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Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Homestay Seterpa Kelantan

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The silent whisper of ripening paddy fields swaying gently in the wind greets visitors, as they step into Kampung Seterpa. Running barefoot, a small boy pushes his small tricycle across the beaten footpath at the edge of the paddy fields. A rooster crows loudly, breaking the deafening silence.

MAN_1213Located 16 kilometers from Kota Bharu in Kelantan, Kampung Seterpa is the nearest homestay village to the city centre. Kampung Seterpa, derived from the Kelantan dialect ‘serepak’ (meeting place), is a wonderful experience for those wanting a taste of traditional village life.DSC_2126

The villagers are warm and friendly, and immediately put you at ease with their lively chatter. Sip a coconut (or two!) to quench your thirst and take in the beautiful surroundings. Served with traditional pastries, ‘tepung pelita’ and munching on local fruit, jambu air, life here is pleasant and slow paced.

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No traffic jams for miles, just the chorus of quacking ducks, chickens and buffalo. Breathe in the fresh, morning air as you watch the sun rise during your stay here. Make a date with the farmers to explore the village with its many interesting activities or even try a hand at paddy farming!

On a windy day, fly the ubiquitous and colourful wau (kite) while running across the paths to the paddy fields. Collect freshwater snails, see the mischievous monkey pick a ripe coconut or dance to the tunes of the ancient ‘dikir barat’.

You’ll definitely enjoy your stay here at Kampung Seterpa, don’t forget to share the memories!

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Homestay Kg. Seterpa

Lot 112 Taman Indah, Kg. Seterpa

Jalan Penggawa Matsaat

16150, Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

For further information browse:

www.malaysiarailexplorer.com

lekor, anyone?

keropok lekor

Keropok lekor, anyone?

Tasty, crunchy, fishy, yummy are likely some of the words you’ll come across by Malaysians and visitors alike, in describing the popular traditional snack, keropok lekor.


Keropok lekor, a specialty of the state of Terengganu and states situated along the east coast Peninsular Malaysia is a heavenly indulgence with its crunchy, slightly fishy taste, a popular treat among locals.

It’s slightly greyish colour, ground fish mixed with sago flour, is sliced into chunky sized- bits before frying into a warm, golden hue. It is best eaten, hot off the wok.


The fragrant smell of the keropok, simmering gently in a wok, awakens the senses. For keropok lekor enthusiasts, it is a refreshing smell, and instantly makes one hungry!


De-boned fish such as ikan selayang (decapterus russellii), ikan tamban (sardine-like fish), ikan parang (herring) or ikan kerisi is used to make the keropok (crackers). Ikan selayang is popular as the fish has a sweet taste. Mixed with sago flour, it is kneaded into long dough, cut, and boiled for several hours.


There are two ways to make keropok lekor. The first is to dry the (newly) boiled dough under the sun. Once dried, it will be sliced thinly to make pre-fried keropok lekor or known as keropol lekor keeping (slices).


The other variety is to cut the boiled dough and deep-fry it into a heated wok. This is favoured by many, as this preserves the excellent taste of the keropok. (Make you sure you don’t make the mistake of washing the boiled fish, as this most certainly kills the taste!)


Eaten freshly fried from the wok with some special chilli sauce dipping, it is certainly a popular snack time choice!

Bako to remember…

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wishhhhhh…..wihssssshhhhhh…

The trees bristle violently in the chill wind.

A large orange nose peers shyly from the tree tops. Wide-eyed with weary lines under its eyes, the proboscis scans the horizon.

“Click..Click…...”

Another tiny face peers from the leaves. It’s a tiny, baby proboscis, hanging tightly onto its furry mum.

Visitors are busily snapping away pictures of the rare, proboscis monkeys, numbering around 275, living in seclusion at the famed Bako National Park in Kuching, Sarawak.

The Bako National Park, home to the shy proboscis monkeys (Nasalis larvartus) or commonly known as ”Monyet Belanda ", is one of many homes in Borneo where the rare animals reside.

Living mostly in treetops, the male proboscis is larger, with a distinct reddish-orange nose and fat protruding belly, but the female is slightly smaller. Both are covered in reddish-brown fur with agile grey limbs and white, long tail.

They thrive on a diet of seeds, leaves and unripe fruit. Occasionally they do go down to the mangrove swamps during low tide in search of their favourite delicacy, mangrove shoots.

Hence, don’t be alarmed if you see them wandering about in the shallow shoreline, eating and jumping around, searching for young shoots, while tiny hermit crabs scurry about.

The proboscis monkeys are just one of many star attractions at the Bako National Park, located 37 kilometres from Kuching city centre.

A treasured secret, the park is teeming with wildlife, has a rich ecosystem, and covers 27 squares kilometres of land. The park is open to visitors from all walks of life.

One of the exciting things to do at Bako, is to walk the colour-coded trails. There are the different trails to follow such as:

Beach vegetation, cliff vegetation, Heath (Kerangas) forest, mangrove forest, mixed dipterocarp forest, grasslands (padang) vegetation and peat swam forest.

Go in a small group, and experience some of the best in nature, especially close by to the park headquarters at Telok Assam.

Start early in the morning, at the break of dawn, as the day is cooler and the forest is just starting to wake up. You’ll hear birds chirping wildly, greeting the morning sun, as the silence of the night evaporates into the cold, morning air.

You will need to be in position early, either at Telok Delima or Telok Paku, some of the best trails to catch a glimpse of the Proboscis.

There are other animals roaming around the park, such as the silver leaf monkey, Borneon Bearded Pig, the mangrove pit viper and many birds and insects.

Some of the other significant features surrounding the national park are the secluded coves, rugged rocky headlands and magnificent sea arches facing the vast South China Sea.

There are also massive sandstone formations for the budding geologists to discover on cliffs nearby. Waterfalls cascade, giving a cooling respite to weary travellers.

A day trip is possible to the park, but those wishing to explore further can opt to stay in accommodation provided at the park grounds. This consists of 3-bedroom Chalets, 2-bedroom Lodges, 4-bedroom Hostels and a camping ground. Barbecue pits are provided for visitors to prepare their own meals.

Bako National Park is a blend of unique ecosystem, and should not be missed on your next trip to Kuching.

Remember, take nothing but photographs, and leave nothing but footprints…

Getting there:

By road


Petra Jaya Bus No.6 and regular minibuses go from Kuching to Kampung Bako, a picturesque fishing village. Alternatively, taxis do go to Kampung Bako.

By boat.


From there (Kampung Bako) you have to charter a boat to the Park. The boat ride is an adventure in itself, with the skilled and experienced boatmen riding the surf at high speed, to the delight of most visitors.

Further enquiries contact:

There are mountain huts, public toilets and washrooms, a canteen, an information centre and video shows at the park. Application for permits and reservations for accommodation can be made at the Sarawak Forestry Corporation Corporate Office in Kuching at (6082) 3480. You could also contact Tourism Malaysia Sarawak Office at (6082) 246 575 / 775.

For more information, kindly surf Sarawak Forestry Corporation at http://www.sarawakforestry.com.

BUKIT LAYANG-LAYANG: A GROWN-UP’S PLAYGROUND

Contrary to popular belief, being a travel writer isn’t as hyped up or as glamorous as other people make it out to be. Like any other writing profession, whether you are writing about the latest celebrity gossip, or whether you’re reviewing food at a high class gourmet restaurant, there are always things you want to do, and things you have to do. So when my editor assigned me to cover the 16th Annual Pasir Gudang International Kite Festival in Johor the other day, I just barely managed to hide that slight raise of the eyebrow quickly enough to replace it with a smile and an enthusiastic “Yes, boss!” whilst secretly thinking, Kite-flying? Really?
But to be honest, the assignment really wasn’t that bad. I was intrigued by the practice; I had always pegged kite flying as a child’s activity, something that you did as a child and outgrew, like having leftover pizza for breakfast, or playing video games. Although now when I come to think of it, I still do these things, so I suppose in comparison, kite-flying was the lesser of many pre-pubescent sins.
After a five-hour bus ride from Kuala Lumpur City Centre, we arrived at Bukit Layang-Layang in Pasir Gudang, Johor, the southernmost state of Peninsular Malaysia. Bukit Layang-Layang is an open field exposed to the strong seasonal monsoon winds, which makes it perfect for kite flying, and the Pasir Gudang International Kite Festival is invariably held here every year. This year marks the 16th time the festival is held since its inception in 1995, and every year hordes of these kite-wielding, adult men and women take part with their latest invention.
This year proved no different; throngs of people crowded the open field, and makeshift stalls popped up like mushrooms to cater to the visitors. Vendors sold a variety of items, mostly food, but there were also items of clothing, wau (the traditional Malaysian kite) paraphernalia, and plenty of other souvenir trinkets, cheap things with almost no practical use except to show how much you love your wife/girlfriend/ colleagues back home (Hint: I love you less than $1).
This year, the festival intended to make its mark on the Malaysia Book of Records by flying the most numbers of kites simultaneously, so the organizers gathered several thousand school children together on the field in an attempt to fly three thousand kites at once. As the green field became flooded with the ecstatic mob of kite-wielding, dangerously carefree children running in all directions, I decided that I’d had a good 26 years of living, and suicide by trampling from a happy mob of children seemed like a good way to go as any.
Into the thick of the mob I dived, and was immediately assaulted by a relentless barrage of screaming children who were dragging along their kites behind them. Surprisingly, the kids manoeuvred expertly around me, and I was able to walk peacefully through this throng of colourful chaos.
I couldn’t help but grin – the children looked so happy with their toys, that I contemplated conning one of them out of their kites, just so I could run along and pretend to be a 10-year-old again. After careful consideration however, I thought better of it. Prison food simply lacked the personal touch of room service, and after all, I had a job to do; I had to watch grown-ups fly kites.
So I made my exit to watch the big boys and their toys. This year’s theme was “Colouring the Sky,” so naturally the big boys brought out their biggest, most fabulously coloured kites to fly, and an eerie image of the hippie movement in the sixties crossed my mind. More than 200 participants from over 30 countries came to re-live their childhood, and so began a flurry of rainbow coloured kites being hauled up and blown into the air. The situation was so festive, I half-expected to see a Volkswagen type-2 van to pull up, full of youths with bad clothing, dirty hair and dubious cigarettes in hand.
Hippie as it may be, I suppose that is the particular charm of the kite festival. It was the chance to indulge in childish wonder, the idea that even as grown-ups, we still enjoy seeing colourful things take off into the air for no obvious reason. Sure, as adults we understand that it is the consequence of lift and force, of wind movements and aerodynamics; but the child in us still wants to believe it’s the work of magic.
There were a multitude of kites, each as varied as the people who flew them. A team from Japan, dressed in a costume adorned with the tako-e, or kite paintings, brought a simple kite with them, which had the traditional print of a male Japanese character on the kite. They were a friendly couple, occasionally approaching the spectators at the sidelines to let them handle their kite. Others had more elaborate designs; Ibu Liannawati from Indonesia, for example, created Upin and Ipin kites, Malaysian cartoon characters that are beloved in Indonesia, and also a peacock kite, a simple design with a daring mix of purple, green, red, yellow and blue.
Some were grand, like the giant squid kite from the Germans, which required the assistance of a pilot kite – a smaller, lighter kite that’s used to help lift the bigger kite off the ground to higher altitudes where the wind currents are stronger. Others were not quite as easy to lift, like the dragon kite by the Chinese team. True to its name, the dragon kite consisted of a series of little kites strung together to form a giant kite that stretched to 250 metres! The handling of the kite was almost a nuisance – the fragile kite had to be fully laid out on the ground carefully, and lifted at different sections before it could be airborne. Nevertheless, it was impressive to see the it breeze through the skies, with the tail end oscillating in the wind; it did look like a real dragon.
There were other events at the festival, like the lollypop drop, where mini parachutes bearing candies were released from airborne kites. Children were momentarily allowed into the kiter’s field to catch these “candies from the sky” and one occasionally found the odd adult among the kids. I had a wrestling match with a 10-year-old over a bar of chocolate strapped to a parachute, and it was brutal – on one hand, I had the advantage of being bigger and stronger than he was, but on the other, he had far less appreciation for the sensitivity of the area between my thighs. Needless to say, he won.
After licking my wounds and crying over lost candy, I went to observe another event - the Rokkaku event, where kite pilots battle it out, gladiator-style. The objective of the Rokkaku is simple; crash the enemy’s kite using your own fighter kite. This is done by cutting the enemy’s kite line by rubbing your own kite line against the enemy’s. The kite lines, when rubbed against each other, would cut the kite line (depending on who was on the offensive) with the heat generated from friction. Once the enemy kite is cut, the winner may look on smugly as his/her opponent’s kite comes crashing down.
In this event, a team consists of three participants, a pilot and two co-pilots handling a hexagonal Rokkaku kite. The real challenge of the Rokkaku is coordination; teams must synchronize their movements in order to effectively manoeuvre the Rokkaku kite, which requires a lot of teamwork and practice. This year there was one female participant in the Corporate Rokkaku league, a bold entry in a world usually dominated by the male, and although she lost, it was still a very impressive performance.
At the end of the festival, I could honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Despite my differences with the children there over the ownership of kites and candy, it was an experience to see huge inflatable toys flying through the air. After the trip, my editor greeted me with a smile and asked me “how was it?” I proudly showed her my photographs and signed up for next year’s festival.
GETTING THERE
The kite flying festival happens annually at Bukit Layang-Layang at Pasir Gudang, Johor, usually during the month of February. Being the southernmost tip of Peninsular Malaysia, it isn’t hard to find, although it may take some time getting there. If you are travelling by road, from Kuala Lumpur, drive southwards to Johor via the North South Expressway (PLUS highway) and head to Johor Bahru. Once there, look for buses that go to the Pasir Gudang Bus Terminal. From there, take a metered taxi to Bukit Layang-Layang.
If you are travelling from Singapore, Johor Bahru is accessible via the Johor-Singapore Causeway or the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link (Tuas Second Link).
The most convenient long distance transportation there is by air. Johor’s Sultan Ismail Airport in Senai is 32 kilometres from Johor Bahru. The major air carriers like Malaysia Airlines, FireFly* and AirAsia, fly there from Kuala Lumpur and most other capital cities like Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, and Kuala Terengganu.

* Kuala Lumpur has three airports, i.e. KLIA, LCCT and Subang Skypark Terminal (Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang) served by different airlines; please check your tickets to see which airport to depart from.
Johor is also accessible by sea via the Johor Bahru International Ferry Terminal in the Johor Bahru district. From there, proceed to Bukit Layang-Layang by bus or metered taxi.
For more information about the kite festival, you may contact:
Johor City Council:
Mr. Ismail Bin Mat Taib
Email: ismail@kitefestpasirgudang.com or ismailmt@mppg.gov.my
Mr. Anuar Bin Abdul Ghani
Email: anuar@kitefestpasirgudang.com
Tel: +607-2547777 or +607-2513720 / 21 / 22

Nanas Forest Reserve, Kuala Lumpur

Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve

A rich variety of flora can be found within the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve

The bustling city of Kuala Lumpur has many tall buildings and modern structures. However, many people are not aware that in the heart of the city, a patch of greenery still exists.

In fact, one of Malaysia’s most prominent landmarks, the Kuala Lumpur Tower (KL Tower), is built on top of one of the oldest forest reserves in Malaysia, the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve.

Gazetted in 1906, Bukit Nanas serves as a green lung of Kuala Lumpur and is home to an abundance of flora and fauna unique to the Malaysian tropical rainforest.

Bukit Nanas can be categorised as a heritage for two reasons. Firstly, it is the only remaining patch of tropical rainforest that still stands in the middle of the city. Secondly, it is one of the oldest permanent forest reserves in the country (it celebrated its Centennial Anniversary in 2006).

The 10.5 hectare forest reserve was also gazetted as a Wildlife Reserve and Bird Sanctuary in 1934 and in 1950 respectively, with a section of about five hectares dedicated as a Virgin Jungle Reserve.

When paying a visit to KL Tower, visitors should include a trip to Bukit Nanas in their itinerary, as it lies just beside the entrance to the tower and requires no admission fee. It offers nature lovers a good opportunity to learn more about the ecology of the local forest. It is also perfect for shutterbugs and photography enthusiasts.

Nature guides are available to explain about the various types of flora and fauna in the jungle reserve. The daily guided tour runs at 11am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm and 4:30pm.

“This jungle helps to cleanse the air within its surrounding environment, and the visitors here are very supportive of preserving the natural ecology,” explained Anthony Paleng, one of the nature guides, whilst guiding a group of visitors to Bukit Nanas.

According to him, a rich variety of flora can be found within the forest reserve, which includes rare herbs, creepers, ferns, climbers and giant bamboo grasses. Huge tropical tree species also occupy the jungle namely meranti, keruing, chengal and pulai.

“All of the trees here have a unique way of surviving in the wild, a bio defense mechanism specific to each species,” he explained further.

Along the trail, there are traces of broken branches, indicating the presence of local monkeys. If you are lucky, you might see the two local species of monkeys that exist in the park, namely the Silvered Langur and the Long-tailed Macaque. Other varieties of fauna include squirrels, snakes and birds.

A camp site is available for nature lovers who wish to pitch a tent and enjoy the lush greenery of the jungle, free of charge.

People who love jogging can also enjoy running through the forest trail, and there is an outdoor obstacle course for those who want to do a little stretching and body lifting.

Visitors to the forest reserve need to take certain precautionary measures during their visit as there are some slopes that are quite steep along the forest trails. It is advisable for visitors to dress casually, ideally sports wear which includes running shoes, as there is a ladder section that could be tricky to navigate.

For more information, please contact:

Anthony Paleng (Nature Guide) Mobile: 6012-207 1562
Department of Forestry Peninsular Malaysia Tel: 603-2230 6342
Site Office Fax: 603-2292 5667
Lot 240, Bukit Nanas Web: www.forestry.gov.my
Jalan Raja Chulan
50250 Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur Tower (KL Tower)

The Kuala Lumpur Tower project was completed in 1995, and is used for communication purposes. It features an antenna that reaches 421 m (1,381 ft), which currently makes it the 18th tallest freestanding tower in the world. There are various activities that can be enjoyed by visitors here, which include a scenic view of the city through the observation deck, shopping, visiting the mini zoo, and also enjoying a pony ride. The Kuala Lumpur Tower also organises large-scale events annually such as the KL Tower International Jump Malaysia. KL Tower and Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve are on the KL Hop-on Hop-off city tour route. The KL Hop-on Hop-off city tour covers approximately more than 40 attractions where passengers can hop-on or hop-off the tour bus at any of the 22 designated stops in KL. The bus runs on a 15- to 30-minute interval between 8.30 am until 8.30 pm. For ticket prices and information on the KL Hop-on Hop-off city tour, visit www.myhoponhopoff.com.

Fast Facts

Getting There: The forest reserve is located in front of Jalan Raja Chulan and not far from the Telekom Museum. By car, drive up the hill at KL Tower and pay for the entrance fee and car park; admission to the forest reserve is free. Alternatively, take the Kelana Jaya Line LRT and stop at the Dang Wangi Station, or take the KL monorail and disembark at the Bukit Nanas station. Those who use the Ampang Line LRT need to disembark at the Masjid Jamek LRT station.

Main attractions: The forest trail or “Jejak Rimba” activity on the tropical rainforest can be soothing, as a walk through the sanctuary can be a refreshing change to the fast pace of urban lifestyle.

Other attractions: A large field for camping, a bird watching area, a jogging trail, and a mini herbal park.

Entrance fee: Free of charge

Visiting hours: 7.00am to 6.00pm including weekends and public holidays.

Tempat Menarik Malaysia

Kota A Famosa

Kota A Famosa di bandar bersejarah melaka. Yeahaaa… Hari ini kita mai singgah ke Kota A Famosa sekejap. Lepak-lepak sambil bercuti santai dengan gembiranya. Bagi sesiapa yang sedang mencari lokasi percutian yang menarik di dalam negara malaysia ini dengan pakej percutian yang tersendiri dan bajet yang berpatutan bersama keluarga anda, maka ini adalah lokasi yang boleh anda pilih sebagai tempat untuk merehatkan minda anda seketika selepas hari raya yang berlalu…

Aiyoooo… habis hari raya mahu cari lokasi percutian lagi ke? Tak cukup lagi cuti hari raya tersebut? Sebenarnya kategori lokasi percutian menarik dah lama tidak terisi dengan informasi yang berkaitan. Boleh dikatakan carian untuk lokasi percutian yang menarik di malaysia mendapat sambutan yang menggalakkan sebagaimana Gambar Kota A Famosa yang diperjelaskan oleh topotato dalam blog beliau.

Maklumat sejarah Kota A Famosa memang femes jugak ler kat kota melaka bandaraya bersejarah. Sesiapa yang tinggal kat melaka pastinya seringkali terjerempak dengan kota tersebut yang femes sakan satu ketika dulu dengan sejarah Melaka yang telah ditawan oleh pasukan Portugis. dan….

Kepada mereka yang mahu ke lokasi kota a Famosa tersebut dipersilakan untuk menggunakan peta topo dengan sebaik mungkin.

Sekian terima kasih untuk kali ini berkaitan lokasi percutian menarik di malaysia yang anda boleh singgah dengan pakej percutian yang berpatutan dan berbaloi. Jika sekiranya anda tidak mempunyai bajet tambahan yang mencukupi sudah tentunya anda boleh memikirkan percutian di malaysia terlebih dahulu sebelum menjengah ke lokasi luar negara. Jom kita pi jenguk bercuti ke kota Melaka.

Senarai maklumat tambahan perihal melaka dan kota a famosa.

- Maklumat Kota A Famosa.

- Maklumat Negeri Melaka.

- Rencana Rentetan Sejarah Melaka.

- Anugerah Gelaran “Datuk” Shah Rukh Khan di Melaka.

- Get More Info Travel To Malaysia