Malaysia Vacation – Cherating and Rompin Beach Resort Day 2

The Legend Resort, Cherating

This second day of our Malaysia vacation in this beach resort in Cherating, the Legend Resort, we spent our morning sleeping in and lazing around. For breakfast, we had some home baked Chinese New Year goodies, which we brought along with us.

Yummy yummy...

Our beach resort accommodation here in Cherating is The Legend Resort. Located in Pahang Malaysia, the Legend Resort Cherating is 45 km north of Kuantan at one of the premier Malaysia beach resorts. The Cherating Legend Hotel is located on a 6.5-acre plot of land in a popular coastal resort area and makes an idyllic retreat for those weary urbanites.

Surrounded by lush tropical greenery and just next to the South China Sea, you will be serenaded with the sound of crashing waves in this 248-rooms resort which allows a picturesque view of the ocean from the balcony of every room.

View of the South China Sea from our balcony

Rack rates:-
Deluxe ..........................RM 480............ USD142.20
Deluxe Sea View ..........RM 530............ USD157.00
Junior Suite .................RM 800.............USD237.00
Cherating Suite ...........RM1,200...........USD355.55
Executive Suite ........... RM1,400...........USD414.80
Penthouse ....................RM1,900...........USD562.95

We booked online a few weeks ago and managed to get a rate of S$69.04 (USD49.25) per night excluding taxes.

Free internet is provided at the lobby and Cherating Lounge area from 0700 hrs – 2300 hrs. A souvenir shop is located at the lobby area.

The Legend Resort, Cherating, features 2 swimming pools and a children’s pool close to the beach. You can get pool towels from the pool counter from 0800 hrs – 1930 hrs.

The pool with the man-made waterfall

The gym, sauna and Jacuzzi are available at the Sports & Recreation Centre and resort guests may use these facilities for free. If you like to sweat it out, there are 2 squash and tennis courts for your exercise needs. Rental of bicycles at RM5 (USD1.50) per ½ hour is available by the Pool Counter. A self-service laundry is provided for you laundry needs.

Gym to workout

Bicycles for rent

We had a light lunch comprising chilli tuna that we had bought yesterday during our shopping spree.

Light lunch

Leaving the beach resort at 1415 hrs, we made our way to the Turtle Sanctuary, Cherating, approximately 6 km away, with the assistance of our Garmin Global Positioning System. It was an interesting visit as there was quite a bit of information on turtles and what we could do to save them. We even saw some turtles swimming at the sanctuary. Entrance is free and you may give a donation.

Turtle Sanctuary, Cherating

Holiday Travel Tips:-
If you are interested in watching the turtles come to shore to lay eggs, the best time to visit is during the months of April – October.

Baby turtle

We then made our way to Cherating Lama (old Cherating town) with the directions from Junaidi, the operator of Payung Guest House, a little budget accommodation of 10 villas. Little did we realize that this area is more ‘happening’ than the area we were at which is supposed to be the new Cherating town.

Welcome to Cherating

At 1600 hrs, we went on the wildlife river trip. The duration of the trip was almost 2 hours and cost RM20 (USD5.95) per person. Moving along the Cherating Mangrove River into the jungle, our experienced boatman pointed out mangrove snakes, crabs, mudskippers, and even a hornet’s nest. On the return journey, we were fortunate enough to spot a family of otters playing by the riverbank. If you are lucky, you may be able to see water monitor lizards, macaque monkeys, langur monkeys, pythons, turtles and a variety of birds.

Mangrove snakes

Crabs

Spot the mudskipper?

Family of otters

Holiday Travel Tips:-
If you are able to find your way to Cherating Beach, you will be able to find tour operators who are willing to bring you on these trips at less than half the cost certain travel agents and resorts charge.

Some of the Cherating activities available

Upon returning back to land, we checked with Junaidi regarding the location of the monkey plucking coconut as we had seen it on some brochures. As it was just a few minutes drive from where we were, we decided to make our way there. However, the owners of the monkey were not home although one of the neighbours pointed out to us where the monkey was resting. Upon seeing us, the monkey started to pose for us.

Monkey posing

There were some goats around the Malay kampung village as well.

The family of goats

Coconut plantation

After snapping pictures of the monkey and the goats, we then went back to Cherating Lama and walked along the beach.

Interesting name...

There must have been a bush fire close to the Cherating beach as the weather had been hot and dry recently.

Fire engine

Beautiful soft white sand covered the beach. As it was low tide, you could walk far out and there were many people swimming. There were also stalls selling food and clothes close by.

Lifeguard post

Food stall

Kites, anyone?

The lovely beach with pristine white sand

Low tide

Swimmers enjoying the sea water

Sunset

Public toilet

Looking for some water sports?

Numerous guesthouses were located along the beach. Prices for some of these guesthouses range from RM30 – 50 (USD8.90 – 14.80) per night. Basic accommodation is provided with fan and attached shower. These are budget accommodation in a great and fantastic location.

Ranting Beach Resort Cherating

Cherating Cottage rates

Cherating Inn, another budget accommodation

Payung Guesthouse

With the friendly operator of Payung Guesthouse, Junaidi

For budget accommodations, Cherating tours and water sports, you can contact Junaidi at his mobile 019-9171934.

Payung GuestHouse villa - village style living

Inside Payung GuestHouse compound

Payung GuestHouse Reception

Pineapple growing in Payung GuestHouse compound

For Cherating tours and water sports, check out the information centre in front of the budget accommodation, Payung GuestHouse

Various stalls along the main road

More stalls

Little Bali, one of the night spots along this stretch of Cherating Lama

Limbong Art

Next we proceeded to Matahari Restaurant near Payung Guest House for some Malaysian food. We ordered the ikan bakar (grilled fish), sambal kang kong (water convolvulus cooked with sambal chilli) and the garlic beef. The kang kong and the beef tasted good. The fish wrapped in banana leaf was juicy on one side but burnt on the other. Dinner, including two plates of rice and 2 cups of limejuice, cost RM18 (USD5.35).

Matahari Restaurant

Limejuice Great thirst quencher in this weather

Rice with sambal kangkong and garlic beef

Grilled fish, known as ikan bakar

We finished dinner at 1955 hrs and that allowed us to go back to Payung Guest House to experience the Firefly trip. We could see the fireflies sparkle in and around the mangrove trees. We were told that these are the males trying to attract the females. Costing RM15 (USD4.45) per person, this was definitely a bargain compared with RM50 (USD14.80) charged by the resort and RM60 (USD17.80) by another travel agent.

It was an interesting trip as the boatman was able to attract the fireflies to the boat and you could ‘catch’ them on the palm of your hands for a closer look.

A closer look at the firefly

Try as we could, we were not able to get any pictures of the fireflies... Sad...

Holiday Travel Tips:-
Do not use mosquito repellent containing DEET as this can kill these harmless fireflies.

Rates for some of the more popular Cherating tours and water sports, available at Payung GuestHouse and many other operators along Cherating Lama.

Rates for the various tours and water sports

After the fireflies trip, we made our way back to our beach resort accommodation on this second day of our Malaysia vacation. It was a great sightseeing day today, having visited the turtle sanctuary and been on the wildlife river cruise as well as the fireflies’ trip. At the same time, we managed to get to eat some Malaysian food, which is always a joy.

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