition of modern facilities and other creature comforts only added to its charm including air conditioners, 3 ceiling fans, a hot water shower and a wooden bathtub. No TV? Not a problem 'coz we never need it here.

Huge prawns and other well cooked Malay condiments. As I said, really good food.

Meals were prepared by local villagers (now that's really authentic traditional cooking) and were certified delicious by my mum who herself cooks really well. I agree!

My heritage villa. The bathroom is a new addition but still complementing the style of the original house.

Good night, Terrapuri. You look so damn good even at night!

The 9-hour road trip sure took a toll on us, but in my personal opinion, it was well worth the journey! The pictures I took of Terrapuri that night were to me so impressive that they made me wonder what good things the next day would bring ;)