Holiday travel tips and experiences: Malaysia Holiday – Rompin Malaysia Beach Resort 24 Oct

Summerset Beach Resort

Sat, 24th Oct, 2009.

We left home early on Saturday at 0520 hrs for our Malaysia Holiday drive to Rompin. For this trip, we had an agenda to meet up with the management of the Malaysia beach resort Summerset Resort to firm up the arrangement for the awakening enlightenment retreat that will be held in March 2010.

Awakening enlightenment meditation retreat

Before picking Lisa, another of our partners for the enlightenment meditation program, we stopped by the petrol station to top up the petrol tank to keep in line with the ¾ tank ruling for all Singapore registered vehicles driving into Malaysia. We arrived at West Coast McDonalds to meet a convoy party that was driving up to Kuantan for the weekend. Since Rompin is just before Kuantan, we thought it would be a good idea to a) network, b) make more friends with those who love driving into Malaysia and c) get to know some new areas in Malaysia.

Filling in the immigration form at McDonalds

Briefing at the carpark at McDonalds

After the briefing by the convoy organizer, we left McDonalds at 0645 hrs and headed for the 2nd Link at Tuas Checkpoint. As the coast was quite clear on both sides of the 2nd Link, we were in Malaysia at 0725 hrs, very good timing. We turned off at Gelang Patah R&R and stopped at the Esso station for those who wanted to top up their petrol tanks and meet some who were joining us over in Malaysia. After a briefing, we were finally on our way at 0800 hrs.

At the Esso station

Harley Davidson group

Pasting the car stickers to identify the convoy

Another briefing at Esso

Following the North South Highway, we took the Pasir Gudang exit and regrouped again just after Perling Toll, a RM3.60 (USD…) toll, at 0815 hrs.

Breaks along the way

It was a leisurely drive with another two stops along the way for everyone to empty their bladders and still, we arrived in Mersing at 1045 hrs. Stopping by Timotel Hotel for our buffet lunch, we spent just over an hour getting to know the other diners at our table during the lunch break.

Timotel Hotel, our lunch stop

Orderly queue for the food

Lunch time

Our new friends

Another briefing before take off

Lobby

After lunch, there was another briefing before we finally set off for the keropok (crackers) factory just 700m down the road from the hotel with a right turn at Sekolah Kebangsaan Mersing Kanan. Make a left turn at the first turning and you can't miss the sign which is on the opposite side of the road.

Perusahaan Keropok - Keropok Factory in Mersing

It was interesting to see how they made the cracker paste, weighed, boiled, cut and dried it. This was a real eye opener as we have never realized that there were so many steps involved in the making of the simple cracker that we have always enjoyed as snacks.

Getting the paste ready

Weighing it

Cutting into shape

The shop we patronised

Keropok sausages? Did not look too appetising

Salted fish

Keropok galore

Keropok to try

Time to purchase...

Salted fish being dried

Salted fish packed & ready for sale

Mother hen & baby chicks

There were quite a few varieties of crackers to try as well. Of course, we could not resist buying some crackers home.

After purchasing the crackers, we bid farewell to our fellow drivers as we would be turning off to our destination, Summerset Hotel in Rompin whilst they would be carrying on into Kuantan which is approximately another 2 hours from Rompin.

1330 hrs saw us arriving at our destination, the Summerset Resort. Also known as the Summerset Colonial Hotel & Villas, the 4-star deluxe resort facility at "summerset at Rompin" is an integrated resort, leisure, recreation, adventure park and holiday home development.

Boasting an eco-themed environment, Summerset is the latest holiday destination on the east coast of Malaysia and is positioned and conceptualized to provide an array of fun adventure within nature, in luxury and comfort.

Upon checking in at the reception, we met a few of our friends who were either participating in the current Enlightened Warrior Camp or helping with the staffing. It was good to be amongst our warrior community once again. AHO!

Summerset Resort Rompin

As the sun was making its presence felt, we took a short nap before enjoying a dip in the pool in the late evening. Again we bumped into more friends and managed to catch up quite a bit.

For dinner, we drove approximately 15 km back towards Rompin town and adjourned to Rompin River Seafood, our favourite place for seafood when we are up in Rompin. Our order of oyster omelette, steamed prawns, marmite crabs, black pepper ostrich, sweet potato leaves and almost a dozen drinks cost us RM109 (USD… ) for the three of us.

Rompin River Seafood Malaysia

The Rompin River Seafood Restaurant is situated just next to the Kuala Rompin River Chalet. Many people make a trip to Rompin to go sail fishing and stay at the Chalets.

Kuala Rompin River Chalet