Bali Snorkeling

(visited July 2011). Cherating is not the nicest beach on the east coast of peninsula Malaysia, but Tanjung Inn is one of the more nicely laid out budget resorts. Cherating has for a long time been a popular stop-off for travellers moving between the Tioman and Perhentian islands locations. In more recent years surfers and windsurfers have discovered that monsoon season, particularly the months Nov and Dec, provide pretty decent conditions for Malaysia. The more recent completion of an expressway which hits the coast about 30km south had brought KL within a 3 hour drive and had seen a boom in local weekenders and holiday-makers. On my previous 1999 visit I enjoyed the special travellers' vibe Cherating has long been noted for. Strangely there were not many budget travellers this latest trip - more western families and couples, plus a few Malaysian holidaying families in this non weekend period. I arrived on a Monday and the place was very very quiet - a fellow guest told me the we...

(visited June 2011) Viewpoint outlook of part of the western most beach on the north coast of Bintan. Buildings belong to Mayong Sari resort, part of the Nirwana Gardens complex. Bintan's major advantage is that it can be reached from Singapore by ferry in around 45 minutes. The northern beach area is very attractive with white sand and surprisingly clear water. But it is more or less a Singaporean enclave of midrange hotels/golf courses etc - there are no bargain Indo-style accommodation or associated activities. These can be found on the east coast - but the beaches here are markedly inferior to the north. This modified Google Earth image shows Bintan's location close to Singapore and adjacent Batam. Ferry access is from both Singapore and Johor Bahru in Malaysia. Bintan's two major piers are Bandar Bentan Telani for the northern International Resorts zone and at Tanjung Pinang , the island capital. Note I have called this Tanjung Bintan on the map - it is too hard to...