Be aware of AES!

When we send our brother and sister to LCCT airport, we decided to drive to KLCC. On our way backed from KLIA or LCCT, passing through the toll plaza, the road sign clearly indicated KLCC sign on the right hand side, and we decided gave it a try instead of the left hand road which we are normally used.

In the half way, we lose the sign of KLCC and the sign board showed us Seremban. OMG! We are so frustrated and thinking where does this road bring us to? Is there any U-turn available? Then only we realized this road brought us to the Nilai exit which is more further from another road. 

Yes, this is Nilai Utara exit, where when you turn out from the road you can see the memorial park. Then you will continue back to the North-South Express highway. When we passed by the Nilai/ Bangi area, we saw the light flashing from the road side although we only drove 100km/j. Firstly, we thought the Automated Enforcement System (AES) was not flashing at us, but only later we realized the speed at this road is 90km/j.  

I don't understand why 90km/j was instilled in the highway? I still can remember well on one of the radio advertisement mentioned that the changing speed in the highway make people very tension and it encourage us to drink a cup of the "brand" coffee to wake up and noticed it! So creative. How can we not be so tension, if the road sign can be improved! Really hope Malaysia can improve it especially for its tourism business.   

Kuantan, Malaysia

It has been some months I didn't update my blog, therefore, this Chinese New Year I decided to pay a visit to Kuantan when I followed my husband back to his hometown in Gambang. Gambang is located  approximate of 40 minutes drive away from Kuantan city, the most famous tourism spot in Gambang will be the Bukit Gambang Resort.

If you are planning to visit other state in Malaysia during Chinese New Year, please avoid Chinese New Year or Hari Raya eve for traveling, cause most of us (all races) will back to hometown at the same time and the traffic is heavy. 

When we think of Kuantan, normally we will link to the beaches and sunrise where in the west of Peninsular Malaysia we seldom  have the chance to see it. But recently, when we mentioned about Kuantan, we will think of "Stop  Lynas, save Malaysia" campaign. According to news, there is an airborne monitoring system (AMS) installed at the district police station to gauge the radiation level in Kuantan town. But unfortunately, I didn't pay attention when I passed by the town.

Teluk Cempedak is the most popular tourism attraction in Kuantan, and it is located 5 km east from the town. It is facing the South China Sea and due to raining the water sport activities are not allowed during our visit. If not, you can enjoy swimming, surfing, sun-bathing, sailing and jet skiing. Besides, you also can enjoying jungle trekking and observe the rainforest of Malaysia, or enjoying local or fast foods with sea breeze. 

Not to forget your cup of local coffee either in Kemaman Kopitiam or Hai Peng Kopitiam before you leave Kuantan. Due to holiday season, Hai Peng Kopitiam is closed. We managed to drop by the Kemaman kopitiam for a cup of Kemaman white coffee and stuff crab. It was enjoyable.

 

What to SEE in Melaka

Melaka places of interest are very concentrated around the area of Melaka river in Jalan Kota. You can just stay nearby the hotel or park your car near A Famosa. Within walking distance you can visit most of the places of interest below except King's Well and Poh Sang Teng Temple which located nearby Bukit Cina.

1. Porta de Santiago

This fortress was built by Portuguese in early 16th century. It was one of the four main gateways into the Portuguese fortress of A Famosa. The construct of A Famosa was to prevent frequent attacked from Sultan Mahmud's followers, Acheh and Johor over century. But unfortunately, the British destroyed it due to fear of it being used against them after Melaka handed back to Dutch in 1795. Only Porta de Santiago remains till today.   

2. St. Paul's Church

A ruin church situated on top of Saint Paul Hill, originally was a chapel built by Portuguese, also name as Our Lady of Grace. But when Dutch overtook Malacca in 1641, the Dutch converted the chapel to St. Paul Church and the name remain until today. Until British took over, the tower of the church was destroyed, and it became the storehouse for British gun power.

 
3. Stadthuys & Christ Church Melaka

The Stadhuys (red square) was the Municipal Hall in Dutch. It took almost 20 years to complete it, today it is the history, ethnography and literature museum. The maroon colour was not the originally paint of the building, instead they were faced with brick. 

  

Christ Church was built by Dutch in year 1753 to celebrate their 100 years occupation in Melaka. This church took around 12 years to complete, the wooden ceiling beams, each cut from a single tree, to the elaborately hand-carved pews and frieze of "The Last Supper".

4. Cheng Hoon Teng Temple

The oldest functioning temple in Malaysia, constructed in year1673. It is a Chinese temple that practicing three doctrinal system of Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism. In the central of altar is dedicated to Kuan Yin (God of Mercy), Ma Choo on the left and Kuan Kong on the right. It is located near to Kampung Kling Mosque and Sri Poyatha Moorthi Temple.

5. Melaka River

Melaka river was once an important trading places between East and West during 15th century.You can take a boat ride to experience the previous glamorous of Melaka where the river has been clean up and rehabilitated.

6. King's Well & Poh San Teng Temple

The King's well also known as "Hang Li Po" well. It was constructed during the reign of Sultan Mansur Shah (1458 - 1477) for his wife, Hang Li Po who came from China.The water in the well will never dry out even with severest of droughts and according to folklore, who ever drink from well will return to Melaka. 

Immediately adjacent to King's well is Po San Teng Temple. Some people mentioned that this temple is associated with admiral Cheng Ho, a Ming-dynasty navigator. But there are no evidence to prove that.  

7. Jonker Street
This is the best place for you to buy souvenir in Melaka, you must also tried Chicken Rice balls and Durian Cendol in here.

Melaka, the Historic City

Melaka and George Town was recently inscribed on UNESCO’s world heritage list for being the historic cities of the Strait of Malacca that have developed over 500 years of trading and cultural exchanges between East and West. 

If you browse through Melaka history, the earliest three periods that had great impacted on Melaka especially in architecture where the historical buildings are still remained today is as follows:

Being a strategic location between East and West, Malacca was once a prosperous, civilization city and important conduit for trade during 15th century. But after the fallen of Malacca into the hand of British, Malacca was no longer an important trading port and it was overtook by Singapore's growing opulent and became one of the world international trading port.

Melaka today is the important tourism spot in Malaysia that rich with historical and multicultural. It is located just two hours drive from Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. This is a place you must visit when you travel in Malaysia.

Titi Eco Farm Resort, Negeri Sembilan

"Organic" is a new way of life, the trend of today's healthy way of living. The organic agriculture is prevailing rapidly worldwide both for health and environmental reasons. For these reasons, I opted to pay a visit to one of our Malaysia's organic agricultural farm - Titi Eco Farm Resort for a day trip. Titi Eco Farm Resort is located in Jalan Sungai Rotai, Titi, Jelebu, 71650 Negeri Sembilan. 

Earlier in the morning before sun raised, I woke up and departed with my family to the destination. I have downloaded the map from the website as guide. Unfortunately, when I passed by Hulu Langat and asked people around for direction, we were told by the local, there were landslide happened two weeks ago in the way heading to the destination. Without any clue and idea on the alternative road to Titi Eco. I have to call for help to the farm resort, but there were no one picking up my call. Luckily, we dropped by a petrol station and successfully got information from the store supervisor for another direction.

We quickly headed to Lekas highway and exit at 2105 (which the Titi Eco representative gave us a wrong direction), actually the correct exit is at 2106 Ampangan. From the exit to Titi Eco Farm is a very long journey. The road is zigzag and dangerous... Finally we reached Titi Eco Farm around 10.45am which the tour around the farm already started for five minutes.

Without further delay, we quickly joined the group for farm tour. We were brought to organic vegetable farm, fruits farm and poultry farm for a visit. There are various types of exotic tropical fruits such as pineapples, bananas, passion fruits, dragon fruits, guavas, rambutans and papayas which I was able to observed. Other vegetables like sweet potato and bitter grounds are also available. 

   
There are only ostriches and rabbits in the poultry farm. It was a bit disappointed. 

   
I think the most excited part of the day trip will be crossing the pond through hanging bridge and playing the flying fox. This is mostly enjoyed by children and my 70 year-old father. He really was great compared to me, I only went through the hanging bridge and did not try the flying fox. Haha... 

But the drawback was, in the another site of the pond were full with mosquitoes, therefore it is advice to bring mosquito repellent along especially you brought your kids. The whole farm tour was finished after the flying fox and hanging bridge, and the next agenda was "free and easy" and took a small rest before lunch provided. 

What you can do in Titi Eco Farm? 
1. Roll Over Grass and let yourself dive into the greens (suggested by Titi Eco)

2.  Play Soap Bubble in the provided area...

3. Visit their Organic Shop and purchase their organic product such as papaya powder, enzyme... and organic vegetables and fruits...

  
4. Play Chess... you can enjoy Chinese set or Western set as provided.

5. Play their stuffs... there have swing, seesaw and slide around...

6. Relax, enjoy and take photograph of lovely scenery...

If you do not enjoy sun bathing or outdoor activities, you might still like the foods provided here. We were served strobilanthes crispus tea for a drink, and the benefit of the tea is good for anti-cancer properties. Before the lunch began, a salad was served as appetizer. Sweet and sour taste really stimulate my appetite to eat more. There are five dishes altogether such as curry vegetable, pak choi, fried sweet potato, chicken, steam fish and a soup of the day. I ordered myself vegetarian food, there are deep fried egg plant, pak choi and lady fingers. 

  
We left before the health sharing session and wholemeal bread demonstration began. We have been waiting for about forty five minutes and my parent felt tired, therefore we decided to leave earlier. Luckily we left earlier, in the midst of driving in Lekas highway, it rained cat and dog until we hardly see the road sign and car in front. We missed the junction and have to took long U-turn back to our house. It was dangerous if we drive in this condition in the Kelawang road. 

In conclusion, there are still a lot of improvement can be made in Malaysia's Eco tourism business compared to other countries I have visited. The farm tour guide can improve their briefing and make it more interesting cause when I came back from the trip, I hardly remember any information shared by him. Second, the day trip can insert activities that involve participate of the visitors such as soap DIY, making paper lantern such as my Taiwan's farm trip... Third, it is very important to told or brief the visitors what and when is the next agenda, don't break the gap too long, people will lost and do not know what to do. I saw few family left before end of the session. Lastly, to boost the sales of the product, they can told the visitors the benefits of the foods they served or the recipe of using their product in the dishes. I saw none of my group were buying product from their store. For your information, I have brought two big recycle bags thinking to purchase their product, but I brought none. No buying impulse... sad...      

Adeline's Rest House, Gopeng

If you like adventure, nature and outdoor activities such as whitewater rafting, jungle tracking or water fall abseiling, then you might like to visit and stay in Adeline's Rest House. Adeline's Rest House is located nearby Sungai Itik, 7km away from Gopeng town, Perak. 

You can took a bus to Gopeng bus station and arrange Adeline's staff to pick you up, they will just charged you a minimum transportation charges. We do experience a ride in their truck, the wind kept pounding on our face when we passed through the lush rainforest, it make your eye hardly open wider. 

When we reached the destiny, I was very happy to see that the Adeline's huts are in traditional style and located in the mid of nature, surrounded by Durian trees. A real escapade for nature-lovers and eco-tourists. But if you like to stay luxury and comfortable, this place might not suit you, because the water from the tap is mixed with sand, and I suspected the water might came directly from the mountain, it was so refreshing.   

Our adventurous began, after a short rest in the hut, we were sent to the Itik river for whitewater rafting. Before started, we need to jump in the river and experienced the thrill and fun by doing body-rafting in the river! I do not know what is the grade of this river, but it was my first time for it.    

The food provided by Adeline's was delicious. We have booked the package that came with BBQ and bamboo soup, there even provided us a supper for Durian!