Malaysia - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 470

All come with mosquito nets and their own bathroom, while
the more pricey ones h ave a/c and tea- and coffee-making
facilities. Double RM50
Bamboo Hill Chalets T 09 419 1339, W bamboo
hillchalets.com. Nestled on the northernmost tip of the
beach, the six wooden chalets here perch on the headland
and enjoy great views over the bay. Chalets range from
basic with fan to more s ophist icated choices with a/c and
pretty verandas. Double RM90
Mawar Beach Chalets T 09 419 1153. Simple A-frame
huts line the beachfront, the cheapest of which are an
absolute steal. The attached restaurant is a popu lar spot,
serving tasty yet inexpensive food. Double RM30
Mokhtar's Place T 09 419 1148. Two regimental rows of
clean and airy chalets with little porches, Mokhtar's offers
booking services for buses on the mainland, water-taxis,
fishing and snorkelling trips, for non-guests a s well as
guests. There is also internet at RM10/hr. Double RM60
My Friend's Place T 09 419 1150. A small budget resort,
made up of simple chalets in two prim rows, facing each
other across a gard en, all of which have a fan and attached
bathroom. Double RM45
Nazri's II T 09 419 1375, W nazrisplace.com. The little
chalets here are nestled on a pretty leafy hillside amid
twisting tree roots and rocks. The small budget huts are
at the very top, while the pricier a/c room s are dotted
around the sloping grounds. Double RM100
YP Chalets One of ABC's cheaper options, YP has rows of
simple chalets, all with little ve randas , just inland from a
decent stretch of beach. Double RM50

Bushman Square Chalets T 09 419 3109,
E [e-mail]. This friendly place offers
clean and well-kept chalets on the beach, with sun
loungers shaded by palm trees at your very doorstep. The
attached restaurant serves good food, and they also r ent
out snorkelling equipment for RM10/day. Double RM60
Juara Beach The chalets here are set around a large
garden that is pleasantly lit up at night. The a/c rooms are
spacious and kept clean, an d there are tea- and coffee-
making facilities too. Double RM120

6

EATING, DRINKING AND NIGHTLIFE
Most guesthouses and resorts have their own restaurants
and usually offer fantastic barbecued seafood. Juara is the
quietest of them all; Ayer Batang and Salang keep their
nightlife low-key, although at times things can get pretty
lively on both.

AY E R B ATA N G
A Peace Place This friendly and laidback bar prepares
sizzling fish and squid barbecues to be washed down
with an ice-cold beer. There's unplugged music and open
jams, too. Happy hour 4.30-7pm. Tues-Sun 2pm-2am.
B&J Bar This diver hangout opens its doors as divers return
to shore, ready to share their underwater tales over a cold
beer or two. In the evenings travellers socialize around the
beach bonfire, where there are fire poi performances. Happy
hour 5-7pm. Daily 2pm-midnight.
Hallo Bar A wonderfully laidback place where you can
enjoy a sundowner in one of the open-fronted lime tree
cabañas that stretch out into the sea. Beer RM5. Daily
5pm-2am.
Nazri's Place This large, newly renovated restaurant with
wooden floors and ceilings offers Western, Malaysian and
Indian dishes. Daily 7.30am-3pm & 7-11pm.
Sunset Bar As the name suggests, this bar at the
southernmost end of the beach attracts thirsty travellers
who come here to watch the last rays disappear over the
horizon. Thurs-Tues 2pm-midnight.
Zion House Right by the jetty, this chilled place with
low tables spread below a shading tree is a good spot to
enjoy some live reggae and island music. There are nightly
chicken and fish barbecues and the Western menu includes
fish and chips and burgers (RM12). Daily noon-1am.

SALANG
Ella's Place T 09 419 5004. This welcoming, quiet place
at the northern end of the beach is dotted with colourful
potted plants and hammocks slung between palm trees,
perfect to while the afternoon away. Rooms range from
simple huts with private bath to larger a/c rooms facing
the beach. Staff are frie ndly and can organize snorkelling
trips too. Double RM60
Salang Indah Resort T 09 419 5015, W salangindah
.com. This large catch-all resort has rooms catering to
all budgets, from simple fan huts in various stages of
disrepair (hav e a loo k at a few) to more upmarket a/c
rooms. Double RM50

JUARA
Beach Shack T 09 419 3148, E timstormsurf@yahoo
.au. This laidback Malay-Ozzie owned place oozes a mellow
vibe, with surfers lounging around waiting to catch a good
wave. There are tiny A-frame huts with shared bath lining
the beach, as well as more spacious doubles all made of
recycled timber. The restaurant includes Western and Malay
dishes, and there are rumours that the owner m ay eve n
feature Ozzie kangaroo steak on the menu. Double RM40

SALANG
Mini White House Café Confusingly decked out in
yellow, this place is where it's at for nightly barbecues
(RM15). They also serve pancakes, omelettes and meat
dishes. Daily 7pm-10.30pm.
Salang Beach Restaurant Consistently good Chinese
dishes of fish, prawn, chicken, mutton and beef, at one of
Salang's best restaurants. Mains RM17. Daily 8am-3pm &
6-10pm.