Haleeva Sunshine Hotel

Ok, this will be my first time to write a review on a hotel.
I found out reviews are very useful after I read it from tripadvisor.co.uk.
I would like to pay compliments to Haleeva Sunshine Hotel at Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand.
The manager, Sun, is a friendly guy. He speaks good English. So do his staffs, use understandable English. As I say, you don’t have to worry whether you can speak Thai or not at place like Ao Nang, Krabi.
We felt warm and comfortable staying at Haleeva Hotel.

Being a traveling student, of course we want everything economical and within our budget. We rent the room with RM50 per pax (RM100 per room for standard room). And it is worthwhile.
Despite being rated as 3 stars hotel, but the service, cleanliness and politeness of the staff are 5 stars in standard.
The location is very strategic. It is about 5-10 minutes walk to the beach. Along the walk, you will find stores, restaurants and massaging&spa centres.
The 7-11 24 hours store is just within 1 minute walk.
There is a motorcycles rental shop at the hotel’s front door. We rent a bike for RM20 per day. Not far away (within 30s of ride), there is a fuel station where you can top up the fuel for RM3.50 per L. Honestly, it is very cheap if you want to travel to Krabi Town or explore Ao Nang/Krabi Town by using motorcycle.
Anyway, if you don’t have any idea, there are tourist information centres within 1 minute walk. You can get free pamphlets or map of Ao Nang. The hotel itself provides packages, tours, and information to customers. We made our booking to Phi Phi island through the counter.

Sun, the manager, like his name, has bright characteristic. He is a very helpful and informative guy. He would recommend us what restaurant to go, where to visit and even spend time to draw map for us. In case we get lost, we can even call him for help. He even took effort to remember our names. We have 6 people and he could remember all of us!

His staffs also showed hospitality.
Will definitely recommend this hotel to my friends.
Next time can stay at room with Jacuzzi~~>-<

Motorbike rental service just one step from the front door of the hotel.

Kelantan Trip 2

At only one glance, you will think this is just another typical Chinese temple in Kelantan...
But wait, don't be fooled...

This is actually a MOSQUE, yes, a Muslim mosque, called Beijing Mosque at Rantau Panjang, Kelantan.


This mosque is very unique in its way. It is a fusion of Chinese and the Islamic architecture.

Even the gate resembles the Chinese style.

Close up for the gates.

Etiquettes when the entering the vicinity/compound of the mosque: proper attire covering the aurat(of course it includes the genitalia. In Kelantan, wearing appropriately conservative means you are suppose to cover your arms/forearms, and preferably above the ankles), courtesy and good manners...etc...

In Kelantan, there is no dress code or restriction for non-Muslim. But, being a conservative state, people will stare and gaze at you if you are wearing too inappropriately exposed. People always have misconception, that non-Muslim women in Kelantan are required to wear tudung(veil). In fact, by using common sense, there is no such rule.

There are many(20+) temples at Tumpat, they are greatly influenced by Thailand.

The Standing Buddhas...The Buddha at the front is smaller, whereas the standing Buddha at the back stands at 49 foot...

Wat=Temple



The Dragon Boat Temple, or Wat Maisuwankiri, is the most impressive to me so far, for its spectacular carvings on the pillars, or precisely the whole building, is finely and creatively carved. The above board says : This temple is located at Kampung Bukit Tanah in Tumpat. It is said to have been concstructed around 400 years ago by expert craftsmen from Thailand...Cost: RM300,000. Width:4 hectares. It hosts a number of celebration like Wesak Day and Lunar Chinese New Year...

The interior and exterior of the building is fully engraved.

What's so special about the carvings? They are all "3D" carvings...you can feel the buddha bulging out...

All the pillars are decorated with the Buddha carvings, and painted in gold colour.

This was not the first time I went to Dragon Boat Temple, but this was the first time I looked thoroughly to its extensively engraved walls and pillars, and I was amazed. How much time the craftsmen spent to produce this breathtaking carvings?

It would be nice if I have a DSLR camera...A typical digital camera is not good enough to mimic our vision.

And this is where the temple gots its name...The Dragon Boat...



The Sleeping Buddha Temple, Wat Phothivihan.

The lion? sculpture at Sleeping Buddha Temple (Wat Phothivihan)

This sleeping Buddha measures 40m long, is said to be the biggest statue in South-East-Asia.

There are 12 different Buddha statues which represent 12 zodiacs at Sleeping Buddha Temple. Posing with my zodiac...TIGER...haum...

There is story drawn at the base of the big Buddha sculpture.

Thousand hands Guan Yin sculpture（千手观音). I like sculpture with bright colour~~

Wat Machimmaram. The Sitting Buddha.

The enormous Buddha sitting on top of the temple.

Again, carved picture depicting story and journey of enlightenment of Buddha all along the wall interiorly. Above: Buddha saw people being tortured cruelly in the hell.

Brilliantly coloured.

People living in the hell, pleading to be forgiven...from being cooked in the hot pot...

Dont know what the picture trying to tell.with naked humans climbing on the tree full with thorns..Dogs and eagle are trying to hunt them...maybe it means this world is fulled of ppl trying to torture another by forcing them with dire situation.or it's human basic instinct to survive despite physically hurt ..or simply means punishments for the wrong things they did in the past?.......

Kelantan Trip

Ok, it's weird for a Kelantanese to write a post entitled "Kelantan trip", but honestly, I don't think I know Kelantan deep enough .And if my friends had not visited me, I wouldn't know there are places that actually we can visit, in contrary to the fact that I always tell my friends when they ask about Kelantan: There is nothing much you can see in Kelantan...

In fact, being a state at the northern border of Malaysia with Sg Golok stretching in between Malaysia and Thailand, our cultures are so enriched and blended in a special way (that not everyone can accept). Moreover, Kelantan dialect is so special, when you speak in Kelantan dialect when non-Kelantaneses are around, they hardly get what you are talking about. But to tell the truth, I am so ashamed that I grade my Kelantan dialect as band 1 or 2 only...not even a pass.haha...

And now, I start to learn about Kelantan. I start to explore it with my friends. I hope it is not too late, by the way.




The Bradley Steps near the Police Station of Kuala Krai, which is used to measure the level of flood, hence warning people about the imminent floods...

After going down from the Bradley Steps, what you can see is the Kelantan River, and the floating houses on Kelantan River. Hm, the water looks like teh tarik right...

The Bradley Steps also serve as a platform/small jetty to connect the UK--Ulu Kelantan to Kuala Krai main town. Passangers are seen moving from the boat to the steps.

Next, we headed to Dabong, which is approximately 80km from Kuala Krai main town.

There, we visited the Gua Ikan Recreational Park. It's a limestone cave with river stream flowing along it. But during April, the weather is so hot, the stream become so small.

There are few more caves like Gua Keris, Gua Pagar where you need to hire tour guide to bring you inside.

4 lassies in front of the cave.


The limestone mount. We didn't go inside the caves, as we don't have a tour guide.



This is the gem of Kelantan...The Air Terjun Jelawang(Jelawang Waterfall), falls from a height of 303m, is said to be the highest waterfall in South-East-Asia. From far, we could see the staggering stream of water gushing down from Stong Mountain. Despite April and May are the hottest months, water is still flowing down. We thought the water will dry up, none of us actually bring clothes for changing, so we missed the chance to bath in the water.



Jelawang Waterfall is not as polluted as Lata Rek Waterfall yet, the water is very clear and cool.

Jelawang Waterfall is located at Mount Stong National Park. Mount Stong stands 1,433m tall. You need to hire tour guide to bring you up to the top. It takes around ~3 hours to get to the top. And you need to spend one night on top of the mountain. The price is RM110 per pax(price includes a tour guide, an overnight stay in a chalet at the top).


The Resort's main office.

A guy doing stunt by jumping into the water from quite a significant height...

Another reminder, they play at their own risk...

A notice saying that so far 9 people were drowned in the waterfall. Horrifying number. The water can be as deep as 5m. Play at your own risk. But the cool water is so so tempting...


Stong Hill Resort, officiated by Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tengku Anis, the Kelantan Queen,1994.



A sample of the resort's chalet.

For further information, you can contact :
Mr Azmi at +609 9199898 .
Resort :+609 9362000
+609 9362002
+609 9360001
Fax :+609 9361201
Email : gsspresort@gmail.com
Facebook :pages/Gunung-Stong-State-Park-Resort.

To be continued...