It's virtually inevitable that you'll pass through the town of Kuantan at some stage, since it's the region's transport hub, lying at the junction of Routes 2 (which runs across the Peninsula to KL), 3 and 14. Kuantan's one real sight is the stunning Masjid Negeri on Jalan Makhota, boasting an impressive pastel exterior (green for Islam, blue for peace and white for purity). Kuantan's main sightseeing attraction is the beach of Teluk Cempedak. There are also other scenic beaches popular with vacationers in the town's vicinity, such as Batu Hitam, Balok, and Cherating. The Kuantan area also produces handicrafts and batik. If you have the time to spare, perhaps a visit to the State Mosque (Masjid Negeri) will be interesting. Kuantan is also famous for its fried fish crackers (called keropok) and salted fish, where the fish are marinated mainly with salt and left out to dry in the sun for days. Kuantan's salted fish is a famous delicacy but may prove to be an acquired taste to some. The main shopping facilities in Kuantan includes Berjaya Megamall, Kuantan Parade, Kuantan Plaza, and Teruntum. The only 5-star hotel in Kuantan is the Holiday Village of Malaysia while the 4-star hotels include MS Garden Hotel, Mariana Beach Resort and The Legend Resort. 5-star resorts are often chosen by foreign visitors. The more popular ones include Hyatt Regency, De Rhu Beach Resort, Cherating Holiday Villa Beach Resort, Swiss-Garden Resort, Impiana Resort, Club Med Cherating, and the Legend Resort. There are a few residential areas in Kuantan including the Air Putih, Bukit Sekilau, Alor Akar and Galing suburbs. |
