17-November-2006
Although our first child, Nurul Hidayah, is already five years old, we have never had a chance to go on a proper family vacation outside of Kuala Lumpur. So our first official vacation last January was an event we all looked forward to, and Pahang.s wonderful white sandy beach which stretches from Balok, about 15km north of Kuantan, down through Beserah and Teluk Chempedak, was our destination of choice.
The two-an-a-half hour drive from Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan on the new highway was unforgettable. Neither of our children have ever been to the beach, so their excitement was understandable. Our youngest, two-year-old Alif Hakimi, didn.t fare well throughout the entire journey and could not keep his food down, while first child, five year-old Nurul Hidayah, kept asking when we were going for a swim in the ocean every few minutes throughout the journey. By the time we arrived at Swiss Garden Hotel, both my wife and I breathed a sigh of relief. But it wasn.t too long before Alif felt better and Nurul pleaded for us to go to the beach.
The weather was picture perfect, not too hot and surprisingly dry for January. Although the clear, blue waters seemed inviting, we didn.t go for a swim that afternoon, but had a nice time just walking along the beach, enjoying the cool sea breeze and listening to the endless surf crashing on the shore. A solitary kite-boarder caught our eyes, skimming across the water.s surface with help from the strong wind and surf. We learned that Balok beach is the venue for the annual international Windsurfing Regatta fondly known as the .Monsoon Madness.. Such events, coupled with the string of high-end hotels around Balok beach attracts a lot of foreign tourists here.
Our early morning strolls along the beach were the best moments of our vacation. Those with really young children would know how fond they are of rousing you from sleep and urging you to go out to play. And play we did. By about 7.30am the next day, my wife, Farah Harnum, and I were already sitting on the beach, laughing at Alif and Nurul.s antics as they chased the frothy, white bubbles of the surf and explored their new surroundings, poking into the tiny holes in the sand made by hermit crabs. They simply loved investigating the beachside, peering curiously at every new thing they came across, marvelling at anything and everything, and asking questions about the sea.
Beserah, just 7km south of Balok, is a rustic fishing village and a good place to just laze around and watch the comings and goings of the local fishermen who occasionally pass by, occupied with their own business. It was quite interesting
to watch a fisherman using a triangular net to catch fish, patiently trawling the shoreline. If you.re lucky, you will see water buffaloes hauling the fishermen.s catch from boat to land. We brought two kites with us on the trip and flew them high on strong winds. Although the kites were meant for the children, my wife and I ended up spending more time flying them, while Alif and Nurul busied themselves with an attempt to build a sandcastle. Later that afternoon, I took Alif for his first swim in the sea. Carrying him to the water.s shallow edge, I carefully lowered him into the water and bathed him there. He was afraid of the waves at first, but after a while, he got used to it and began to enjoy himself, laughing in delight as the waves rushed past him.
Closer to Kuantan, Teluk Chempedak, which is just a 15-minute drive south of Balok, attracts more casual visitors, especially during the weekends. We had a wonderful dinner at the lively food stalls by the beach-front. After dinner, we took a slow stroll along the beach, marvelling at how chilly the sea breeze was and spent some time gazing in awe at the amazingly bright stars dotting the cloudless night sky. There is also a night market along the road from Balok to Teluk Chempedak that you should not miss. The people in Pahang are known for their fondness of the state.s speciality rice dish called nasi minyak. Like the Penangites and their nasi kandar, the people here enjoy nasi minyak regardless of the time of day. Perhaps it.s because it was home cooked or maybe it.s because we were in Pahang, but the nasi minyak we had there the second night was certainly worth the drive out!
Our trip to the beaches of Pahang was a good choice for our first family vacation. There.s plenty of things and places to explore just a short, leisurely drive away from our hotel at Balok. We discovered many new pleasures as we spent quality time with our young children, watching them marvel at even the simplest things the strong wind caressing their faces, the funny hermit crab scampering in its shell and the fine white sand as they moulded imaginary sand castles. Things we take for granted, which appear new and exciting through our children.s eyes. Indeed, our first vacation together sets the benchmark for many more wonderful family vacations to come.
Source/See more : http://www.virtualmalaysia.com/community/travel_experience/
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