Coconut Island Diary: Discover the Hidden Gem of Perhentian’s Beachside Arwana Experience

🌊This secluded beach offers a tranquil escape, where the soothing sound of the waves and the gentle sea breeze create a serene atmosphere. Arwana, a hotel chosen at random, turned out to be an unexpectedly delightful choice.

🏨Arwana Perhentian Resort
Nestled on Big Perhentian Island, Arwana underwent a complete renovation in 2020, boasting spacious and immaculate rooms with large, comfortable beds and private balconies. Zhi Zhi had a blast splashing around in the hotel pool with a little French boy, and they were both so engrossed that they didn’t want to leave [laugh-cry].

🏖️The beach in front of the hotel is a bit rocky underfoot, but as the tide recedes in the evening, it transforms into a vast, open space perfect for sandcastle building and shoreline exploration. For those looking to explore other beaches, a convenient water taxi 🚤 service is available, and the hotel can help arrange a reliable driver.

🍴Restaurant >
A short stroll to the right from the hotel, just beside Samudra, you’ll find “B 1st,” which was hands down the best dining spot we discovered during our stay on Perhentian Island. The fried rice here is a true delight, bursting with wok-hei flavor, and the Tom Yum Goong is equally impressive.

But the real star of the show is the BBQ seafood—fresh, delicious, and excellent value for money. The grilled chicken leg, in particular, is a must-try: succulent, full of flavor, and perfectly crispy.