Cherating Doctor Ding- Surfboard Repair

For those who are wondering where to repair your surfboards...
either it is broken into 2, small ding or broken fin plugs...just head down
to Cherating and look for Mamat for repairs. He has 2 years hands on shaping
surfboards experience in Australia with Greg Webber so i believe his
ability to repair your surfboards is beyond expectation.
Besides he is a Pro Billabong Rider and im sure he will understand the
nature of the surfboard and repairs.

For for information call up our Dr. Ding at:



Mamat: 012-2486719

Unforgettable Kuala Terengganu

Who will ever know my surfing trip to Kuala Terengganu will end up in a 3 days 2 nites in Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah, Batu Buruk. This is how the story started....

My journey to K.T started as early as 12am from KL....it was a rainy nite so our trip was rather slow and dull. Since there is only me & Joel this time travelling all the way up North to try out the Infamous Right Hander waves - Jetty Lama Merang!! The journey takes about 5 hours from KL.

Along our journey, i had stomachache so we had to stop few times for toilet sessions. Im just too lazy to describe to whole situation but upon reaching Batu Buruk, K.T. we stop at the beach for a nap. At about 7am, we woke up and the swell was rather small but the shape are really good. So Joel decided to go for a dip while i went back to Sleep!!!

At about 9am, i decided to head down to local clinic for my stomachache problem. My intention was to get medicine and move on to surf later on. ButTttt.....
When i got in the room, the doctor freak out when i told her i have stomachache. She insisted that i go to Government Hospital for treatment otherwise she will report POLICE?????
Stomachache is a CRIME??? Without realising, Kuala Terengganu actually have a COLERA OUTBREAK!! So any problem regarding stomach issue have to be admitted to Government Hospital.

So there i goes, i was forced to be admitted in the Government Hospital. According to the junior Doctor, i have to be admitted for 1 night to clarify that im "Negative" in Colera. For your information, Colera Outbreak only happen in Kuala Terengganu and the source is from water or food....but i havent even drink or eat anything from Kuala Terengganu!!!! So frustrated!!!
Level 8E was my ward and i was usher to my VIP bed with 58 other room mates. With both my hand on IV drips, i looks like im having a disease or something!!!
I was so sad that i have to stay here instead of surfing on the beach cos the hospital is only located in front of the Batu Buruk Beach. So eventually i can see the break from my ward!!! Hahahahahahahahahaha
So i gave Joel, JC and the rest of the Kuala Terengganu surfers know about my situation and apologise that i couldnt meet up with them. Anyway, it was a long long nite in the hospital. I was bored to death but lucky enough to have Ipod Touch from Joel so i can play some games.

Day 2- I was happy waiting for my results and callin up Joel regarding the swell. It is picking up and swell looks really nice. After waiting for few hours, the clock seems to move so slow...
At noon, i call up the nurse to check on my results. The answer is always " nanti saya check dgn doctor'. At about 3pm i asked again....,same answer again. Im getting frustrated again and try to ask again at about 6pm!!! I got the same answer!!! So i head up straight to the DOC....
HEY DOC, u guys promise 1 day results and thats why im here....otherwise i wont bother coming to the hospital. The best part, i didnt even go to toilet while im admitted!!! Most Positive Patient will go toilet 3-10 times a day and vomit too. I dont have any of the syndromes.
Then the Doc says' im so so sorry, there seems to be around 200 ppl admitted today so i guess we are slow on the results. Im sorry u have to stay another night!!!! I almost fainted!!! Another boring night in the hospital....

But this time, i move around and start to chat with other room mates. Since my ipod out of battery...so i start to find out about surfing in K.T. I ask most of the patient about where got possible surf break and met some new friends....
After dinner time, the security guard came in and Shouted "Ibrahim dari KL".."Ibrahim dari KL"
for at least 10 times moving around the ward..looking for Ibrahim!!! So some patient even help shouting and looking for "Ibrahim from KL". I was suprise as i thought im the only chinese and only guy from KL. After 2 minutes the security guard came in again, this time he shouted "BRYAN dari KL". Then everyone start laughing...Ibrahim atau Bryan??? Then the security start laughing so as the rest!!! It was actually for me!!! Joel, JC and the rest of the K.T surfing crews came to visit me....i was so happy to see the rest of the gang and chatted for a while. Im only allowed 10 minutes to chat wif them as im under quarantine and they are not allowed to see me.
I made my way through the guard. It was so sweet that the surfers came to visit...thank you guys!!

Day 3- My final day...i call up JC in the morning hoping that he can come pick me up as Joel already left to Chendor hoping for some better waves as K.T is full of rain and strong wind.
At 11 am, the nurse come to me and tell me im allowed to discharge cos im tested NEGATIVE!!!
YahOOooOooOo...finally my days in Hospital is over!!! Im so so happy!! At noon im already at the beach waiting to surf....

So for you guys who are travelling to East Coast, try to avoid Ice Cube, Keropok Lekor just for a short while. This is just a temporary outbreak........until then, dont want to hear any surfers got quarantine in Hospital for COLERA!! hahahaahh Peace.....

Never too young or too old to LEARN SURFING

This write-up is just a dedication for those people out there who like to find out more about surfing and also learning to surf in Malaysia. Before i even start writing more, i just want to remind you guys that surfing is the one of most wonderful thing that happen in my life.

Off course surfing is never easy to pick up as many beginner started surfing the wrong way. You need someone to actually guide you or even give you surfing lesson. I know this might cost you a bit but it is worth every penny and save up your learning period. Then people always think that you gotta be fit to be a surfer, you might be wrong. Let me explain this.....

I was so skeptical when i started picking up surfing many years back. I was 105 kgs and i was so broke during that time as im not from a rich family and im still studying. My first question was am i too fat to learn surfing and how much it cost to surf? Do i need to buy all the equipments, clothings and so on???
It doesnt matter what race you are, what size you are, what age you are, what gender you are, how much money you have, how good looking or ugly you are...
It is always possible if you have to passion for something.

1. Surfing Lesson- In Cherating, you probably pay around RM50-RM100 for surfing lesson per day (couple of hours), you need 2-5 days lesson split up into few weeks.

2. Surfboard- You DONT NEED to buy a board when you are learning surfing, just hire a surfboard in Cherating which cost you about RM50-RM100 a day. You only buy surfboard when you are more familiar with surfing. Dont waste your money, you might not even like surfing!!!! But i hope you like it...heheheheheeh
Never learn surfing on a shortboard, it will slow down your surfing process....take up surfing on a soft top surfboards or longboards.

3. Clothing- For Guys, you probably need a boardshort and rash guard (lycra t-shirt). But if you dont have, just get knee length light material pant and t-shirt is good enough. Never go topless on a soft top boards(surf school board) as it will give you rashes after surfing..cos your skin rubs on the rubber material during surfing on the salty water...
For Girls, you probably need a boardshort and rash guard as well. But if you dont have, just get knee length light material pant and t-shirt is good enough. Never wear a bikini top to surf when you are learning...your bikini will just slides off!! This is a reminder for the new surfer girls. Or even causes you rashed riding on the soft boards. Just wear what you can afford and have.......

4. Money- You dont need alot of money to learn surfing........the experience is priceless....

5. Transport- If you dont have car, just hitch a ride with some of the surfers from KL during the weekend to Cherating. You can split the cost of traveling. Or else, just get a bus ride to Cherating.

6. Hotel- There are many hotel & guesthouse in Cherating ranging from RM30 to RM500 per nite. All depending how much you can afford. Sharing a room on a guesthouse is the cheapest way there.

Tbc.........

P/S- It is hard to explain to you how we felt about surfing...its like explaining colors to you guys in words...you have to experience it to know it!!!!

First Swell 28th Oct- 1st Nov 09'

Just started my first journey to the East Coast this monsoon season and here are the wonderfull 5 days journey begins...

Day 1- Surf Spot "Belakang Sekolah", Chendering, Kuala Terengganu

Secluded beach break behind a local school. Whole day with no wind, waist to chest height when set rolls in with only 5 surfers in the water. Easily 4 to 7 turns on each waves. Classic location that only surfable when small swell. A really good start for me for the first day....exhausted!!!

Day 2- Surf Spot "Batu Buruk" Kuala Terengganu

Its a beach break on a nice commercialized beach with many facilities and locals hanging out. Was lucky enough with glassy day again with bigger swell as Belakang Sekolah didnt work so this is my spot for the day.
Manage to meet up with some of the local K.Terengganu surfing crew. It was fun and they are really mellow and cool guys. We surf together and waves were so clean and glassy the whole day.
I would say i surf about 8 to 9 hours a day till im worn out!!!! Did a few sms back to KL to some of my surfers friends to come up to KT for the cool waves but mostly say No due to long distance travelling.
Except for Joel, Brenda and Alice who decided to come on Friday morning as this was the peak of the week.

Day 3- Surf Spot "Batu Buruk" Kuala Terengganu

Met up with our KL gang and head up straight to Batu Buruk and they were amazed by the waves. Although it was a rainy day but the waves was simple Beautiful!!!!!! Another glassy day at K.T and it was a weekend holiday in K.T on Friday. So here we are, a small gathering with the whole surfing crews from Kuala Terengganu!!! We were very very honored to met up with them. Not to mentioned our 1st surfer from K.T and the legend who brought surfing to K.T (the brothers) J.C and J.D. Respect to the brothers who willing to teach and bring up surfing in Kuala Terengganu.
Everyone was stoked on the waves and we just surf and surf the whole day. At sets, we get overhead waves rolling in.....simple too sweet.
I stay out whole day....soaked wet till i reach the hotel in the nite. Awesome day......

Day 4- Surf Spot "Batu Buruk" Kuala Terengganu

Another rainy day and we were expecting another glassy day with bigger waves today. Unfortunately the waves was smaller (about shoulder height) with slight wind. Joel & Brenda decided to surf as the shape of the waves is still good. I didnt go in cos i was on a slight fever due to yesterday all day out in the water. At about 10:30am, storm hits right in and waves was rather messy but surfable and we decided to take a break.
A call back to Raymond to check on how the swell is doing in Kijal but no one picks up the phone. So we thought that Kijal might be glassier with small waves. Then we decided to head to Cherating hoping for a
cleaner waves....and due to my fever as well. So we say Goodbye with the whole K.T surfing crews and somehow they were kinda sad that we are leaving since we bond so well from the beginning. But everyone knows that we will be back again.....I would like to say Thank You guys for such a wonderfull week in K.T. Especially J.C who brought me everywhere to surf and absence for a day work so we can surf together and Faizal for a ride to K.T.
We reach Kijal at about 2pm ( 2 hours from K.T)
and we were so dissapointed as the swell was really small and the waves were so so choppy. We guess we made the wrong choice leaving K.T......none of us went out to surf, just hang out and sleep on a hammock in Kijal.

Day 5- Surf Spot, Kijal, Terengganu

Reach Kijal from Cherating at about 8am and wind was pretty soft but swell was rather small with full tide...so more of a soft and fat waves for the morning. Decided to go in to try out....
didnt work out so i changed to a fun board, just cruising with it......At about lunch, i decided to have a break just watching the rest surfing. You wouldnt believe how many surfers actually starting to surf and
seeing so many new surfers really stoked me out. I guess its our different culture here, the more surfers here the more merrier it is. Unlike many other place, surfers prefer lesser crowds. For me, its more about having
fun and enjoying the waves.......
After lunch we decided to head home and come back again when the next swell hits......here i am, writing this blog on a early Monday morning...in the city with no waves, praying for the next swell.

P/S- Sorry guys, no more surfing pics from me as i have no more DSLR camera with me and i couldnt afford one anytime soon. So most of my pics are from my mobile phone. Hope one day i will buy another DSLR to shower you guys with more pics.

Accomodation:

Kuala Terengganu- One of the best homestay i've ever stayed in my life with such a nice rooms and affordable price. RM30 for 2 single bed with a/c. RM50 for 4 beds with a/c. What else you can ask for???

Palm Lodge Villa
1308, Ibai Jaya 7,
Green Acres Golf & Country Resort
20400 Kuala Ibai, Terengganu
Ms. Kelly Keng 012-929 1588