Pahang's 210 kilometres of coastline,
stretching continuously from north to south on the
eastern side of the state facing the South China
Sea is a haven for seaside vacationers. Along the
way, nature's handiwork have carved out bays
with secluded stretches of soft golden sands
washed by rolling waves. This is a physical
manifestation of what dream tropical holidays are
made of.
For
most of the year, the turquoise-blue waters are
calmly enticing, but with the onset of the monsoon
season, strong offshore winds bring up the surf
dramatically to offer yet another form of sea
delight - windsailing. Monsoon is a natural facet
of the Pahang tropical persona.
It
is no reason to eschew this slice of paradise in
the tropics just because nature has decided to
dictate otherwise. Pahang welcomes the sun, sea,
monsoon and you -- warts and all!
Tourism's incursion, or perhaps 'sharing,'
of the coastline of Pahang fits nicely with
what nature has created. Resorts such as the Club Mediterranee, Asia's first of the international
chain at Cherating, 47 kilometres north of
Kuantan, is a fine example of this sharing
concept.The resort has invoked various elements of
Malay architecture that blend nicely with the
natural environment of the beach and Malay
villages in the vicinity. This picture prevails
along the entire coast that
includes the likes of Pantai Balok, Pantai Teluk
Chempedak, Pantai Beserah, Pantai Chendor and
others.
Hotels that range from top flight
internationally-affiliated establishments to
medium and budget accommodations await you with a
range of creature comforts to suit your wallet.
Throughout the year these beaches are sanctuaries
of tranquillity. And tranquillity being a
pre-condition that tops the bill in the mindset of
tropical vacationers is god-given. It stays with
the
place and you, unless, of course, if you wish to
add value by partaking of the numerous water-based
sea activities such as surfing, windsailing,
diving, or snorkelling. These are thresholds to
days of fun in the tropics with the sun smiling
and, occasionally, beautiful surreal black clouds
with the smashing of rain and monsoon tempest
taking centre stage.
From the mute solitude of dawn to the magical
blazing of the sunset that paints the horizon with
various shades of back, blue and red, Pahang's
beaches and islands is the perfect setting for
romance, rest and family bonding.
Beyond the fine beaches of mainland Pahang is the
world-famous Pulau Tioman, which proudly stands
out from the string of islands that make up the
Seri Buat Archipelago. Thrown into the
limelight of the world's great tropical islands by
the make-believe people of Hollywood, today's
Tioman comes complete with a wide range of resorts
and accommodations - from the sprawling
international chain to boutique hotel and
personally-run, friendly Malay-style island
offerings. |