My First Night At Lake Kenyir

Posted by : foongpc | Wednesday, January 6, 2010 | Published in

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Nothing much happened on my first night at Lake Kenyir.

Before we went to the infinity swimming pool, my friend and I took a stroll around and took photos of Lake Kenyir.

From our chalet, we walked a short distance and descended down a wooden walkway.



We could see the lake from here.





Looking back, I could see the chalets behind us.



The sun was about to set.



From here, it looked more like the sea than a lake to me.



I liked the ambience here.



I felt so relaxed.



The only thing that spoilt it was the mosquitoes! But that was easily solved with a mosquito repellent.



We had dinner at Tembat Restaurant, the only available restaurant in Lake Kenyir Resort and Spa. It was a buffet dinner and it was horrible!

If there was anything I wanted to complain about this resort, it was their food! Priced at RM45 nett, it was one of the worst buffets I have ever eaten!

Topping the list must be this horrible tasting salad.



The choice of ingredients were really unsuitable for a salad!

I did not even bother to take photos of the main dishes! They were bad but not as bad as the salad. I actually left the whole salad plate uneaten on my table.



The desserts looked good at first sight, but it was lousy at first taste!



But I think the layout was not too bad - this is the only reason why I took 2 photos of the desserts. It actually looked appetizing but wait till you eat them!



Even the fruits were not up to standard! Or maybe not up to MY standard, haha.



My friend and I wondered how we were going to survive all the rest of our meals for the next two days here. And the thing was, they only offered buffet for dinner - no ala carte! We were sure as hell not going to pay another RM45 per person for our next dinner!

The only other eatery near this resort was at Pengkalan Gawi, which was roughly 20 minutes walking distance from here. The other alternative would be to take a cab to Kuala Terengganu in search for better food, which would cost us about RM90 and an hour's journey - no way!

After dinner, we thought we would like to go for karaoke, but upon entering the karaoke room, we saw a few people inside and we decided not to go for it. I mean, I didn't feel like singing in front of complete strangers, haha!

So we went back to our chalet and retire for the night! Besides, we had to wake up early the next morning for our bird watching activity! How early? Well, the bird watching tour was scheduled to start at 7am, so we had to wake up at 6.30am latest!

And I thought I was on holiday!

FIRST COMMENTER

(80) Comments

  1. இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

    Kenyir, Africa?

    January 6, 2010 at 8:26 AM
  2. இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

    Lovely water, trees and sunset, reminds me of Hawaii, oops I mean 'Langkawaii'. So the restaurant name should be change to 'Tembak' simply shoot out the dishes.

    January 6, 2010 at 8:30 AM
  3. Anonymous

    That's the problem with some of these resorts here. Location is isolated or quite isolated and add to that is there's only one restaurant serving poor quality food at an unjustifiable price! Sigh...I hope resort operators will take note of this.

    Waking up early is part of holidaying! :) I sleep by 9pm and wake up around 6am every morning when I was holidaying in Perth.

    January 6, 2010 at 8:40 AM
  4. levian said...

    what a beautiful lake to take a stroll at. i guess being isolated has its benefit, the natural scenery are mostly maintained if not enhanced. :)

    January 6, 2010 at 9:13 AM
  5. xin said...

    love the pictures! your post has definitely brightened up my day :) will put this place one of my to-go places in malaysia

    January 6, 2010 at 9:33 AM
  6. Reanaclaire said...

    i wanna compliment on your photos la.. the camera that u used must be very geng.. so clear and beautiful snapshots.. even the desserts look so appetising but then u said not up to your standard.. :)

    January 6, 2010 at 10:11 AM
  7. khengsiong said...

    I was wondering how you could spend 3 days at Lake Kenyir. Looks like there was bird watching activities. Wait for your update!

    January 6, 2010 at 10:14 AM
  8. Borneo Falcon said...

    Never thought the food there will be that bad. So, what you guys ate for the next few days?

    January 6, 2010 at 10:14 AM
  9. Ken Wooi said...

    nice pictures!
    wow the food is really expensive leh..

    January 6, 2010 at 10:39 AM
  10. Cloudia said...

    Hawaii recognizes a sister beauty in your photos, dear Foong



    Aloha, Friend!


    Comfort Spiral

    January 6, 2010 at 10:46 AM
  11. Shingo T said...

    The scenery is very nice, has a very peaceful feel to it. The kind where you can just sit there and meditate. Haha.

    But after seeing the food review, I think I will give this place a pass.

    January 6, 2010 at 10:50 AM
  12. Gabriel said...

    looks so relaxing...but then without nice food how to survive? maybe bring own maggie? :P

    January 6, 2010 at 11:09 AM
  13. HappySurfer said...

    It's amazing why a resort doesn't provide better food. It could probably be because of the low occupancy. Or perhaps city-folk like yourself have had the luxury of better food that your expectations are high now. Eh, Foong?

    Resorts would do well to operate like Club Med, I'm sure.

    January 6, 2010 at 11:10 AM
  14. HappySurfer said...

    One of the downsides on a holiday is when you have to keep up with an early schedule. I always say, that's no holiday!! Holidays should be at a leisurely pace, taking it real easy. That's a real holiday, but alas, nothing is perfect, I suppose.

    January 6, 2010 at 11:12 AM
  15. HappySurfer said...

    Btw, those are really lovely shots, Foong. I do agree that the lake looks more like an open sea with islands beyond. It must be a huge lake to project that impression. Besides a good camera, you must be having very steady hands.

    January 6, 2010 at 11:15 AM
  16. foongpc said...

    bananaz, no Kenyir, Malaysia : )

    LOL to "Tembak"! : D

    January 6, 2010 at 12:42 PM
  17. foongpc said...

    mei teng, yeah I hope the resort operators will take note of it too!

    No night life in Perth? Slept at 9pm? That's soooooo early! I'm a night owl, so retiring early during my Kenyir trip felt quite odd to me.

    Wow! Woke up at 6am every morning? That sounds like a lot of work! Haha! I like to wake up a little later during my holidays : )

    January 6, 2010 at 12:45 PM
  18. foongpc said...

    levian, yes being isolated does have its benefits : )

    January 6, 2010 at 12:46 PM
  19. foongpc said...

    xin, really? Glad you like them! Yes, you must go there - just make sure bring along some food cos the food sucks over there! : )

    January 6, 2010 at 12:47 PM
  20. foongpc said...

    reanaclaire, thanks for the compliment! I give my camera 100% credit for that! Yes, the desserts definitely not up to my standard, I think if you were there, you will surely agree with me especially when you have tasted so many yummy food in Ipoh! : )

    January 6, 2010 at 12:50 PM
  21. foongpc said...

    khengsiong, I can spend more than 3 days there actually! But it's only a weekend 3D/2N trip : )

    January 6, 2010 at 12:51 PM
  22. foongpc said...

    borneo falcon, haha! You will know about what we ate for the next two days in my future posts, so stay tuned ; )

    January 6, 2010 at 12:52 PM
  23. foongpc said...

    kenwooi,thanks! Yes, food is expensive but I already expected that since this is a 4 star resort. It's OK if the food is expensive, what is not OK is the quality of the food.

    January 6, 2010 at 12:54 PM
  24. foongpc said...

    cloudia, thanks. I love Hawaii!! : )

    January 6, 2010 at 12:55 PM
  25. foongpc said...

    shingo T, yes the scenery was beautiful! But don't let the lousy food deter you from going there! : )

    January 6, 2010 at 12:55 PM
  26. foongpc said...

    gabriel, yes if you go there, you are advised to bring some food of your own. Maggi mee? Good idea! : )

    January 6, 2010 at 12:57 PM
  27. foongpc said...

    happysurfer, well it could be a combination of low occupancy and my high "city-folk" expectations, haha!

    But seriously, they need to improve on that! Yes, if they can operate like Club Med, my holidays there would be perfect!! : )

    Yes waking up early is a downside to holidays, but like you said, nothing's perfect. Well, we actually woke up later on the 3rd day. My friend insisted on that, haha!

    Thanks for the compliments! Glad you like the photos. I'm gonna give full credit to my LX3 camera! : )

    January 6, 2010 at 1:02 PM
  28. lina said...

    Aiyah! How to survive if no good food?
    Maybe if I go there, should bring lots and lots of cup noodle. LOL

    January 6, 2010 at 1:28 PM
  29. Merryn said...

    It has all the making of a nice honeymoon getaway dont you think so? The sun setting.. nice place.. but then... food is not too good.. hahahaha.. but who cares? If I'm on my honeymoon.. I wont bother much bout the FOOD! :P

    January 6, 2010 at 2:00 PM
  30. manglish said...

    tat salad on ur plate really looked bad haahaha maybe u shud arrange it according to color, perhaps they could taste better tat way? hahahah

    January 6, 2010 at 3:26 PM
  31. Tekkaus said...

    No one seems to be there at all? We are the other visitors? :p

    January 6, 2010 at 3:54 PM
  32. Tekkaus said...

    Yeah! You are right bro. From the picture it did look more like the seashore than a lake. :p By the way, this photo is beautifully snapped. :p

    January 6, 2010 at 3:55 PM
  33. Tekkaus said...

    Looking at your photos, I can sort of feel the ambiance too. Very relaxed and soothing. :D Serene and no annoying human being at sight. :p

    January 6, 2010 at 3:56 PM
  34. Tekkaus said...

    Ok! We get it. So before we go to the lake, we need get ourselves cover with all those weird-smelling mosquito repellent thingy. :p

    January 6, 2010 at 3:56 PM
  35. Tekkaus said...

    You guys are being oppressed! Not only you guys were deprived of restaurant options, you guts were served horrible food.

    You know what? At first I thought I wanna go there, but now I have second thought after knowing about the foods there. :(

    January 6, 2010 at 3:58 PM
  36. Tekkaus said...

    What? RM45? I only pay RM25 for Seoul Garden delicious buffet. :p And you need to pay Rm45 for each dinner? Damn kesian. :(

    January 6, 2010 at 4:00 PM
  37. CheaHSan said...

    Yeah the presentation was OK not bad. So the cantonese saying "hoe tai hm ho hoe sik" (looks good but taste lousy). You have sophisticated taste buds bro.

    January 6, 2010 at 4:38 PM
  38. foongpc said...

    lina, haha, actually their breakfast was not too bad! Will post about that soon.

    Yes, if you go there, do bring your own food and lots of cup noodles! : )

    January 6, 2010 at 5:57 PM
  39. foongpc said...

    merryn, maybe you should go there for your second honeymoon? Oh, do bring Ethan along - I'm sure he'll enjoy it! : )

    January 6, 2010 at 5:58 PM
  40. foongpc said...

    manglish, I think no matter how I arrange it, it would still taste lousy! Haha!

    January 6, 2010 at 5:58 PM
  41. foongpc said...

    tekkaus, there are, but I am avoiding humans in my photo as much as possible. They spoil the scenery, haha!

    Yes, make sure you bring some mosquito repellent if you happen to look juicy to mosquitoes!

    Oh, don't let the lousy food deter you from going! You can always bring your own food and start your own picnic like in Farmville. Haha! And the breakfast at Kenyir Resort was not too bad!

    January 6, 2010 at 6:01 PM
  42. foongpc said...

    cheahs@n, yes, looks good but taste lousy is the exact description for it! No I don't have sophisticated taste bud, just normal only lah ; )

    January 6, 2010 at 6:02 PM
  43. lina said...

    Breakfast comes with the room right? So eat breakfast until really full so not so kesian when eating maggi for dinner afterwards. LOL

    January 6, 2010 at 6:09 PM
  44. lina said...

    BTW, I always bring cup noodles whenever we check-in to any hotel. In case got hungry at night and don't want to waste money ordering room service. :D

    January 6, 2010 at 6:10 PM
  45. foongpc said...

    lina, yes breakfast comes with the room. Haha, yeah can eat maggi mee for dinner. I never bring cup noodles for travel cos always try to travel light. Hmm, might consider it next time. But for Kenyir, definitely a must! : )

    January 6, 2010 at 6:48 PM
  46. Che-Cheh said...

    I love the cobalt sky.

    You should have took the salad picture. We want to see how horrible. I'm curious as to what are the ingredients they use for the salad.

    January 6, 2010 at 10:23 PM
  47. RoseBelle said...

    Ok, mosquitos didn't cross my mind until you mentioned it. My cousin vacationed in China for three months and came back with horrible, horrible, and big mosquito bites mainly on her legs. She said she thought she was gonna die. Her brothers were fine. I guess it's true that mosquitos are attracted to certain human scent. Kenyir in Malaysia? Nice. Now I know. The food looks good from your pixes..hmmm..maybe not your kind of food.

    January 7, 2010 at 1:42 AM
  48. Ayie said...

    FOod not good? Then their presentation can really fool anyone! They presented everything so nice.

    I am so picky when it comes to other foods, quite meticulous coz I love to cook and I would pay good for a nice tasty dish. It should be worth the price and I'm fine!

    good morning to you foong!

    January 7, 2010 at 7:54 AM
  49. Beng-gee said...

    Such a very nice place to relax! So what did you have for the next meals on two days?

    About my blog, yeah, I'm trying my very best now to update my blogs a little more often. Not good to be lazy eh!

    Happy Thursday to you, Foongpc!

    January 7, 2010 at 8:00 AM
  50. C. E. Webster said...

    The scenery looks good. I'm sure the bird watching will be delightful. The food thing could be a problem, though.

    January 7, 2010 at 9:27 AM
  51. jam said...

    Haha, here are you complaining about the food again! I hope I had brought you for some good foods in Guilin last year.

    January 7, 2010 at 9:28 AM
  52. jam said...

    BTW, I never knew Foong does sing! Okay, we go for karaoke in our next travel!

    January 7, 2010 at 9:29 AM
  53. Anonymous

    Lovely place. Wish to go there someday. But food is a major problem for me. Read vegetarian! Probably will have to pack something or rely on fruits. But I guess it's the adventure that counts.

    January 7, 2010 at 11:18 AM
  54. Ice said...

    Oh? This resort does not have other places to eat except in the resort itself? what a shame. I don't mind paying RM45 if the food is good. But since you said it's not up to your standard, then it will be a ripoff then huh?

    January 7, 2010 at 11:46 AM
  55. iamthewitch said...

    Poor thing! I know how it feels to have to eat substandard food when you're paying so much! I'm curious to know what's your menu for the next day :P And the sunset view of the lake is amazing!

    January 7, 2010 at 1:49 PM
  56. Kelvin said...

    I got a feeling Noch less is in tat lake.

    January 7, 2010 at 2:10 PM
  57. Bengbeng said...

    they should do something abt the food. it is so easy. just get the right staff or send them for training .hopefully somebody there reads yr blog

    January 7, 2010 at 7:03 PM
  58. fufu said...

    hihihi... you will get what you have paid!! unless it's the 5star hotel restaurant.... erm i love sweet stuff but dont really like those from hotel restaurant... anyway kenyir is a nice place to go... actually malaysia still have plenty of awesome places to explore... bring me along next time ok?

    January 7, 2010 at 7:27 PM
  59. Unknown said...

    Really lovely photos.

    RM5 buffet? Too cheap right? But I really cannot have a good holiday if the food is that bad. Poor you.

    hugs,
    shakira

    January 7, 2010 at 10:00 PM
  60. Anonymous

    Fong,
    I am going to Tasik Kenyir in 10th Feb. Could you tell me more about the food?? What did do to avoid paying for those horrible dinners?? Or any good advise on that?
    email me at monfsts@yahoo.com

    Hope to hear from you soon.
    Simon

    January 8, 2010 at 12:50 AM
  61. LifeRamblings said...

    i'd love to take a stroll around the lake. i could feel the sense of calm the serenity.

    January 13, 2010 at 8:20 AM
  62. foongpc said...

    che-cheh, that's the picture of the salad! Can you see the ingredients?

    January 14, 2010 at 12:23 AM
  63. foongpc said...

    rose belle, really that bad? Well, it's not bad in Kenyir. You can always use mosquito repellent to protect yourself from mosquito bites. The food may look good, but they taste horrible! : )

    January 14, 2010 at 12:25 AM
  64. foongpc said...

    ayie, yes the presentation was nice right? Definitely fooled me! Haha!

    January 14, 2010 at 12:25 AM
  65. foongpc said...

    beng gee, next two meals? Hehe, will post about that!

    Good thing you are going to update your blogs and not be lazy. Keep it up! : )

    January 14, 2010 at 12:26 AM
  66. foongpc said...

    C.E. Webster, yes the food was a problem! Thanks for dropping by! : )

    January 14, 2010 at 12:27 AM
  67. foongpc said...

    jam, haha! Yes, I complain if things are not up to my standard. About Guilin, I think the food were OK for the most part : )

    You don't know I sing? Of course I do! Yes, let's go karaoke next time we travel! : )

    January 14, 2010 at 12:28 AM
  68. foongpc said...

    asha letha, oh you are a vegetarian? That's gonna be quite a problem when you travel! : )

    January 14, 2010 at 12:31 AM
  69. foongpc said...

    ai shiang, I don't mind paying if the food is good too, but unfortunately it wasn't.

    January 14, 2010 at 12:32 AM
  70. foongpc said...

    iamthewitch, will post about what we ate next day soon : )

    January 14, 2010 at 12:33 AM
  71. foongpc said...

    kelvin, Loch Ness? Haha! There's no sightings of Loch Ness in Malaysia so far! LOL!

    January 14, 2010 at 12:33 AM
  72. foongpc said...

    bengbeng, yes it's actually so easy, yet they are not doing it!

    January 14, 2010 at 12:34 AM
  73. foongpc said...

    fufu, it's a 4-star resort but the food is definitely not 4-star! : )

    Definitely will bring you along when you come back in what, 2 years time? : )

    January 14, 2010 at 12:35 AM
  74. foongpc said...

    shakira choong, thanks! It's RM45, not RM5 buffet!! For me, I can easily adapt, so lousy food will not spoil my holiday too badly : )

    January 14, 2010 at 12:36 AM
  75. foongpc said...

    anonymous aka simon, have emailed you : )

    January 14, 2010 at 12:37 AM
  76. foongpc said...

    life ramblings, yes, me too! : )

    January 14, 2010 at 12:37 AM
  77. Hanging lamps said...

    Kenyir Lake is the largest man-made lake in Southeast Asia. ... Kenyir Lake is also home to numerous species of freshwater fishes and exotic wildlife. ...

    January 14, 2010 at 10:06 PM
  78. Faisal Admar said...

    expensive and not worth it!!!

    January 18, 2010 at 4:27 PM
  79. foongpc said...

    hanging lamps, yes indeed! : )

    January 24, 2010 at 1:05 PM
  80. foongpc said...

    faisal, definitely not worth it! : )

    January 24, 2010 at 1:05 PM