Destination: Redang Island

Date:  23 - 25 September 2011

Our initial plan was to go to Club Med Bali, but due to some unforseen circumstances, the plan changed to Redang Island, Terengganu.

We had to take another boat ride from the pier (we had a driver picked us up at the airport and the ride from the airport to the pier took about 15 minutes) to our resort. That was because there isn't any road connected to the resort from the airport. The only resort that is nearest to the airport was The Taaras Beach & Spa Resort managed by Berjaya Group.

That's the beach that is right by the resort, beautiful!

My colleagues having a blast playing beach volleyball.

We didn't manage to do much as it was just a relaxing trip. I was suntanning for a day and we are not close to any shops or anything at all.

Overall, this will be my last trip to Redang Island as I feel that Phi Phi Island is a much better bet as there are alot more places to eat and more activities to do.

Hotel Review: Laguna Redang Resort

Ok, here goes.

View from entrance

It was a company trip this time around. Yay, everything's free. We chose Laguna Redang Resort because it was the 2nd most expensive package and it fitted our budget. The package included a return flight ticket to Redang Island, accomodation, meals (2 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners) and 3 snorkeling trips. Quite a bargain, really!

Our foyer

Overall, the interior are quite satisfactory considering we are staying at a deluxe room. Foyer's floor was of tiny pebbles and main area of solid timber flooring which was luxurious. However, room smelled murky, maybe because the resort was located by the beach and that the room has alot of wooden furnitures?

The toilet, sink and shower room were all separated. I wished they'd just make it into a usual hotel bathroom where it's all together as it's quite cramp. Luckily I'm not that big of a person, so yea. 

Sink area a little small as I stayed with another 2 colleagues. All our stuffs were all over the place.

I think there were some mistakes in the design of the shower room and the toilet. It will be much better for the shower room and toilet to switch places because the toilet has a window which is facing the outside of the room and the shower room's window was facing the toilet. The shower room were stuffy and wet for quite sometime after someone showered in it.

OK this is my bed.

The bedroom was also not that organised. I was wondering why did the hotel decided to have the 2 single beds by the tv? It's so weird! They should've pulled the queen bed more to the left and then put the other 2 single beds on the right side. There were so much space! If you refer tothe first picture, there's 2 rattan chairs and a table, the hotel should really get rid of that, it's just so ugly and OLD!

And finally, the view from the balcony. Seriously?

Overall, I rate this place 3 star. Their rating of 4 star is totally overrated. Maybe I'm fussy but for the price that the company paid for, we deserve more than what was given. Although my colleagues think it's pretty awesome but my standard for 4 star is definately more than this.

Destination: Kota Kinabalu Part 2

Day 2
Date: 13 September 2008

So this is where I had my breakfast at the hotel. I got myself upgraded to a Club Room and this is the Club Room's coffee house. Nice right?

At that time, it was totally empty. I think that's about 6.30am. I was already hungry. I asked the staff if I could eat again before breakfast hour is over and they said yes. I could even go down to the actual coffee house where everyone is having their breakfast. So it's like, I get to eat 3 times!!

That's the view for when I had my breakfast. Lovely!

Nice?

This is one of the breakfast that I ordered. Most of the cooked items can be ordered from a menu and presentation wise - it's good too. The ones that were at the buffet table were cereals, cheese & crackers, sandwiches and... I forgot.

Even the juices were freshly pressed. The ones at the coffe house at ground floor were just packed juices. I feel so previleged!

This was the rest of the hotel grounds that I covered this morning.

This is where one could book their 'island hopping trip' which I didn't book as it was too expensive. Not too sure if they are managed by the hotel though.

One of the pools at the resort.

I decided to take the hotel shuttle bus that would take me to the city.

One of the malls along the way. I got down at one of the further stop.

This is another err, river.

The city was really small so I thought, why not rent a car and drive all the way to the foot of Mount Kinabalu.

On the way, I spotted a sign that said 'Nexus Karambunai'. One of the most talked about beach front resorts in KK. I turned in and decided to check it out.

After I parked my car, I walk to where the beach was.

And yet I was silly enough to not take photos of the beach!!! This is the entrance from the beach to the resort.

Why oh why didn't I take pictures of the beach?

Another photo of the resort.

This is the main entrance of the resort. Nice roof!

It was a very quick 20 minute tour of the resort. Now I'm heading back to the car!

So I drove and drove.

OMG When am I going to reach the foot of Mount Kinabalu? It was already a 40 minutes drive to Nexus Karambunai and I was already into the 20 minutes drive out.

What is this?

Ah there you go. That's Mount Kinabalu. Reminds me so much of when I took the photo of Mount Fuji when I was in Japan earlier this year.

After another 30 minutes, I arrived. I had to pay around RM5 to have myself and the car enter the foot of Mount Kinabalu. Temperature was about 23c. It was like an air-conditioned park!

I didn't trek much because I was wearing slippers that day. I just had a short walk and then check out the hostels available there.

Anyway, that's the car I rented. A Myvi.

So after the foot of Mount Kinabalu, I headed to the Hot Water Springs. OMG it was another 20 minutes drive. Sorry for the complaints! I was driving alone and feeling bored!

The funny looking entrance of the Hot Springs. I had to pay around RM2 or was it RM5 for a ticket.

So I'm going to turn left!

Going down the stairs. A little dangerous walking with my slippers!

The canopy walk! I like this.

One of the mini waterfalls here.

The hot springs. It smelled bad. Sulphur.

The sign said that we can put in an egg to get it boiled and then eat it after! That's how hot the water is.

Waterfall, again.

It was already getting a little dark when I decided to leave the Hot Springs and back to the hotel.

Why do sunsets look so much better in Sabah?!