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Having travelled for 2 weeks around Kelantan on a cultural rendezvous with famous( or is it infamous??!!) traditional artists, musicians, dancers and worksmiths , we were pretty much spent of energy and needed to recuperate. Not that it was really needed but it's nice to over-dramatise on occasions...

From Bachok in Kelantan, we took the coastal road at Kampung Raja in the Besut area of Terengganu down towards Setiu.

Having read much about the relatively untouched coastal line of the Setiu district in Terengganu, we had to try the route for ourselves. And... we were not disappointed! This quiet coastal road is a gem to drive on. Almost traffic free, we drove through some of east coast's most beautiful, uninhabited stretches of beach. Much of the area is coated with wild, gnarled vegetation. Here and there, local fishermen park their boats amongst the mangroves as they stop to mend their traps and to install bubu(fish traps) in the shallow waters.

Streams running into the ocean provide nursery grounds for young fries and also hunting grounds for monitor lizards, otters and an assortment of birds including predators like eagles and owls. It is also the perfect place for fishermen to hide from the heat of the day.

The smooth ride took us down to Penarik, a quiet, orderly little fishing village.Lining the path were kampung houses on stilts with tidy gardens. Fishing nets hung out to dry, rows of colourful batik sarongs lined washing lines - flapping in the gentle sea breeze.

A little way from the village is Penarik Inn .....somewhere to stay where the beach is clean, the sand is as fine and white as castor sugar and the hospitality is just nice - homey and unobtrusive. The main house where Penarik Inn's owners call 'home' is the central area. Behind is the reception ; close by is the kitchen and dining area. Most times than not, dinner is set out in the lawn, under the stars and between swaying coconut trees. Chalets are structured after kampung houses on stilts.

The chalets are spartan, and the bedlinen may be a little gaudy but its comfortable and has clean, airy attached bathrooms . For a mere RM55 per room per night, it's worth it for the tranquility. The owners, Baha and Ana moved away from the hustle and bustle of Kuala Lumpur some years ago to set up a whole new environment for their young, growing children. Now that the children are grown, they too help out at the Inn during their spare days.

For us, it allows us to dream a little more. A little quiet place where mingling with the locals, having time to indulge in a good book, good friends to share the hours with and the best thing? It's the perfect backdrop for a most memorable holiday. What else is there to life?? We wonder no more........

Accommodation and Holiday Packages to Kuala Terengganu, Merang, Marang, Kapas Island, Tenggol Island, Gemia Island, Redang Island, Lang Tengah Island, Bidong Island, Penarik, Rantau Abang, Kenyir Lake, Tanjong Jara, Dungun, Paka and Surroundings

Malaysia Islands