Malaysia - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 461

TRAVEL TO AND FROM KUANTAN
Kuantan is the region's transport hub, lying at the junction of routes 2 (which runs across the
Peninsula to KL), 3 and 14.
By plane Kuantan Airport, 15km west of
town, is served by several daily Malaysia
Airline flights to KL (3 daily; 40min), while
Firefly connects it to Singapore (4 weekly;
45min) and KL's Subang airport.
By bus The Terminal Sentral is fifteen
minutes out of town, serving Butterworth
(2 daily; 8hr); Jerantut, for Taman Negara

National Park (3 daily; 3hr 30min); Kota Bharu
(5 daily; 5hr); Kuala Lipis (2 daily; 5hr); Kuala
Lumpur (hourly; 4hr); Kuala Terengganu (5
daily; 3hr 30min); Malacca (2 daily; 5hr);
Mersing (6 daily; 3hr); Singapore (2 daily;
6hr). Note that buses to Cherating (every
2-3hr; 1hr) leave from the local bus station in
Kuantan itself. To get here, catch a taxi.
If you have to stay overnight, the centrally located Classic Hotel , 7 Bangunan LKNP, Jln Besar
( T 09 516 4599), is an excellent choice, with large a/c en-suite rooms and wi-fi access. As for
eating, the hawker stalls near the mosque on Jln Makhota behind the Ocean Shopping
Complex on Jln Tun Ismail are a good bet for cheap local dishes, including the local special of
patin (silver catfish).

6

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By bus Any express or local bus between Kuala Terengganu
and Kuantan stops on the main road outside the village. For
departures, if you catch a bus south to Kuantan (45min),
there's a much greater choice of destinations. Travel Post
(see below) can arrange tickets for onward travel.
Destinations Ipoh (2 daily; 7hr); Johor Bharu (4 daily;
6hr); Kota Bharu (4 daily; 5hr); Kuala Lumpur (8 daily; 5hr);
Kuala Terengganu (4 daily; 3hr); Malacca (2 daily; 6hr);
Marang (every 2hr; 4hr); Mersing (3 daily; 3hr 30min);
Rantau Panjang (for Thailand; 2 daily; 6hr).

chalets, all with fan and private bath, set around a pleasant
garden. The owners couldn 't be friendlier and even offer
room service. Double RM50
Payung T 014 210 2973. Across the road from
Nabil restaurant, this is a good option, with pleasant
chalets giving onto a leafy pathway. The eleven rooms
have fa n and private bath, while there's one with a/c.
Double RM60

EATING AND DRINKING
Don't tell mama Travellers' hangout with a verdant
outdoor patio, rustic wooden furniture and a little stair-
case wrapped in entwining plants. There are live bands
most nights and the menu includes Western classics such
as cheeseburgers (RM20). Cold beer RM7. Wed-Mon
6pm-1am.
Duyong This large stilted restaurant at the northern end
of the beach offers inexpensive Chinese and Thai dishes,
as well as fresh fish sold by weight. Adventurous types can
try the chicken feet salad (RM10). Mains RM10. Thurs-
Tues 11am-midnight.
Nabil This popular restaurant serves local seafood dishes
as well as Western grub. It's only open in the evenings, but
for breakfast and lunch you can head next door to Warung
Ambak . Mains from RM7. Tues-Sun 6pm-1am.

INFORMATION
Tourist information Sitting on the corner between
Highway 3 and the main road, this o ce has plenty of
brochures but keeps erratic hours.
Travel Post You can book (considerably marked-up) bus
tickets for destinations in Malaysia and to Singapore, as
well as local river and snorkelling trips and turtle-watching
tours (May-Aug) here (daily 9am-11pm; T 014 206
5054). Internet terminals (RM3/hr) and money-changing
services available.

ACCOMMODATION
Cherating Cottage T 010 545 4874. The basic rooms
here are set around a large leafy garden with a couple of
ponds teeming with fish. There's outdoor seating too,
which makes for a p leasan t spot to have a snack or relax
with a book. Double RM50
Matahari T 017 924 7465. The well-kept clean chalets
here are cosy and welcoming; cheaper ones have shared
bath, while the pricier options have a/c (RM80). There's a
communal area and large kitchen for guests' use, as well
as free wi-fi. Double RM25
★

The south
he south of the Malaysian Peninsula,
below Kuala Lumpur and Kuantan, has
some of the richest history and culture in
the country. he west-coast city of
Malacca , two hours by bus south from
KL, retains an enticing charm, with

Mommie's T 011 1499 4035, E afeedaedrous@gmail
.com. This wonderful little place has ten small and cosy