Getting a dose of vitamin sea at Terengganu's Redang Island

The Star

17-05-2025

Redang in Terengganu is one of Malaysia's best islands. A slice of paradise where the sand is so white and the waters so clear, you'd think you had stumbled onto the set of a dream sequence.
It's the kind of place where reality feels like a polished, sun-soaked scene, a living screensaver where every shade of blue and green is dialled up to perfection.
You step off the boat, and the first thing that hits you isn't the postcard view – it's the warmth. Not just the tropical kind that wraps around you like a soft, salty hug, but the warmth of a place that feels alive, unspoiled, and untamed.
It's the smell of the sea, the whisper of the breeze through the palm fronds, the occasional chirp of a sunburned tourist marvelling at a turtle making its slow, deliberate way through the shallows.
It's the kind of place that makes you want to turn off your phone, kick off your shoes, and just exist for a while.
And here's the thing – I've never really understood the obsession with the Maldives. Five hours of flying, then another hour on a loud, World War II-era aircraft piloted by guys in shorts and bare feet – admittedly adventurous – or a few more hours on a bumpy boat ride to get to some atoll where you're literally marooned.
Blue ocean, bluer skies. A trip to the islands is always good for the soul.
If you're into a drink or two, you're out of luck. The food? Let's just say we pack instant noodles when we go diving in the Maldives.
Sure, the diving is incredible – I'll give them that – but we have Redang. Right here. Just a short flight from the Klang Valley to Kuala Terengganu, then another short boat ride from there, and you're in paradise.
No coral shards slicing your feet, just soft, powdery sand between your toes.
And the food? Well, it's Malaysia. Our ordinary is pretty amazing.
Good food is important when one is on holiday, and Mare Nero hits the mark with its flavourful dishes.
But with the Cinnamon Group now taking over two restaurants on the island – Mare Nero and The Cove – the food has been elevated to something extraordinary. And look, I'll admit, I might be a little biased here, but if you've dined at Natalina, Nadodi, Bocado, or Aliyaa, you already know what they're capable of. Now that same culinary excellence has arrived in Redang. I have no idea why more of us city folks don't go there more often.
The Taaras Beach & Spa Resort sits like a jewel at the heart of this island, a sanctuary of understated luxury that feels more like the home of a friend who happens to have impeccable taste in beachside real estate. It's the kind of place where you wake up to the sound of gentle waves, throw open your balcony doors, and find yourself wondering if you've somehow wandered into the pages of a glossy travel magazine.
The sand here is absurdly soft, like powdered sugar sifted through the fingers of a lazy, sunlit afternoon. You walk down to the water, each step a gentle sigh in the warm embrace of the beach, and you have to pinch yourself just to confirm that you're not actually standing in the middle of a high-definition screensaver.
The Seatru Turtle Lab programme allows guests to take part in the turtle hatchling release activities.
The sea is the kind of clear that makes you think someone turned the saturation up too high – a spectrum of blues and greens that shimmer and dance in the sunlight like a living gemstone.
For those seeking adventure, the waters of Redang offer a playground of possibilities. The island boasts over 30 dive sites teeming with vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life, making it a haven for scuba enthusiasts.
I recently completed my Padi Rescue Diver certification here (there are many dive centres on the island), and it's the kind of training that gives you a whole new appreciation for the power and fragility of the ocean.
One moment, you're gliding alongside graceful sea turtles, the next, you're caught in a shimmering storm of tiny, darting fish, each movement a flicker of reflected sunlight.
A 'bad' day on an island is better than a good day in the office.
If diving isn't your thing, there's always the thrill of snorkelling, where you can float above a technicolour reef as parrotfish and angelfish glide beneath you. Or, if you prefer to keep your feet on dry land, you can race across the sands on an ATV or paddle a kayak along the coastline, the sea breeze in your hair and the sun on your back.
But even if you never leave the beach, Redang has a way of reminding you just how extraordinary the natural world can be.
The Taaras is deeply committed to marine conservation, working with Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) on the Seatru Turtle Lab, a programme that helps protect the island's endangered sea turtles. Guests can take part in the turtle hatchling release programme, a heartwarming experience where you can watch baby turtles make their first unsteady steps into the wild, the waves swallowing their tiny forms as they disappear into the vast blue.
And then, there's the food. This is where the island truly flexes its muscles. Mare Nero, for example, brings Michelin-pedigree cuisine to this remote paradise. It's a place where the day's catch arrives on the back of weathered fishing boats, still glistening with sea spray and the last hints of a fading sunrise.
The prawns here are the size of a boxer's fist, their flesh so fresh it practically snaps when you bite into it, the taste of the ocean lingering long after the last shell is cracked and the last head is sucked clean.
When the day is done, and the sun begins its slow, fiery descent into the South China Sea, there's the promise of a cool shower, a cold drink, and a seat at the edge of infinity, where the horizon blurs into a watercolour wash of pastels and deep blues. It's the kind of place that makes you believe in magic again, where every sunset feels like a miracle, and every morning is a fresh start.
Getting to this island paradise is easier than you might think. Berjaya Air's Jojo Flight has direct connections from the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (also known as the Subang SkyPark) in Selangor, and Seletar Airport in Singapore. This means you can skip the hassle and arrive in style, ready to immerse yourself in the island's beauty.
The crystal clear waters at Redang island is always inviting.
Redang isn't just a destination – it's a reminder that sometimes, the best places aren't the ones you see on the covers of glossy magazines, but the ones you stumble upon by accident, the ones you keep coming back to, year after year, because they feel like a secret that only you and a handful of others are lucky enough to share.
So, if you find yourself in need of a little sun, a little salt, and a reminder that paradise still exists, set your compass for Redang. And when you're there, between the coconut-laden siestas and the breathless dives into an underwater wonderland, raise a glass to the good fortune of having found a place where the world still feels wide, wild, and full of wonder.
The views expressed here are entirely the writer's own.
Abbi Kanthasamy blends his expertise as an entrepreneur with his passion for photography and travel. For more of his work, visit www.abbiphotography.com.