Surya Rakit @Tasik Kenyir - A Lovely Malaysian Holiday Afloat With Mother Nature

Living On The Amazing "Rakit" at Tasik Kenyir, Malaysia's Haven for Fishing and Largest Man-made lake in South East Asia.

Or... A Piece Of Relaxing Heaven For City Dwellers

Come and Just Appreciate Life ...

18 Feb 2014 - Just back to Kuala Lumpur for two days and already i miss the cool night air, a million stars, the zero existence of traffic and pure fresh air and scenic boat rides and waterfall dunking and sumptuous meals of fish,veggies and chicken by doting operators and the list of magical experience is quite endless and differs from one to the other....so i thought i present a pictorial essay here so you can may have a glimpse of this "Heaven on Earth". 

By the way, anglers will have a tale or two to share, too...
The fishing here is quite rewarding. There's the elusive "Ghost Fish" aka Marbled Goby aka Soon Hock which lucky anglers do catch from under the rakit. The fierce, powerful Snakehead "Toman" who couldn't resist the bait of the baby catfish (such is their feuding history through the years) and other gems of a catch like the Belida (fishing season July to August), Temoleh, Siakap, Kelah, Lampan Jawa, Beras. More photos on fishing victories will be coming up soon taken from a triumphant friend's album so do drop by again once in a while...;-).Me, i'm just the holidaymaker!

(Watch this space for Fishing Achievements and that Huge Frog...a favourite and prized delicacy in Asian cuisines.)

For the full effect and to appreciate tranquility with all her intimate embrace, you just have to make that trip.

How to Get To Surya Rakit,Tasik Kenyir

Surya Rakit does not have an address. Well, perhaps you can say it is along the banks of  Tasik Besar.

The best way to make your way here is to call either one for the operators and they will give you directions.

(See contact numbers at base of this blog)

For an idea where this place is, (it can be quite tricky for the first-timer) head towards Tasik Kenyir, Terengganu. From Kuala Lumpur, take the East Coast Expressway up to Jabor. Pass the endmost toll and head for the road that says Bukit Besi. You will be on the Jerangau trunk road.This is a 115km stretch where you'll end up on the expressway to Kuala Berang. You'll be passing the town of Kuala Berang (there is an expressway under construction from here and down south to meet the East Coast Expressway at Jabor but methinks this will only be ready in 2 years time). After the town, you'll pass small Kampungs like Kuala Telemung, Kuala Peng. From Kuala Peng, it is another 5 kms before you come to a major intersection. At this major intersection where the future expressway link lies unconstructed still, turn left and head for Tasik Kenyir, Pengkalan Gawi. You can get your icepacks and snacks from Kuala Peng. 

After driving on for 26 kms,you can turn into this main Tasik Kenyir Gawi jetty for a quick look-around of the dam area. Come back out to the main road, turn left after this junction (this is the fringe area for phone signals so make all those calls here) and head on further along the main trunk road for about 24 kms. 

The road will be winding yet pleasant and after 24 kms, you will see a bridge over the lake in the distance.Before coming to this bridge, you'll see swathes of Tasik Kenyir on your left which means you are getting nearer. In the distance, you can see this bridge looming. DO NOT CROSS THIS BRIDGE or you would have missed the turning to your right to a gravel road. You can see some signboards at the roadside. Latest news is that there is a huge steel gate erected here in readiness of Tasik Kenyir being gazetted as a duty-free zone like Pulau Tioman or Langkawi.

Trundle on the road for about 500 metres and you come to a clearing for cars to park.. Well, this is still not Surya Rakit although you will find one here. Head on straight to a road further into the bushes for about 200 metres and you come to a riverbank. (Ref: Surya Rakit as seen from the distance is featured in one of the photos here)

Here, you can horn or flash your headlights (at night) so the boatman can hear you. I did something crazy a couple of times. I screamed the boatman's name DIIIIIIIIIN! ... well, it worked. Sleeping monkeys won't be too pleased, i know. Sorry!

Always let the operator know the estimated time of your arrival so he'll watch out for you. Park your car here and unload at the banks. Don't worry, your car is quite safe here... fingers crossed, no jaga kereta fellas to harass you...

So i hope this helps you to find Surya Rakit.... Do read my earlier blogs for an idea of life without wi-fi, phone calls and at times, current electrical shutdown for a couple of hours.... no, you won't collapse in fits, scream in fear, undergo withdrawal symptoms and holler for Mama.... we fussy rat packs from Kuala Lumpur went, survived and without fail.always look forward to our next trip. There's a mini waterfall nearby. Ask about this place and at the right time of the year (the water levels shifts about 30 feet due to its dam levels), why... you may have your very own jacuzzi ala Naturalle! Seems there is a second dam being built up the expressway and if you need to make phone calls here... Maxis and U-mobile signals are superb here and there is a convenience store for all your necessities, even beer. (Only 8kms as you turn right from the steel gate.) Civilization is slowly catching up to this place... sigh, is that a good thing for those who want to get away from it all sometimes? Sometime in 2015, there will be internet access for sure and thus, respite from urban life would have lost its lustre slightly... at least for diehard escapaders.

Okay, okay.. for now, there's Astro cable TV here so you won't think you're so remotely distanced and living out a personal episode of Man vs Wild. I caught movie reruns of Avengers and Transformers all over again on HBO...caught up with world news on CNN,BBC, followed some series and am definitely not a frog under a coconut shell in the comfort of this little paradise enclave!

Think of the chilly nights, springwater as you bathe, rain that pours so majestically, scrumptious food with a nice, tasty fish at hand and all the tea, coffee and Milo you wanna have... good sit-down toilets, a lounge and a wooden pontoon where you can laze in a bamboo chair and gaze at stars with a cold beer in hand (of course, get your booze in yourself,please and also, no pork allowed). Clear your head without cleaning out your wallet, see the rakit's Wall of Fame for happy visitors' exploits and big fish catches and know that the bigger ones are always "those that got away...".

Rakit Operators :

Ang  012 9644 555

Khairi 017 9078 674

Note: if you can't contact one, try the other. If you can't get both, that means they are at the rakit where there is no phone signal for now. No fear, leave a message or SMS and they will call you once they receive it. Real friendly, nice and easygoing folks, these...

Cuti-cuti Malaysia (Go holiday in Malaysia) So affordable for a net-ful of memories!
                                          Surya Rakit (Inclusive of meals)
                      3 days / 2 nites: RM380 nett per pax  (Ringgit Malaysia)
                  4 days / 3 nites: RM480 nett per pax  (Ringgit Malaysia)

I wish you a most relaxing journey,escapade and commune with Nature as your charming all-time host. Enjoy!

Visit Malaysia Year 2014...
make a date with Tasik Kenyir here!

Just A Quote:

" When you can be still enough to admire, 
      when you are reasonably alert to notice the details, 
         when you choose to treasure what most will take for granted, 
            then you would have cherished a generous piece of a beautiful life."  T. Leng