Welcome to Kuala Besut
The small fishing town of Kuala Besut
Samudera Hotel - a great place to stay during my visit to Kuala Besut
When I was a lecturer in a tertiary institution in the state of Pahang, I used to travel to the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia for work purposes. My favorite place is, of course, the beach overlooking the South China Sea because staring at the sea always fills my heart with peace and happiness. I feel refreshed, renewed, and energized as though the sea has the power to take away all my fears, worries and stresses. The beauty and serenity of the beach at sunset also makes me feel the meaning and purpose of life. The fact that the sea has healing powers is nothing new and I am sure that anyone walking on the beach will feel the same too.
One of my favorite places is Kuala Besut because I like to be beside the seaside. Kuala Besut is a beautiful coastal town in Terengganu on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. This small fishing town is situated next to the South China Sea where the Perhentian Islands lie. The word "Perhentian" means "to stop by" as this was one of the places where the Vietnamese boat people landed in the 1970s. Today, the Perhentian Islands have become one of the top tourist destinations in Malaysia. Popular tourist activities on the Perhentian Islands include swimming, fishing, scuba-diving, boat-riding, canoeing, snorkeling, camping, and jungle trekking.
As the main gateway to the Perhentian Islands, Kuala Besut has become a popular tourist attraction in Malaysia. With its "fresh from the sea" seafood, pristine sea view, peaceful environment, souvenir shops, and budget hotels, many tourists are attracted to this cheap holiday destination. Many of them prefer to stay a few days in this peaceful town before they cross over to the Perhentian Islands.
With Kelantan at its border, the residents in Kuala Besut seem to be more Kelantanese than Terengganuan and therefore the Kelantanese dialect is still the most spoken dialect among the locals. However, many of them have no problem conversing with tourists in English even though they have low English proficiency as English is a compulsory subject in Malaysian schools.
The pristine sea view of Kuala Besut
An ocean breeze puts the mind at ease (Unknown)
To escape and sit quietly on the beach - that's my idea of paradise (Emilia Wickstead)
Every time I stand before a beautiful beach, its waves seem to whisper to me: If you choose the simple things and find joy in nature's simple treasures, life and living need not be so hard (Psyche Roxas-Mendoza)
The beach is not always a place, sometimes it's a feeling (Unknown)
The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul (Robert Wyland)
Why do we like the sea? It is because it has some potent power to make us think things we like to think (Robert Henri)
I believe in the sea curing all bad moods. I believe in the waves wiping away worries. I believe in seashells bringing good luck. I believe in toes in the sand grounding my soul (Unknown)
The sea lives in everyone of us (Robert Wyland)
Ferry / speedboat services are easily available from Kuala Besut Jetty, the nearest jetty to the Perhentian Islands. Kuala Besut Jetty serves as host to several popular ferry / speedboat operators and these include Aina Holiday Sdn Bhd, Barracuda Holiday Sdn Bhd, Perhentian Trans Holiday Sdn Bhd and De Penarik Beach Travel & Tour Sdn Bhd. A boat ride from Kuala Besut Jetty to the Perhentian Islands, passing through the South China Sea, takes about 35 mins to an hour. Those planning to make a trip to the Perhentian Islands ought to check the weather forecast before leaving as the ferry / speedboat services are affected by the monsoon season due to heavy rains.
Kuala Besut Jetty
Tourists who enjoy eating and drinking can get a taste of the seaside cafes and restaurants with spectacular sea views. Those who wish to bring back mementos and souvenirs can do their shopping at the many souvenir shops around the town. The shops, restaurants and cafes are within walking distance from the jetty.
Souvenir shops in Kuala Besut
A Seaside Food Stall
A Seaside Cafe
A Seaside Restaurant
A Burger Stall on the Beach
My Rasa Cafe
There is an outdoor children's playground at the beach - an adventurous and exciting play space where the children can run, jump, climb and swing.
Children's Playground at the Seaside
Taking a bus to Kuala Besut is very convenient as there are many express buses going to Kuala Besut particularly from Kuala Lumpur. One of the main bus operators providing this service is Perdana Express. The Kuala Besut Bus Terminal is located near the Pasar Tani around 1 km (10-20 minutes walking distance) from the Kuala Besut Jetty. Below are more photos of this beautiful fishing town.
The District Fisheries Office
Typical homes in this town
The Public Toilet of Kuala Besut
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