Tuesday June 15, 2004

75-minute trip to an idyllic island holiday

BY SYED AZHAR

IT was only a 75-minute journey to the idyllic Pulau Perhentian - a paradise for sun and sea seekers. Surrounded by crystal clear waters, the island is located off the northern tip of Terenggnau. 

The breathtaking corals, underwater life, the flora and fauna have been drawing a steady stream of holidaymakers for a while now. 

But the recent two-week school holidays saw a sudden surge of locals visiting Pulau Perhentian and surrounding islands, namely Redang and Lang Tengah. 

Tour and travel agents competing for business are using the reduced travelling time to the island via Kota Baru as a promotional tool to attract visitors. 

“Many people believe that the fastest way to the popular Pulau Perhentian is to take a flight to Kuala Terengganu, when it is much nearer if they took a flight to Kota Baru. 

“This is because many people think the island is located near Kuala Terenganu, when its is actually close to the Kelantan border,'' said a tour co-ordinator Mohd Nazri Che Hassan. 

Mohd Nazri said it would take at least 2 hours for anyone to get to the Kuala Besut jetty from Kuala Terengganu by road. 

“But the journey from Kota Baru to the jetty is a mere 45 minutes drive and this is a fact, as I have been organising tour packages to Pulau Perhentian for the past five years. 

“Many visitors claim that visiting the islands off Kuala Besut is time consuming and when I tell them that the fastest way to get to the islands is via Kota Baru they will look at me in disbelief. 

“Often I carry a map of both states to show my clients where the jetty is actually located (at the Northern tip of Trengganu),” said the 31-year-old Mohd Nazri during a guided tour package. The tour to promote local destination was organised by the Kota Baru- based KB Backpackers Holiday Sdn Bhd. 

Mohd Nazri added that most of his regulars to the island were either from Penang or Kuala Lumpur while many had come via Terengganu to get to the jetty. 

Among visitors to the islands was Australian tourist Maida Magnus, 32, who said she found the corals off Perhentian Island very unique compared with the ones found back home. 

“It is very beautiful and I hope the corals here will be protected from harm for posterity,'' said Maida, who spent time snorkelling and diving.  

Those who need advice on visiting the Perhentian islands via Kota Baru can visit KB Backpackers' website ( http://www.kb-backpackers.com.my )

Originally published in The Star on