the Chapter of Our Lives: Kuantan

Disclaimer: To fellow bloggers or visitors who are from Kuantan, please do not be offended by the details in this post. It is just a note on my experience at your lovely home-town

Introduction

The streets of Kuantan

Kuantan is the state capital of Pahang, the largest state in Malaysia. This city is founded in the 1850s. Overall, the city does not have many tall buildings nor huge shopping malls.

The state capital mosque

The place is pretty laid back and rather modest looking. The main city area only stretches not more than 6 or 7 blocks.

Surrounding the parameter of the city are housing estates; the brick-buildings closer to town and the kampung fashioned houses situated further away.

Top Three Reasons to Have a Holiday in Kuantan.

1. Very F.R.E.S.H seafood!

Pak Su Seafood Restaurant

Cheese Lobster and the crowd at the restaurant

Black Pepper Crabs and the display of fresh seafood.

Braised Tofu and Steamed Dragon Fish

Apart from tourism, the fishing industry plays a vital role in the state capital's economy. Fresh seafood fuels tourism (from the very good food that it provides).

The must go restaurant here is Pak Su Seafood Restaurant. Although a little pricy, this place is the bomb, with their stuffed crab and cheese lobster ready to blow your taste buds.

2. Relaxing hotel, away from the hustle & bustle.

My 3 days 2 nights stay here was spent at the

Me @ the lounge. There's the hotel under the gloomy monsoon skies

Swiss Garden Resort, Kuantan. This place is located approximately 15 km away from the city (a mere 15 minutes drive)

It faces the South China Sea, which makes it a nice place to watch a beautiful sunrise. The setting of the hotel itself makes you feel comfortable and relaxed the very moment you checked in.

Part of the lounge. Yellow lights sets the romantic ambience

The lounge boasts of a "floating lounge", where most of the seats are surrounded by water. The lounge itself has a grand-piano, where a pianist will play the jazz/blues songs at night.

Night time at the pool and me chilling out in the cool water

The hotel provides wireless broadband as well, but a minimum charge. Other facilities include their trademark "Samsara Spa", a mini gymnasium and a games room where you may play some arcade games, play pool or table tennis.

The entrance to Samsara Spa

By nightfall, neon-lights will bring a romantic ambience at the lounge. This place will be a superb get-away for couples or newly-weds.

The brightly litted Swiss Garden

Part of the dining lounge. Note the cubicle styled eating room on the right.

3. Sandy beaches and beautiful sun-rise.

The most famous beach here in Kuantan is the Cherating beach, but the one right in front of the Swiss Garden Resort is a splendid one as well.

The beach and the little hermit crabs.

As it is the North-East Monsoon season now, the beach looks gloomy due to the grey clouds and strong winds. But if you were to visit this beach on a non-monsoon day, it will be great.

You can catch a glimpse of small hermit crabs having some mating "orgy" (I got it down in video in case you would not believe me), baby crabs crawling everywhere and small fishes swimming about.

This little fishy swam a bit too far up the shore.

The hotel has some beach sports facilities up as well for those who are interested: beach soccer, volleyball or for the slightly lazier ones, just some long benches for you to snooze on.

I woke up at 5 a.m just to catch the sunrise.

Alas, the sun will not come up until 630 a.m here in Kuantan. But when the sun really came up, it was well worth the wait.

Sunrise at the beach. (Although concealed by the clouds)

Top Three Reasons Not to Have a Holiday in Kuantan

1. Lousy road system.

Jam-jam-jam. Everywhere also jam-LAH

It appears to me that the city has only one main road: Jalan Berserah. And along that road it has at least 10 traffic lights, within 1 km.

Thanks to that, my family and I were caught in a jam due to the long traffic light queue.

2. Monsoon season.

Better check your calender and get the season right. Kuantan will be in her wettest season from November - March, that's when the North East Wind will bring in the rain.

Otherwise, you will end up like me - facing heavy rain fall most of the time during the trip.

3. Lack of Shopping Malls

I know you may say, "You go all the way to Kuantan just to go shopping mall ArH?". But my point is, what if you just want to take a stroll in the city and have some window shopping in the mall?

The city only has two big malls; Kuantan Parade and Berjaya Megamall. Both of them are pretty run down and most of the shops in them are small private businesses which sells sub-standard goods.

I guess that's all about Kuantan. I would say it is not a bad place to go to, but not a very exciting place either. Last but not least, this one is for you, Amanda. =)