Kuantan Off The Beaten Path

There is a limestone 9-meter long statue of the reclining Buddha. This cave is located on the way to Sungai Lembing. The Charah caves have always been the site of Buddhist monk and serve as a meditation retreats for Buddhist monks and nuns.

We went camping here twice and it’s simply beautiful. It takes an hour or two depends on how fast you walk to this fall or to the last fall. There are many small pools of water and most just camp at these pools.

It’s located on the old road right after Gambang.

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Cherating, a lovely village located along the coast of Pahang. There are many small private own chalet and a few major hotels. Lot of things to see and buy likes handicrafts, batik paintings, pareo, t-shirts and seashells. Club Med build it's first Asian base right here in Cherating.

Today Sungai Lembing is likened to a Malaysian "Cowboy Town" - the place time forgot.

The tin mining was the sole reason people came. A town surrounded by hills on three sides, Sungai Lembing prospered and the town pulsated with the excitement and activity befitting a wealthy town.

Traces of its heyday and prosperity can still be found in the old mansions and well designed homes.

Visit the old market square, where one of the highlights is the well-known local home made noodles. Also pop into the home bakery, to taste the crisp and sweet coconut flavour of their local coconut biscuits.

The roads leading into the village are narrow and scooters or bicycles are the preferred mode of transport. There are high hanging bridges made from steel ropes and planks for crossing the river.

View the Museum of Sungai Lembing, with the objectives of propagating the information and exhibiting the proofs of its history. Visitors will be entertained with the spectacular knowledge on the subterranean tin mining, which was once acknowledged as the largest subterranean mine in the world.

The museum is 40 minutes' drive from Kuantan. Admission is free. You have to present your Identity Card for registration at the security booth at the main entrance.

The museum is not big but it offers a modest range of exhibits on tin mining. You will learn the breif history of Sungai Lembing, the process of tin mining and the british tycoons in the 1930s and 1940s. Some items used by the british tycoons are on displayed here such as telephones, typewriters, teapots, etc.

From the north:
Take Route C4 to Sungei Lembing.
At the junction to the Sungei Pandan park entrance, (N 03°52.827, E 103°10.455 if you have GPS), the sign says you have another 12 km to run. Actually the entrance (N 03°48.316, E 103°09.684) to the park is only 8.7km from this junction, with the remaining 3.3km on a gravel road.

From the south:
Take the old highway (Route 2) to Kuala Lumpur. Look out for the airport on the right side of the highway. Then look out for Masjid Al Makmur on the right (beige building with gold tops) and directly opposite on the left a Petronas petrol station (about 20.4km as measured from the Hyatt Kuantan). Pass under an overhead pedestrian bridge 700m away. On the centre divider look for a big blue sign which says U-turn for Pancing, Kem Batu 10, TUDM.

Make the U-turn. Immediately on the left side will be a sign saying "Sg Pandan Waterfall 11km" just before a left turn. Turn left. The entrance to the waterfall park is about 7km away. 100m before the turnoff you will pass over the new Karak - Kuantan highway.

Beware of tipper trucks going in and out (the road also leads to a granite quarry).

For sheer hedonistic indulgence, visit the Samsara Spa. Located inside Swiss Garden Resort & Spa Kuantan, just at the poolside. The magical touch of masseurs experienced in the art of traditional Balinese massage will leave you utterly rejuvenated and relaxed.

There are five personal treatment rooms which ensures personal touch & privacy. Massage, spa & sauna can be performed all in the treatment rooms. If you prefer massage in open air, you can proceed to a hut for outdoor massage. Sunlight & sea breeze will give you a caressing touch. After your therapy session ends, make your way to a shady hut for a cup of refreshing drink.

Services offered are Balinese / Thai massage, bath, body scrub, wrap, hair care, Samsara packages & specials. Prices are from RM80 onwards. A basic body and foot massage costs from RM130 for an hour.