Obyek Wisata Bukit Siguntang, Palembang

This is a backdated post that should have been up at least in December 2011. But better late than never.

Last November during the SEA Games in Palembang, a local friend took me and another Malaysian friend for some shopping and a brief tour of Palembang  city  before we depart for Kuala Lumpur the next day. It was a bit of a rush since we are against time.

One place that she took us is the Obyek Wisata Bukit Siguntang.

The entrance to Obyek Wisata Bukit Siguntang taken from HERE. 

Bukit Siguntang is situated in Daerah Bukit Lama has a historical background in it. it has been a park where teenagers hang out with their partner under the trees or gasebos since the place is quite secluded, cool and have some romantic environment. I do not want to elaborate more. 

At the highest point of the hill, smell of burning incense can be felt and scattered are tombs under small buildings erected over them. There are eight of them and these tombs were well kept and has the impression that it is sacred. Visitors come to pay tribute the deceased.

It was said that during the rule of Sriwijaya, Bukit Siguntang is a Buddhist place of worship. During the Dutch colonialisation, this hill with a height of 27 metres, archeologist found artifacts such Buddhist arches and inscriptions. In 1950s, ancient building structures were also found. Read more about the history HERE.

Tombs found here belongs to the following

- Raja Si Gentar Alam

- Putri Kembang Dadar

- Putri rambut Selako

- Panglima Bagus Kuning

- Panglima Bagus Karang

- Panglima Tuang Junjungan

- Panglima Raja Batu Api

 

		Obyek Wisata Bukit Siguntang VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

More Photos HERE

I Wuz @ Frasers Hills Too

Malaysia has a few hill resorts for a getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. These resorts in West Malaysia are mostly distributed along the backbone of Banjaran Titiwangsa that run North - South and can be accessed easily. Before you proceed to read this posting, maybe you want to printout Frasers Hills map. 


The latest hill resort that I visited is the Frasers Hills but however it is not the first time I have been there. If I am not mistaken the last time I visited Frasers Hill was in 2006 and stayed at the Sultan Sulaiman bungalow belinging to the Selangor state government. This time I stayed on the Pahang side. However there is nothing different between them.


Frasers Hill is located at a height of  between 1,220 and 1,525 metre above sea level still maintain its cool climate because development is not that fast as other hill resorts in the country. The resorts temperature are between 17°C~25°C / 63°F~77°F year round. 


Frasers Hill is about 104 km (64.6 miles) away from Kuala Lumpur. The foot of the hill is called The Gap at 800 metre above sea level and you can still see colonial resthouse just across the road before the climb starts. The drive up is along a winding single lane road for 8 km. Previously the road is used for both direction of traffic whereby odd hours for uphill traffic while even hour for downhill. Now the division has been scrapped because another road has been opened for the downhill traffic. However if you feel you want to enjoy the view and quite fit, you can walk up the hill from The Gap. 

THE HISTORY

 The hill derived its name from a Scottish pioneer, Louis James Fraser, who set up a tin-ore trading in 1890. He found tin deposits at the top and used mules to transport the ore down to The Gap and then to Raub. He also operated a gambling and opium den for the workers which enable him to gain a second profit from the workers. 


However Fraser vanished without trace some 25 years later and was not found till today. In 1919 the access road was built after C.J. Ferguson-Davie, Bishop of Singapore went up looking for Frasers and found out that the place is perfecr for a hill station. The name was then given in honour of Frasers and opened to visitors in 1922. It has a coverage of 140 hectres of and and over 50km of jungle paths. There are also nine bungalows built for use by government officials. Besides there are also 4 houses built for servicemen and women, 3 private homes and a country club. There is also a golf Course, a post office and water supply. 

History mentioned that on 6th October 1951, during the Malayan Emergency, British official Sir Henry Gurney was ambushed and killed near Fraser's Hill in a random assassination by Communist guerillas.

Reference; Wikipedia

WHAT CAN YOU DO?


Frasers Hill is suitable for adventure getaways especially jungle related activities. There are Jungle Track scattered around the hills for those who love hiking in the jungle and the trail are usually marked at the entrance. It adivsable to get an experience guide for your safety. There is also an accessible waterfall. Trails range from the Hemmant Trail, a short walk, to the Pine Tree Trail, a full day's trek. For list of trails please CLICK HERE. 

Entrance to one of the many trails on Frasers Hills

Bird Watching 


It is one of the hill's most popular activities for tourist and visitors. It has been recorded that there is over 250 species of birds including hornbills, rare doves, colourful pheasant, sleek eagles and endemic species. There has been discovered that migratory bird from Russia and China visits Frasers Hill and sojourn for a few months before flying South to Australia and New Zealand.


Perbadanan Bukit Frasers also organised the Frasers Hill International Bird Race in 2011. 


Read also a report from birdtours uk.


Golfing


The golf sports complex is one of the oldest golf course in the country and located at the centre of the hill. The course is a 9-hole course but offers challenging sections at several sections. The reception counter is just next the to hill icon, the Clock tower. 

Photo by this blogger

Woodball - if you feel not fit to tee off at the Golf course, you can always try the milder version of the game of woodball. 

Photo taken from HERE

PLACES OF ATTRACTIONS


Gap Resthouse

Jeriau Waterfall

Allan's Water

Photo by this blogger

Paddock - Archery and horse Riding 

Public Park 

Refer fraserhill.info for details 


FOOD 


There is an eating spot next to the town mosque. For a more fancy dining venue and authentic English cuisine, visitors can try  Scott's Pub and restaurant next to Puncak Inn.   

Both photos above by this blogger

HOTELS


There are comfortable place of accommodations scattered on the hills for visitors to choose according to their budgets and taste. 


During my last visit I stayed at a 3 room apartment Fraser's Pine Resort and all the apartment can accommodate 6 pax. The view is fascinating when the clouds move across and the surrounding becomes chill. Every apartment has a large balcony and there is also a pantry. However if you do not have your own transport it is a bit difficult to move out of the resort especially to find food at night. 

Pix above is the view of other apartments from the balcony of the unit I stayed

Clouds moving in during the evenings

The resort is a nice location for team building programs or family day activities due to its large apartment units and can accommodate a big family in each unit. However if one is unfit, request for a lower tier unit because there is no lift to go up to the fourth tier or to move down.  


Watch also wen88888's Youtube posting HERE.


Other choice of accomodations

• Silverpark Hill Resort -   09-362 2888
• Fraser's Pine Resort -  09-362 2122
• Jelai Highland -  019-553 8955/016-304 8249
• The Smokehouse, a former Red Cross rehabilitation centre -   09-362 2007
• Shahzan Inn (formerly Merlin Inn) -  09-362 2300
• Puncak Inn -  09-362 2007
• Bungalows rented out by various corporations
• TM Resort -  05-491 4000

If you want a review of the bungalows watch Youtube Bungalow Hopping on Frasers Hill by wen88888


THE PLACE TO BE

CONTACTS


Frasers Hill Development Corporation (FHDC)
Tourism Malaysia
Kuantan hotels
Pahang Tourism


Photo Credit: Unless otherwise not stated, photos are downloaded from the watermarked site.

Jalan Melayu In Kuala Lumpur

It was a discovery by chance the one day the name of this road in Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Melayu. It was out of my knowledge that there one road in Kuala Lumpur named as such. This Fousquare map below shows the location. Or you can check on streetsdirectory.

I was on my way back from Padang Merbok to attend a sports function and took a short cut to the Mesjid Jamek LRT Station. It was then I saw the arch with the Jawi script showing prominently Jalan Melayu and the Romanise alphabets below. Hats off to DBKL (maybe) who erected the arch and using the Jawi script on it as this picture shows

At least what Hang Tuah had coined "Tak kan Melayu Hilang Di Dunia" will still stand in the midst of development of this metropolitan city. 

Off Jalan Melayu is a pedestrian mall that was part of the popular Jalan Mesjid India making way for stalls selling varieties of wares from souvenirs to clothings and traditional medicine. However nowadays its very difficult to hear someone say, "Let's go to Jalan Melayu", but will say, "Let's go to Mesjid India". Maybe Mesjid India and Jalan Mesjid India stands more prominently than Jalan Melayu. 

I Love KL @ Galeri Kuala Lumpur

Sudah banyak kali sampai sekitar Jalan Raja berhampiran Dataran Merdeka tetapi kali pertama berpeluang masuk dan tinjau apa ada di Galeri Kuala Lumpur. Galeri KL adalah satu-satunya tempat yang perlu dilawati jika ke Kuala Lumpur untuk mengetahui latar belakang sejarahnya.

Galeri Kuala Lumpur terletak di dalam sebuah bangunan peninggalan penjajah dan berusia 114 tahun betul-betul bersebelahan Dataran Merdeka. Ia merupakan sebahagian daripada Kumpulan ARCH dalam visi mereka untuk mempromosi warisan dan budaya negara. ARCH adalah merupakan sebuah syarikat yang terlibat dalam mempromosi cenderamata dan barangan koleksi yang diperbuat daripada papan veneer. Produk mereka berupa arca-arca dan model bangunan-bangunan dalam bentuk 2 dimensi dan juga 3 dimensi. Galeri Kuala Lumpur menempatkan dua bahagian iaitu sejarah Kuala Lumpur dan galeri pameran produk cenderamata ARCH. Pengunjung juga boleh melihat sendiri pekerja ARCH membina arca-arca dari kayu itu.

Pada ruangan Memories Kuala Lumpur, pengunjung dipersembahkan dengan foto-foto lama bagaimana Kuala Lumpur dibangunkan sejak Yap Ah Loy tiba pada tahun 1868.

Di kawasan Galeri ARCH, pengunjung boleh membeli cenderamata yang dihasilkan mereka sebagai kenangan. Disamping itu terdapat juga lain-lain cenderamata yang berupa buku-buku yang berkaitan sejarah dan juga baju T.

Galeri ini dibuka resmi oleh Datuk Bandar ketika itu iaitu:

Galeri ini dibuka pada masa seperti berikut

Alamat ARCH Collection
No. 27 Jalan Raja, Dataran Merdeka
50050 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Facebook: www.facebook/kualalumpurcitygallery
Laman web: klcitygallery.com

I Wuz In Penang @ BlogFest.Asia 2010

Note: This entry was posted HERE for the Blog Penang Contest in ocnjunction with the BlogFest.Asia 2010. Since it is more of a travel experience, I decided to move it here.

This is a story of three friends who made their first visit to Penang. They sat on the bench and their eyes fixed to the ferries plying the channel seperating the island and mainland connecting Pengkalan Sultan Abdul Halim on the mainland and Pengkalan Raja Tun Uda on the island. One ferry after another berthed but the the three friends did not embark on any of them when others left on every ferry that came. The terminal staff was wondering why the three of them did not follow the crowd when the ferry arrives. The three friends then were becoming restless because they have been waiting for hours since early morning and now its about lunch time and still there is no sign of the ferry for them to take. Losing patience, one of them decided to ask the terminal worker, when will the ferry to Pulau Pinang be arriving. The staff and his friends tried hard to contain their laughter and not to offend the man. Politely the worker explain that they can take any of the ferries because all of them go to Pulau Pinang.

Do you think its a joke? Yes, it is one of the joke related to the island. In relation to the fleet of ferries are named after islands Pulau Undan, Pulau Angsa, Pulau Rimau, Pulau Pinang, Pulau Payar, Pulau Kapas, Pulau Rawa, Pulau Talang-talang.

Some History

The name of the island Penang or Pulau Pinang derived from the pinang tree (betelnut) and hence transliterally translated as Betelnut Island. It is also  dubbed the Pearl of The Orient was formally part of the Sultanate of Kedah until it became the British possession in 1786 after being ceded by the Sultan of Kedah to East India Company in exchange for military protection from Siamese and Burmese army.The island gained independence as part of Federation of Malaya in 1957.

On 17th July, 1786, Captain Francis Light landed on what now is called the Esplanade with a small group of civilians and naval staff and hoisted the Union Jack on 11 August to officially took possession of the island. The present Georgetown is named after King of England George III.  Today Penang has grown into one of the busy port on Malaysiacatering mostly trade in the Northern region of peninsular Malaysia. Penang has two parts. Seberang Perai on the mainland and Penang Island. Most of the tourist activities is concentrated on the island that has stretches of beautiful sandy beaches for sunbathing or lazing around in the Tropical sun or the sea to take a dip and savour its cool refreshing water of the Straits of Malacca.

This island has many attractions and besides its white sandy beaches with hives of sea activities, Penang is also a food haven. There are abundance of restaurants serving varieties of food from local cuisine as well as foreign food. When in Penang you are not far away from home as one can find something as near as home. And what more if you visit the island, there will be activities to be witnessed since it is  Visit Penang 2010-2012 and one of the attraction is her cultures.

I am here in Penang again for the Blog Fest Asia organised byDot.Asia Organisation, a Hong Kong based company and co host by Wawasan Open University. This event is also co-sponsored byTourism Malaysia,  exabytes network, visit Penang 2010-2012,instantIT Asia and internews. 

There are many choice to travel to Penang from other parts of Malaysia.Flights, train, taxis or Express buses. On this trip I travel over land since its the cheapest means of transport.The fare was RM32.00  I left the temporary Express bus terminal at Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur at 1.45 pm.and the journey was, well a bit tiring since it took 5 hours to reach Butterworth before connecting my journey on one of Penang’s icon the ferry. Sailing duration between the two ferry terminal is about 15 minutes and one just pay RM 1.20 to enjoy the sea breeze and the traffic on the channel. If you have the choice to travel to Penang, don’t miss both means of connection between the island and mainland, the ferry and the bridge. Both channel just charge you a one way fare and it means going out of the island is FREE. Don’t you think it is worth to travel to Penang?

The city of Georgetown

Georgetown is the earliest of Malaysian town to obtain its city status and it was granted on 1st January 1957. Since the city was developed during the colonial days roads are a bit narrow, buildings are old fashioned that helps the city achieve her UNESCO’s Heritage City status.

The Food

Whats the best food in Penang. Well, when people talk about Penang then there is this popular dish that originate from this state, Nasi Kandar. "It is a meal of steamed ricewhich can be plain or mildly flavored, and served with a variety of curries and side dishes.

The word Nasi Kandar, came about from a time when nasi [rice] hawkers or vendors would kandar[balance] a pole on the shoulder with two huge containers of rice meals. The name has remained and today the word Nasi Kandar is seen on most Tamil Muslimor "Malaysian Mamak" restaurants and Indian-Muslim stall meals.- Wikipedia.

So when in Penang, do not miss to test your taste bud on the dish. Among the popular stall is Line clear. This is a small stall located at one of the small alley near the junction of Chulia Street and Penang Road. What is Nasi Kandar by the way. For Malaysians is is becoming popular. Nasi kandar restaurants have been growing by day and not only in Penang island but throughout Malaysia. Hmm, I am not sure if the are Nasi Kandar restaurants in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan now. Besides this Line Clear, there are some other well known Nasi Kandar restaurants such as Pelita Nasi Kandar, Subaidah Restaurant. Whenever in Penang I will not miss this famous Hemeed’s ox tail soup at upper Penang Road opposite Hotel Malaysia. Hey guys the word goes, its good for men. Hmmm…. maybe because the ox’s tail never stops wagging its tail.

The soup is served with oven baked bread like this.

 

Please also not to miss the Penang Laksa or the rojak at the Esplanade. That was just a few. Ask around and the list of Penang specialty on the dinner table never ends.

The People

The island community is made up of three main race that is Malays, Chinese and Indians. However there is also some unique local community, the Anak Mami. These are a mixed breed of Malays and Indians and to understand it, one has to open the history book. Due to her multiracial soceity and imigrants from different parts of the world, Penang’s culture is also unique. The Chinese has their Chingay that originated from China and the Malays with their Boria. believe to originate from Persia but both have been accepted as local culture and presented during various functions in Penang or other parts of Malaysia.

Transportation

The uniqueness of Penang public transport is she still has the trishaw. It is a three wheeled transport pedaled driven by the peddler. This mode of transportation is slowly diminishing and maybe one day be history. So, if you visit this island, never miss your opportunity to ride on one.

Well, what else can be found in Penang? Too bad I do not have the time to walk the island but from visitors and tourist brochure, you must never miss the Penang hill, Butterfly Farm, Fort Cornwallis, Snake Temple to state a few.

Before I forget, and before you leave the island don’t forget to take home another souvenir considered native to Penang that is nutmeg oil, nutmeg balm, pickled nutmeg or the fruit itself. And lastly “Mai lagi no?” (Please come again).

Taiping Lake Garden In Picture

I have been visiting Taman Tasik Taiping a few times ever since I attended a Malaysian Scouts Patrol Leaders Camporee sometimes in 1964 at "waterfall". I can't remember exactly where the location is now although everytime I visit Taiping I was trying to recall those days when I was a school children.

We have seen great pictures recording the beauty landscape of the famous Taiping Lake Garden that house some of the must see landmark. The most popular being the Taiping Zoo located just next to the lake. Here too is the base take off point for visitors who wanted to go up Maxwell Hill or Bukit Larut either for day trip or spend the night in bungalows on top of the hill. Besides there is also the waterfall called Burmese pool for a cooling dip or picnic. Taiping Lake Garden area also host the War Memorial.

For visitors who want to stay in the cool, tranquil of a resort like accomodation, there are a few Inns and hotel around besides the Seri Malaysia and government rest house.

My last visit was during my journey back to Alor Setar during the fasting month of Ramadhan. It was a once in a blue moon of my travelling during the daytime. I decided to make a stop at the Taiping Lake Garden and I present it in pictures here.