The beguiling secrets of Pantai Merdeka

By TUNKU SHAHARIAH
Photos editing by Malaxi.com

MANY people are aware of the splendour of Langkawi and its azure blue sea but few know the beguiling secrets of the white sandy beach at Pantai Merdeka on mainland Kedah.

The kilometre-long stretch of sandy beach is the only seaside in mainland Kedah.

This charming and scenic beach is shaded by tall swaying casuarinas and coconut trees and is an ideal spot for visitors to stop by for a picnic, or just to relax and gaze at the sea to unwind from the day’s stresses.

About 25kin from Sungai Petani, it is also a popular seaside holiday destination for locals and domestic tourists from the northern states.

Facilities include chalets, a rest house, camping site, swimming pool, restaurant, hawker site, beach bazaar and public restrooms.

For those with a taste for some island marooning and island-hopping, there is a cluster of three islands off Yan district near Kota Kuala Muda. They are Pulau Bunting, Pulau Song Song and Pulau Bidan.

The waters off these, uninhabited offshore islands are ideal for snorkelling, scuba diving and fishing. Or, visitors can take a dip in the sea to check out the lovely corals. They can also check out the jungle tracks on the untapped islands.

The local boatmen with their sampan docked at the beach area are readily available to ferry visitors to the islands.

For water-sports enthusiasts, water-skiing, kayaking and sailing are also popular along the stretch of coastal water.

The beach at Pantai Merdeka is also surrounded by verdant green hills from which flows cool mountain air, making it ideal for picnicking and relaxing.

For those who like to savour the delights of fresh seafood, take a boat-ride across Pantai Merdeka to the fishing village of Tanjung Dawai.

There, the enterprising villagers are famed for their ikan bakar and air assam. Also available at reasonable prices are fresh crabs, prawns, stingray, ikan kembong, pomfret
and cuttlefish.

Tanjung Dawai is also famed for homemade belacan (prawn paste), processed anchovies of various sizes and quality, and dried cuttlefish and prawns.

For an insight into the fishing village lifestyle, visitors can take a 10-minute boatride to Telok Nipah and Kampung Pulau Sayak.

Edit by www.Malaxi.com