Penang National Park – Pantai Keracut

Many people did not realise that we also have a national park in Penang. It is one of the smallest national park in Malaysia. So, on the second day of Chinese New Year, we took a hike in the Penang National Park to Pantai Keracut. What will be a better way to spend Chinese New Year after so much of ‘glorious’ food the days before!

This place is at Teluk Pahang and the the track start near the ‘End of the World’ seafood restaurant. It’s a smooth walk of about 500m into the trail leading to Pantai Keracut or to Muka Head.

The hike took about 1 1/2 hour to Pantai Keracut. It’s not a though hike, though the beginning was a bit tedious as there are a lot of steps to begin with.

 

45 minutes into the hike, the trail will level off and you will pass through a place called Bukit Belah. Along the way, there are many pavilions  (7 in total) created for hikers to take a rest.

Once you reached, you will be greeted with the sight of a meromictic lake one of the 19 around the world. Here in this lake, salt water and fresh water are joints. The denser salt water will be at the bottom while the fresh water will be on the top, forming double layer lake.

Sand here are very white and hot during afternoon. It’s also soft and makes it very hard to walk. However, the sunny day is a very nice time for taking picture.

Walk around the place you will find more places to take picture.

The beach is very nice and not too deep for you to wallow in. Along the beach also, you can find a look of starfishes.

As you walk along, you will also come across jellyfishes. There are found to be abundant at Pantai Keracut making it a not suitable place for swimming or water sport activities.

However, unknown to many, Pantai Keracut is also the place to see turtle. This place have been gazetted as a turtle sanctuary. The abundance of jellyfishes as the primary source of food makes it a haven for turtle. Many green turtles are known to lay eggs here.

 

There is a research station and ranger station to take care of the sanctuary and to prevent poaching by various people who collect the eggs to be sold.

Although this is not the season for turtles to lay egg, we manage to find a few cordoned off areas which is actually sites where turtles has lay eggs.

After that, more picture taking at the beach.

Some artistic picture, and some not so but random…but happy picture.

Some scenery from the turtle sanctuary too..

And some cam-whoring time too…

After about an hour plus or so, we decided it’s too hot to remain at the beach and decided to head back. We actually decided to get a boat to go back and paid the boatman RM100 for the 9 of us.

The journey is a very pleasant and it only took about 15 minutes to go back. Along the way the boatman stop at various places to show us the various beaches, flora, fauna and interesting structures!

Eagle’s nest on top of a tree…we saw quite a number of it.

Some rock formation which this suppose to look like a turtle…

and the crocodile or buaya darat….!

Floating chalet which you can rent for RM110 a night for fishing.

Overall, we enjoyed the journey and a good break from the normal routine of Chinese New Year of visiting relatives and eating non-stop. Do visit this place before it’s heritage is lost.

I wonder why

Some of my random thoughts of Chinese New Year.

1. Why do people gives ang pow (red packet with money inside) during Chinese New Year?

2. Why we must have so much of food during Chinese New Year reunion dinner and at the end, ended up eating the left over for days?

3. Why everything must be new?

4. Why do people put up red lantern?

5. Why more Malays are playing fire crackers during CNY then Chinese ? (at least at where I stay in Penang)

6. Why more houses are decorated in the Christmas mood rather the Chinese New Year atmosphere?

7. It’s reunion time. Can we have reunion elsewhere together, like in KL? It save a lot of trouble like traffic jams, packed sardines at every supermarket/ shops/ market, etc.

8. Which is the real, original Chinese New Year song?

9. Why do we celebrate Chinese New Year for 15 days? Isn’t New Year is just on the first day?

10. What is it about  new red under garments? WHO CARES!

 

I guess I am a Chinese but still have a lot to learn! And obviously I do have ONE last question…

Can we forget and ABOLISH the ang pow tradition? or can I don’t gives this year?

Have a great and blessed Chinese New Year everyone! Have a good reunion and fellowship with loved ones!

Remember, don’t drive too fast and keep to the speed limit!

Don’t go faster than the angels do!

Happy Chinese New Year

Hi. I want to wish everyone a Happy Chinese New Year.

May the year to Tiger be a roaring year for everyone.

But…you don’t be a tiger ya…:)

randomness

 

Make a trip to Putrajaya to take some outdoor pictures but only to meet with heavy rain once I arrive there. I ended up at the Putrajaya Boat club and took few pictures there.

We left for field work on Friday and over the weekend. Took some shoot as I walk along the field. Still trying out some of the features that MarkII 5D has to offer. Love the camera but hate the weight. If I am carry that camera all the time, it’s like lifting weight wherever I go.

I love the harvesting machine in the field. It adds some ‘activities’ to the picture.

The fields are ready for harvest now. Some have been harvested and some going to. The field right now are in hues of green and yellowish. Golden.

 

Fierce! I love the red mower in front. It gives the contrast to the yellow mean machine!

The colour on the day is just nice. blue sky and green and yellowish field. Had a great time taking pictures. Must learn more on how to use the Canon Mark II.Though I have been using it for 7 months now, but have never fully utilised it.

A year in review

What a good way to end the year! I finally completed my manuscript. Well, at least I hand it for editing and review.

It’s good to take off the burden from the shoulder….

Anyway, looking back the whole year, I must thank God, how can I thank Him enough, for everything.

This year started with a bang for me. For first, I hand in my PhD thesis last December and in January, I am applying for job everywhere. However, God arrange is a special way. He brought someone into my life which I never know nor heard before. I was introduced to an ex-National Museum director, a professor from US (actually two, husband and wife) and another from Oxford University. We end up collaborating with them.

After the initial meeting, I was offered to do my post doctorate in Penn State University over in Hershey, PA, in February. We pray over it and I talk to various one of the offer, in particular my  grandfather.  My wife went over to Los Banos, Phillipines in February too and it is the longest time that we are apart since we got married in 2007. Towards the end of February, actually on the 27th, I was called for my viva to defend my PhD thesis. Added a title to my name and now offically a Dr.

March went by doing some minor editing for my thesis. I received the official offer letter to work in US too. Attended the CZone camp and have a blast there.

Attended the GLN conference in Singapore and have another wonderful time.

We have our biggest Easter March event in April and we march around Kajang town and proclaims that Jesus is Alive and He reign in the town. We also pray for the town safety and prosperity!

I hand in my final bind copy my thesis to the university in May and finally lifted all the burden I carry for the last 6 years. Finally… I was also hospitalized in May because of dengue but then, God’s hand is upon me!

In June, I have another first in my life. First time, I travel to the US. First time I actually gone that far and spending about 3 weeks there. Again, this is the longest time apart from my wife.

In July, we travelled to Beijing for conference and spend about 8 days there. Attended the conference and visited the Forbidden City, Bird Nest, Temple of Heaven, Great Wall and other various places. Travelled in a bullet train for the first time too.

Come August, I attended my long awaited graduation ceremony. I finally can wear my ‘mushroom’ hunter’s hat and red robe. Felt like Harry Potter!

September, October and November went by smoothly without anything major. In October, CZone have a great worship concert and again, its awesome to be soaking in the presence of God.  All the time, I am working and travelling to various places in Malaysia to visit Orang Asli villages.

In November, we celebrated our 2 years of marriage anniversary. God is good and blessing us with a wonderful marriage.

December came by quickly and have a great Christmas and now anticipating another great New Year 2010.

Looking back, I never expected to leave the country or even working overseas. However, God always has His plan and throw surprises into our life.

What could I say, if you have tasted His wonderful blessing and goodness, you will wait and anticipate for more!

Look back and thank God,

Look forward and trust God,

Look around and serve God,

Look within and find God!

 

Oh…did I mention I have completed my manuscript?

 

Blessed New Year!

Cameron Highlands

I loved cool places. I had always find Malaysian weather is too hot for my liking. So, everytime there is a chance, I will love to go for a break in the mountains, but with the limitation of choices, there are only a few which we can really go to.

I love Cameron Highlands in Pahang. This place is just wonderful to relax, unlike Genting Highlands if you want excitement!

In Cameron Highlands, there are few townships with Ringlet at the lowest and Brinchang among the highest. There are other higher town but Brinchang is the will be the best for tourist as other don't have hotels.

 

Cameron is famous for its tea garden, strawberry farm and also various cactus valley and rose gardens. Other than that, you can also find bee garden and butterfly park.

You can visit their strawberry park and pick your own strawberry. Apart from that, you can find fresh broccoli and other vegetables too.

I always visit their rose gardens. Here they have more than just roses. There are so many types of flowers which are so nice that you can stroll in. This particular Rose Garden at Brinchang will takes you about 2 hours of slow walk and hike if you slowly enjoy the surrounding.

 

 

There are so many nice places for you to visit. Another will the be Agro park. Here you can find fresh vegetables for you to buy.

Apart from the fresh vegetables, this place offers you a variety of cactus and flowers which you can see and buy.

They also have apple trees and grapes. However, these are not for sale and you can only view the apple tree from the fencing they put up.

I will also strongly recommend for you to visit the Tea Garden. Sg Palas tea garden has an amazing view. This is where BOH have their plantation. BOH has 3 tea plantation here. The other two are BOH plantation and also Bkt Cheding.

This place has one of the most amazing scenery in Cameron Highlands. You can also visit their processing factory where they ferment and dry their tea leaves before sending for processing in Shah Alam.

In Cameron Highlands, you can also visit the Orang Asli settlement. The Semai are found here.

So, now you know where to go next for your local destination.

For more info on Cameron Highlands, you can visit their website.

More pictures for you to enjoy.