Just Cruising, Still

After nine days anchored around the Redang and Perhentian Islands we returned to the marina in Kuala Terengganu for a few days to get some jobs done and buy some more food. Also enjoyed some meals out including a steamboat at one of the local Chinese restaurants.

While in Chinatown we have discovered that the Chinese delicacy, bird nests, are actually 'farmed' in converted shophouses or swiftlet hotels. It can be a very lucrative business, returning between 4000-18000 Ringgits per kilo, and one estimate of 200 new business per per month.

One species of wildlife which we have noticed both in Tioman Island and now in the river at Terengganu is the Water monitor lizard (Varanus salvator). We have seen them in other places but these ones are the biggest we have ever seen and must be at least two metres long. They certainly look well-fed. This one has been seen quite often at the marina.

We were soon over being back in the marina and after five days set off once again for the Redang and Perhentian Islands. Sailing up the coast we managed to get a shot of the Terengganu State Outdoor Stadium. Barely a week before the roof had collapsed, just one year after completion at a cost of RM300 million. Miraculously, no-one was injured and luckily (?) the building is still within its 2-year warranty period! You can just make out the collapsed roof sections in this photo.


While at Redang we did a jungle walk from the bay where we were anchored through to a bay on the east side of the island. It took about an hour each way and it was lovely to be in cool shade for most of the walk, crossing cool, freshwater streams along the way. We found ourselves at the Coral Redang Resort where we enjoyed a morning cuppa and noticed a Plantain squirrel (Callosciurus notatus) in the rafters.