 |
| Click to enlarge |
My weekends had been almost fully occupied over ever since my business trip last August. It was tiring and yet fulfilled with expedition moments.
Sungai Lembing, a location 45min drive off Kuantan, isn't a place I am not familiar. I have been there 2 times just this year. My 1st successful hike was 15 years ago, while my 2nd attempt couple of years back was a failure.
The place is best for dawn, hike up when it is still dark around 4:30am. By 6:00am, you may find the 1st sunlight of the day. Indeed to be a fulfilling moment if you like nature. The hillview surrounded by thick evaporated midst, as if you are on top of the cloud. Very peaceful moment up hill... if and only if its quiet. In most case, it's usually packed with human being :)
Our trip started from Kota Kemuning - Karak (breakfast) - Cherating (Turtle Sanctuary & Lunch) - Kemaman (Satar) - Sg Lembing (Stay, Dinner, Hike, Breakfast) - Bukit Tinggi (Lunch) - Home.
1)
Cherating Turtle Sanctuary - visit their
website for detail information. It was free admission at that time, but we could contribute to its center. I place worth for children education, while they could learn and love nature.
 |
| Cherating Turtle Sanctuary |
2) Lunch @
Restaurant Duyong -
GPS- 4°7'35"N 103°23'50"E. Less than 5 min drive from turtle sanctuary. In fact I had visited this place last July, on my way to my Redang dive trip. I won't expect much from the restaurant, as it is very
angmo friendly, in a way pricey. Dishes mainly Thai-styled.
 |
| Restaurant Duyong facing the sea |
 |
| The menu |
3) Snacks @
Warung Aziz Satar, Kemaman - Our initial plan was to stop for famous Hai Peng
Kopi. Unfortunately, it was closed that Saturday. We brought the other friends to try out the local street foods of east coast -
Satar, Otak-otak, Keropok Lekor, etc.. in fact, this was my first time here. I prefer small hut sized eating place, but only this can fit 15 of us.
 |
| East Coast's otak-otak |
 |
| Satar - Baked fish paste |
 |
| Fried Keropok lekor |
4) Stay @
Sg Lembing Hillview Cottage (林明山頂小息館) - Newly opened cottage stay, they ran with promotion price earlier. Check out their FB website for more information and booking details. We had a room for 10pax (each with proper bed) and another room of 5pax. Bed was comfortable for the stay, except we need to queue up for the rest room, especially for the large room.
The surrounding environment was great, very nature like, except for the milky river. Believe the surrounding place is undergoing some development, or other bed & breakfast could be mushrooming the pathetically small town. Hope its not.
In fact, this house was built for bird nest raring business (top most floor). The ground and 1st floor are occupied with rooms. Ground floor with ample open aired space is meant for tenant activities, gathering. Occupied with board games, darts, ping pong table, etc.. and free flow of coffee/tea with plain bread too. My only dissatisfaction behind was on their loud music played over the evening (perhaps its activity/bonding time) and its disorganize of foods area. If only they can keep their stuff in a more organized manner, it will perfectly well enough for a 4 star B&B.
Google GPS coordinate -
3.922362,103.028119. The coordinate given at the FB page was incorrect at that time, hope they have had it corrected by now.
 |
| River view |
 |
| Activity area |
 |
| 1st floor activity area |
 |
| Ample hall for gathering |
5) Dinner @ Restaurant Hoover - It's located at the town center, walking distance from the market and hike start point. Not much choice for a typical Chinese home cooked meal like this. Though, it was a great meal, served with ginger wine chicken, accompanied with the rainy night. Even though we had booked our tables for 7:00pm, heavy downpour caused the previous customer didn't want to leave the restaurant and table. We were forced to wait at the corridor.. poor me had my whole back all wet, though I had an umbrella with me. Was glad we had 4KG of roasted pork a.k.a. siew york packed, in which the auntie brought over to the restaurant, just before the heavy downpour. We managed to snack on it... yum!! super fresh, you may ask the homestay owner to order if you wish.
 |
| Siew York! |
 |
| Dinner |
 |
| Rice wine ginger chicken |
6) The morning
hike @
Sg Lembing Hilltop - In fact, I have nothing much to describe for the place. I don't mind the hike this time round as it was all dark. I couldn't give myself any excuse that I cannot make it, no other choice except to keep climbing the stairs and follow others who're in front of me, cause the queue behind me was long. Yes, the trail up usually pack, as everyone wish to take the picture of the 1st sun rise, with its heavenly view.
The hike ain't difficult, yet it should be easy with a distance of just 1KM up the hill. Not too sure about the elevation, as some steps are steep, especially the early ones.
 |
| Sunrise |
 |
| Love the sun & nature |
 |
| Mushrooming up there! |
7) Breakfast @
Sg Lembing market - Its famous for their homemade noodle, its special and all these while I have been liking this type of homemade noodle. Not the dry type, but its rather fresh from the factory. Their specialities -
tomato sauce noodle, in fact its a made up from spaghetti bolognese.
Other must eat breakfast would be
Yong Tau Foo + clear soup or curry Sg Lembing noodle. My favourite too!
 |
| Tomato sauce noodle |
There's another Malay stall selling Nasi Dagang and perhaps Nasi Lemak just next to the market. It seems nice too. I have yet to try. Save it for the next visit, I am considering in visiting the rainbow waterwall, which is another must-visit place for Sg Lembing. That journey will be a little more challenging, with an early ride with open air 4WD towards the waterfall. Till then.
8) On our journey back, we stopped by Bukit Tinggi for lunch. At that moment, everyone was stunned and blank, as the journey has been really tiring, especially for the drivers. Hope all did enjoy the short trip.
