Merang
Merang is the gateway to the world famous archipelago of Redang islands. The beach, although not the most famous in the east coast, its long sandy beach and stretches of tall coconut trees and sparkling crystal clear sea water is somehow making Pantai Merang a good stop to enjoy the sea breeze before proceeding to next destination. There are some cheap chalets run by the local offering basic accommodation if you later decided to spend a night or so in this tranquil beach.
During the 1970′s and early 80′s, there were two places in Terengganu where travellers would stopover. Merang and Marang, two quaint coastal kampungs where they could get away from the city and from impersonal motels and hotels. The only places to stay in the kampungs were in the homes of villagers. Soon word got around, the villages were circled on the maps and notebooks of backpackers as a must stopover.
Not to be confused with names, Merang is the take-off point for visitors to P.Redang, P.Lang Tengah, P.Bidong and the other islands off this part of the coast. And Marang, is the take-off point for P.Kapas which is much further down the coast. With recent activity in the likes of coaches loaded with tourists roaring in and out, the village has surprisingly retained much of its originality and still exudes the tranquil beauty that once travellers flocked to experience. Scattered around the village, are a number of cheap chalets.
As Pantai Merang gets out of the ghastly shadow of Pantai Marang, the proliferation of medium- and high-class resorts start to stamp its mark on this long stretch of beautiful beach. Hospitality establishments such as The Aryani and Sutra Beach Resort have been adorning its white sandy beaches for many years, and as of recently, Merang Suria Resort had joined the fray to capture a slice of stopover tourists heading to the popular islands off the coast of Terengganu. It is not uncommon for island-bound visitors originating from different parts of Malaysia and Singapore to stay overnight at the many beach resorts of Pantai Merang before appropriately heading to the islands from Merang Jetty.
Near to the confluence of Sungai Merang and the South China Sea, a massive breakwater has been erected to regulate the depth of the river estuary. The construction has resulted in a man-made lagoon fronting the camping ground on the beach. In the so-called public park area, the beach is decidedly beautiful with swaying coconut trees and shady casuarina trees that produce whistling sounds when the wind is blowing strongly.
A good spot for a visit is the Merang Observatory Station (or Balai Cerap for Universiti Darul Iman). The place looks like a planetarium and is actually used for sky-gazing to determine the beginning of the many special months of Islamic calendar. As the observatory is perched on top of a hill overlooking the vast expanse of Pantai Merang, the view can be considered spectacular.