Bako to remember…

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.
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* 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

Website: http://www.kitefestpasirgudang.com/

Nanas Forest Reserve, Kuala Lumpur

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 18^th 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

Agrotrail tarikan baru Langkawi

Oleh ASHRIQ FAHMY AHMAD
ashriq.ahmad@utusan.com.my
Gambar ABDUL RAZAK LATIF

Rusa yang diperlihara di Taman Teknologi Agro MARDI ini begitu manja bersama penjaganya, Pembantu Penyelidik MARDI, Abdul Kadir Din.

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LANGKAWI bukan lagi nama asing bagi rata-rata rakyat negara ini terutama mereka yang minat melancong.

Gugusan pulau yang masyhur dengan legenda Mahsuri, dikatakan telah bebas daripada sumpahan selama tujuh keturunan itu kini sedang berkembang maju.

Ditambah dengan status kawasan bebas cukai, menjadikan Langkawi sebagai tarikan utama bagi mereka yang meminati aktiviti membeli-belah.

Namun, Tourism Malaysia Kedah dan Ekomegah Holidays dengan kerjasama Lembaga Pemasaran Pertanian Persekutuan (FAMA) kini menawarkan pakej baru yang menarik untuk pelancong dari dalam mahupun luar negara.

Pakej yang dikenali sebagai Langkawi Agotrail tersebut mengambil masa selama empat jam bagi memberi peluang kepada pelancong merasai dan mengenali produk-produk pelancongan agro yang terdapat di sekitar Langkawi.

Menurut Pengarah Bahagian Pemasaran Domestik, Abdul Rahman Shaari berkata pakej tersebut berkonsepkan Do it and Experience, para pelancong berpeluang untuk melawat ke tempat-tempat pertanian dan perusahaan kecil penduduk tempatan.

"Mereka (pelancong) akan turut serta menjalankan aktiviti-aktiviti semasa lawatan ke kawasan penghasilan produk agro tersebut.

"Kita juga telah meneliti tempat-tempat yang menarik untuk dilawati dan pihak kami juga mendapat kerjasama penuh daripada pihak pengusaha," ujarnya.

Beliau ditemui ketika Program Lawatan Media bersama FAMA ke Langkawi, baru-baru ini.

Antara tempat-tempat menarik yang dimasukan dalam Langkawi Agrotrail adalah Buffalo Park di Kampung Nyior Chabang dan Taman Teknologi Agro Institut Penyelidikan dan Kemajuan Pertanian Malaysia (MARDI).

Seterusnya tempat membuat jeli kelapa di Kampung Lawer, tempat memproses manisan nira kelapa pandan di Kampung Bukit Hantu dan pusat memproses snek ikan bilis di Kuala Teriang, Langkawi.

Perjalanan Langkawi Agrotrail tersebut bermula dari Kompleks Kota Tani, Langkawi dan mereka (pelancong) akan dibawa tempat-tempat memproses ikan bilis di Kuala Teriang terlebih dahulu.

Kemudian ke Kampung Lawer untuk merasai keenakan jeli kelapa muda kemudian terus melawat Buffalo Park di Kampung Nyior Chabang sambil melihat cara membuat keju mozarella daripada susu kerbau.

Seterusnya, pelancong dibawa melawat Taman Teknologi Agro MARDI untuk menikmati buah-buahan tempatan yang ditanam di sana.

Destinasi berikutnya berakhir di Kampung Bukit Hantu di mana pelancong akan dibawa melihat tempat memproses manisan nira kelapa pandan.

Sebelum mereka dibawa pulang ke Kompleks Kota Tani, pelancong akan dibawa menyusuri jalan-jalan kampung untuk menikmati keunikan dan keindahan kampung sekitar Langkawi.

Jelas Abdul Rahman lagi, setakat ini mereka akan bermula dengan kawasan tersebut dahulu, namun dari masa ke semasa pihak Tourism Malaysia akan mengenal pasti tempat-tempat yang boleh dilawati dan akan ditambah ke dalam senarai Langkawi Agrotrail.

Tambah beliau lagi, objektif sebenar pakej tersebut diwujudkan adalah untuk mempromosi produk-produk agro yang terdapat di Langkawi.

Di samping itu, pakej tersebut bukan sahaja dibuka untuk pelancong asing malah ia juga dibuka kepada pelancong tempatan yang datang ke Langkawi.

Pakej tersebut dikendalikan oleh syarikat Ekomegah Holidays yang mana pakej tersebut dikenakan bayaran hanya RM90 bagi dewasa dan RM80 untuk kanak-kanak.

Pelancaran pakej Langkawi Agrotrail tersebut adalah sempena pembukaan Kompleks Kota Tani yang di wujudkan oleh FAMA baru-baru ini untuk kemudahan orang ramai membeli serta menjual produk agro mereka.

Kompleks Kota Tani ini juga bukan sahaja terdapat kegiatan Pasar tani namun ia turut menawarkan pelbagai produk keluaran FAMA dan keluaran tempatan.

Justeru, dengan pelancaran pakej Langkawi Agrotrail yang bermula dan berakhir di kompleks tersebut diharapkan mampu menjadi salah satu destinasi produk pelancongan utama di Langkawi.

Bagi yang berminat untuk merasai pengalaman menyusuri kawasan kampung dan laluan agro tersebut ketika mengunjungi Langkawi, anda boleh menghubungi Tourism Malaysia Kedah di talian 04 730 1322 atau 04 7312322.

Sumber:utusan malaysia

The Legend Water Chalet PD

INTERESTING VIEWS...

PANORAMIC VIEWS

chalet from top view

chalets - side view

Swimming pool

Fishing at the corridor

Crabbing from chalet's balcony

Dawn view from the balcony..... rejuvenating & calm....

sunset from chalet's balcony..... peaceful.....

Night scenery... quiet & romantic...

INSIDE VIEWS

Glass panel on the floor (single & lower units only)
- not only loving couples love this place, children also !!!

Large bath tub in every chalet...

Top open air shower room (single & upper unit only)

TV & freezer in every chalet

Coffee making facilities in every chalet

search at yahoo, type the legend water chalet and ur will find it

PLACES OF INTEREST IN PD

THE RACHADO LIGHTHOUSE
The Rachado Lighthouse sits on a hill overlooking the Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve. It is the oldest light house in the country, first built in 1528 before being remodelled over the years to its current look. The lighthouse was originally built by the Portuguese in colonial times to guide its ships, while the area of sea in front of it is where a historical battle between Dutch and Portuguese forces took place.

To access the lighthouse, you need to enter the entrance of the Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve. From there, a steep road takes you up. A warning sign outside prohibits vehicles from entering, but many who do not want to take a long walk will drive their bikes or cars in. At the top, the lighthouse sits on a small hill where you need to climb another 72 steps to reach it.

Once there, walking to the front of the lighthouse will enable you to catch a panoramic view of the Malaccan Straits and the clear blue seas below. Over here, the wind is breezy and the sight of ships sailing in the wide sea is breath-taking. On clear days, you can even catch a glimpse of Sumatra’s outline in the horizon. Also look down at the shore from the top and you can see some corals in the waters.

TANJUNG TUAN RESERVED FOREST
The Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve is a protected park which spans about 80 hectares in size. It is also know as Cape Rachado and it is at the top of the park where the historic lighthouse sits. This small forest reserve consists mostly of coastal forest with some mangroves at the bottom.

The park, though small, is a rich area for flora and fauna, especially birds such as jungle fowls, hawks, buzzards and kites. There are two main jungle trails which can be accessed from the lighthouse area. Both will take you to scenic beaches which are practically unspoilt and pristine.

Tanjung Tuan is located at the 10th Mile of Port Dickson. This is a place that nature-lovers and bird-watchers should not miss. If you don’t mind the short but tiring walk through the forest, the beach is awesome and is probably the most beautiful of Port Dickson’s beaches.

FORT LUKUT
Fort Lukut is located north of Port Dickson in Lukut town; a very short distance away from Port Dickson. Built in 1826, the fort was used by Raja Jumaat to safeguard the tin trade in the area during that era. Raja Jumaat was a famous Bugis chieftain who led the Bugis community which migrated from Indonesia to Lukut.

Climbing up a series of stairs, visitors will be greeted with what looks more like a park than a fort. Indeed little remains of the fort save a few wells, some bricks that line the sides of the hill and a small moat. Instead, this place should be used for recreational purposes or to imagine just how expansive and impressive the fort was in its heydays.

LUKUT MUSEUM
The Lukut Museum is located on the same grounds of Fort Lukut, at the foothill. Housed in a nice wooden bungalow, the museum exhibits a wide range of artifacts and relics relating to the tin mining industry during the olden days of Lukut. The exhibits, posters and dioramas also explain the historical aspect of it, including the wars between local chieftains and the influence of British colonists.

Opened just several years ago, the museum is air-conditioned and separated into four galleries; History of Lukut, Customs and Traditions, Negeri Sembilan and Nassau. Besides artifacts and relicts, visitors can also view photos and models of tin mining equipment. Entrance is free and a food stall is located just outside for snacks and drinks.

THE ARMED FORCES MUSEUM
The Armed Forces Museum is located 8 km away from Port Dickson town in an area where military bases and camps are located. Opened a few years ago, the museum has spacious grounds to house a wide range of former combat vehicles, artillery and planes. The museum is on an elevated land, and a fountain cum monument for fallen soldiers in battle sits in the middle.

Around the monument are rows of decommissioned artillery, trains, vehicles and tanks. There is also a fighter jet plane, a transport plane and a helicopter parked at the sides. There are two buildings; one is an office zone while the other one is where you will find the galleries dictating the successes and achievements of the military, navy and air force. There are models and decoys to demonstrate equipment in the military including historical weapons like canons.

The highlight is a subway tunnel that runs below the building and exits near the cargo plane at the side of the museum grounds. This tunnel is a realistic simulacrum of tunnels used by communist soldiers during the war for communication purposes. At the sides of the tunnel are glass cases displaying weapons and military equipment as well as dioramas of soldiers engaged in meetings, medical treatment and sleep.

FORT KEMPAS
Fort Kempas is about 23km from the lighthouse, there is a small village called Keramat Ujung Pasir. Here you will find a15th century tomb of a leading historical personality, Ulama Sheikh Ahmad Makhtum, with its famous carved megalith. Beside his grave are the famous stone inscriptions or “Batu Bersurat” which depict his struggle and victory.

The mystery surrounding the stone remains unsolved to this day. Of special interest is the ‘ordeal stone’, an ancient lie-detector, through which a person puts his arm when answering questions. If he lies, the stone tightens like a vice.

TYPE OF TRANSPORTATION TO PD

By road
Port Dickson is well-linked to the rest of Peninsular Malaysia by roads.

The Seremban-Port Dickson Highway (E3) links Port Dickson with Seremban and directly onto the North-South Expressway (E2) which spans the length of Peninsular Malaysia. For Port Dickson town, you should exit at the Lukut interchange (Exit 316) while those heading to the beach resorts south of town can continue either to Si Rusa or the end of the highway near the hospital at Teluk Kemang. To access the Seremban-Port Dickson Highway from the North-South Expressway, exit at the Port Dickson interchange (Exit 219) between Seremban and Senawang interchanges.

Port Dickson is on Federal Route 5 or the Coastal Trunk Road, linking it to Malacca to the south, and Klang to the north.

Port Dickson is 32km from Seremban, 60km from Kuala Lumpur, 60km from Malacca and 320km from Singapore.

By bus
Frequent buses – both direct express which use the highway and local which use the old toll-free road – link Port Dickson with Seremban. Travel time is about one hour and cost RM2.50. If coming from other parts of Malaysia, the easiest way by bus will be to travel via Seremban.

Local buses also link Port Dickson with Sungai Pelek in Sepang district in Selangor, where there are connections to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. To the south, local buses go to Pengkalan Kempas and Tanjung Agas (these buses actually go right up to Kuala Linggi in Malacca) where there are connections to Malacca city.

By train
Although Port Dickson has a rail link, there are no longer any train services. The nearest train station is in Seremban which can be easily reached from Kuala Lumpur. You have to catch a bus or taxi from Seremban to Port Dickson.

By boat
Daily ferries connect Port Dickson with Dumai in Sumatra, Indonesia. The Acob Express (Jetty office Tel: +6(06)6471599) leaves from the jetty in the middle of town at 1030. Return trips depart Dumai at 1300. Tickets cost RM80/150 one-way/return

Terokai dunia antartik di Langkawi

Oleh AHMED SYAHRIL ZULKEPLY
rekreasi@utusan.com.my

Pelbagai jenis batu karang turut dipamerkan di bahagian Sub Antartik.

Melihat gelagat spesies burung hitam putih yang tidak boleh terbang itu, sudah tentu menghiburkan lebih-lebih lagi kerana haiwan akuatik tersebut mustahil untuk dilihat berkeliaran di Malaysia.

Namun kini, berdasarkan teknologi masa kini, penguin dewasa mampu hidup di Pulau Langkawi, Kedah.

Bagi mereka yang mahu melihat dengan lebih dekat gelagat nakal hidupan marin itu silalah berkunjung ke Underwater World Langkawi yang terletak di lokasi kegemaran ramai, Pantai Cenang.

Di Underwater World Langkawi, pengunjung didedahkan kepada pengalaman kehidupan pelbagai spesies hidupan liar yang hidup pada tiga ekosistem berbeza iaitu bersuhu tropika, sederhana dan sejuk.

Di bahagian Sub Antartik misalnya, kedatangan pengunjung akan disambut oleh aksi akrobatik dari anjing laut berbulu yang diberi nama sebagai Karen dan Nano.

Bahagian ini merupakan bahagian terbesar di Underwater World Langkawi dan ia meliputi kawasan seluas 60,000 kaki persegi.

Malah di bahagian itu juga, pengunjung berpeluang untuk melihat dua spesies penguin iaitu penguin berkaki hitam dan rock hopper.

Walaupun habitat asal haiwan tersebut agak berbeza dengan habitat asal, spesies penguin daripada Afrika Selatan itu semakin membiak tanpa bantuan inkubator.

Pada mulanya, Underwater World hanya membawa masuk 22 spesies penguin berkaki hitam dan lima ekor penguin rock hopper untuk dipamerkan kepada pengunjung.

Bagaimanapun, sehingga kini terdapat lebih 70 ekor penguin yang ditempatkan di sebuah kolam gergasi yang direka khas buat spesis hidupan marin itu.

Kolam tersebut bersuhu 15 hingga 17 darjah celsius dan suhu tersebut direka berdasarkan suhu habitat asalnya.

Pengunjung juga berpeluang untuk menerokai hidupan ikan air tawar di River Eco-System.

Di sini terdapat 10 tangki akuarium menempatkan beberapa hidupan reptilia yang ada di antaranya agak sukar ditemui di negara ini.

Antara hidupan yang terdapat di bahagian tersebut ialah iguana hijau, cicak Afrika, Chinese water dragon, cicak biru dari Indonesia dan sebagainya.

Manakala di bahagian kedua pula, pengunjung akan di bawa menjelajahi kawasan hutan hujan Tropika buatan manusia yang menempatkan lebih 4,000 spesies ikan air tawar dan 500 spesies hidupan liar yang lain.

Underwater World dibuka kepada pengunjung bermula pada pukul 10 pagi hingga 6 petang (Isnin hingga selasa) manakala pada musim cuti pula ia dibuka pada pukul 9.30 pagi hingga 6.30 petang.

Setiap pengunjung dikenakan bayaran sebanyak RM 38 (dewasa) dan RM 28 (kanak-kanak).

Untuk maklumat lanjut mengenai Underwater World Langkawi, sila layari laman web www.underwaterworldlangkawi. com.my.

Keunikan lokasi baru skuba di Semporna

Oleh MOHD. HAZLI HASSAN
bobo@utusangroup.com.my
Gambar-gambar menggunakan Lumix GF-1

Sabah 101 Dive Treasures beri peluang jurufoto dasar laut teroka lokasi baru.

BERBICARA tentang lokasi selam skuba di Sabah, pasti ramai yang akan bersetuju tentang kehebatan alam marin di negeri Bawah Bayu itu.

Bukan hanya Sipadan, pulau yang mengunjur dari kedalaman 600 meter dari dasar laut dan terletak di tenggara Sabah iaitu Mabul, Kapalai dan Mataking antara nama-nama hebat. Lokasi itu menjadi tumpuan penyelam tempatan dan juga antarabangsa.

Malah, kehebatan kesemua pulau itu membuatkan ada di antara mereka sanggup menjelajah melebihi 22 jam untuk berada di situ dan merakamkan keindahan pesona marin perairan Sabah.

Atas kehebatan itu, Semporna, pintu masuk ke semua pulau berkenaan semakin dikenali di seluruh dunia sehinggakan ada penyelam luar negara menjalankan perniagaan selam skuba di situ.

Yang pasti pulau-pulau berkenaan semakin sesak terutama Pulau Sipadan yang kini mengehadkan 120 penyelam sahaja setiap hari.

Menyedari hakikat itu, Tourism Malaysia Sabah giat mempromosikan lokasi selam skuba baru terutama Taman Laut Tun Sakaran di daerah Semporna bagi mengurangkan 'kesesakan' yang semakin tidak terkawal.

Keadaan tersebut, menurut Timbalan Pengarah Negeri, Tourism Malaysia Sabah, Ahmad Faisal Mohamed, sedikit sebanyak memberi kesan jangka panjang kepada ekosistem yang ada di situ.

Mempromosikan

Beliau menarik perhatian mengenai usaha mempromosikan pulau-pulau lain di Semporna melalui program 'Sabah 101 Dive Treasures' bagi mengurangkan kebergantungan kepada Sipadan, Kapalai, Mabul dan Mataking.

"Lebih menarik, pulau-pulau itu termasuk Si Amil, Bohey Dulang, Mantabuan dan Sibuan mempunyai harapan untuk bersaing dengan pulau lain di Semporna,'' katanya.

Daerah Semporna sememangnya terkenal dengan lokasi spesies mikro marin di mana penyelam-penyelam skuba terutama jurufoto dasar laut menamakannya sebagai lokasi 'Muck diving location of the world'.

Justeru, Ahmad Faisal yakin empat pulau berkenaan yang mempunyai khazanah unik dan berharga mampu 'menjual' aset yang ada untuk tarikan pelancong.

Bagaimanapun, oleh kerana kebanyakan pulau itu masih baru, pencarian pelbagai spesies makro unik mungkin mengambil masa sedikit untuk membolehkan penyelam skuba mendapat kepuasan maksimum di situ.

Ketika trip menyelam skuba anjuran Sabah Tourism baru-baru ini, penulis mendapati empat pulau berkenaan menjanjikan pelbagai pengalaman menarik lebih-lebih lagi kepada jurufoto dasar laut.

Walaupun tidak sehebat Pulau Sipadan - Si Amil, Bohey Dulang, Mantabuan dan Sibuan mempunyai keupayaan sendiri dalam menarik penyelam skuba untuk menyelam di situ.

Walaupun terletak agak jauh dari Pulau Mabul, lokasi penginapan kebanyakan penyelam skuba ketika berada di Semporna, namun menyelam di salah sebuah empat pulau berkenaan cukup mendamaikan.

Lebih-lebih lagi disebabkan pulau-pulau itu kurang 'diteroka' menjadikan keasliannya lebih utuh berbanding pulau-pulau lain yang sering dikunjungi.

Pelbagai spesies marin makro unik boleh dijumpai di pulau-pulau itu termasuk pelbagai spesies nudibranch atau siput tanpa cengkerang, spesies belut moray dan juga ikan depu selain pemandangan atas air pulau yang sungguh mengasyikkan.

Oleh kerana kebanyakan pulau baru itu tidak mempunyai banyak perkampungan atau densiti penduduk yang ramai menjadikan suasana di situ lebih 'sunyi' berbanding Mabul, Kapalai dan Mataking.

batu karang

Namun agak mendukacitakan, kebanyakan kawasan di Si Amil, Bohey Dulang, Mantabuan dan Sibuan pernah menjadi lokasi nelayan pantai mengebom ikan menyebabkan kebanyakan batu karang di situ kurang sempurna.

Mengulas mengenai perkara itu, Ahli Lembaga Pengarah Sabah Tourism, Clement Lee berkata, pihaknya kini berusaha untuk mendidik nelayan tempatan mengenai bahaya aktiviti tersebut serta kesan jangka panjang terhadap hidupan laut.

Dia yang juga Pengarah Urusan Borneo Divers and Sea Sport turut berkata, amat sukar untuk menghentikan kegiatan tersebut kerana nelayan di situ yang terdiri daripada kaum Bajau Laut sudah menggunakan kaedah itu sejak zaman berzaman.

"Namun selepas diterangkan mengenai keuntungan jangka panjang yang diperoleh dengan kemasukan penyelam ke pulau-pulau mereka, perkara ini berjaya diterima sedikit demi sedikit.

"Apa yang perlu, kami di Tourism Sabah dengan kerja sama Taman-Taman Sabah, pihak berkuasa dan semua pusat selam skuba di Mabul akan memberikan penerangan dari semasa ke semasa untuk memastikan kejadian itu tidak berulang," katanya.

Pengeboman ikan itu turut dirasai oleh penulis sendiri sebanyak dua kali ketika melakukan penyelaman di Mantabuan dan Sibuan.

Apa pun, keindahan dan keunikan di alam marin empat pulau berkenaan mampu mengurangkan kerisauan yang melanda.

Untuk sebarang maklumat lanjut hubungi Sabah Tourism di www.sabahtourism.com atau www.borneodivers.info.

Tonton versi video berita ini Utusan Online melalui http://bit.ly/101dive.

Puas bercuti di Pulau Tiga Resort

Oleh ABDUL RASHID ABDUL RAHMAN

SI kecil pasti gembira bercuti di Pulau Tiga Resort berpeluang memegang ular.

SUDAH bosan dengan pelbagai pakej percutian dan destinasi percutian hambar yang tidak dapat memberi kepuasan? Atau, masih tercari-tercari destinasi percutian menarik yang boleh memberi ketenangan dan pengalaman yang tidak dapat dilupakan?

Pulau Tiga yang terletak kira-kira 30 minit perjalanan dari Jeti Kuala Penyu pastinya memberi satu pakej percutian yang lengkap dan menggembirakan.

Ia bukan sahaja menyajikan pemandangan yang indah dengan pelbagai aktiviti laut malah turut memaparkan keunikan yang tidak terdapat di mana-mana tempat percutian lain.

Antara keunikan di pulau itu ialah kolam lumpur gunung berapi yang seakan-akan 'laut mati' di tengah-tengah pulau berkenaan.

Berada di kolam yang sentiasa 'suam' ini, pengunjung pastinya terkejut mendapati mereka tidak akan tenggelam sebaliknya terapung-apung seolah-olah berada di laut mati.

Kolam yang terhasil daripada letusan gunung berapi ini juga dikatakan mampu mengubati penyakit kulit dan menyegarkan badan.

Selain kolam berkenaan, pengunjung juga dapat melihat kehebatan anak muda tempatan menangkap ular laut yang memenuhi Pulau Ular yang merupakan rangkaian Pulau Tiga.

Pulau yang tidak dihuni manusia itu menjadi satu-satunya habitat yang mempunyai ratusan ular laut yang lebih berbisa daripada ular tedung.

Aktiviti lain yang biasa di pulau itu adalah seperti snorkelling, berkayak, skuba dan kegiatan laut seperti 'banana boat' yang pastinya menjanjikan kepuasan.

Jadi, untuk menikmati keindahan dan keunikan Pulau Tiga yang meliputi tiga pulau itu, persinggahan ke Pulau Tiga Resort suatu persinggahan yang tepat untuk pakej penginapan dan pelbagai aktiviti luar.

Untuk ke Jeti Kuala Penyu dari Kota Kinabalu yang mengambil masa perjalanan kira-kira dua jam, kita bakal menyaksikan pemandangan cantik di sepanjang jalan dengan hamparan pantai yang memutih.

Kemudian dari Jeti Kuala Penyu, bot laju mengambil masa kira-kira 30 minit untuk sampai ke Jeti Pulau Tiga Resort yang pernah menjadi salah satu lokasi penggambaran program Survival Island, suatu ketika dahulu.

Dari jauh penulis dapat melihat terpampang tulisan Survival Island pada pintu masuk jeti yang menambahkan lagi tarikan.

Sebaik sahaja melepasi pintu gerbang, penulis yang pertama kali tiba di situ terus tertarik kepada patung yang digunakan dalam siri Survival Island yang masih dijaga dengan baik.

Landskap resort yang bersih dan redup dipenuhi pokok-pokok hutan rendang membuatkan hati tidak sabar berehat melepaskan penat setelah agak khayal dilambung ombak sepanjang pelayaran tadi.

Resort sederhana itu menawarkan tiga unit calet yang sesuai untuk seisi keluarga dengan harga antara RM215 dan RM360.

Penyelia Resort, Janibel Bautista berkata, resort milik persendirian itu sentiasa mendapat sambutan daripada pengunjung dalam dan luar negara.

"Selain pengunjung individu kita juga sering menerima pengunjung berkumpulan termasuk daripada IPT (institusi pengajian tinggi).

"Tarikan pulau ini adalah keindahan laut dan tempat unik seperti lumpur gunung berapi," katanya.

Menurutnya, terdapat tiga kategori bilik yang disediakan iaitu superior sebanyak 12 unit, standard (23 unit) dan dua unit long house.

Penginapan satu malam termasuk pengangkutan bot laju ke jeti dan makan satu malam adalah RM360 bagi jenis 'Superior', 'Standard' (RM305) dan 'Long House' (RM210).

Dalam pada itu, pakej perjalanan ke Pulau Ular pula bernilai RM40 seorang, berkayak RM20 seorang dan Banana Boat RM25 seorang.

"Bagi pakej snorkelling dan perjalanan ke Pulau Ular ditetapkan harganya sebanyak RM70 seorang dan bagi skuba pakejnya ialah antara RM80 dan RM150," katanya.

Sementara itu, pada sebelah malam pengunjung boleh mengadakan pelbagai aktiviti di 'Hog Point' seperti barbeku dengan harga yang amat berpatutan.

"Melakukan aktiviti barbeku di Hog Point yang diiringi desiran ombak dan angin pantai pastinya memberi kepuasan dan pengalaman menarik yang tidak dapat dilupakan," ujarnya.