Surf: There’s always a pack on the sandspit lefts of Tanjung Cherating, Malaysia’s best wave, which is about 5h from KL. This long, protruding sandbank takes the NE breeze side-on and although it is not so powerful, Cherating peels for a long way through the brown, rivermouth water, with rides up to 1100m possible. Take-off section can be hollow and it is always better at low tide. Intense rips require constant paddling to stay in position but after a wave it’s a walk back up the beach to access the peak. Environment: Cherating was first surfed in 1990 by Tim, an Australian who stumbled upon the laidback village by chance and most of the locals are relatively new to the sport, apart from the hot kid Mamat and Khairil, the owner of the surfer’s bar.