Terengganu used to be a nondescript state with nothing to detain visitors from venturing out further out to its off-coast islands; that is, until the discovery of oil enriched the state exponentially. Now, the capital, Kuala Terengganu, is a thriving city with high-rise office buildings and banks jostling each other for prime real estate in the busy commercial centre. Meanwhile, the beaches of Terengganu proper mimic those of its off-coast atolls – they’re clean, beautiful and well maintained. Accommodation isn’t hard to come by, since Terengganu boasts a fairly thriving tourism sector – budget choices are abundant but it’s the state’s luxury listings that leave you craving more. Topping the list is the Tanjong Jara Resort – a five-star retreat offering 99 beachfront air-conditioned rooms with canopied verandas and facilities that encompass a private beach, spa village and two pools.