After numerous delays, we're finally glad to introduce this new revamped website. It's taken a lot longer than planned, but we hope you enjoy the new look and hopefully also find it easier to read and navigate. All the information has also been updated for 2012. There's more pictures in larger sizes with a completely new Gallery section which uses the Fancybox lightbox tools. In the Resorts page, we've also added links to TripAdvisor reviews since we don't actually review resorts here.
Redang updates
North pasir panjang seen from Sari Pacifica resort.
New road at Pasir Panjang.
Part of the reason for the lack of updates over the last year has simply been the fact we have not visited Redang for sometime. That changed when we finally managed a visit in July last year after an absence of about 2 years (see our Redang 2011 trip diary). We found that much of the physical beauty of Redang remained unchanged but the social mix of visitors had changed considerably with large numbers from one particular country, who brought with them their own brand of social habits and behaviour which sometimes didn't go down too well with other guests.
Two resorts have also rebranded themselves. Berjaya Redang now goes by the new name of Taaras Beach & Spa Resort. Wisana Resort appears to have upgraded and now call themselves Amannaggapa Resort, which is not just a lot harder to spell correctly but is quite a mouthful to pronounce compared to the old name. We also visited Sari Pacifica which had opened for business during our absence from Redang, and found it pleasant though service could be improved greatly. Redang Pelangi Resort now manages and runs Ayu Mayang resort located next door. Redang Beach Resort had expanded with new guest rooms built next to Laguna. Redang Bay had moved their cafeteria upstairs, with the ground floor converted to recreational space.
A new 1.5km road that runs from Laguna's jetty behind all the resorts on Pasir Panjang now provides resorts with a means of transporting visitors and supplies without going through the beach, while allowing visitors to walk or jog from one end of Pasir Panjang to the other without getting sand in their shoes.
Berjaya Air has started operating their new ATR-72 aircraft to Redang while Firefly has stopped flying the Singapore to Kuala Terengganu route, so visitors from Singapore will find it less convenient to fly.
Corals, particularly those in the shallow reef areas such as around Kerengga and the housereefs at Shark Bay and Tanjung Mak Cantik, continue to disappear with more dead or dying coral observed. Perhaps the increase in ocean temperatures in 2010 which led to some snorkelling sites in Redang closed to visitors may have been a particularly large contributor, causing corals to bleach and die. The large number of visitors and snorkellers have also no doubt contributed to their demise, especially when irresponsible visitors step or trample on coral, ignoring snorkelling guides who tell them to get off which we personally witnessed a number of times. With every visit, we see coral reefs that are a shadow of what they used to be. On the bright side, we did observe many baby black tip sharks in the waters in front of Redang Kalong Resort, reminding us of what Shark Bay used to be.
Latest trip diaries
Manta ray in Nusa Penida, Bali.
3 new trip diaries have been added to the Diary section.
Tango joined me and my regular group of divers to Bali in Sep 2010 for some fantastic diving in Tulamben and Nusa Penida where we encountered manta rays but failed to see a single mola-mola (sunfish) despite shivering in the cold waters in Crystal Bay.
Then just before university term began for Timothy and Sarah, my family and I went off to Redang in July 2011 after an absence of 2 years. It was a trip that left me a little disappointed both above and under the water.
Finally, after more than a year of staying above water, I finally donned my scuba gear again and took the plunge over the New Year in Dauin in Dec 2011 in Negros Oriental, Philippines. We did muck dives around Dauin, enjoyed the pristine corals around Apo island and encountered my first whalesharks at Oslob, near Sumilon island in Cebu. It was a fantastic way to end 2011, especially since we encountered not one, but three whalesharks ranging in length from 3m to 8m at touching distances. I was truly awed by these gentle giants.