The First Breath of Home
We arrived in Kuala Terengganu yesterday, but I only truly came home the moment I caught the first whiff of salt air at Pantai Batu Buruk.
Growing up here in the late 70s and early 80s, this beach was the centre of my world — socially, and even as part of my daily route to school. Others may wax lyrical about Batu Feringghi, Tanjung Bungah, Langkawi, Mersing and the rest, but in my (admittedly biased) mind, none of them hold a candle to the breathtaking beauty of Batu Buruk.
Matterhorn Beach and Old Memories
We began our little tour at Pantai Batu Burok 2, nicknamed Matterhorn Beach. This was where a group of misguided youths — ourselves included — tried the most horrid packet of menthol cigarettes for the first (and last) time.
Nearby stood the ruins of what was once a majestic complex of government quarters, where a friend used to live. Now it lies abandoned, a quiet reminder of how quickly time moves on. A shame, really.
Batu Buruk Proper
We then headed to Batu Buruk proper, and to our delight, we had the beach almost entirely to ourselves — no crowds, no triple parked cars, just the sea breeze and the sound of waves. It was a wonderfully peaceful Thursday afternoon.
And of course, no visit here would be complete without keropok lekor on the beach. We spent a good half hour doing just that, enjoying the simple pleasure of being back where so many childhood memories were made.
A Daily Ritual
We would return to this beach every single day for the entire duration of our stay in Kuala Terengganu. Such is my affinity — and my lifelong bond — with this magnificent stretch of coastline.
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📍 Locations:
Pantai Batu Burok 2 - https://goo.gl/maps/5X9n5ZLo6o2f6XE79
Pantai Batu Burok - https://goo.gl/maps/p6gYrfcYeT6HpCWZ7
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