Kuantan, Malaysia - Monkeys at Teluk Cempedak

Walking towards the wooden platform (walkway leading to the beach at Teluk Tongkang), there are monkeys roaming freely along the fringes of the rainforest in Teluk Cempedak. They are macaque monkeys and are a common sight in the area. They tend to stay within the rainforest and come out only up to the fringes waiting for visitors to throw tidbits or scraps of food. They are  accustomed to humans and are no bother to anyone if left undisturbed. Sad to say some humans can't be likewise to the monkeys.

Monkeys in Teluk Cempedak

Lone monkey on the walkway

Monkeys grooming each other

Kuantan, Malaysia - Beach at Teluk Cempedak

Being situated within a bay, the waves and undercurrent at Teluk Chempedak are not as strong compared to other beaches directly facing the South China Sea. This makes the beach popular, especially with children. But don't take it for granted during the Northeast Monsoon (November to March), when the waves and undercurrent can be rough and therefore unsafe for swimming.

The beach does not plunge but slopes gently into the sea, and therefore safe for children and non-swimmers. During the day you can see fishing boats passing through the bay, and at night lights shining from the boats. During windy days, kite flying is a popular activity. There is a wooden platform that you can walk from Teluk Cempedak to another beach at Teluk Tongkang.

Beach at Teluk Cempedak

Rocks along the beach

The beachfront at Hyatt Regency by Paulwee

Kuantan, Malaysia - Teluk Cempedak

Teluk Cempedak is a beachfront area located about 5 km (2 miles) from Kuantan's town centre. Teluk Cempedak means "Jackfruit Bay" in Malay but I have never seen jackfruit trees or the fruit being sold here - but there are casuarinas and pine trees. This is a popular spot with the locals but from my experience, gets crowded on weekends and public holidays, especially in the evenings.

Teluk Cempedak is a pleasant area to be during the weekdays. The beach here is sandy white but some areas are rocky. There are restaurants and food stalls serving local and Western dishes. Out of all places, there is even a McDonald's and KFC here. There is also the 5-star beachfront Hyatt Regency, popular with foreign tourists and Malaysians from out of town.

Beach at Teluk Cempedak by Malekhanif

Along the beachfront

KFC at Teluk Cempedak

The Hyatt Regency