When life in the city is getting too chaotic for you, it might be high time to go on a retreat. But not everybody has the time to spare or the money to travel, so what can you do? Well, have you considered a one-day trip to Tanjong Sepat?
Located 90 minutes away from Kuala Lumpur, this seaside community has garnered a reputation as a quiet, idyllic locale perfect for destressing. So, the next time a long weekend rolls by, here’s all you can do at Tanjong Sepat in one day:
Morning (8 am – 11.30 am)
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Instead of eating breakfast at home, eat at one of the popular breakfast spots in Tanjong Sepat. One such place is Yikee Seafood Bak Kut Teh. While most bak kut teh are pork-based, this shop’s is seafood-based. Just imagine fish and prawns in a delicious herbal tea soup.
If you are visiting Tanjong Sepat with your significant other, Lover’s Bridge should be next on your list. Fishermen’s wives used to wait here for their husbands’ safe returns. The pier was made from wood, but it has since been replaced with a concrete structure.
Close to the pier is an old shop selling old-timey snacks as well as seafood products. This is Qingren Qiao, and you can stock up on dried shrimps and anchovies as well as shrimp paste and keropok. For the kids, you have maltose sugar lollipops and fried ice-cream.
Afterwards, you can head over to Multi-Rich Pitaya Dragon Fruit Farm. This orchard welcomes visitors to explore the grounds freely. Here, you can learn all you want about dragon fruit and even buy some for yourself.
Noon (11.30 am – 2 pm)
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Any respectable foodie will make sure to stop by Hai Yew Heng, a bao shop operating for over 60 years. The shop makes over 1,000 every day, with several types on offer. You can choose to eat them there on the spot or to save them for later.
Afterwards, leave your car behind to explore Tanjong Sepat’s many lorongs (lanes) on foot. These lorongs have been converted from homes into tourist draws like cafes and stalls. Lorong 4, specifically, is the best place to get fried seafood skewers.
In the adjacent Lorong 5 is Joo Fa Trading, a coffee roastery that is owned by a local family. Visitors can see for themselves the brewing process, as well as buy some packets of processed coffee. Samples of their Liberica brews are also available from time to time!
Afternoon (2.15 pm – 4.30 pm)
Image Credit: Caronlydia5555 Wong on Google Review (Left), kualalangat.com.my (Right)
At a time when beaches are often overcrowded, Pantai Batu Laut is a standout. The place is isolated and quiet, with visitors left free to pad around on the muddy sandbank, populated with the occasional mangrove tree.
Another beach worth checking out in Tanjong Sepat is Pantai Cunang. This is a popular spot for families, who often lay out picnic mats beneath the many shady casuarina trees on the shore. Kids will often find themselves playing on the beautiful white sands.
Interestingly, the beach is maintained by the Mah Meri Orang Asli people who live in a nearby village. They keep the beach clean, turning washed-up plastic waste into handicrafts and artworks. You can see some of these yourself as you explore the beach.
Evening (5 pm – 7.30 pm)
Image Credit: Sek Munn Choy on Google Review (Left), S T on Google Review (Right)
With how exhausted you must be, it’s time to kick back and enjoy a meal at Asam Batu Laut Restaurant. This is a Chinese Muslim-run restaurant which serves affordable seafood dishes. It is quite popular, especially on weekends, so do consider getting here early to secure a table.
Leaving Tanjong Sepat
Once you are stuffed with fresh seafood, you can feel free to call it a day and begin the drive home. Will you ever come back to Tanjong Sepat? Who knows? But it is nice to know that there’s an escape from city life not that far away.
You should also check out: Where the rice grows and the stress goes. Here’s a 2D1N itinerary for a weekend in Sekinchan
Feature Image Credit: Kizuna on Google Review (Left), Yuki Tai on Google Review (Right)