Pulai Desaru Beach Resort | Review | Johor

If you think 22km of beach fabulous, just wait till you have a taste of the watersports, kampung food, types of fruits, fireflies and crocodiles. Peggy Loh did.

“DADDY, did you bring my swimming suit?” The little girl’s petulant cry rose above the din in the busy lobby. Glancing in the direction of the voice, I found my view blocked by several corporate types looking smart in matching collared T-shirts, waiting together for group check-in.

The Pulai Desaru Resort and Spa

A van door clicked open and I turned to see a middle-aged Japanese couple alight. After getting their bags organised, they made gracious little bows to the helpful driver and headed for the reception desk.

Reaching for my tall cool drink, I enjoyed refreshing sips of fruity goodness as I studied the new arrivals at The Pulai Desaru Beach resort. They were so different but yet, all had one thing in common – they were here to relax and discover the many delights of Desaru!

The activities desk was another busy corner in the lobby. Guests were checking out the options for activities and excursions, discussing among themselves and making bookings for golf, sea sports, bicycle rentals and even extreme adventure sports.

Unlike them, all I wanted was to laze about. Safe behind a pair of sunshades, I headed for the beach. Armed with sunblock, a trashy novel and beach towels, a deck-chair facing the South China Sea under swaying casuarinas was the perfect place to chill out. After all, The Pulai Desaru Beach is a resort with an impressive 22km stretch of beautiful sandy beach.

The 22km stretch of white sandy beach.

The rhythm of rushing waves almost lulled me to sleep but the sound of laughter drew my attention to where a group of people were having great fun on their banana boat ride. The sea shimmered with reflected sunlight and I squinted to see kayaks and canoes with oars moving in tandem, expertly skimming the water.

Sambal & Coconut Water

I would have loved to laze around longer but a rumble from my tummy told me it was lunchtime. Back in the lobby, I was pleasantly surprised to find that my lunch companions included the earlier mentioned Japanese couple. We boarded a resort van to get to a kampung for a taste of village life.

Our guide gave an interesting commentary as we stopped to look at oil palms and rubber trees. After a demo, we tried our hand at rubber tapping.

For lunch, we would be guests at a family house where a simple home-cooked meal awaited — chicken curry, fried fish, vegetables, spicy sambal with white rice and fruit.

Stunning and beautiful beach.

The foreign tourists bravely tried unfamiliar tastes. To top off the meal, we were led to the backyard where freshly-plucked coconuts had been cut for us to enjoy the sweet refreshing drink and the smooth, white flesh!

Stunning Sunset

After lunch, I did what came naturally – take a snooze in the cool comfort of my room. My fourth floor room commanded a panoramic view of the sea and as dusk fell, it was sheer pleasure to watch the sun set with a stunning spectrum of changing colours!

Against the setting sun was the silhouette of a man wearing a toque and working at a grill near the beach. Perhaps it was my imagination but I could almost smell a delicious waft of barbecued meat carried along by the mild sea breeze.

Following my nose, I found a barbecue set up on the beach. On and around a few tables were lighted candles cleverly placed inside small paperbags to protect them from being blown out by the breeze!

Natural Light Show

After a delectable dinner, I was off to the riverside for a much anticipated firefly experience. The bumpy ride through an oil palm plantation ended at the jetty, already packed with busloads of people. We put on lifejackets, boarded the barge-like boat and sat on wooden benches.

The boatman-cum-guide gave a commentary on fireflies and its habitat. As the boat cruised along in the darkness, his assistant used a long pole with a dipper fastened at one end to splash water on trees at the side of the river. Immediately, thousands of frantic fireflies appeared as clouds of moving lights and the awestruck crowd gasped!

From Fruit To Fish

After so much excitement, we went back to the resort to wind down with a drink at Box 29 where a soloist provided soothing “live” entertainment.

The next morning I was reluctant to get out of my comfortable bed but the prospect of another exciting day persuaded me to start with a hearty buffet breakfast at Windows Café. Then it was off to the Desaru Fruit Farm, just a 10-minute drive away.

Our guide was full of information about the various seasonal and non-seasonal fruits and agricultural practices. From fruit to fowl and fish, the tour included a petting zoo, agriculture gallery, koi pond, honeybee apiary, herb and vegetable garden and finally, a tropical fruit treat with over 12 types of fresh fruit.

Crocodile Encounter

By then, I was ready to relax and indulge in a therapeutic session at the Pulai Spa. Surrounded by stimulating aromas, I surrendered myself to the therapist.

With mind and body rejuvenated, I joined a group of families with young children for a half hour’s drive to Teluk Sengat village. We stopped at Sengat Seafood Restaurant for a sumptuous meal before going to Crocodile World, said to be the largest crocodile farm in the country.

Though I was a little afraid, I was still keen to have a close encounter with these ancient creatures. While some of the oldest crocodiles were individually confined, others were grouped according to age and kept in concrete pens with high walls and safety railings. The sight of their huge, open jaws and sharp teeth was enough to draw deep respect for these reptiles.

How To Get To The Pulai Desaru Beach Resort

By road, just one and a half hour’s drive from Johor Baru city or Kulai. By ferry from Singapore: Only 25 minutes between Changi Ferry Terminal and Tanjung Belungkor with another 20-minute drive to the resort, and by ferry from Tanah Merah to Sebana Cove with a 30-minute drive to the resort.

For reservations, call 07-822 2222 or fax 07-822 2223.

Email: sales@thepulai.com.my
Website: www.thepulai.com.my

Article is sourced from http://travel.nst.com.my/

Location, Driving Direction and Map to The Pulai Desaru Beach Resort