Off the beaten track in Port Dickson

Port Dickson which is more often known as P.D. is a mere one and a half hour drive from KL. This beach destination used to be very popular among many city folks due to its proximity to the capital as well as its white sandy beaches. Unfortunately, nowadays the beaches in PD are filled with garbage and it is a norm to spot carbonated soft drink cans floating among plastic bags. Quite a pity sight but there are still beaches worth visiting.
Recently, my family and I headed to PD over the Merdeka weekend to kill time and also to check on the apartment. My parents actually bought an apartment here, PD Perdana Condo Resort approximately a decade ago as an investment.

The apartment is very cosy, equipped with a nice swimming pool and "occasionally", a jacuzzi.
There used to be a sauna but yeah, Malaysians being Malaysians the sauna was never repaired since its recent meltdown.

Nevertheless, there's a perfect barbecue pit coupled with several marble tables and benches - perfect for a pool party.

There's also a man made pond, filled with plenty of hungry fishes.

Palm trees lining the pond.

In touch with nature...

The car park complex.

The first beach I would recommend one to visit is the beach facing the Royal Pd Yacht Club. I would call it a man made beach considering the PD town council mined sand from the bottom of the ocean to reclaim this beach. The beach here is definitely cleaner than those found in the 2nd or 3rd mile.

There's a recreational park as well

The benches dotting the beach proves a perfect spot to catch the sunset.

There's also a bridge leading to a small island nearby which is a favourite spot for anglers.

I chilled around the cove, snapping some pictures while waiting for the sun to set.
It's also quite a nice place to swim and frolic in its shallow waters, but I prefer not to get myself wet. haha.

a tiny mud-skipper

Fine, white powdery sand

After chilling around the peaceful cove, we headed for dinner at our all-time-favourite, Kemang Seafood. We've been dining here everytime we're in PD for more than a decade. Food was great, especially their crabs - which is what they are famous for.
After dinner, it's always a must to visit the Coconut Grove, which is an open-air coffee house by the beach. It is located at the famed Tanjung Tuan Resort.

The place is lovely. Very wam and romantic - suitable for couples or families.

The atmosphere here is simple perfect to unwind and rejuvenate. The sea breeze adds to the calming effect.

And every table is equipped with a lamp... from IKEA. lol

I treated myself to a nice glass of steaming hot Teh Tarik and ended it with a huge bowl of ice-kacang

Somehow, I just love this place. The price is reasonable for a hotel. You can easily have a scrumptious meal with RM10. And there's a wide variety of cuisine ranging from local delights, Japanese to Italian cuisine.

Dining al-fresco by the beach. Building at the backdrop is the Tanjung Tuan Resort

My family

After our meal, a team of performers came to our table and sang us a song. They were really friendly and entertaining.

Aargh... they should have something like this in KL

By the way, the beach in which the Tanjung Tuan Resort and Selesa Resort is located, is seriously the beach beach I can find in Pd. Somewhat can be considered a private beach due to its limited access from the public.*But it's not a private beach meaning you can go there* The beach has been reclaimed due to erosion after the completion of the Admiral Marina. White powdery sand which was obtained beneath the ocean was poured onto the beach while the beach was stretched further into the ocean creating a small cove. Litter is almost impossible to find. The only bad thing about the beach is the limited water sport facility which is usually reserved only for the hotel guests.

Palm trees outside the resort

Next morning, I decided to venture somewhere else instead of my usual morning swim.

Took some pics of my apartment, and then headed of to this unknown place, guided by a small trail.

My unit is the one with an air-cond unit right in the middle beneath its window on the left.

Came to find this open field with scarce vegetation

Kinda gave it a desert feel, suitable for those seeking solitude, like me. haha

I never knew a canal existed so close to my apartment. Then I realize it leads to another Marina called Marina World I think. Heck, this place is nice. Hard to believe I'm actually in PD.

A nice place to read a book or go fishing

The water is quite clear too. Definitely clearer than Penang

I walked until the end, and found myself a secluded beach and the Admiral Marina apartments.
After 10 years, yeah, I found a nice place in PD which is just a stone throw away from my unit.

For lunch, we usually visit the Merlin Restaurant, again for its fresh seafood and reasonable pricing. According to my parents, they first came here 20 years ago when they used to travel frequently to PD with their friends.

After lunch, I went to visit the famed Tanjung Tuan lighthouse which is located on the summit of a hill located withing the perimeters of the Tanjuang Tuan Recreational Forest.

Getting to the lighthouse isn't easy for those who dislike adventure. It's quite a tough climb vertically up the hill which takes about 20 minutes.

But the place is cooling due to its densed forest which is untouched

After 20 minutes, reached the top and treated myself to a spectacular view of the Straits of Malacca.

Reports claimed that on a clear day, one can see Sumatra over the horizon butit was rather cloudy the time I was there, so couldn't see much.

Up here, which is about 200 metres above sea level, sounds of the wave crashing against the rocks at the foot of the hill could be heard.

Once you fall, its the end...

The lighthouse was said to be built by the Portugess somewhere around the 18th century to prevent pirate attacks at the Striats of Malacca. If you actually remembered, the reason Frank Swettenham duno what shit take over what shit is because some fella duno what shit attacked the Tanjung Tuan lighthouse. so yeah. lol. The lighthouse is closed to visitors but you can obtain a visitor pass from the Bendahara office in Malacca if you really wana enter.

A little piece of history
From the summit, I hiked down a little trail which led to a private beach. The trail was exhausting. And that was downhill... took me nearly 20 minutes.

But the exhaustion was worth it.

There wasn't anyone on the beach.. You could only hear the waves crashing onto the nearby rocks. It is not recommended to swim here, although the water is super clean. The current here can be strong and seriously strong. The sound of the waves is enough to keep you away from the beach.

Bleu

Clear waters in PD...

A healthy pandanus palm tree

Oh, and right before leaving, I spotted an eagle hovering above the sky majestically.

It's hard to believe that PD still boasts clean beaches and specks of nature. Just wander off the beaten track and you'll be rewarded with a perfect destination to unwind and relax.
My trip to PD ended at the Teluk Kemang Beach, where I savoured myself with some authentic putupiring

I remember this place...