A Stopover In Batu Layar

On our way back from Punggai we made a stopover in Batu Layar. Its ultra wide screen view of the sea and beach will make any traveler want to stop over. A great view to gaze for hours but not to dive in for a swim unless you are a surfer or windsurfer. But there are no surfers around. Probably it is just too way out of reach.

There are many chalets around from single room to dorm. The price is quite reasonable. During this holiday season it is surprisingly quiet. Probably the management needs to add more facilities for guests who are staying in the middle of nowhere.

This particular chalets are just beside the beach. Being able to gaze at the amazing view from morning till night is just sheer bliss. Added to that the front space is large enough for outdoor activities. The rest is just limited by your imagination.

The biggest setback of this place is the cafeteria which is under renovation. If you are going to stay here for days you just need to drag along a bagful of canned food. The nearest town where you can buy groceries is around 15 km from here. Probably that is the reason that we did not choose to stay here despite its spectacular view.

A Getaway In Punggai

It was a weekday and there was no traffic on the road. It is not an episode in a dream. I was fully awake. Quite an awe for a city guy like me. But in Punggai, at the east coast of Johor, it is an everyday sight. So last Monday my sister and I decided to pack up and head for this middle of nowhere guided by my trusted GPS unit.

The weather was unpredictable. It rain and shine at any minute. All the photos that were shot here look like the sun was shining all day long. I just dread of the idea sleeping in a wooden hut in the middle of the night. Surprisingly the accommodation at the resort is not primitive as I thought it would be. It is kind of a remote suburb with concrete walls, flushed toilets and air-conditioned. I was expecting mosquitoes and crawling insects all over but it was quite tamed.

Well there is a wooden structure in the middle of it. Not a total concrete jungle after all. Trees are scattered everywhere and the walkway is paved with sand with electric cables hanging from pole to pole. It is looking more like a holiday resort.

Below that wooden structure is actually the cafeteria where we can dine or the food can be delivered to our chalets and we can eat at the front yard under the trees. I was actually prepared to rub two sticks together to make a fire if things fail. Here they have all the modern cooking facilities. The downside is they only serve rice and noodles which are all fried from morning till evening. But you can cook your own stuff at the backyard. If you drag in some kind of meat you could have a barbecue too.

They said the beach is just behind but if you want to be safe and live longer you could splash in the pool. The swimming pool is just in front of the cafeteria. A favourite place for the kids especially my niece. During peak hours the pool may look like a tadpole colony.

Here is the view of the pool and part of the resort from the second level of the 'Mawar' chalet. It is the only one in the resort which is two storey

They do have a kid playground at the backyard but not that well maintained for what I saw. But to a little girl like Sofia a swing of any condition is fun. Though she fell a number of times.The sand on her palms and knees just bewildered her. Not the kind of thing she experienced at home.

With her feet buried in the sand and waves coming on to her with big wave sound which is beyond her home TV speakers. The look in her eyes revealed many questions. For the first time she realized that it is not a small world after all.

The Weddng @Dewan Jubli Intan

Last weekend my family and I were at Dewan Jubli Intan Johor Bahru for a wedding of our neighbor's daughter or was it their son. I was not sure because I had my hand full with Sofia my niece. For all I knew It was her day. Armed with a balloon the hall was her big playground. The king and queen sat helplessly on stage while my little warrior princess was turning the place upside down.

It was a wondefful wedding and it was still Eid. Everybody all dressed up probably for both occasions. My dad had a second serving while my sister took a break as a mom and chat with her friend. While me doing guard duty with food in one hand and my camera on the other with my eyes locked on Sofia. Who said a man can't multitasking?

Sofia is 2 years old today. I could not be with her for I am back in Kuala Lumpur. All I had was a photo of her and me. It was a moment to remember. Happy birthday my little princess.

Tanjung Piai - At The Tip Of Asia

Last Sunday I traveled south, really south to the southern most tip of the Asia continent to a remote place called Tanjung Piai. The first time when I was there it was ten years ago. I remember that the weather was wet then and it was wet again last Sunday. It is a kind of chill that you'll feel near Bermuda Triangle. Rumour has it that Tanjung Piai shared the same mystery. But if you disregard all that Tanjung Piai can be a tranquil place to get away from it all.

It is also a rustic fishing village where time stood still and you don't feel like getting older. Everyday is just the sky, the sea and the clean air that you breathe. It is not National Geographic but it can be unreal to be there. It is not the DVD, it is real life

Things have improved much since my last visit. The resort has a proper entrance without the toilet by the side to welcome you. I was there with my sister to meet with a motivation group to discuss some travel business plan. It is a new area of market that we are developing. Travel business in Johor is not the same as in Kuala Lumpur or other big cities. There are many unexplored areas that you can go and staying away from the usual tourists hotspots. Though it can be rustic and remote but it can be a perfect place to conduct workshops at an affordable price and stay focus.

Beside the old dorms that they have the resort has build a new extension on the south side with more decent rooms. If you are into fishing you probably can bring your fishing rod and fish from your bedroom window. But one experience that I had last Sunday that I can't get at Disneyland is the full double layered rainbow. It was a complete arc end to end cradled on the horizon facing the equator. It was so huge that the top was around 11 o'clock high. It was impossible to capture the visual with my camera. I probably need a super wide angle lens or a fish-eye. The full arc lasted around 5 minutes. Looking at it straight I really felt that I was looking at the gateway to another dimension. For a momemt I was lost.

Wish You Were here

I have been given a project to shoot promo video about travel and holiday in Malaysia. For this 3 months I will be going all over working and experience the places and food, virtually for FREE. Kind of living in a postcard for a while. Last weekend I was at Desaru Damai beach. The place was quite quiet, nice place if you need some peace. Either sitting at the balcony looking at the ocean or just hang around the pool. The food wasn't that great but there are places nearby to choose. There is also a fruit farm nearby, quite unique, complete with monkeys. I was hoping to see the full moon rising at the horizon but missed the date by two days. Instead I went for a boat ride on the river in the evening to watch fireflies. It was like watching Christmas tree by the river. When I came back to the hotel the moon was high up. It is always a beauty to watch the moon.

Damai Beach Hotel:
Bigger panoramic photo:
http://www.freewebs.com/johaziz/Personal/Desaru%20Damai%2020Hotel_lores.jpg