May 2016

Well, this year, we are going to Wisana Village in Redang. A boutique, lavish and secluded piece of heaven. Wisana is not a big resort, it has few rooms that would accommodate 30 people in one time. They provided several packages and accomodation type.

We took the all inclusive package costs around RM570 per pax. It includes:

- 2 nights Accommodation in Superior Chalet (2 Queen Beds)

- Return boat ride to Merang Jetty

- Full board meals

- 3 snorkeling trips

- 1 hiking trip

We drove from KL to Kerteh and spend the night at CB's place. Initially we would want to take the 10 am boat but due to CB and D did not bring their sea sick pills, we postpone to the 1pm boat instead. The management staff was very understanding and very accommodating right from the first email, which is a bonus.

After having breakfast, we head of to Merang which takes 1.5 hour drive from Kerteh. Stopped by Burger King to buy light lunch. There is a new jetty in Merang where all the boat operator to Redang and Lang Tengah operates. The parking free was around RM20 for 2 nights. We boarded the same boat with a Singaporean family who is staying at the upscale Taaras Beach Resort.

Blue waters

The chalet

How you can say No to this?

Wisana is located at a protected bay of Redang. We stayed in Laguna last year and we found out that there is no access by foot to the Long Beach. From the boat, Wisana was very glorious, with it's clear blue water and zero crowd. Almost like a deserted island fantasy you have in mind.

Our room was more than enough. We had 2 queen beds, a/c and fan as well as the amenities. It was clean, comfortable and everyone in this resort has a beach view for no extra fee. The snorkelling trip was fun. They actually bring us to a private island called Pasir Mak Kepit. There was no one here except us and there were a lot of fish! We also get to explore a cave near by. The boat man was vigilant to avoid the crowds. Not once, we were in a crowded places. The last snorkelling spot was not the best, as there was strong current at the Pulau Ekor Tebu. Redang has the best snorkelling spots. Unfortunately we did not go to the Marine Park or the Long Beach. We did however, see the Laguna boats drift by our side.

Snorkeling trip

The cave

Look at the corals!

Fish

Myself and M decided to hike up the hill behind the resort. Well, review said it was easy climb for beginners. NO, IT IS NOT. Don't judge based on what you heard people. The entire journey was inclined, so if you have not hike before, do not do this. The jungle trekking took 30 minutes to the top. Well, I am not a climber and I struggled a bit. It was very slippery, so bring proper shoes and even hiking stick if you need to and WATER. There were a lot of leaves that made it very slippery. M almost slip on the way down and I hiked down looking like a crab. But the view.. Ooh, the magnificent million dollar view was worthwhile. You can see the whole Redang Island and it's neighbouring islands. So, beautiful.

The boulder next to the resort

Here's WHY YOU SHOULD STAY AT WISANA:

1. The privacy. A perfect place to unwind. I feel very relaxed and for the first time, it felt like a real vacation. Where you just do nothing and be amazed by the view. Not crowded, very quiet at night. It has a private island feel to it. We brought UNO card to kill our time.

2. The amazing view. Come on, where else can you have a patio where you can just stare and lost between the blue waters and the sound of waves with no interruptions?

3. The staff. Yes, they made you feel like family here. The staff are very friendly and they love to make jokes. They will accommodate everything to make your stay comfortable. The staff gave us a whole coconut from the coconut tree in front of the chalets.

4. The food. There is nothing better than a homemade food. Since the guest are in small groups, the food is really good. They serve local food with fresh seafood with a burst of flavour. Until today, I missed the Fried Kueh Teow I had in Wisana.

5. The beach. It has boulders where you can climb and the beach has gentle baby waves perfect for swimming. In the morning, you can actually spot a turtle who's a regular visitor of the beach. I can easily fool anyone by saying I'm in Maldives. 

7. Stargazing. Yes, because of less artificial light, you can clearly see the stars while sitting on the beach or lying down in the hammock.

8. Quick Getaway. A perfect weekend trip from the hassle of KL city. It does not costs a fortune to get a million dollar worth of vacation.

To Wisana team, thank you for making our stay memorable and I fell in love with Wisana the moment I stepped my foot on it's white sandy beach. I will definitely come again.