Famous Stuffed Crab at Tong Juan Restaurant (东源酿蟹餐室) - Chukai Kemaman, Terengganu.

Before we drive back to Johor Bahru from Legend Resort Cherating on the Media FAM 2012 trip, I decided to drove to Chukai - Kemaman for the Famous Stuffed Crab at Tong Juan Restaurant (N4.23150 E103.42813).

The journey Only took us 15 minutes drive from Cherating to the restaurant, it was 3pm in the afternoon and the lunch hour had pass...so the restaurant just left one table of customers...

Tong Juan Restaurant at Chukai - Kemaman.

It's actually a 70s old fashion type of kopitiam...I like the classic look, especially the chairs...

The 70s type of restaurant interior...

We already had our lunch at the Resort, our main purpose here was to try out the Famous Stuffed Crab. I heard about the stuff crab decades ago, therefore we have to try it since we already so close to it...!

Beside the stuffed crab, there are som many singature dishes serve by the restaurant...well, I will definitely try it on my next visit...

Other dishes serve by Tong Juan Restaurant

We ordered four stuffed crab, having one in the restaurant and 3 take away...

It looked abit weird by presenting Only one crab shell on the plate?! Haha!

The Stuffed Crab of Tong Juan Restaurant

The dish was unique and special!
They filled up the shell with crab meat mixed with some vegetables and cover by a layer of eggs with a nice aroma of butter...deep fried to perfection.

Filled up with crab meat and vege...

The dish goes well with rice, because it taste a bit salty. But we can't take any rice with it due to the heavy lunch from the Resort...Anyway, I'm satisfied with the unique taste! And it cost only RM8 per stuffed crab, reasonable and worth to try!

If I'm not mistaken, Tong Juan was the first restaurant to serve the Stuffed Crab since the earlier 80s, and the Famous dish is well known through out the region. Nowadays, you can find a few restaurants around the same area selling the same dish...

I will suggest you to visit the restaurant if you having vacation at Cherating, because the nice dish is just about 20 km away!

The Famous Stuffed Crab of Tong Juan Restaurant, Chukai.

Location map of Tong Juan Restaurant at Chukai Kemaman, Terengganu.

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Famous snack - Keropok Lekor around Cherating, Kuantan - Pahang.

Once we checked out from The Legend Resort Cherating, we did some shopping on the local foods at Chiang Kee stall (N4.02990 E103.39848) along the Cherating main road...follow by hunting for our favorite 'Keropok Lekor' around the area...

Keropok Lekor is the kind of snack which made from the fish with mixture of salt and flour.The snacks are high in protein because of the fish and famous at Terengganu area - East Cost of Malaysia.

At first, we stopped at this little stall (N4.06262 E103.38995) along the road, we unexpectedly grab 'all' Keropok in this stall! Before I had my share...Oh! My goodness!

The Keropok Lekor stall along the main road

Then we saerched for another stall (Cap Kren Stall N4.09474 E103.38220) which was about 200 meter away and grab the balance...everyone was happy! We bought 2 packs which cost MYR20.00, each of it has 10 sticks.

The lady wrap it nicely...

There are 2 types of Keropok Lekor available, the one at above was steam and the other type is deep fried. I would prefer the deep fried type because of the crispyness! :)

The deep fried type of Keropok Lekor

Sometimes I saw this snacks are also available around Johor area, but I never try it...but my teammates said it will be fresh and delicious at Cherating or Terengganu area compare with others states in Malaysia...what do you think?! :)

Do drop by and buy some of it if you pass by Cherating, you might like the fish taste of it! :)

Location map of the Keropok Lekor stall at Cherating, Kuantan - Pahang.

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Fireflies boat cruise at Kampung Ibok, Chukai Kamaman - Terengganu.

On our last night of Cherating vacation, we visited the Yak Yah Firefly Sanctuary (N4.30647 E103.37418) which is located at Bungkus River (Sungai) around Kampung Ibok, Chukai Kamaman. The journey took about 45 - 60 minutes from Legend Resort Cherating (approx. 30KM).

Once we reached the riverside, there was a short safety briefing by the tour guide and everyone get ready with the 'life jacket' and prepare for the boat cruise...

I was really impressed by the boat (max. 15 person) which was running on battery! Yes, you heard me right! Operate by battery Not Diesel! This will reduce the pollution to the nature and we were Really enjoyed the quite boat ride....

Everyone prepared on the boat for the Fireflies river cruise...

I apologize because not able to take A single photo of the fireflies around the river...

The ride was quite and with the fresh air from the nature, the fireflies view was Awesome! The water reflection was really light up the Dark river! Total journey was about 8KM and it took almost an hour...
The tour guide was very knowledgable (who speak fluent English) and he was explaining about the firefly from start till end of the trip...

It was an eye opener for us especially the Battery operating boat. We took another hour back to the resort and everyone was exhausted because of the whole day activities...I end my 2nd day at Cherating in the pub accompany with beers and other teammates...

If you have enough time on your vacation, don't mind trying this fireflies boat cruise. I like the environment very much even we were in the dark most of the time...:)

We left the Legend Resort on the next day noon time after the Nice lunch provided...and we'll see you again Cherating! Bye!

Related post :
*  Media FAM Trip 2012 at Cherating, Pahang.

Location map for Fireflies boat cruise at Kemaman, Terengganu.

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Sea Turtles watching (lay eggs) during night time at the beach of Terengganu

We being bought to the first stop (N4.19112 E103.44248), then got to know that the sea turtles had made a U-Turn back to sea...initially, I thought...'what a disappointment!'...but the 'tour guide' received a phone call and ask all of us go to the second spot (N4.20295 E103.43993) which was about 1.5km away (both were at the same Mak Nik Beach) from the original place.

At the second spot, the 'tour guide' explained about the sea turtles and showed us the turtles hatching area while waiting for the Sea Turtles to comfortly dig the hole...

The sea turtles hatching area at the second spot

Everyone has a experience to touch and hold the baby turtles which just born 2-3 hours ago...

Feel the baby turtle...

The 'tour guide' told us that every egg need to hatch for at least 45 days, and out of One Thousand baby turtles which return back to the sea...ONLY One will survive! Oh! That's One out of A Thousand! And if the surviver is female, it'll be back to this same beach after 25 years...but if it's male, it won't be back for its whole life....

The sea turtles took a long time to dig a big hole for herself and another small hole for the eggs...we were waiting at total dark beach...once the signal given, all of us separate to few groups and take turns to watch the sea turtle laying eggs...

The huge sea turtle was laying eggs...

Everyone was busy taking photos and NO FLASH is allow! Only lights...

But my luck wasn't that good because when I stand closed to the turtle, its started to covered up the small hole...that means its finished laying eggs for the night! OH! I miss the golden chance to snap the laying eggs photos! My goodness!

The turtle covered up the small hole at her back...

Even the turtle finished laying the eggs, everyone still continue to take photos non-stop...

The Sea Turtle at Mak Nik Beach, Chukai - Terengganu

The turtle was huge! It's about 1.5 meter long and 1 meter wide...
As you can notice the 'tears' in its eyes after she finished laying eggs, some said because its upset that going to leave all its baby on the beach....But, Actually...the 'tour guide' said it's because of the 'sea water' and another reason is trying to protect the eyes from sands...That's the true reason! Everyone was laughing after the explaination....Haha!

Can you see the turtle is crying?!

The turtle will going to take some times to cover back the big hole before it get back to the sea...at that time, our tour guide ask all of us line up in one line on the beach where not far away from the mother turtle...

Everyone was given with one or two baby turtles in hand. He said "name your turtles!" And wish the baby turtle 'Good Luck!'  Because in the next moment, we'll be letting all these baby turtles back to the sea! Exciting isn't it? :)

One of the baby turtle...

Everyone line up in one strait line...

All the baby turtles can't see anything on that moment, because they just born 2-3 hours ago, but they will 'follow the light'. Therfore, one of the assistant of the tour guide was light up a Spot Light from the sea direction....
1, 2, 3! Everyone started to let go the baby turtles!

All the baby turtles ran Very Fast towards the light, yeah...to the sea! ...back home...
We got to be Very careful to see front and back by avoiding to step on them! Because its everywhere on the beach! Haha!

Some of them were lost their way, our responsibility to direct them to the sea...

One of the lost baby turtle...(wrong direction...)

When I saw partial of them got into the water....the moment was so Touch! Awesome!
You have to feel it yourself on the spot...hehe!

Partial baby turtles found in the water...

Then we started to prayed for them...to be strong and survive! Most of the little turtles will become the food of the bigger fish and birds during day time...that's why Only one will survive from the thousand...

The little one no need food for the first week, then they will start to eat the sea weeds and jelly fish. The tour guide said, he saw some dead sea turtles on the beach sometimes ago, because the sea turtles ate some plastic bags and they thought that was jelly fish!

So we have to keep our ocean clean and don't let the sea turtles die again from the rubbish!

Once all the little turtles swim into the sea...we heard someone shouted : "The mother is going back to the sea!" At that time, the mother turtle finished cover up the hole and crawl heavyly toward the sea...

All of us greeted the turtle and said "Bye-Bye and see you again"...

The next program will be the time to dig out all the eggs and bring them to the hatching center...

Everyone has a chance to feel the eggs...

Total of 91 eggs as counted...

It was A Great educational trip! I advise you have to go for it at least Once! We like it very much!

If you drive yourself to the beach, there will be no charges at all! But the disadvantages are no tour guide to explain and no chance to feel the little baby...

I will watch the sea turtles again in our next visit to Cherating!

Once we got back the Resort, me, Mr Anthony, Mr Praba and Mr Siva (The Resort Manager) end our day in a few mugs of Tiger Draught in the pub...

Related post :
*  Media FAM Trip 2012 at Cherating, Pahang.

Location map of the Turtle laying eggs at Mak Nik Beach, Chukai - Terengganu.

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Kenyir Lake, Terengganu.

The Explorers's journey continue.....
Approx. 527KM away from Johor Bahru to Kenyir Lake. They (3 families) check in to Kenyir Lake View Resort (N5°08.286' E102°48.663') around noon time. 3 days 2 nights for MYR468.00 person as package rates (inclusive of meals).




After settle with their lunch in the resort, they took their free time to walk around the resort for the first day.





Day 2
Everyone was excited and wake up early in the morning to enjoy their breakfast and start the boat cruise whitin the lake.

The modified Kancil as free transport from resort to Jetty.....

Jetty

The lake is too beautiful to be true! But...luck was not on their side because of cloudy day.

Beauty Scenic during boat ride

First stop - The Saok Waterfall of Kenyir Lake (N5°04.985' E102°46.734')

Look at the beautiful waterfall!

Children are TOO happy to see this waterfall.....

After the waterfall cold water, they continue the Second stop.......

Look at the fish!

Everyone was exhausted after the boat ride but with lovely smile on their faces.....
They went back to the resort for their dinner and take good rest to the third day long journey back to Johor Bahru.
Along the journey back, they meet the Flood of the year (December 2007) at Pekan. The water level was to high to pass through and also force them to de-route from Pekan back to Kuantan, and drive through KL to Johor Bahru. Additional 249KM!
But they are enjoy their slow drive and stop by Seremban for the Famous Authentic Baked Crab dinner!



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