We started the day early and headed for Chukai town in Kemaman for breakfast at the famous Hai Peng kopitiam. It is fair to say that Hai Peng is as synonymous to Kemaman as Kemaman is well-known for this famous kopitiam. In short, it will just not do being in this part of the woods and not making a trip to this kopitiam for its cup of coffee and kaya-spread toasted bread. Back in the days when our family was based in Kertih, about 20 minutes drive away from Chukai, we used to patronize this kopitiam every weekend without fail. So you see, apart from the delicious coffee and savoury toasts, the place has a nostalgic value to us.
Hai Peng kopitiam... the legend continues.
Hai Peng's famous coffee...
... and kaya toasted bread.
A family photo to reminisce in the future...
My sister and brother in law had to leave for KL that day, a day earlier than the rest of us. My sister apparently had a doctor’s appointment, and given that it was difficult to make an appointment with him in the first place, my sister couldn’t afford to reschedule it and had to cut her vacation short. It was just too bad really, as our entourage now had become smaller rather considerably. And for Insyirah, without her partner in crime Hannah around, there was just a little less mischief for her to do.
Another Shopping Extravaganza...
... and by that, you know that I was practically clueless as to what to do until it ended. My mum and wifey were the perpetrators this time, and as was the case when in KT 2 days ago, I was tasked to keep Insyirah company until the ladies were through with their shopping. Apparently The Store mall in Chukai has a rich selection of batiks in the small shops of its basement level and from what I gathered from the ladies, they were bargains compared to KL prices. Really this was not an area of my expertise and we left the ladies to their shopping for what seem hours. We later had lunch at Pizza Hut and was back at our hotel by 3pm.
Another day at the beach… and swimming!
Excited by the swimming experience the day before, Insyirah was very much looking forward to another session at the pool. I managed to steal a nap at the hotel after we came back from Chukai, but Insyirah was already babbling about going to the pool the moment we got back, and was getting her beach apparatus out already. By close to 4pm, she was already tugging on my pants persistently, telling me to get up and bring her to the pool.
All set and ready to go again!
DD with his new kite!
We went to the beach first however. Wifey guided Insyirah playing in the water where the water meets the beach (what do you call this part of the beach anyway?), just like the last time we were here in 2006. Of course, being 2 years older now, there was more exuberance in the little girl as she ran around in her swim suit and pink goggles. It was very important to keep our eyes on her all the time, as she was attempting to go further into the sea in her excitement. My brother and I had another session of kite flying at the same time, although I had to keep an eye on both Insyirah and wifey at the same time. The wind was rather tame that afternoon however, and although I managed to get my owl shaped kite flying to its max height, it felt a bit lame. And of course, I missed my airplane kite. DD bought himself a mermaid-shaped kite at the amenities shop in front of the hotel, and a cool kite it was.
Mother and daughter...
... running about and playing.
We later went to the pool again, and Insyirah was once again in her elements. It was hard trying to get her out of the pool once she got in, as she kept on insisting that “I want to swim” every time we told her it was time to get out. We only managed to get her out of the pool when she informed us “I am hungry Abah, I want to eat”. By that time, yours truly was also feeling the same!
Ikan baker (grilled fish) for dinner!
The famous Awang Ikan Bakar...
I had been wanting to take my whole family to this ikan bakar restaurant that wifey, Insyirah and I patronized 2 years before, on the recommendation of the hotel’s staff back then. To me, a vacation is not complete until you’ve patronized and tried the local food and delicacies, complete with the setting! This place we went to is located just off the main road between our Kuala Terengganu and Kuantan, and is about 10 minutes drive from the hotel. To the daily commuter of this route, the place might not bear any significance, located along a rather dark stretch of the road. But holiday-goers seem to come to the place in flocks.
The food was excellent, as it also was 2 years ago. The only thing is, you would have to bear with the time they take to prepare it. We should have taken the hint of the wait that was to come when we read the sign that was hung above the entrance to the kitchen that said, translated into English, “Thank you for your patience to wait”. We made our orders just before 9pm, and only got our food close to 10pm. My tummy was rumbling and tumbling ala Winnie the Pooh by that time, and I bet so were the others. What is worse than having to wait is having to wait with a hungry stomach. I noticed some children at the other tables had either fallen asleep in wait, or crying out of hunger and boredom from waiting.
A sign of things to come... we should have taken the hint.
Well, the place wasn’t exactly McDonald’s where parents could just let their children loose playing at the children’s corner while enduring the wait. They couldn’t let them loose either for fear they might stray to the main road a couple of metres away from the restaurant. One kid was actually throwing tantrums by kicking and bringing down his chair again and again in boredom (and probably wanting to go somewhere else already), and the father patiently brought the chair up again. I salute the father’s patience, although I did notice the mother’s nerves looked like they could snap anytime.
After what seem a zillion years, the food finally arrived. And it sure was worth the wait!
Lucky for us, Insyirah was well behaved and all she did was dragged me all over the restaurant to entertain herself. By the time the food came, Insyirah fell asleep on my lap and we savoured the delicious food we had ordered, which all of us felt was well worth the wait. Although we also made a note to ourselves, we should probably either come earlier the next time or place our orders well in advance before showing up. Dad took the extra initiative of getting the restaurant’s phone number to make the advance call should we ever come here again in the future.
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