Vacation In Malaysia, Tanjong Jara Resort

Located in a very quiet part of Terengganu, Tanjong Jara Resort is a perfect getaway. I was driving to Tanjong Jara and had to rely on Global Positioning System (GPS) to locate this resort. After a few wrong turns, we started to get excited upon reaching the outer entrance. I was with my wife and son. The little road leading us in to the main entrance was unassuming. This certainly does not look like a multiple award winning resort. The only thing that we noticed is we were surrounded by lush greenery.

Not too far away is the main entrance, which has the appearance of a Malay palace. We were welcomed by a small group of locals dressed in traditional costumes. Then we were guided to a sitting lounge and served with fresh sparkling Hibiscus extract juices and wet towers to subdue the afternoon heat. It was so refreshing. We were given time to chill and settle down at the lounge. Later a resort guide approached us. I noticed the timing. She came over just as I was finishing my drink. And she offered us another round of drink which we gladly accepted.

While waiting for the second drink, the resort guide went through the check in process with me. All this was done at the sitting lounge while we are seated comfortably on the soft sofas. What a breeze. Check in was completed in a blink and my second drink served.

Our guide accompanied us to our room. It’s a short walk and again lush greenery is everywhere. She prompted us on the location of the resort’s facilities such as the swimming pools, the 3 different restaurants and the spa village and briefly introducing each of them as we walked with her. Our guide later explained that we were given the “Serambi” room because we have a child with us. The other type of room is “Bumbung” which is located on the first floor thus not convenient for a 3 year-old to climb up the stairs. Attention to detail. We were very pleased with our room. It’s huge, beautifully decorated and has a spacious private terrace. We then thanked our guide and she reminded us to visit the beach in the evening.

As we are preparing to go to the beach, the air conditioner in our room seemed to be blowing hot air. We called room service and then headed for the beach. There are a host of activities on the beach. We were greeted by the same guide. Food stalls are setup and they are serving local delicacies like satay, apam balik, curry puff and kuih muih to the guests. Suddenly, my son shouted “Monkey”. And yes, to my surprise there is a male monkey in our midst. We were told the monkey has a role to play. And we found out the monkey’s role when we placed an order for a coconut drink. The monkey started climbing up one of the tall coconut tree and plucked a single coconut and climbed back down. An elderly local “pak cik” then took the coconut and demonstrated his skill of slicing open the coconut with a parang. The same coconut was served to us fresh. Imagine sipping this sweet drink with the blue South China Sea and swaying
coconut trees surrounding you. I can get use to this, without breaking a sweat.

Besides sampling the tasty local food and drink, other activities taking place include local Malaysian games. You can join the other guests and the locals to play congkak, gasing, sepak takraw and traditional dancing. We learnt from our guide that most of the resort staff members are from local villages that still live the age old legacy of Malaysian warmth and hospitality. Our guide herself is from an east coast town not too far away.

Time flies when you are having a blast. It’s dark already. So we strolled back to our room. I have totally forgotten about the air conditioner. Upon arriving at our room, a maintenance staff member on bicycle informed us that the air conditioner was fixed. Wonderful, that means we do not have to switch room as we loved that room. I think they use bicycles due to the size of the resort and to minimize customer response time. Fortunately no motorcycles were used.

The next day, we had breakfast in the “Di Atas Sungei” Restaurant. The name means above the river. This restaurant is actually built above a river that flows into the South China Sea. The food variety includes mostly local cuisine and flavours. My favourite is nasi dagang. Our guide was there to greet us. We learnt that the resort conducts turtle watching expedition from June to August. I want to come back again for that. The monsoon season is towards year end where the seas are rough and it rains continuously. The resort will have lower occupancy during monsoon season.

This is what my wife sighted at the beach. My little boy was delighted to see them. I think they are seals / sea lions. They disappeared as quickly as they appeared.

On the second night, we drove out to the nearby fishing town for dinner. There are many choices ranging from fast food, Malay, Fusion, Indian, Western and Thai. We decided to go for Chinese and the price is really reasonable. When we returned to Tanjong Jara Resort, my state of mind automatically changes. I feel so calm and relaxed. In a way, I think the resort has achieved its goal.

Finally, on the third day it is time to pack and go. All of us didn’t want to leave. Tanjong Jara Resort has rejuvenated us. Our stay is unique and memorable because of the people and their genuine hospitality. In addition to that, the Resort has lush greenery that blends seamlessly with its facilities and this creates an environment that is natural, refreshing and relaxing.

Official Website of Tanjong Jara Resort

The philosophy of Sucimurni emphasizes purity of spirit, health, and well-being. The award-winning Spa Village Tanjong Jara is a sanctuary anchored in this ancient Malay way of life. These unique restorative Malay treatments have been handed down from generation to generation, ensuring their authenticity, and therapeutic value. With a history of more than a thousand years, the practices are believed to have their origins and influences during the days of the Malacca Sultanate. Once you have completed your treatment at Spa Village Tanjong Jara you will receive a beautiful Batik Sarong, providing you with a memento of your own personal Sucimurni experience.

All the photos above are taken by the author with Iphone. Picture quality cannot be compared with those taken with DSLR. Hope you don't mind.