Kuantan, Malaysia

My company planned a staff retreat this Oct and graciously invited spouses and families to join the team. The location of the retreat was at Kuantan, Malaysia. Kuantan is a 6 hours drive from Singapore. Prior to this trip, I knew very little about this quaint town except for its reputation for producing the best salted fish in the region. Kuantan is indeed a little gem! There are numerous sightseeing locations that are very different from the usual cityscape in other major cities in Malaysia.

First stop was Lake Chini. It was a vast lake with beautiful flora and fauna. We took a 1 hour boat ride in the lake and visited an Orang Asli village in the precinct. I was enthralled by the serenity of the lake and the vast skies.

Lake Chini

On the 2nd day, the guide brought us to Lembing town for light breakfast and to visit Sungai Lembing museum. The museum exhibits the history and artefacts obtained from tin mines during the peak of tin-mining in Malaysia. We spent the rest of the morning strolling in the town and crossing the infamous wooden bridge which led to shophouses that sold local produce and hand-made noodles. In the afternoon, we visited Charas caves. It is a place that I would not recommend visiting, as there wasn't anything in particular which I found interesting.

Quaint town

 

Local Yong Tau Foo

Local Yong Tau Foo

Public library

Alley of Lembing town

Sungai Lembing Tin-Mining museum

The museum

Vehicle used during tin mining

Wooden bridge at Lembing town

Wooden bridge at Lembing town

Shop that sold local produce and hand-made noodles

Stuffed crab shell at a local restaurant

Seafood at a local restaurant

Seafood at a local restaurant

Seafood at a local restaurant

My favourite place in Kuantan has got to be the Chrating turtle sanctuary. It is located just beside Club-med Kuantan. When we arrived at the sanctuary, we were ushered into the video room to watch a short clip about turtle conservation. Thereafter, we went to see the hatchery and the ponds which held the baby turtles. The guide told us that the turtles were usually released in the night, to hide them from predators. Also, the gender of the turtle is determined by the temperature of the sand that the eggs were burried in! After the trip, I went read up more information on this which can be found here. (Information retrieved on 11 Dec 2013) The turtle sanctuary was the highlight of the entire trip and I absolutely love it!

Hatchery

Hatchery

Baby turtles