Redang - the island of my dreams

Backdating File: Redang
Date: Wed 30 Apr - Sun 4 May
Venue: Laguna Resort, Redang Island
Company: August

It happened to be our 6th month anniversary, down to the date. This still seems like such a young relationship!

Anyway, that's not the point.

After spending much time deliberating over where to go, the beach lovers in us overtook our decision-making faculties (thank God!!!) and we finally selected Redang. And after many difficult attempts made to book the resort had failed, the more we were determined to get our asses there.

It took a 9-hour coach ride, departing at 1030 at night and arriving the next morning, waiting for another hour for the ferry, and a 2-hour (??) ferry ride before we eventually saw the sea water turning from murky brown to dark blue, to an overwhelmingly refreshing aquamarine.

Redang is everything as I have always dreamt beaches should be. And more.

I found paradise.

+++++


Trix says I was doing 3 things at once - napping, smoking and drinking coffee...

This is me after the 9-hour coach ride, waiting at Merang Jetty for the ferry.


There were a lot, a lot of Chinese nationals at the terminal with us. I tried not to be stereotypical but it was difficult, especially when they were shoving their way to get ahead of us into the boat.

So it was that when August and I eventually stepped foot into the ferry, there was no space for us. Truth is, people could've made space and we all could've shared. But no one did and guess what?

We were invited into the cabin! HA. HA. HA. *gloats a many good ha-ha-ha-s*

...

And suddenly, there we were, at Redang.

It was an island of cocktails and powder.

For sand, Redang has soft, white powder.

And for the sea, Redang has a cocktail of Blue Curacao.

August and I had searched for blogs on Redang prior to the trip. One writer wrote, if not for the fish that were swimming next to her and around her, she would've forgotten that she wasn't actually in a swimming pool.

When I dropped my goggles into the sea, all I did was dip my head underwater and there it was! I could see it lying on the sand.

Here below are some photos that will speak more than my words can, of just how clear the waters are.

And then we decided, since we were there, we should at least learn how to dive...

We were actually leaning forward for this shot.

Why, you may ask.

Because we don't want to fall backwards from the weight of the heavy tanks!!! And heavy, yes they were!

And then we found NEMO.

My favourite pic of August examining the Brain Coral.

What struck me most about the beauty of the underwater world was how silent it was... we were intruding quietly into a world that ran according to its own rules, mostly disregarding trespassers like us and for the more curious, quite possibly observing us just as we do them, but for the most part, probably with less intrigue than us.

And while we aren't swimming underwater, we continued splashing around in shallow waters. Then we got adventurous and swam near rocks. Well, the tide was strong and I was gently slammed against a huge rock. I felt a tug on my knee - a slight scratch and I gasped.

I knew what happened the last time I brushed my elbow against a rock in Bintan. It resulted in a scarred scratch. This time round, it was more painful than the elbow brush but I was quite sure it wasn't anything serious.

But it did hurt! So I grabbed my knee and August said, "Oh dear, is it bleeding?"

"No no, I don't think so. Just a mild scratch."I replied holding my knee up above the water. I let my palm leave my knee to inspect the scratch:

Enough of that. We settled down for Cocktails by the cocktail-sea.

What else would I order but my favourite Margarita cum Aruba-Jamaica-oooh-I-wanna-take ya to-Bermuda-Bahamas-come on, pretty Mama-Key Largo-Montego-Baby, why don't we go to the-Kokomo... We'll get there fast-and then-We'll take it slow... That's where-We wanna go..oo..o-Way down in Kokomo...

And non-alcholics might find that enough but obviously, not alkies like us.

Notice the water droplets on the underwater camera...?

Alright, then there's the More-More-Tea Tea Hut, fashioned after the original hut that was made for the Hong Kong movie "Summer's Romance" (Xia Re Mo Mo Cha). Obviously the original built was such a hit but also such a temporal shelter that a new one had to be built.

It's located slightly off-site from the movie. Otherwise, it's an exact replica.

Here it is by day... and by night...

+++++

And so, of all that Redang had to offer on this trip, the romance of sipping wine under the magnificent skies, dancing at beach parties with a million stars overhead, the colourful corals we greet everyday, powder-fine sand to roll in and lovely waters both warm and cool, it's this feeling I can't forget:

And so, I bade one Paradise-Conquered farewell ...

... till the next time.