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Jewels in
the sun
BY LINDA WONG WYE LING
Located near the equator between Thailand and Singapore, Malaysia is home to beaches galore – long, sandy stretches fringed by crystal-clear waters, unspoilt landscapes and colourful underwater environments. It’s hard to imagine a more peaceful setting.
There’s the Straits of Malacca to the west, the South China Sea to the east and the Andaman Sea to the northeast, giving Malaysia some of the most beautiful islands and beaches in Asia. Across 4,800 km of coastline dotted with over 200 islands, an abundance of natural treasures lies waiting to be discovered.
stay
Port Dickson
3967 Bayu Beach Resort
7650 EC at The Legend Water Chalet
Port Dickson
Located in Negeri Sembilan, Port Dickson – or PD, as it is known to locals – has long served as a weekend retreat for city dwellers seeking refuge from the urban hustle and bustle. Its proximity to the capital Kuala Lumpur makes it a favourite venue for recreation and events.
PD was originally called Arang (“charcoal” in Malay) for the charcoal that was made here. Although it later developed as a port, its main attraction today is an 18-km stretch of powdery soft beaches, lined by swaying palm trees, quaint colonial houses and numerous holiday resorts.
But PD is not only about beaches. Cape Rachado or Tanjung Tuan is renowned for its lighthouse, which was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century and is still operating today. On a clear day, you can see PD town and the outline of neighboring Sumatra in Indonesia from this vantage point.
Also in the vicinity is the Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve, a protected park which spans about 80 hectares. You can hike along two jungle trails which lead to beautiful, unspoilt beaches. Nature lovers and bird watchers will love the rich flora and fauna in this park.
For a touch of history, visit Fort Lukut in the town of Lukut. The fort was built in 1826 by Raja Jumaat to protect the tin trade in the area. At the bottom of the hill below the fort is Lukut Museum, housing a wide range of artefacts and relics related to the tin mining industry that once made this a boom town.
Along the 9th mile of the PD coastal road lies an ostrich farm with not only a large collection of ostriches, but also fowl, peacocks, pheasants and crocodiles. The ostriches live in open paddocks and visitors can touch or feed them. The souvenir shop sells local handicrafts and ostrich-related souvenirs, such as ostrich oil, eggs, dusters and leather items.
PD is popular for fresh seafood prepared in traditional ways. Sample the ever-popular ikan bakar – fish grilled in banana leaves over hot coals – which can be found in hawker stalls around Teluk Kemang. Seafood can also be cooked in a variety of styles: in curry, baked or fried. Kuih Muih, or traditional Malay pastries and cakes, are also available everywhere.
A great time to visit PD is during Pesta Port Dickson, which is usually held in August. The festival includes several activities and cultural events relating to the life of the locals. Getting to PD is very convenient. There are plenty of buses, commuter trains and taxis plying between Kuala Lumpur and PD’s plentiful resorts.
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