Deepavali Open House in Sungai Patani

What an overwhelming turnout of over 10.000 people at our agency's Deepavali Open House in Sungai Patani. Indeed 1Malaysia at it's best!

I combined the occasion with two night's most pleasant stay at the Golden Sands at Batu Ferringhi in Penang. While East Malaysia was bracing for rain and floods and the upper northern part of West had just had it awful share of rain and flood, Penang was all sunny and HUMID!

Lots of western tourists and surprisingly Arabs too when one thought the invasin from the Middle East would have ended by October. All well for our tourism industry! The hotel was full that we were reminded ever so politely to check out on time!!! Must return again and spend a more leisurely time there. Penang is so traffic-infested these days!

The enchanting Malaysian East Coast

Just back from a week's most pleasant holiday in the Malaysian East Coast with my loyal travelling companion HP. Set off with no agenda and hotel bookings and made three stops, first at the pleasant Impiana beach hotel in Chendor, then onwards to Kuala Trengganu staying two nights at the Pantai Primula. I always liked Kuala Trengganu and it has developed so well and pretty and there are lots of eating places serving food freshly cooked upon order and so cheap too. Visited the majestic State Museum on a very rainy afternoon and went into countless batik shops, as well as stalls at the scenic Pasar Payang. Left Kuala Trengganu with some 35 pieces of batik sarong (a most under-appreciated piece of craft in Malaysia), 20 0f which will be shipped to Switzerland! Kuala Trengganu seemed such a safe place and though people did not seem friendly at first, would always warm up if you chat them up.

We had a sneak at the rustically opulent Tanjung Jara Beach Resort where I had stayed twice before (before it became so horrendously expensive today). Must take up Dato Yeoh's invitation for a weekend stay sometime!

Our last stop at the Hyatt Kuantan (I always liked the place since my first stay there in 1976 and it has expanded and improved into a fine total holiday complex it is today). Arrived on Thursday afternoon to a relatively empty hotel and the next day it was full house with the Deepavali long-weekend holiday makers' arrival. Stayed two nights and had a most pleasant and relaxed time. Weather was mild throughout and just as well it was downright downcast on the day of my departure. Can't imagine all that flood in the West coast....

Drove from Kuantan to Temerloh by the old country road (which by the way had better road surface than the present highways!). Passed through some of the most beautiful, pristine and lush tropical greens to the soothing accompaniment of of beautiful music by Rossini and Donizetti from my car cd player. Heavenly divine!

At a small village near Lanchang stopped to visit my dear cucu Kuca. She is so adorable at just over a year and it was a nice and warm feeling watching her run around the garden wearing that cute pair of squeaking shoes and the sweet pretty dress I bought her in Shanghai. And when she smiles for her atok....

Back to the office grind tomorrow....

Here's a video I made from photos of this trip.
See video : http://youtu.be/thXhnLtwGWk