Pelepah Waterfalls @ Kota Tinggi

The first and very big question mark is; how did we even have the idea of going for a hike at Kota tinggi in the first place. After all, we are all “uncle” level characters. But it happened anyway. Let me give you a very brief background on how did we even start harboring the idea of this hike.

The four of us met and got to know each other way back in the year 2000 – 2001 when we were just budding university student, full of hope, full of energy and took lots of chances whenever the situation arises. We were brought under the same roof in the University Hostel. Of the 4 of us, Ming Yew and I went on hiking trips in Kota Tinggi many times throughout the years in the University where the hike is actually a bonding event for the Annual rag and flag committee.

We stayed together for a few years after we’ve left the hostel and eventually the 4 of us went our separate ways, in terms of accommodation that is! So now back to the big question mark. The idea of the 4 of us going on one more Kota Tinggi hiking trip came about when our very own Mr. Lee is getting married. So it’s the whole,” we should go on one last big uber adventure, the four of us, again.” Naturally, Kota Tinggi came to mind and we decide to just do it!

And thus, that’s how it’s being decided.

So the decision was made and a date was chosen. All of us made sure our leaves are approved and the planning stage begins. We got our heads together and drew up an inventory list. As for the hiking route, we planned on taking a very common hiking route and the same one for our University hiking trip but like all natural environments, just a few hours the landscape can become rather different if you are not familiar with the place but to us that was where all the adventure lies; to find our way up there to that sandy campsite, after so many years.

Of all the “survival gears” we have, I believe the one category that contributed to the most weight in our knapsack will be FOOD! Each of us brought 2 bottles of isotonic drink and 1 bottle of mineral water, the big one liter ones. That would make up a good 3 kg in our bags. The second biggest contributor to the weight of our bags would have to be the camping gears. This would include the tent, which we are bringing one set of 4-men tent equipment; the mass tins and also a camping stove with solid fuels; We also brought some charcoals as a means to start a camp fire as charcoal is known to be able to sustain in “ember” state for a good while before it burns out. Apart from that, we have the utensils and a big steamboat pot which has to be lugged or tied on our knapsack. This is in an attempt to have a steamboat party up in the mountains, in the wilderness, which I must say is one of the most “looked-forward” to activity we have for this trip. On top of all that, we still have to prepare our clothes. One set for changing because definitely we are going to get wet on the way up and we do not want to be freezing ourselves at night. A fresh set of clothes will be left in the car that is parked at Kota Tinggi Resort for changing when we come down the next day.

So we have checked what we packed against the checklist that we have made earlier. It is now time for the trip! The plan for the day is that I will be spending the night before the trip at Pk’s place, ongky will drive down to meet us and we’ll pick up Ming Yew at the custom because he will be coming in from Singapore. And we are all set and excited about the trip!

The morning of KT trip day

Woke up at 7 am in the morning, washed up and called Ongky to make sure he is up and on his way and also checked Ming Yew is on his way too. Ongky came over and we pick MY up. Breakfast time! And we are just praying for a good and sunny weather the whole day because it is known to be dangerous if it rains while we are in the forest because the flash flood can be scary and we might have to turn back half way if it rains too heavily.

The 4 buggers, almost reaching uber unclehood. Nice downcast at the back.

And then, we are on our way. It’s been at least 5 years since we have trekked KT, so it’s going to take some time to recall the exact route up. However, the fact that it is a very popular trekking route, it should be easy to find our way around.

First off, from the back of my head, I know we have to head out of the KT resort and find a oil palm plantation which we have to walk through in order to reach the “base” of the campsite. Not really knowing what await for us ahead (which is probably why it’s exhilarating), we set off and hoping some of the landmarks will trigger off our memories.

Love Your Mother Nature. Bring Your Litter Home.

Oh, before I go on, please refer to the next picture and make sure you guys who are reading this take it very seriously! The reason why till today, we have such a nice place to trek and to experience mother nature at its purest form is because people take responsibility for not polluting or destroying mother nature.

The Hike

So we head out and pass the entrance to the resort. We pass by a gate which is locked up and to what seems to be oil palms beyond it. We thought that the entrance to the place is permanently sealed off but we shrugged that aside and continue on down the road and that is when we reach an open entrance and there is sort of a zinc roof shag beside it with people there. A old man was sitting there puffing away on his cigarette and we asked if this is the entrance to where we are going to find the route up to the campsite and we got an affirmative from him. Although before we enter, the old man warned us and told us to be careful because just a few days before, a bunch of campers attempted the route and one of them fell to his death. Scary as it is, we pushed on. And as we walk on the red muddy road, can’t help but think to ourselves: – “Finally, after all these years, we are once again going into the WILD!” really psyche up after watching that show. To be able to experience nature and to be just out there in wilderness. For KT, it’s not wilderness and harsh environment per se, but it’s good enough to set those adventure senses tingling.

Walking thru the oil palm plantation

And so as we walk on in the muddy trail, our memories are starting jolting back into us and many of the surroundings become familiar. It seems there is not much of a big change except that there are more heavy transportation trucks going in and out of the plantation carrying the oil palms. But then again, having said that, when you are inside the forest, just a couple of hours, the whole landscape can change due to fallen trees, I mean BIG fallen trees and also minor mud slides. Though the big rocks will never be moved by even the most severe weather. Thing is, if you do not know what to look out for, there is a good chance that you cannot recognize at all the landscape after a few hours, especially after a big rain.

The Entrance

As we walk further and deeper into the oil palm plantation, we started looking for that little water stream which is part of our memories and we had to take some “guessing” turns at some point but all did not prove to be fruitless, we finally found the stream and following that stream we arrive at the “entrance” to the forest area where the real trekking begins. The beginning of the more “hardcore” trek where getting wet feet and getting muddied clothes is a sure guarantee!

And as we walk on, everything becomes familiar. The entrance into the adventure is exactly the same many years ago. Our body started to be filled with adrenalin and the heart pumps faster and we are all ready for the adventure ahead. And there we are walking into the wild!

Going upstream

The so call entrance is covered a little by the overgrowth from the trees but seeing the sandy route, we know that it is definitely the path we have to take and so under the overgrowth we duck and walk through and once through a winding long sandy path in between all the trees can be seen. At that point in time, we know that we are on the right trek and forward we pressed on. Weather check is still a downcast and dark clouds are building. Good chance that it will be raining half way into the trek. But we push on, only on the agreement that we stay on high grounds whenever we can and if the rain really comes down plummeting the forest, we will back up and abandon plan. This is because a flash floods are common in KT and have claims many lives before.

Not long into the sandy path, we reach the first place where we will get in contact with the water. The chilly water of KT waterfall is nice and refreshing, but it’s not for drinking definitely unless you want to risk getting infected by E-coli or other very nasty bacteria in the water. But definitely it’s good for cooling the body down and with puri-tabs, the water can be dis-infected and drank.

The skies gets darker as we trek along, seeing all the familiar bugs and plants and also big big ends with their big big jaws. Very soon, we reach the first place where we have to scale an almost vertical wall. I remember that it use to be lot more harder because there is no definite steps or ropes that can aid you in the climb. Still a good climb nonetheless and all of us made it up with no problem.

Mini Rock Climbing

After scaling this mini wall, the weather started to deteriorate, think clouds started to form, completely blotching out the skies and it will get quite dark when you are in the forest due to that because it takes much more light to penetrate through the thick forest growth. We were still near to the waters and on not so high ground when it starts to drizzle. Knowing that our position is not the most ideal in this case we pushed on faster because if we are to back out now, we will be on even lower grounds which means chances of getting hit by a flash flood if the rain comes down will be high. Knowing that there is a good high place where we will be in front, we pushed forward hard. Taking the steep slope up as fast as we can and by the time we got up to the higher place and much further from the waters, it started to pour. Thank God it wasn’t a thunder storm but just a big downpour with not so scary wind. Because if we have any of those, we will have to find ourselves a place clear of trees for it will be dangerous if big branches start breaking and falling down on us and lightning might just strike a tall tree!

We hanged on for a while as the rain comes down on us hoping that it’s not going to last for a very long time. Lucky as we can be, the rain started to become small and eventually stopped and the sun came pouring in. Now that’s a weather that changes in no time. That is a typical characteristic of the tropical climate. The sun came out like a brilliant wide smile and of course that has lifted our spirits a bit. Through the “valley” water path and after some rock scaling, we reach the very first “real” waterfall and decide to take a break. That was when we started snacking on some chocolates to replenish our energy. It was really good to have the sun out and we are having a mini picnic by the waterfall.

After this pit stop, we got on our way again. The comfort of the warm sunlight was short lived and the whole forest darkens as the heavy clouds loomed over us. From here on out, we were not able to take any photos till we got to the top. There is a lot of water trails and the rain started pouring. We kept ourselves on the high grounds as much as possible and waited for the rain to subside before we go near any water.

We went on top speed, as best as we could and prayed really hard that the rain will stop hammering on us. The rain can really demoralize spirits. Eventually we came to a path which is blocked by a huge fallen tree, tired both physically and mentally, we couldn’t find a safe way over the tree and at that point in time, the question of whether we should turn back surfaced. With the rain hammering hard on us and as we feel like it’s seemingly really dangerous to try to push on, I was turning back. This was when Mingyew went ahead and climbed down the mud wall and detoured around the fallen tree. A simple solution to the blocked path! Now we know, whatever that is written in the SAS guidebook can only be the truth. Do not be demoralized and having the will to survive is of utmost importance. No matter how physically fit you are, in the wild, your will can easily be broken by a whole list of reason. In this case, with a cool and calm mind and a will to get to the top, Mingyew found the way!

We followed what he did and went on ahead. Once we passed that, we reach the third and last waterfall, though we would have wanted to stay longer, but it’s getting late and we will have quite a bit to do when we get up to the top. So we decided to push on ahead to the top and do the sightseeing the next day on our way down.

And finally we reach the campsite as the skies start to darken once again. We wasted no time in starting to setup camp. For any camping trips, how can we not have a camp fire right and thus the collection of “firewood” commences! In no time we got the tent setup and we manage to gather some wood which PK started a fire with. However we didn’t gather big enough logs so the initial big fire died off fast and we went gathering for whatever wood we can find after that.

Burn fire burn

Soon after the fire is up, we took turns to take a quick shower at the nearby stream and soon after, we settled down after spreading the plastic sheets around on the floor where we start to cook some dinner and of course while there is daylight, we played a few games of CITADELS a card game which PK will bring along for outings as such. Due to a shortage of wood and we did not bring any parangs to chop us some nice logs, we scavenged around for whatever wood we can find to keep the fire burning. The fire went out a second time and Ming Yew went ahead a start a new one.

And basically after that we were just chilling and chatting. The fire died down to an amber and we kept the fire alive as long as we could using whatever wood or twigs we have scavenged. Night falls and the wind started blowing. All of us suit up soon after and huddled around the fire. The best thing since bread would be boiling hot milo in the cold chilly wilds. As the night goes by, which surprisingly is pretty slow because what feels like 10 pm at night is actually only 8 pm.

Suddenly, from the distant woods, we heard chattering and torchlight beams shooting into the skies. For a moment we thought it might be robbers who come up to the Kota Tinggi campsite to rob people. From the entrance of the campsite, we heard someone shouting, “Is anybody there?!” It’s a huge bunch of people, we shone our torch light into the skies and shouted, “Yep!” It was a bunch of campers who got lost in the woods and had to find their way in the dark to this campsite. These guys are actually from Singapore, from the police force! We chatted with them for a bit and they went on to set up their camp site and cook their dinner. Which sadly, only going to consist of biscuits and break because their gas canister leaked.

After chatting and having a few drinks amongst ourselves, we decide to just lie down in the tent and turn in, albeit it is a little bit early. But all of us will need the rest for we will be making our way down the next day. This is the part of the camping trip that I personally enjoy the most because in the wilderness, there are not “light noises” to dim the starlight. Coupled with the earlier rain, the sky is clear and it’s being peppered with stars all over. Not long after lying down, I drifted to sleep. The whole night the 4 of us just keeps waking up intermittently because our friendly neighbours are blasting music and walking around and taking our mosquito coils (found out the next morning).

As the night goes by, the wind started howling strongly and I can feel some tiny droplet of rain on my face. The sky has got red patches all over as the rain clouds gather. I started to get worried because if it rains, I doubt the tent will be able to keep us dry because we are using a severely undersized poncho as a flysheet. That worry was short lived because I drifted into deep sleep after that. The deeper the night go the colder it gets. Good thing we are all well equipped, with windbreakers, socks and sleeping bags and in no time day break came. We woke up, wash up and start making some breakfast.

After an energy boosting breakfast, we packed up our gears and of course pack all the trash that we brought up into black trash bags so we can bring them back down to be properly dispose. That is the first rule that all campers/trekkers should be abiding with. CLEAR YOUR TRASH! Everyone has their part to do for the environment. It is vital to keep the environment as clean and as intact as possible.

Leave no trace behind – Clear your rubbish

Once all the trash are cleared and stuffs are packed, we are ready to set off! It is good to head back down early morning because that will give us more time to hang around each of the waterfall. The first waterfall that we will pass by is the biggest waterfall amongst the three on this route up.

Pelepah Waterfalls @ Kota Tinggi

This is the part of the trip where we snapped the most “touristy” photos. Simple because the waterfall is just hard to give a miss.

After chilling out at this biggest tallest waterfall, we mainly focus on getting back down to the bottom. Half way through our way down, both the soles of my shoes came off and I have to use twines to keep them together. It will seriously blow if I have to get down to the bottom barefooted.

We didn’t stop much after that waterfall except when I have to tighten my shoe soles. We manage to get down to the bottom without much hassle or problems and once we got back to the resort, we took turns to take a good long clean shower. At this point in time, hunger strikes us mercilessly and we are out to look for something that is going to fill our stomachs up real good.

After clearing up the trash, repack our camping gears, hop onto the car we go! Some battle scars on Ming Yew’s knee cap area. Proof of KT climb!

We drove to Kota Tinggi town and we were just driving around to find some good food. And as we are driving and thinking and fighting the hunger, we saw this old coffee shop with a big sign board saying clay pot “BAK KUT TEH”. That’s a local delight that is consist of a nice herbal black pepper soup and pork. Mainly pork ribs. We took the leap of faith, park our car and went into the shop. I have to say, that was one of the most fantastic meal I have ever had and that BAK KUT TEH is good stuff.

Bak Kut Teh @ Kota Tinggi Town

We clean up the pots of pork ribs, dry bean curbs and salted vegetables real good. After sipping some Chinese tea and rest, we made our way back home and that marks the end of our one day adventure trip.

If anyone is looking for a nice one day trip in Johor Bahru, this is a place you have to visit. Medium level trekking and a nice camping site with great scenery. One thing to keep in mind though, it’s will never be just about the place you are going to, but more importantly would be the company of people you are with. Nothing less than a good weekend trip for my good buddies and me!

Trip Report – Pelepah Waterfalls Kota Tinggi, Johor Bahru: is contributed by guest writer Likchee.

Sipadan Island is the only oceanic island in Malaysia. It is well-known for its international diving fraternity as one of the world’s five best dive sites. Rising 600 meters from the seabed, Sipadan Island is located in the Celebes Sea east of the major town of Tawau and off the coast of East Malaysia on the Island of Borneo. This beautiful oceanic island was formed by living corals growing on top of an extinct volcanic cone that took thousands of years to develop.

Sipadan Island is located in the centre of the richest marine habitat in the world, the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin. In this ecosystem, over 3,000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species have been classified.

In the waters around Sipadan, rare diving scenes are frequently seen such as schools of green and hawksbill turtles nesting and mating, schools of barracuda and big-eye trevally in tornado-like formations, pelagic species such as manta rays, eagle rays, scalloped hammerhead sharks and whale sharks. Therefore, Sipadan is popular with its unusually large numbers of green and hawksbill turtles which gather there to mate and nest. And it is not really rare for a diver to see more than seventy turtles on each dive.

Besides that, there is a mysterious turtle tomb lies underneath the column of the Sipadan Island. The turtle tomb was formed by an underwater limestone cave with a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers that contain many skeletal remains of turtles that have become lost and drown before finding the surface.

Currently, this beautiful island is in the care of Wildlife Department. The Wildlife Department has stationed several park rangers to oversee the state of nature of the island. In order to protect the world’s unique flora and fauna on the island as well as the underwater world, the Malaysian Government has made a decision that from the year 2005, no more overnight facilities shall be on the Sipadan Island itself. This implies that all dive operators on the Sipadan Island have to move and diving at Sipadan will be conducted from other destinations likes Mabul and Kapalai.

Why Not Go

You really shouldn’t go to this place for holiday unless you are a scuba diver or you like snorkeling very much. There is nothing much to do on this island except enjoy yourself on the beautiful sandy beaches and watching the coral reef with its rich marine life. Besides that, there is no resort and nothing to buy on the island.

Why Go

The name of Sipadan is a legend in the diving circles, conjuring the images of patrolling hammerhead sharks, millions of colorful reef fish and, above all, dozens of sea turtles swimming peacefully everywhere. As one of the five top diving destinations in the world, Sipadan, the small rainforest-covered tropical island rising from a 700 meter abyss in the Celebes Sea, is an ultimate diving spot that a committed diver cannot miss.

Diving at Sipadan is certainly world class, so this place has attracted many diving lovers. It is well-known that divers are able to see about 150 species of butterfly fish within a single dive in Sipadan. Utilized by marine biologists as the indicators of coral reef health, a great number and species diversity of butterfly fish implies the abundance and diversity of corals. Pristine coral reefs are also landlord to other reef dwellers such as angelfish, snappers, wrasse, sweet lips, and parrotfish as well as the larger pelagic, barracudas, mantas, whales, dolphins and schools of hammerhead sharks.

Besides that, Sipadan Island is well-known with its vast numbers of Green and Hawksbill turtles which feed and breed within its waters before the females climb ashore to lay their eggs in the white sandy beaches. Others than that, diving near the coral reefs surprises you with incredible phenomena likes thousands of schooling chevron barracuda and big-eye trevally or ‘Jacks’. Moreover, floating inside such a tornado of fish is a truly breath-taking experience that is hard to beat.

On the other hand, Sabah is becoming one of the world famous location for ‘muck diving’. ‘Muck diving’ is used by divers to describe the search for rare and exotic small marine animals. Numerous rare and newly identified gobies can be found living in the corals, sand, mud and mangroves of Sabah, along with the rarely seen mimic octopus, neon patterned blue-ringed octopus, delicate flamboyant cuttlefish, psychedelic mandarin fish and ghost pipefish.

It is really worth to have a dive at Sipadan. Generally, the rate for three dives at Sipadan is just around RM260, plus RM40 for equipment (if required). Perhaps the rates might vary slightly among different operators. Boat transfers and packed lunch are included as well. Therefore you no need to worry about the food as there is no restaurant on the island.

It is vital to note that you need to have a permit from Sabah Parks in order to access the island, which will cost you RM40. Only 120 permits will be given out every day and they are typically obtained by the dive operators. You must make sure that the diver operator you choose is diving at Sipadan with permits, as some companies have been caught diving at the island without permits. You should check diver reviews of dive operators in the area before choosing as there are many have had customer complaints regarding faulty equipment.

Besides that, another tourist attraction of Sipadan is snorkeling. Eventually from the beach, the reef is easily accessible and parts of the reef further out can be reached by boat. There are a few dive tour operators bring snorkelers to the island at an all-inclusive rate of around RM170.

Best Time to Visit

You may make your way there any time all around the year but due to Sipadan is now a protected site, there is only 120 dives are allowed on Sipadan in a day. Therefore, it is highly recommended to dive as early as possible to beat the crowds and increase your chances of getting on the roster to dive.

Where to Stay

Previously, Sipadan Island was used to have resorts. In order to protect the environment, all the resorts were forced to close down around the year 2002. Hence, to dive on Sipadan, you have to stay somewhere nearby. There are resorts on the nearby islands likes Mabul which is 25 minutes away by boat and Kapalai which is 15 minutes away by boat.

As recommended, Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort is the best place to spend your night. It is just a few minutes by boat from the islands of Sipadan. Planned and built in full style as an airy, comfortable, sunny water village with no land in sight, Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort boasts a mile-long sandbank of powdery white sand where you can suntan at complete leisure while gazing out to the miles of brilliant turquoise stretching into the horizon offering the purest image of natural serenity. With the combination of sun and water in a unique and serene setting with friendly staff, Sipadan-Kapalai is an ideal stopover for you to have a great holiday experience.

Where & What to Eat

There are no restaurants on the island. You have to bring your own lunch and snacks there. Besides that, you are reminded to bring along your own water and drinks with you.

Nightlife

There is no nightlife on the Sipadan Island as it is not allowed to stay overnight on the island.

My to do List

- Diving
- Go to sandy beaches
- See the coral reef
-‘Muck diving’
- Snorkeling

Stay Away From

You should stay away from those companies that diving on Sipadan without permits from Sabah Parks. Make sure the diver operator you choose has diving permits from Sabah Parks.

Getting There

Getting to the Sipadan Island requires some effort. The best way for first timer is that by plane. At first, you may fly to Tawau from either Kuala Lumpur which is about three hour’s flight or from Kota Kinabalu which is about 50 minutes flight. Then, continue your trip by minivan or taxi to the port town of Semporna which will take you about one to two hours. And from there you may go to Sipadan itself by fast boat, which only spend one hour.

Known for its rich tropical landscape and mighty rivers, Sarawak is the largest state in Malaysia and also an outback of sheer beauty rich in resources which includes pepper, cocoa, palm oil, timber and oil. Sarawak is a region of endless fascination with the largest cave chamber in the world, verdant jungles, unique fauna and flora, white beaches, and remote islands.

Sarawak is one of the most developed regions of the island of Borneo, the world third largest island, which is shared by Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. As Malaysia’s largest State, it is home to at least 27 ethnic groups with different language, culture and lifestyle. Therefore, Sarawak is known as a melting pot for racial-integration. Endowed with the world’s richest and most diverse ecosystems, Sarawak’s ancient rainforest canopies possessed the Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world. Rare species of plant life likes pitcher plants and orchids also can be found in Sarawak’s rainforests. At there, you also can find the orangutan and proboscis monkey.

Sarawak Fun Map

There are fifteen totally protected areas (TPA), four wildlife sanctuaries and five nature reserves in Sarawak. The eighteen national parks include Mulu, Bako, Niah, Lambir Hills, Similajau, Gunung Gading, Kubah, Batang Ai, Loagan Bunut, Tanjung Datu, Talang-Talang and Satang Islands, Bukit Tiban, Maludam, Rajang Mangroves, and Gunung Buda. The Niah National Park is a must visit as it is the most historic, with archaeologists having discovered the earliest dated modern skull in Asia in the world-famous Niah caves. At Mulu National Park, you can find Gunung Mulu, a magnificent 2,377 meter high sandstone mountain, and vast caverns of limestone caves.

The capital city, Kuching and its vicinity have a few recreational areas such as Stutong Park, Wind Caves and Fairy Caves and Orangutan wildlife rehabilitation centers at Semengok and Matang. If you are interested in Sarawak’s history and cultural heritage, you can visit the Sarawak Museum, Cultural Village at Damai or Kuching Heritage trail in the City Centre.

Another Sarawak’s popular tourist destination is Miri. It is the gateway to many national parks, rivers and some of Borneo’s best diving sites. Even people from nearby such as Bruneians often escape to Miri for shopping and sight-seeing.

Named after a local fruit called ‘Sibau’, Sibu is nowadays a centre for eco-adventures and cultural experiences. At there, you will be able to explore the rainforest and visit indigenous communities.

Besides that, there are many longhouses in Sarawak, which are the traditional homes of Sarawak’s indigenous groups. Each tribe has their own style of design even though the overall shape and architecture remain the same. Generally, a longhouse comprises a series of interconnecting rooms built on stilts, covered by one roof and a verandah for communal activities. Normally, visitors will be greeted by a glass of rice wine or “tuak” and entertained with a welcome dance.

Why Not Go

You shouldn’t go Sarawak for holiday if you have seasickness as boats are a common mode of transport in Sarawak. This is because of the dense vegetation of its interior is crisscrossed with rivers. However, experiencing the impossibly dense jungle wall breezes past will ensure you an unforgettable trip.

Why Go

The main charm of Sarawak lies in its capital city Kuching. Kuching was built along the banks of the Sarawak River and it is also very near the coastline, about 32 km away from the sea. Kuching is a tranquil location with nice landscaped parks and gardens, classic colonial buildings, colorful markets and a beautiful waterfront named as Kuching Waterfront. It is a good place to stroll around and relax.

Besides that, Sarawak’s charm also lies at its most popular and scenic beach, Damai Beach. Damai is located on the Santubong Peninsula, which is about 35 minutes away from Kuching. Besides the beautiful sandy beaches to relax on, there are also water sports such as jet-skiing and windsurfing. The Santubong Peninsula also offers several sites for bird watching. Bird-watchers can enjoy sighting a variety of birds likes Sandpipers, Egrets, Terns, Collared kingfisher, the White-bellied Sea Eagle and Brahminy Kites and Buntal village, an important wintering ground for migratory birds, is the best place for bird watching. Want to have more adventurous activities, you may climb through the rainforest to the summit of Mount Santubong, which is about five to six-hour trek. Others than that, Damai is one of the best places to see the rare Irrawady dolphin, particularly in Santubong, Salak and Buntal river estuaries. This kind of dolphins is really shy, so you need a good guide-cum-spotter to catch a sight of this dolphin in the Damai area.

To find out more about Sarawak’s historical background, visit The Islamic Museum in Kuching is a must. Opened in 1992, it was originally a Malay college but now houses seven galleries displaying elements of the Islamic culture and religion, which includes History of Islam in Sarawak, Islamic Architecture, Science, Technology, Economics, Education and Literature, Music, Costumes and Personal Ornaments, Weaponry, Decorative Arts, Domestic Utensils and a Quran Collection.On the other hand, you also have to visit the Chinese History Museum, which was originally a court for the Chinese community in Kuching. It depicts the rich history of Sarawak’s diverse Chinese groups. At there, you will learn about their origins, traditional skills and culture through the exhibitions there.

Others than that, Sarawak’s charm also lies at the Cultural Village, which is dedicated to preserving and exhibiting the cultural heritage of Sarawak’s major ethnic groups. Catch a glimpse of the lifestyles of major indigenous groups which include the Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu.

Overall, a visit to Sarawak entails a wonderful journey of discovery into its culture, heritage and history. From the peaceful sights of Kuching city to the awe of its historical museums, there are a lot of things for you to do and see in Sarawak.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to go Sarawak is from June to August. In that period, Sarawak has the least rainfall. Besides that, if you intend to go for bird-watching at Buntal village, the best period is from October to March.

Where to Stay

A wide variety of accommodations are available in Sarawak. For the budget backpackers, it is recommended to stay at Mandarin Lodging House due to its rates and facilities provided. For luxury, it is highly recommended to stay at Four Points by Sheraton Kuching due to its excellent services and also the location. Unlike Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak is very big; you should choose the accommodation that is near the place that you want to visit.

Where & What to Eat

One of the Sarawak specialties is Umai. Umai is a traditional dish of the Melanau people, which is a spicy salad of raw marinated fish, limes and shallots. You may get it at Penrissen Inn, Tapanga Tree and Malay food stalls in Top Spot (Taman Kareta).

Apart from that, you also must try the Iban’s fine delicacies likes Pansoh Manok, which is chicken with rice wine cooked in bamboo. The same technique is also used to cook fish. You can savour this dish at Penrissen Inn or the Cottage.

For seafood lover, you must try the steamed pomfret or manchong fish, asam prawns, sambal prawns and slipper lobster.

Others Sarawak specialties like Sarawak laksa, Kolo mee (simple but popular Sarawakian noodle dish), Tomato Kueh Tiaw and Foochow bagel (kompia) are the “must eat” if you make your to Sarawak. The Foochow bagel can only be found in Sibu where ethnic Chinese of Foochow clan formed a majority.

Nightlife

At night, shopping complexes and eating places are the busiest places in Sarawak’s cities and towns. Shopping complexes are close at 9:30 pm, but some eating places are open until midnight. After 6pm, the state’s capital city, Kuching are always filled with colorful streetlights, enhancing the natural vigour and charm of this vibrant city. The city centre showcases Kuching’s rich culture and tradition with beautifully lit up monuments and pre and post colonial landmarks such as the Fort Margherita and The Astana in the charming night. Melodious rhythm from adjoining entertainment outlets, clubs, bistros and nightspots is the greatest lure for the energetic few.

In Sarawak, both Kuching and Miri have the hottest nightlife. Most of the hotels in these two cities house pubs, lounges, and discotheques for the night owl. Outside the hotels, there are many karaoke lounges and nightclubs.

My to do List

Go to
- Damai beach
- Timber Museum
- Tua Pek Kong Temple
- Santubong Fishing Village
- Fort Margherita
- Longhouses
- Have a fantastic view of the limestone spikes at Pinnacles (a series of 45-metre high limestone formations)

Drink
- tuak
- langkau or Iban whisky (stronger dose)

Buy
- pepper
- local food (‘Belacan’, shrimp paste, birds’ nests, fruit preserves and pickles)
- ‘Kain Songket’
- ‘Batik’
- beaded jewelry, woven mats and rattan baskets
- locally manufactured Sarawak jars and pottery.

Stay Away From

Be careful of saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) because they are very common in certain parts of Sarawak. Caution should be taken when entering water, especially brackish areas such as Batang Lupar.

Getting There

The best way to get to this place is by plane. The largest gateway is Kuching, which is about one and half hours fly from Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu. There are also a few direct international flights from Indonesia (Pontianak, Bali and Jakarta), Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei and Macau as well as Singapore flying to Kuching twice or thrice weekly. Other airports with domestic connections to Peninsula Malaysia on both Malaysian Airlines and Air Asia are Miri, Sibu and Bintulu. Besides that, MASWings serves flights between cities and rural areas in Sarawak.

Kelantan

kelantan Travel Guide

• Kelantan Maps
• Why Not Go
• Why Go
• Best Time to Visit
• Where to Stay
• Where & What to Eat
• Nightlife
• To Do List
• Stay Away From
• Getting There

Located at north-eastern corner of Peninsular Malaysia and shares a common border with Thailand in the north, Kelantan is a world of gracious beauty, retaining an old-world charm that no one can resist. Visit Kelantan to let its natural attributes likes rustic fishing villages, palm-fringed beaches and verdant paddy fields to work their magic on you.

Kelantan has gained a reputation as the Cradle of Malay Culture as people there have managed to preserve their age-old customs and traditions until now. People of Kelantan are also well-known with their warmth and friendliness towards visitors.

Kelantan is the most deeply conservative Malay states in Malaysia. Don’t get shocked when you notice that Kelantan’s highways have more signs with quotes from the Koran than the actual traffic instructions. At there, many signs were written in Jawi, the old Arabic script for Malay and even Chinese women tend to wear headscarves due to the long term cultural assimilation process.

People of Kelantan are using different dialect of Malay, which is famously incomprehensible by outsiders. As for second languages, some people can speak fluently in English, but do not expect everyone to be able to. Therefore, it is better to have some knowledge on standard Malay.

Kelantan Fun Map

The bustling state capital, Kota Bharu, offers tourists the opportunity to witness a microcosm of the uniqueness of Kelantan people’s lifestyle. It is a city rich in Malay culture, with royal palaces, colorful markets and several museums to linger over. Kota Bharu is also a good starting point for exploring the surrounding area.

Menara Rehal: Dataran Al-Quran Kota Bahru, Kelantan.
Photo by saadsuhairiphotography

Why Not Go

You shouldn’t go Kelantan if you are not going to show your respect to the locals. It is vital to be respectful to the cultural and religious sensibilities of its primarily Muslim inhabitants in Kelantan, especially when you go to the countryside. Both men and women should wear clothing that covers all or at least most of their legs. Women should wear blouses or dresses which cover their torso. Long sleeves are preferably for women. Avoid outfits that show the shoulders or midriff. Tourists dressed in short pants and skimpy tops are really out of place in Kelantan.

Why Go

Colorful traditions, interesting pastimes and superb handicrafts make Kelantan an amazing destination. Opportunities to watch captivating activities likes top-spinning, giant kite-flying and woodcarving are all available in Kelantan.

Siti Khadijah Market, the new central market has becoming one of the Kelantan’s landmark attractions as it is the most vibrant sites in the country where traders display brilliantly colored fresh garden produce. As a browsing and shopping paradise, this market offers variety of local handicraft including batik, leather goods, clothing and household items. You can find everything at there from vegetables, local snacks to fresh tropical fruits. The colorful assemblage of goods and lively atmosphere especially in the morning makes it irresistible to shutterbugs. And the uniqueness of this market is that majority of the traders are women.

Kelantan Central Market
Photo by juin

The charm of Kelantan also lies at the Pantai Cahaya Bulan (Moonlight Beach) which is formerly known as the Beach of Passionate Love or Pantai Cinta Berahi. The warm golden sands, crystal blue waters, tall and graceful palms attract one to lie on the sand and bask in the sun indirectly. It is an ideal place for picnics, camping, relaxation and also a perfect getaway for the world-weary. Others lovely beaches in the vicinity of Kota Bharu are Pantai Cahaya Bulan (Moonlight Beach), Pantai Irama (Beach of Melody), Pantai Bisikan Bayu (Beach of Whispering Breeze) and Pantai Seri Tujuh (Beach of Seven Lagoons). All beaches are as alluring as their names sound.

The tallest Standing Buddha in South-East Asia, which is porcelain white and looming over its surroundings, is definitely a sight to behold. It is situated at Wat Phothikyan in Kampung Balai, which is a small village, 35 minutes from Kota Baru, Kelantan. It is just opened to the public on August of 2008.

The Statue: Its the biggest sitting Buddha statue in Kelantan, Malaysia
Photo by 7caught7my7eyes7

At 120m high, Lata Beringin is the highest waterfalls in Malaysia. The magnificent view and lush green surroundings make Lata Beringin a popular camping spot. It is near the Sungai Pas Kesedar Land Scheme and accessible through a dirt track leading off from the Kuala Krai-Gua Musang highway.

Best Time to Visit

Considering the weather and traditions of Kelantan, the best time to go Kelantan is between March and July. Besides that, it is advisable not to have your trip there on Friday. Places of interest such as Handicraft Village and Craft Museum, Batik Museum and Istana Jahar are closed on Friday.

Kelantan is so popular with its cottage industries such as batik-printing, silverware, wood-carving and songket weaving. The Cultural Centre in the heart of the town showcases Kelantan’s rich heritage of cultures and traditions making it a “must visit venue”. This is where you can enjoy the cultural performances, traditional games and pastimes handed down through generations. Wayang Kulit (shadow puppetry) shows, Silat (the Malay art of self defence) performances and Gasing (top spinning) displays are all available at the Cultural Centre. The Cultural Centre is open three times a week from March to October every year except for the Ramadan month. Its show time is from 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm every Saturday, Monday and Wednesday and also from 9.00 pm to 10.30 pm every Saturday and Wednesday. Its admission is free of charge. Therefore, it is best to visit Kelantan on Saturday and Wednesday.

Besides that, Kelantan has a tropical climate with its temperatures ranges from 21 to 32 °C and intermittent rain throughout the year. The wet season is during the east-coast monsoon season which is from November to January.

Where to Stay

Various types of accommodations are available in the capital city, Kota Bharu, ranges from star-rated hotels to affordable rooms. For budget backpackers, it is strongly recommended to join the homestay program. This program offers you a chance to live with fisherman, kite maker, batik painter, silversmith and top-spinning craftsman to get an insight into the culture and lifestyle of these simple folks. Contact with the Tourist Information Centre, they will make the necessary arrangements for you. Join your host family’s daily activities, learn how to cook local dish and watch cultural shows will ensure a sweet homestay memories.

For large families, it is best is to stay at The Guest Residence – Kota Bharu Guest House. Strategically located at Jalan Bayam, TGR – Guest House in Kota Bharu Kelantan is 5 minutes away from Kota Sri Mutiara or Billion Shopping Complex, and 6 minutes drive to Siti Khadijah Market and Kota Bharu City Centre. It provides a comfortable, clean and quaint environment for you and yet value for your money.

Where & What to Eat

Food stalls, restaurants and hawkers selling snacks can be found everywhere along the streets in Kota Bharu and other large towns. Located at the junction of Jalan Padang Garang and Jalan Pengkalan Chepa, Kota Bharu’s Chinatown has good traditional Chinese noodle dishes.

Street Photography
Photo by lanraga

Outdoor dining at food stalls is something that not to be missed in Malaysia and you must visit the food stalls at Padang Bas in the town centre, which serves traditional fare from 6pm until midnight.

Kelantan cuisine is well-known with its sweetness rather than its spiciness. One of the popular dishes that you should not miss out is Ayam Percik. In this dish, the barbecued chicken is marinated with rich and spicy coconut gravy. Secondly, you must try the Nasi Kerabu which is a rice-based dish that served with coconut milk, flaked fish, desiccated coconut shavings and a variety of herbs, spices and sauces. Other than that, you should also try the Nasi Dagang. It is a type of brown rice, steamed with coconut milk and served with rich spicy fish gravy. Besides that, there is a fermented version of coconut milk in Kelantan. It is called “tuak” and usually tasted sour. As tourists, you must dare to try.

Nightlife

There is really nothing much to do at night in Kelantan unless you visit the food stalls at Padang Bas. Almost all the shops are closed at night.

My to do List

- visit Fishing Village
- go to Lata Beringin
- visit Siti Khadijah Market
- try ayam percik
- buy Malay arts and handicrafts likes batik, songket and etc.
- have a fresh coconut
- try popular desserts and snacks such as akok (wrinkled cake), bahulu (cakes) and keropok ikan (fish cracker)
- have a trek at Stong Hill – one of Kelantan’s eco-adventure destinations

Getting There

Daily flights are available from Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Johore Bahru to the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Pengkalan Chepa, which is about 20 minutes to the city. Besides that, trains are available at the Wakaf Bharu Station and Sungai Golok Station. For a first timer, it is best to travel there by train to experience something different.

Kelantan is well-linked with the rest of Peninsular Malaysia by the East Coast railway line, and it is known as the “Jungle Railway”. The line starts from Tumpat in the north of Kelantan and passes through Wakaf Baru (the nearest station to Kota Bharu), Kuala Krai and Gua Musang in the southern part of Kelantan before it enters Pahang.

If you intend to have a self-drive there, Kelantan can be accessed by road via the East-West Highway which links Gerik in Perak on the west coast and Jeli in Kelantan. Federal Route 8 connects Kota Bharu with Central Pahang through Kuala Krai and Gua Musang. You can also enter Kelantan on the East Coast main road (Federal Route 3) which runs from Johor Bahru to Kota Bharu via Terengganu and the eastern part of Pahang. Use this road especially when you are heading to the Perhentian Islands. If you are coming from the Thailand, you can enter Kelantan from the southern Thai province of Narathiwat at Rantau Panjang (across the Golok River from the Thai town of Sungai Kolok) and across the Golok River using the bridge at Bukit Bunga, Jeli.

To get around in Kelantan, car rentals, airport taxis, bus service, local train and trishaw rides are all available in Kelantan. Enjoy the scenic of countryside in Kelantan by traversing around the town.

Situated 1,500 meters above sea level, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia’s largest and famous highland resort. It is surrounded by lush untouched greenery with a climate reminiscent of a cool spring day, is the perfect place to recharge your batteries and gain sweet relief from the pressures of the city especially with the one you love.

Cameron Highlands , Malaysia.
Photo by akijinn

Cameron Highlands is the smallest district in Pahang, Malaysia, which is one of the wonders of Malaysia. Moreover, this highland paradise still maintains the charm of an English village.

From strawberry farms to tea plantations and butterfly parks to the mossy forest, Cameron Highlands has it all. Being a primarily agricultural domain, you can get to see an abundance of vegetables and fruits farms here. As the leading producer of flowers and tea in Malaysia, Cameron Highlands occupies you with a lovely sight of extraordinary flowers that you won’t see flourishing elsewhere in Malaysia.

Vista at Equitorial Hotel, Cameron Highlands
Photo by khairilfz

This highland paradise is made up of a series of little townships which include Ringlet, Tanah Rata, Brinchang, Tringkap, Kuala Terla and Kampung Raja. Ringlet is the first town you reach (if you take the Tapah route), which is one of the main agricultural hubs in the highlands. Tanah Rata is the administrative hub of Cameron Highlands where most of the government offices and most of the chalets, lodges and backpacker’s accommodations are located. Another must visit town in Cameron Highlands is Brinchang, which is about 10 minutes drive from Tanah Rata, where you can find most of the smaller hotels and food outlets. Many tourist attractions located within walking distance from the town and the famous Night Market is also there. This town can be very crowded during the peak holiday season.

Why Not Go

You shouldn’t go Cameron Highlands if you really can’t stand with coldness. During the day, maybe you still wear shorts and t-shirt only but there is dramatically change in temperature in the late evenings and even cooler at night. Cameron Highlands is mostly cooling throughout the year and it might get very cold at night especially during the rainy season.

Why Go

For international tourists, the attractions lie in the nature of heritage and serene environment as well as the rustic living in a highland town which is very differ from a cosmopolitan city.

For local visitors, Cameron Highlands can provide you a welcome retreat from the madness of city living and heat of the tropics. You may spend your vacation in the cool and a beautiful place where lush landscapes and peaceful sceneries abound in the green environment.

Actually, the combination of Cameron Highlands’ wonders of nature and the cultural richness provide an unforgettable experience for anyone who is willing to visit this amazing destination in Malaysia.

Lost World – Cameron Highlands
Photo by chiammingjer

As the hallmark of fame, tea plantations are the main tourist attraction of Cameron Highlands. Tea plantations carpet the surrounding valleys in a fine layer of yellow green tea leaves, and most of them are open to tourists and visitors to purchase tea bags and watch the workers there plucking tea as well as enjoy a simmering hot cup of tea with scones. Tea was the reason why a British government surveyor, William Cameron saw potential and founded this valley, which eventually became Malaysia’s top highland holiday destination and Cameron Highlands was named after him. Three most popular tea plantations are Boh Tea Plantation, Sungai Palas Tea Plantation and Cameron Valley Tea Plantation.

Besides that, Cameron Highlands is the only Malaysia’s holiday destination where strawberries are grown and harvested commercially. Strawberry farms can be found almost everywhere in Cameron Highlands and all are open for visitors making them one of the top tourist attractions. The farms offer locally grown strawberries and home made strawberry jams or tarts at a reasonable price. You even have the opportunity to pluck your own strawberries in some strawberry farms. The best season to enjoy strawberries is the driest month which is from April to June. The popular strawberry farms in Cameron Highlands are Big Red Strawberry Farm, Healthy Strawberry Farm, Kasimani’s Strawberry Farm, KHM Strawberry Farm and Raju’s Hill Strawberry Farm

If you want to know more about the history behind Cameron Highlands, Time Tunnel Gallery (the local museum) is a “must visit”. Photographs that depict the past are from personal collections of the locals who have been there since the pre-war days. You may also find out some familiar items from the old days.

In these modern days, seeing butterflies flying around you openly is rare. Chances to see different species of butterflies flying around you are available at Cameron Highlands’ butterfly farm and butterfly garden. Experiencing a walk through an enclosed area where each species of butterfly is happily floating around in a lush, plant-filled garden is the highlight of the butterfly garden.

Best Time to Visit

Best time to visit Cameron Highlands is during the off peak season. Cameron Highlands is normally very crowded during the school holidays, weekends and festive holidays. You might be caught in traffic jam around the towns and the tourist spots during the peak season. Besides that, it is also advisable to visit at Cameron Highlands on weekend night, so that you can visit the famous night market at Brinchang.

The weather in Cameron Highlands is cool throughout the year. The temperature there ranges from 14 degree Celsius to 28 degree Celsius. Rain is common all the year round even though the monsoon season is between November and February. However, the dry season is between February and April. If you really plan to enjoy the coldness in Cameron Highlands, you may make your way there between December and February. By the time, the temperature there can drop to 10 degree Celsius at certain places.

Where to Stay

Accommodation can be easily found around a few major towns in Cameron Highlands such as Ringlet, Tanah Rata and Brinchang. It is available in every class, for every budget and every taste. You have a wide range of choices, which includes Hotels, Guest Houses, Apartments and Bungalows. From inexpensive guest houses with only bed and breakfast, intimate and cozy country lodges, to luxury accommodations at the five star hotels, in town or in the quiet countryside, Cameron Highlands has it all, but you might be encountered some problems in the peak seasons. During the peak seasons, the number of rooms available might be not enough and the price might boost up dramatically. Hence, book your room, apartment or chalet earlier to avoid sleeping under the stars when you travel there. For luxury, the best is to stay at the Smokehouse which is one of the popular landmarks in Cameron Highlands. For cheaper options, you may refer to backpacker inns or lodges and the best is Cameronian Inn due to its rates and facilities provided.As for large families or groups, Royal Lily Apartments are recommended because it is located just five minutes walk from the town center and its rental rate is negotiable (RM230-RM320). Below is a list of popular hotels and chalets with their contact numbers.

Ye Olde Smokehouse
Photo by chiammingjer

Tanah Rata is quieter and less crowded even during the peak season, it is the best place to stay. Avoid staying small chalet as amenities are not provided much there. For your information, I have once stayed in a small chalet due to its cheaper rate. The water heater in the rest room is spoiled, so can you imagine how cold the water is especially at night?

Where & What to Eat

The Boh Tea Plantation in Sungai Palas, Brinchang, you must not miss out this all-in-one tourist café. This cafe is situated within a complex that has a shop, exhibits and a tea factory next door. The cafe is also perched on top of a hill, so you can have an amazing view of tea fields below when enjoying the tea with sandwiches, pies, cakes and other snacks.

Chinese food in Cameron Highlands is a must try if you are a first timer. This is because the Chinese restaurants offer a wide variety of dishes cooked in various styles from spicy to sweet, you can choose whatever that you like. Don’t forget to have steamboat in cool, it will be a very different experience.

If you like Indian food, you can’t miss out Sri Brinchang restaurant which offers a wide range of delicious Indian food at reasonable rate.

Don’t forget to try the strawberries ice-lolly too!

Nightlife

There is not much thing you can do at night in Cameron Highlands unless you have interest in exploring Malaysia’s wildlife. Wildlife such as snakes, lizards and frogs are in their element at night, so you may heed into the forests to begin your exploration and discover more on diversity of flora and fauna.

My to do List

- Visit the tea plantations
-Visit flower nurseries and strawberries farm
-Visit the famous Cactus Valley in Brinchang
-Visit the ‘Pasar Malam’ which operates every Friday and Saturday (the stalls are set up at 4pm)
- Trek to Gunung Brinching
- Have a short walk to Robertson Waterfall

Getting There

It is strongly recommended that you have your own transportation to travel to Cameron Highlands since no car rental services are available in Cameron Highlands.

The best way to get to Cameron Highlands is by road travel, but be careful when driving to Cameron Highlands especially if you are a first timer. There are many trucks and buses on the roads along the ways. Overtaking can be a challenge especially if you are going to Cameron Highlands from Tapah. If you have not confident, just follow the vehicle in front you at a very low speed. Normally the local trucks and buses will give you signal to overtake when it is safe enough. Besides that, you need to be careful of the small rocks and tree branches along the roads.

Avoid travelling alone at night if you are not an expert in driving especially for first timer. And please take note that there are no street light all along the way and it might be a long drive.

There are two ways to go Cameron Highlands:

i) From the South via Tapah

Cameron Highlands is situated about 300km from Kuala Lumpur and it will take you about 3.5 hours to get there via the North-South Expressway (NSE). If you are driving from Kuala Lumpur, please follow the sign to Ipoh along the NSE. Keep on driving until you reach Tapah which will spend about one and half hours. Turn into the Tapah and Cameron Highlands exit (Exit 132) and exit NSE through the Tapah toll booth. Then turn left at the traffic lights. From there onwards, you will be taking the long winding road to Cameron Highlands which is about 60 km away.

Prepare some plastic bags in your car especially if you have passengers with motion sickness. Since there are a lot of heavy vehicles going up and down the road, be careful especially when you want to overtaking. Be careful and be patient all the way. And remember it is common courtesy to let the vehicle behind you to overtake you.

ii) From the north via Simpang Pulai / Ipoh

There is another new road opened now, which is from Simpang Pulai. The road condition is much better than the Tapah route, so it is recommended to take this route if you are first timer and this route will take you about 45 minutes only to get to Kampung Raja.
Remember to exit the North-South Expressway at Exit 137 (Simpang Pulai) and turn right at the traffic light right after the toll booth. Then turn right again at the next traffic light which is about 200 meters away. Follow the signs to Kampung Raja or Cameron Highlands along the way. Around one hour later, you will reach the Kampung Raja junction where you have to turn right into Kampung Raja town. Then you can just follow the main road to your destination likes Brinchang and Tanah Rata, which is about 25-30km from there. Don’t worry; driving up this road will definitely be your pleasant experience. Be careful of the sharp bends at some stretches. Note that there is no mobile coverage along this road up to now. Make sure that you have at least half tank of fuel before you start your journey from the expressway exit.

My thoughts through the lens

“Rain rain go away, come again another day.” This ditty seemed to echo in my mind as I stepped out from the house and into the car. Although cloudy skies bring dramatic effects to an image, many photographers would agree that the rain could also be one of the photographers’ biggest adversaries. Nevertheless, I had packed my backpack and was ready to take my chances, hoping that the sun would make its presence later.

Miraculously, when I arrived at the gate of the Kek Lok Si temple, the rain had turned to a drizzle and the skies were beginning to clear. The moody-looking clouds seemed to make way for the white clouds and even the skies gradually turned blue. I thought that I would be confined to taking indoor shots of the temples but I think Lord Buddha had other plans for me…*wink wink*..

I was excited, to say the least.

I am sure the Kek Lok Si temple is synonymous to most Buddhist devotees around this region; in fact, the Temple is also featured in Shenzhen’s Window of the World Theme Park in China, making it an iconic symbol that has received acknowledgment around the globe. I was in Shenzhen in December last year and this had me pleasantly surprised.

In this assignment, my intention is to showcase this magnificent landmark in a two-part (possibly three) series. I am pleased to take this photographic journey and will walk with you through the stairways and slopes, and hopefully, be enlightened along the way.

To all devotees and readers, Happy Wesak Day!

All photos and texts by Calvin Kwok
p/s: The series will take a break next week and will most probably be back the following week.

The Pagoda of A Thousand Buddhas looking majestic and seem to dwarf the hundreds of visitors on that particular morning. Being a long weekend, the temple was one of the ‘must visit’ sites in Penang which saw local and foreign visitors making up the large crowd.

To reach the pagoda, you would need to make a slightly steep ascend starting from the covered walkway seen on the right side of this image.

One of the first of many places to visit in Kek Lok Si is the prayer hall. This shot was taken hand-held with no flash as I intended to capture the statue of Lord Buddha being illuminated by the flames of the pineapple-shaped candles on the altar.

The Sanskrit name “Avalokitesvara” is interpreted in many ways: “The One Who Hears the Cries of the World”; “The Lord Who Looks Down”; “The Lord Who Looks in Every Direction.”

On your way up to the mid level of Kek Lok Si, be prepared to catch your breath and the surrounding sights as well. Even a humble-looking stone staircase and wall could present a beautiful photographic moment, as this couple would attest.

A row of Buddha’s statues greeting visitors as soon as they complete their ascend to the mid level of Kek Lok Si temple. On the background is the ever-present Pagoda.

A set of Buddha’s statues lining up one of the corners of a smaller temple within Kek Lok Si. I was drawn to the carvings of the dragon (foreground) and thought it would make the image interesting by framing it between the red pillar and Buddha’s saffron robe.

A large statue of Lord Buddha being surrounded by lotus candles placed by devotees and visitors. This smaller temple, located at the mid level of Kek Lok Si temple, is a popular pit-stop for visitors wanting to get some fresh air and purchase memorabilia to bring home apart from the memories.

An aerial view taken from one of the corners of the temple. After making the ascend to the mid level, visitors will get a chance to take a breather and admire the scenery of the nearby Air Itam town.

A young boy praying in front of an altar at the prayer hall. Notice the lighted candles in the form of pineapple (‘ong lye’ in local Hokkien dialect) vases. With messages tied around the neck of the vases, devotees often pray for the blessings for the entire family to have a bountiful and prosperous year.

Bathing of the Buddha: The Kek Lok Si temple is a hive of activity, especially in the run-up to Wesak Day on 9th May this year. There was an air of serenity as devotees took turns to bathe the statue with some taking home the fragrant holy water for consumption.

This shot was captured using a very low shutter speed (1/6 seconds, hand held) which resulted in some intentional blur or softness. The little girl in blue suddenly pirouetted in front of my camera, resulting in a welcomed streaks of blue which rendered some elements of Impressionistic art to the overall image, in my opinion, and making it appear dream-like and mysterious.

Born, bred and schooled within the vicinity of George Town; Penang has been my home for over twenty years. As a way of saying ‘Welcome to Penang’, I would like to share scenes of Penang with you from my perspective as a keen amateur photographer. More [+]

My thoughts through the lens

After a month’s spotlight on George Town and its inhabitants, I would like to introduce you to another largely undiscovered gem of Penang, the fishing villages.

The southern part of Penang island has a string of fishing villages stretching from Batu Maung to Gertak Sanggul. The villages have retained its charm and personality, possibly for being far from the curious eyes of locals and foreign visitors. In this photo essay, my focus is on the Teluk Kumbar fishing village located at the south-east end of the island.

I am excited to share with you some of the images taken on a very bright and blue day. It was definitely a great experience and a good workout as well, especially for a nature-lover like me. The smiling faces of the local children made the day unforgettable. Looking back, I arrived at the scene at around 8.45am but not many fishing activities in sight. Most of the fishing boats were still tied to the shore and the village seemed to have not woken from the slumber yet or was it still too early? Well, as the sun rose, so did the inhabitants. First, it was the fisherman and then followed by children in groups. The children, especially, were a bundle of joy with their laughters filling the air. What a difference from the city kids; here, digging for shells and building sandcastles bring the most happiness to them. There was no need for any video game console or computer games but just simple games by the beach to put smiles on their faces.

Being kids, they were initially shy but a little coaxing went a long way. They smiled and waved; I smiled and returned the gesture, in thanks for the friendship that formed in that fleeting photographic moments.

All photos and texts by Calvin Kwok

An up-close shot of a fishing boat with a fleet of other fishing boats moored along the bay on the background. Most of the boats sport the classic red and blue combination, making them a striking sight from near and afar.

Off they go: Two fishermen starting their journey on a sunny morning. Who knows what the tide may bring? Will it be a good catch? Or will it be just barely enough to scrape through and feed the hungry mouths back home? These fishermen know that their fate lie in the fickleness of the weather and yet they strive on, propelled by hope.

With a vast blue backdrop and swirl of the clouds, I was taken in by the simplicity and serenity of this scene. The orange rooftop adds contrast and visual interest, thus anchoring the image in the eyes of the viewer.

A peculiar-looking coconut branch stretches out as though to reach a fishing boat. This image was taken just below the branch to lend a sense of perspective and depth to the overall image.

“This morning I’m not going to the sea”, this pakcik (uncle) said when I asked him if he was preparing to go out like the other fishermen. He wanted to fix his fishing equipment first, since the fishing nets had become quite entangled. There were a number of nicer-looking boats nearby for photographic purposes, to be honest. However, I chose to capture this image as my heart went out to the pakcik who, despite being in a less-than-favorable situation, had the look and determination to turn the tide around, so to speak.

A bird was spotted doing its own fishing along a stream which leads to the sea. Using my Tamron 18-200mm lens, I crept and got as close as I could to the bird. I shot more than 40 images of this bird alone, waiting to capture that split-second image of the bird with its prey in its beak. I tried and tried and finally, got the image I had been striving for.

While the humans are still lulled by the sounds of the waves, a pair of green beetles got ‘caught in the act’. Love is surely all around in this quaint little fishing town!

I just had to capture a portrait of this little girl playing in the sand. She was such a joy to capture and definitely melted my heart with her bright eyes and sweet smile.

A young boy showing off a fishing worm in his right hand (notice the length of the worm). To catch the worms, the boy munched and spat biscuits onto the sands (most probably as a form of bait). As soon as the worm appears, all he needed was a quick hand to pull up the worm. Sounds easy? Wait until you give it a try.

A self-portrait on the golden sands of the beach. It’s been quite some time since I last took a picture of myself and this silhouette is the closest I would get for now.

A fisherman spends his morning mending his net in the open and under a cool shaded tree, oblivious to the world around him, especially to the sound of my shutter clicking away while I got down low to take this shot.

A walkway of rocks and concrete slabs lining up the beach which provide a form of barrier to the incoming waves. When the tide is high, it is almost impossible to use this walkway. I was intrigued by the rough texture and repetition of the rocks and felt that it would make an interesting image.

The smiles say it all: A group of local children having a wonderful time at the beach, digging holes and building sandcastles. Despite not knowing most of their names, I could feel the bond that developed when they let me into their world in that flickering moment, That’s the beauty of photography; there is usually not much need for many words if you let your heart do the talking. Anyway, a big smile almost always does the trick. It’s hello and goodbye, my little friends!

Born, bred and schooled within the vicinity of George Town; Penang has been my home for over twenty years. As a way of saying ‘Welcome to Penang’, I would like to share scenes of Penang with you from my perspective as a keen amateur photographer. More [+]

My thoughts through the lens

So on last Saturday, I made sure that my mind was purely on Little India and anything else could wait. Covering the notable areas around Lebuh Queen, Lebuh Chulia and Lebuh Pasar (Market Street) that make up Little India in the heart of George Town, I was greeted by the sights, sounds and scents. The sights of the dhoti-wearing men, the saree-clad ladies; the sound of Indian music blaring from the shops selling Bollywood movies and traditional Indian songs from shops and street stalls. Above all, who could disregard the scent of spices and incense wafting through the air in a dizzying concoction?

My heart was led astray.

Here’s my story and the scenes captured. In the meantime, let me savor some of the things I brought home with me this time around. Hmmm, I think my camera smells rather spicy now from the walk around Little India. Well, spice is nice!

Meendum santhipom! Vanakkam!
All photos and texts by Calvin Kwok

The imposing Mahamariamman temple, quite possibly THE icon in Little India. The temple is over a hundred years old with a charm that can only be best experienced first hand.

Lord Ganesha, brother of Lord Muruga, guarding the inner shrine. The Mahamariamman temple is rich in history and definitely rich in colors as well.

Brightly-colored sarees being lined up high on this saree shop, making them a bold and vivid advertisement to woo potential customers.

Standing among the sarees in his shop, I asked this ‘uncle’ if I could take a picture of him. He willingly obliged and his straight-as-arrow pose sort of make him appear like one of the mannequins behind him. I smiled.

A close-up look: Boxes of colorful incense sticks being lined outside an Indian wholesaler’s shop. Walking around Little India, I was made to feel welcome by the sweet-smelling aroma from the incense sticks that seemed to fill the air every turn I took.

An assortment of brightly-colored prayer garlands can be found at various shops in Little India

Not for the faint-hearted: I was very drawn to the cube-like shapes of the machine-cut meat. They remind me of the square-shaped melons that they had (or still have?) in Taiwan or China. The blood and contours of the meat add further drama to this scene, in my opinion. The butcher, Encik Tajudden, was very accommodating and allowed me to take several shots of him at work.

A street vendor with his array of goodies; candies, juicy magazines on the latest Bollywood gossips, fruits, ointments and other knick-knacks. I find it amusing that despite the space constraint, these vendors are able to lay out their wares in a very neat and presentable manner

One of the Indian bookstores found in China Street with a bright yellow signboard which caught my eyes almost instantly. The hunched figure of an Indian lady add a sense of silence and loneliness, perhaps from waiting for the shop to be opened

Two men walking along a giant motif on the street.. Street engravings, with embossed motifs of flowers and other similar-inspired designs, are quite a sight in Little India so do take note of them the next time you are there

Master craftsmen at work in a jewellery shop along Market Street. Although very much engaged in their work, they were still very welcoming and obliging with their smiles when I approached them

What is Penang without its food? Freshly-prepared roti canai and murtabak tempting the taste buds of anyone who walks by. Shot from the Sri Ananda Bahwan Restaurant which serves northern and southern Indian cuisine. A must-have quick tuck before heading off home for me

Born, bred and schooled within the vicinity of George Town; Penang has been my home for over twenty years. As a way of saying ‘Welcome to Penang’, I would like to share scenes of Penang with you from my perspective as a keen amateur photographer. More [+]

The three elegantly beautiful models, Danielle, Karen and Roxanne were a joy to capture. They looked stunning in their wedding gowns and having the iconic sites of George Town as the backdrop made the whole event even more meaningful.

My thoughts through the lens

Passion. Grit. Determination. If these words sound very familiar in the sporting world, I’m sure these words are applicable to the photography world as well and this article also serves as a tribute to all the photographers who braved the heat for those two days. Here is a sneak peek of the event through my lens and for now, I will let the images do the ‘talking’.
All photos and texts by Calvin Kwok

Little India, along Market Street

Fort Cornwallis, Esplanade

Chew Jetty

Off Beach Street

A candid shot at Fort Cornwallis, Esplanade

Shooting in session

Born, bred and schooled within the vicinity of George Town; Penang has been my home for over twenty years. As a way of saying ‘Welcome to Penang’, I would like to share scenes of Penang with you from my perspective as a keen amateur photographer. More [+]

Vernacular Mosques (18th century to date)

Examples of some building features which were built in response to the warm and humid climatic conditions are pitched roofs to enable rain water to run off quickly, stilts to raise the mosques above ground level to avoid floods; and many openings including louvered windows, fanlights and carving panels to allow natural cross ventilation of air. Building materials such as timber, bamboo, bricks, stone, clay tiles and attap are widely used in the vernacular mosques as they are easily available locally. Like the Malay houses, the vernacular mosques portray high level of craftsmanship.

Colonial Mosques (1795 to 1957)

Most of the mosques built during the colonial period are architecturally different from the vernacular mosques in terms of scale and proportion, form, features and building materials. Domes (either onion-shaped or top-shaped), turrets, classical columns, pilasters, pointed arches, keystones, pediments and plastered renderings on cornices and capitals are common features found in the colonial mosques. Effectively, the British architects, at the turn of the century, had combined the Moorish influence and the classical styles to portray an Islamic image to the mosques.

Modern Mosques (1958 to date)

The architectural styles of the modern mosques have changed gradually in parallel with the development in structural advances, construction methods, contemporary designs of mosques as well as increased local interests toward Islamic architecture. With the advent of science and technology, modern mosques are constructed in a larger scale to accommodate the increasing number of Friday congregations. Concrete, bricks, steel, stone and marble are commonly used in the construction of modern mosques. Onion-shaped or top-shaped domes, tall minarets and high ceilings are common features found in the modern mosques. The modern mosques usually incorporate well-designed landscape elements including plants, water features, patterned pavements, garden lightings and signages.

Here on Malaysia Travel Guide, we showcase some amazing photographs on Malaysia mosques.

Putra Mosque, Putrajaya Malaysia

by bismikaallahuma

by randomgirl

by ccdoh1

by akijinn

Sultan Salahuddin Mosque, Selangor

by macloo

Masjid Ubudiah Mosque

by richardpluck

Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan, Kuala Lumpur

by pjfncs27

by pjfncs27

Masjid Terapung, Penang

by hrdrck

by rescuedog

Crystal Mosque, Kuala Terengganu

by shutterhack

Mosque architecture information from here.