After working tirelessly for a few months..........the pressures of working life and the hustle and bustle of the city.

After working tirelessly for a few months, I decided to take my family to Pulau Kapas for a holiday. This island is not as famous as Pulau Redang or Pulau Tioman but it is definitely a paradise on earth.

We arrived in Kuala Terengganu on a glorious Saturday morning. A van from Primula Resort was waiting to take us to the jetty which was half an hour away. The ride offered us a glimpse of the scenic countryside blending with the edges of bustling Kuala Terengganu. Next, we took a speedboat to Pulau Kapas. My children got very excited and screamed at every turn. We caught sight of the island twenty minutes later. The white beach and crystal clear water beckoned us. The resort sprawled over six acres, the largest in Pulau Kapas. We were taken to a kampung-style chalet, nestled among swaying palms and lush tropical plants.

After unpacking, we headed for the sea. There was a sandcastle competition and my eager children participated without any sign of fatigue. While they were busy building their castles, I managed to do some fishing. Later in the evening, Fuad, the resort manager arranged for us to see some corals. Dinner that night was served at the Selayang Cafe. We watched the spectacular sunset as we sipped our coffee and stuffed ourselves with the delicious cakes. The highlight of the evening was when my children were declared the winners of the sandcastle competition.

That night, we had another surprise. We were able to watch some turtles nesting on the shore. There was some excitement when we first caught a glimpse of the turtles. I never expected them to be so huge. We were told that the turtles only come around from May to August.

The next day we got up early for snorkeling. The waters around Pulau Kapas are indeed ideal for novice swimmers like me, as the water is as shallow as two feet when the tide is low. Fuad arranged for us to be fitted with snorkeling gear. I was a bit hesitant at first but after a briefing, I was all geared up. The sheer beauty of the underwater world took our breath away.

On the way back to the island, the guide pointed to the sky and we noticed dark clouds forming above us. However, he assured us the storm would only be coming an hour later. We got into the boat but this time around, the sea was a little merciless. The boat rose and sank and I turned a little green in the face.

Back in the hotel, I was grateful to Fuad for taking the children to a party while I recuperated from the boat ride. An hour later, it was time to pack and head back to the mainland. The children were reluctant to leave as there were many exciting things happening at the resort that night. However, due to work commitments, I could not stay another night. Nevertheless, we would be back again. I have found this island to be a wonderful respite from the pressures of working life and the hustle and bustle of the city.

Summary: I took my family to Pulau Kapas for a holiday. We took a speedboat from the jetty. The children wee very excited, screaming as the boat turned. After unpacking, we went swimming. My children participated eagerly in the sandcastle competition while I went fishing. Later, we went to see some corals. We enjoyed dinner at the hotel. Then, we watched the sunset while having our dessert. Later, we managed to watch turtles nesting. The next day, we went snorkeling. I was afraid at first but later, I was amazed at the beauty of the underwater world. On the way back, the boat rocked in the rough sea and I felt unwell. When we reached the hotel, the children attended a party while I rested. Then, we packed and headed back home.