Fanfare Driveaways

4D3N ‘Sotong’ & Snorkelling Driveaway
Dungun & Tenggol Island, Terengganu

28 – 31 May 2010 (Friday – Monday)

1. Accommodation:
UiTM Hotel, Kuala Dungun

2. Highlights
- Snorkelling & picnic at pristine Tenggol island
- Diving opportunities to see gentle giant whale sharks off Tenggol island
- Squid-catching & fishing trip
- Fresh seafood
- Trip to ‘Pasar Payang’ in Kuala Terengganu
- Savour Malaysia’s famous ‘Baked Stuffed Crab’ and ‘Hai Peng Kopitiam’ in the town of Chukai
- Shopping for dried seafood, snacks and delicacies.
- Accommodation in beach hotel
- 18-hole links golf course

3. Itinerary:

DAY 1: May 28 (Friday)

Meals: Dinner

This is the Vesak Day long weekend, which means that we have to meet early at 6.00 am at the Esso Station at Gelang Patah on the Malaysian side of the 2nd Link.

We will be travelling on a combination of highways and country roads with stops for lunch, toilet breaks and petrol top-ups. As always, we will driving in a convoy throughout the journey.

I hope to reach the seaside town of Kuala Dungun by 4 pm or earlier, which will give everyone enough time to enjoy the beach and other facilities. For golfers, you will probably have time for a quick round of nine holes on the links course next door.

We will have a group dinner at the hotel.

DAY 2: May 29 (Saturday)

Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch & dinner

After breakfast, we will all gather at the lobby for the boat trip to nearby Tenggol island. We will do snorkeling at a coral reef site just off the island, which sits in the middle of a marine park. As the marine park is a protected sanctuary, you will be able to see lots of fish and other marine life. including the occasional turtle. Life jackets and snorkeling gear will be provided for all. In any case, do bring along your underwater camera and swimming goggles if you prefer.

After snorkeling, we’ll come ashore on the island where you can have your own little picnic. Packed lunch and bottled water will be provided. For your info, the water sports centre on the island has single and double-seater canoes for hire.

There is also a Dive Centre which rents out diving gear. You may also bring your own equipment if you wish. During May and June, whale sharks, the gentle giants of the sea, would gather around Tenggol island as part of their migratory route. The Dive Centre does trips to see these whale sharks.
We should be back at the hotel by 4.00 pm. In the evening, we’ll have group dinner at a nice little family-owned restaurant in Kuala Dungun.

DAY 3: May 30 (Sunday)

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we meet at the lobby at 9 am for the trip north to the state capital of Kuala Terengganu (KT). The journey is about 90 minutes from Dungun. In KT, we’ll visit the famous ‘Pasar Payang’. This is the town’s main market square where you’ll be able to buy the best keropok, snacks and dried seafood in Terengganu. There are also shops selling souvenirs, textile, tee-shirts, batik clothing, etc..

We’ll have lunch at the Batu Burok food centre on our way back to Dungun. We should be back at the hotel before 3 pm. It’s free & easy for the rest of the day.

For golfers, the links course is just across the road.

Those keen on the squid-catching and fishing trip will meet at the lobby at 3.30pm. We’ll drive to the town of Marang where the boat is based. By 5 pm, we’ll be out at sea. We will be fishing in a typical M’sian trawler boat, which, as per regulations, can only take in maximum 8 passengers. Places on the boat will therefore be on a first-come-first-served basis. Please let me know early if you are keen on this optional trip.

As May and June is the squid season, you can expect to catch squids the size of your arm.
We’ll return to shore at around midnight. From Marang jetty, we should be back at our Dungun hotel by 2 am.

DAY 4: May 31 (Monday)

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

After breakfast, it’s free & easy. The anglers and sotong-catchers will probably want to sleep till late morning. Meanwhile, I will organize a trip to the nearby Kuala Dungun wet market at 8.30 am for those who wish to buy super fresh fish, prawns and other seafood. The prices of seafood here are a lot cheaper anytime compared to our markets in Singapore. Do bring along your ice boxes or you can always buy the styrofoam boxes for RM10 each at the market. Don’t worry about the ice, it’s cheaply available at the market.

We will check out of the hotel by 11 am for the journey home. Along the way, we’ll make a stopover for kopi-o or tea at the famous Hai Peng Kopitiam in the town of Chukai, followed by lunch at Tong Juan restaurant where the signature dish is the legendary ‘Baked Stuffed Crab’.

We should reach Singapore 2nd Link by about 8 pm.

3. Pictures of the destination

Please click on the link below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31365025@N02/sets/72157622072970495/

The photos you will see are the quiet little town of Kuala Dungun and Tenggol island.


4. Pricing (covers 3 nights’ accommodation, specified meals and snorkeling trip to Pulau Tenggol):

Twin-sharing (2 adults to a room):
-S$388 per adult

Triple-sharing (3 adults to a room):
-S$378 per adult (inclusive of extra bed and extra breakfast for 3rd adult)

Child (3 years – 12 years)
-S$228 per child (inclusive of breakfasts and specified meals and with extra bed)
-S$188 per child (inclusive of breakfasts, specified meals but without extra bed)

Optional activities:
Squid & fishing trip: S$65 per pax. (Not recommended for young children).
Note: Squid-catching equipment and bait will be provided. However, you may also bring along your own gear. Maximum pax per boat is 8 as stipulated by M’sian marine regulations.

Diving for whale sharks: Price to be advised.

Golf: 18-hole with buggy – RM53 per pax / RM30 per buggy


5. Bookings:

If you are keen on this trip and want to get away from Singapore during this short school break, please fill up the registration form and email it to me at mazlan.driveaways@yahoo.com.sg

For enquiries, do call me at 90070962.

Registration closes on May 12, 2010 (Wednesday)


6. Walkie-talkie
Every car will be issued with a walkie-talkie set for easy communication while on the road.