Full Moon @ East Coast, Malaysia.

Kuala Dungun, Terengganu. How the moonlight serves as a guide for hatchlings.

You can smell the saltiness in the air.

It’s full moon tonight.

The moonlight simmers on the sea.

We have been waiting for this night.

Even the waves were gently sweeping the shores in anticipation.

Highlight of the trip.

We finished our briefing. The guides told us earlier, that the eggs have hatched. The hatchlings are ready to be released.

We were asked to walk another 500m away from the hatches.

With the moonlight guiding us, we proceed along the beach towards the selected spot. This spot will be the place where we would release the baby turtles, also known as hatchlings.

There was an excited hush among the group.

The bright moonlight is crucial for these hatchlings. It will guide them as they take their first steps in searching for their new home.

The guides tip the hatch box slowly. One by one, the baby turtles raced across the beach sand, flipping their little legs. They too, could smell the sea.

We cheered them on waving our goodbyes as they pass us.

We saw them safely making their first swim. The gentle waves carried them along, towards the shining moonlight.

I clasped my hand and whispered a short prayer for their safety.

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The Lang Tengah, Turtle hatchery at Tanjung Jara Resort is located close to the resort restaurant. We waited till the 3rd night before we were told that the eggs have hatched.

The Lang Tengah Turtle Watch is a project started by the founder, Hayati Mokhtar, with WWF support and the local Terengganu state government officials. The cozy hut set up by the beach, offers the opportunity to discover and learn about the dangers for these turtles face. Unfortunately, in Malaysia, turtle eggs are still sold in local markets.

More information can be obtained from http://www.langtengahturtlewatch.org/tanjong-jara/

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About the location.

Kuala Dungun, is an easy 4 hours drive from our capital city, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We took the East Coast Expressway and exit at Dungun toll.

Tanjung Jara Resort is 8 miles off Jalan Dungun. Located in Dungun, Terengganu on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It is well known for its beautiful sandy beaches and ‘kampung style’ villas. The resort resembles a small traditional Malay village surrounded by a lush rain forest.

The sound of the sea waves lapping the beach greets us as we approach. The sun was right above our heads. It was scorching and humid.

But we were eager to be at the beach. We wanted to gaze out at the ocean for as long as we can. We sat in an empty cabana and watch life stroll by at the beach. It was a beautiful day.

We took many walks; we watched sunrise, ate by the beach, and watch little crabs climb up the sand to lay their eggs.

We felt our lungs fill with the fresh sea breeze. We felt the sun on our skin, the sand burning hot underneath us as we walked in the mid-noon sun.

It felt so good.

Life felt at peace. It felt safe again.

A delicious discovery.

Nasi Dagang is a beautiful local dish.

It is a rice dish steamed with coconut milk. It comes with a delicious fish curry, together with pickled cucumber.

Ours came wrapped in a banana leaf. The aroma from the little packet was simply divine.

Feeling hungry, we mashed the rice and the fish gravy, making sure the rice is mixed through with the tangy, rich sauce.

The first bite of the rice was heavenly. We could taste the sweetness from the coconut rice, top with a slight sour acid taste from the curry & the cucumber.

A simple dish, but it leaves you with a lasting impression.