A look at Pantai Merdeka, Kedah...

OK. Now that the stories about Johor have truly been completed, it is time to move to the next set of travelling that is in Kedah and then Perak... Or simply to sum it up, going up north. This trip started within 2 weeks after finishing the Johor travels. At the moment, the details of the trip has been allocated for the blogspot CATATAN SI MERAH SILU . So let this blogspot concentrates at the views seen (and thoughts coming too?) at certain places. here goes...

Monday, 21st January 2008. I arrived in Kedah the day before with a friend, Badrul driving from Ipoh. Oh, perhaps I should also mentioned I went to Ipoh from Kuala Lumpur by train on Saturday.

In Kedah, we stayed at an elderly friend's place in Kampung Ruat, Yan, Kedah. I took the opportunity to explore some of the places in Kedah which I haven't been at before and one of it is Pantai (beach of) Merdeka which lies at the southern estuary of the river Merbok.

I have wanted to see this place since I saw it for the first time about a year ago, from the other side of the river that is... There's just something strangely attractive about the vast body of water forming the estuary of the river Merbok. After all, history mentioned this area as the landing place for many traders and traveller to Kedah more than 1,000 years ago!

There, a superb view of Gunung (mount) Jerai, the tallest peak in the state of Kedah. At 1,200 metre plus high or so, it might just be a knoll compared to the major mountains of the world but compared to its surroundings, it stood out as a very bright beacon pointing the directions for those navigating their way around.

Also seen in the picture is the main mosque at the town of Tanjung Dawai. It was from that town that I first got a glimpse of Pantai Merdeka... Read about it here... Incursion to Tanjung Dawai

There, a better view of Tanjung Dawai. Perhaps having a pair of binoculars would help... The green (is it really green?) building in the middle is the jetty where one could get a boat from Tanjung Dawai to Pantai Merdeka.

At first, my plan was to get here from there but since Badrul was going to Seberang Perai through Sungai Petani which lies on another route and a meeting has been arranged for me to meet another friend there, the plan was changed.

What happened then, the other friend whose name also happens to be Badrul took me to visit the tombs of Tok Soh (see Makam Tok Soh di Kedah dan kaitannya dengan Merong Mahawangsa (The tomb of Tok Soh in Kedah and its relation to Merong Mahawangsa)... I've posted just now) and Daeng Parani (the story Makam (tomb of) Daeng Parani was posted a month ago)... Then only I took a bus to Pantai Merdeka via Kota Kuala Muda...

This place is quite relaxing, after all it is one of the main tourism spot around here. But I'm only here to enjoy a bit of the air and try to breath in the history flowing inside...

The boat to commute to Tanjung Dawai. At first I thought I would do just that... Get a boat to Tanjung Dawai and from there get back to Kampung Ruat in Yan where I was bunking then. But the boat would only move if there's 6 passengers and above. Otherwise, you have to charter the whole boat which to me is just too much...

So instead, I had rojak buah, mixed fruits cut to pieces and served in spicy gravy here while I figure out my next route...

There... Tyres used for floats. Only there's no customer around to use it as it is after all a Monday noon...

Saw this tower and must check it...

View of the rooftop of the stalls and beyond...

One across the river mouth, hindered by the shades. Still you can see the mosque at Tanjung Dawai...

Another look at Gunung Jerai. Then it's time to leave, by getting the bus back to Sungai Petani. That's all for this particular place. Cheers! :]