This cute little village lies on the east coast of West Malaysia, about an hour away by road north of Kuantan. It is a favourite with backpackers because of cheap accomodation(about RM30 to 50 a day for chalets, RM 20 for rooms, and less for dormitory style accomodation.) The atmosphere is pretty laid back, and does not appear too commercialized like Koh Samui or Koh Pangan. Food is slightly expensive though compared to say, Kuantan.
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| The chalets are small but quite decent by backpackers' standards. Air conditioned units cost about RM10 more per day. If you are driving, then Ranting Resorts and Cherating Mini Motel allow you to park your car in their grounds. We stayed at Ranting Resort, because we felt their chalets were more well spaced out then the rest. |
 | For those interested, batik painting is available near Matahari Beach Huts. Here you see some travellers trying out their creations. The person on the left in the picture is taking some melted wax from the pot above the blue gas cylinder. |
 | We came across this trishaw(three wheeled bicycle) by the beach. In it were two large bags of used aluminium cans. The owner must be a recycler who goes around picking up discarded soft drink cans for recycling purposes. Indeed, the beach was decently clean when we were there. |
 | Just besides the beach in the village is a stand of casuarina trees. The picture shows the sea through the trees. |
 | This is the main(and only) road through the village. It's a bit like a one horse town, quiet and unobstrusive. |
 | This beachside cafe(Blues Cafe) is quite popular with travellers for drinks and light snacks(pancakes and toast). For more substantial fare, you will have to try the larger restaurants along the main road. Prices of fish dishes in Cherating village are very reasonable, cheaper than Cukai(Kemaman) or Kuantan. Can't say the same for other dishes, though. |
 | When the tide is out, there is only sand, and more sand. The sea is very gently sloping and you have to walk a fair distance to swim in decent depth. A few years ago, a friend of ours went fishing in these parts. He casted his line from the beach, watched his bait and sinker fly out in the air for a distance, and then landed in only 6 inches of water. |
 | This is the Cherating river that flows through the village. It is possible to take a river cruise in the morning upriver to get a really close look at the mangrove trees that abound there.(You need to book a river cruise through a local tour agent along the village main road) |
TURTLE WATCHING
The green turtles come up to Cendor Beach nearby to lay their eggs at night. To watch this you will again have to book with the tour agents along the village main road(there are 2 agents). The turtles normally come up around 10 p.m. at night. What happens is that you are supposed to wait in your hotel or chalet at around 10 p.m. If a turtle is spotted, the tour agent will come and fetch you at your chalet and take you by van to Cendor Beach(10 minutes away by van). The system was, you only pay if there are turtles.
