On the way up the Panorama Hill

Ever imagined a walk through the clouds? Or catch the glimpse of the sun playing peek-a-boo with you? There's no where else better than the east coast of Malaysia to do that!

Located in Kuantan, Pahang, Sungai Lembing is THE place for cheap & yummy food, good exercise, & a view of God's creation in its awesome splendor. A couple of friends & I woke up at 4am in the morning just to cease the opportunity to catch the sunrise at Lembing. The hill that we hiked up was named Bukit Panorama.

The journey was exciting! The road was dark at that time of the morning & nope, there wasn't any highway whatsoever, but the trunk road. It took us about an hour from Kuantan town to get to Lembing.

The hike takes about 45 minutes, depending how good your stamina is...hehe...the view from the peak of the hill was a sight to behold. You just have to make sure that you arrive at the peak by 6.45am. Every minute makes a difference in the view that you'll be able to catch. You'll either end up gazing through the clouds early in the morning, then followed by the peek-a-booing of the sun, or you'll just end up taking a usual hike up a hill & not getting much out of it!

Sunrise: Peek-a-boo!

Usually, after hiking, people will head right downhill to the village's market to enjoy the 'home-made' noodles & yong-tau-foo. The price is very much cheaper than town (with a glass of coffee costing RM0.75 the last time I was there!!) If you get there early enough, you may just be able to taste the excellent chee-cheong-fun made by one old couple.

The trip to Sungai Lembing was truly memorable. Aside from the clouds, sunrise, & good food, there are still the village, the river, & the museum to visit, but it's just too much to write if I were to go on! Haha...make sure you visit Sungai Lembing when you stop by Kuantan!

Bridge across Sungai Lembing

It was 12.30 pm and the sun start to blaze upon us. the big vast lake is waiting for us. i will catch a fish today and placed my name in history as the best angler ever.

My family and i went on a small boat that was driven by a professional boat handler who knows the way and passage throughout the lake. He told us he will bring us to a shady area so that we will not suffer the heat from the sun too much. I was quite surprised when he mentioned a shady area because all I can see is just a very big lake with some small bushes, even smaller than me at the edge of it. In which part of the lake is he bringing us? Was there a big tree that will provide us shade or perhaps he was mentioning the boat house that floats around the lake. After several minutes, my question was answered when we have to go through a very narrow passage that was surrounded by tall and thorned bushes. We have to use to safety jackets to cover ourselves from the long branches that came to our face. We even had to crash ourselves to the bushes whenever there was another boat coming from the other side. It was quite an adventure. In my head at that time, I was thinking of the animals that might fall down on us whenever we hit big bushes.

very narrow path at tasik bera

After few turns and few bush banging, we arrive at the shady area promised. It was actually under a very tall, big and sturdy bush tropical plants. What a surprise to me. I would never guess there exists a tall strong plant in the middle of the lake. I was being told by the guide that the earth inside the lake was very good for plants to grow because it retains the ‘coolness’ around the roots of a plant. When I asked how deep was the lake I was quite surprise when he said he don’t know. The depth was unknown because of the earth inside as well. It’s a soft type earth that once you stepped on it you will be pulled in more just like a quicksand. I don’t really need to ask but I do know that there were several death among swimmers in this lake (I had also saw a sign cautioning the visitors that swimming is dangerous!).

Apart from the scary note from our guide, we start to fish. We had brought plenty of crickets to lure the fish there. After half an hour, only the boat guide manage to catch few fishes and even my small sister manage to catch baby ‘tiger barp’ just by scooping in the water. It was true that fishing does need a lot of patience, and I mean a loooootttttt of it.

I guess after sometime, we are losing our patience. Just watching our boat guide who kept bringing more and more fish into the boat, made us feel like such a big loser. Then, miracle happens. As my mother was mending her tangled fishing rod, suddenly she felt like her rod was being pulled. So she started to roll up the rope and to our surprise a 10 m cm long catfish was hanging there. My mother had managed to lure a fish without even using bait!! She was ecstatic. Because of her ‘accidental’ catch, she start to boast around and keep claiming that it was because of her radiance that attracted the fish to simply just surrender to her. My dad wanted to laugh out loud but he can’t since he couldn’t mange to catch any fish just like me.

Deep down inside, I was wondering whether what my mom claim was true or not. While waiting for the fish, we had lunch on the boat. We brought tuna sandwich ala Martha Stewart’s style. It was the most delicious sandwich I ever tasted (may be I was too hungry).

million dollar worth of view

We stayed on to fish till 5pm where we decided that’s it. We had changed fishing spot for several times in hope to catch a really big fish. In the end, only my mom and my small sister manage to catch some fishes (the boat guide is not counted because he is a pro). We went for a quick shower to refresh ourselves and were later served with big dinner at the restaurant there. It was very delicious as the cook was using the fresh fish caught by our ‘pro’ fisher. I never knew ‘arowana’ fish is such a delicacy (yummy).

Indoor area of Station Kopitiam

I have many things that I want to do before I’m too old to do the things that I wanna do. (Huh?)

One of the item on my list of things-to-do is to climb Mt Kinabalu. We Malaysians should at least have the intention of climbing the highest peak in Malaysia right? It is a grueling task, but it can be done. I’ve always wanted to climb Mt Kinabalu, but I’m getting more inspired to climb Mt Kinabalu after reading a blog entry by a celebrity blogger, Kenny Sia on his recent expedition up the mountain with another well known talented blogger, Su Ann.

Image of the South Peak

I know that it may be easy to go up Mt Kinabalu, but the journey up will be a tough challenge on my endurance. For me, I have lots of things to do before I can start on my mountain climbing dream. There was one time when I came to my office during a weekend but the elevator was not in working order. I had to climb up the stairs all the way up to 11th floor, which is the highest floor of my office building. First few floors was easy, but after the fourth and fifth, I was already out of breath. I really need a workout.

Yes, people say that Mt Kinabalu is one of the easiest mountains to climb. Actually it’s more walk rather than climb. But after reading Kenny and Su Ann’s blog entry on their expedition, it’s not as easy as I thought. It will be similar to that climbing 11 floors up the stairs at my office, perhaps worse.

What about the expenses?

According to Kenny, the expenses for the trip is kinda affordable. To register at the park for guide, porter and park fees, is only RM70 per person. A stay at the Laban Rata rest house is only RM50 for a bunk bed. The only  expensive item is the plane ticket to Kota Kinabalu and perhaps a night stay in a hotel on the arrival date. But I'm sure it will be within a good budget.

Whatever it is, I will make it happen. There is no greater experience to reach the summit of Mt Kinabalu on my own effort. 

The date and time is not yet set. But you’ll notice an indication of it because I will surely make a big fuss before the trip in my website. I might invite more friends or relatives to join me, then it’ll be more fun.

Care to join me?

Ironically, the first time I heard about Kelabit Hills was from an American backpacker that my friend met in one of her travels. Now, what does an American know about the history and geography of the jungles and tribes of Borneo (Kalimantan)? Obviously … more than me. Goes to show we shouldn’t underestimate people. Although Americans are known to think that the world revolves around USA alone, there are exceptions to the rule!

In any case, when my friend decided to organise a trip to the Kelabit Hills during the Merdeka holiday week, I jumped at the chance. We flew into Bario from Miri on a twin otter (now that was a pretty neat ride!) and trek through the jungles of Borneo to B’kelalan in three days (with a quick in and out of Indonesian land on the last day). Yeah, we spent three days trekking through mud covered trails and leech infested jungles. We must be out of our minds! What were we thinking of ~ to leave the comforts of our home with water heater, air conditioning and television; for the likes of longhouses, Malay type houses on stilts, jungle shelter, freezing cold well water and river water, toilet au natural (dig your own hole literally), exotic game (i.e. wild boar, bucking deer and civet cat) for food and many more exciting experiences. The shelter which we put up a night at was also the base camp for the rescue operation (which cost about RM2 million, I was told by the guide) of the helicopter tragedy last July that killed seven people including Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Office, Dr Judson Tagal.

The verdict? I have absolutely no regrets. Bario was like another world. Imagine a remote community that can only be reached by air or on foot through other villages that have better access to the road system (such as B’kelalan, which is a 3 day walk away). Imagine electricity supplied only through generators. The guide told us that diesel cost about RM150 per litre as it has to be flown in. Therefore, generator usage is very rare and only turned on when travellers are around. Imagine no road system exists except for a dirt road leading from the airport to the village and lots of dirt trails. Transportation is in the form of motorbikes and the only vehicles there are pick-ups and 4WD; which have no registration no. and no road tax. Communication is limited to public fixed line phones. (Actually, I only saw one.) There are no mobile phone connections. (Yup, I tried but no “bar”.) Imagine a community that is so selfless that our host invited his competition to his place to entertain us as he (our host) was unable to speak English or Malay well enough to communicate much with us.

B’kelalan too boasts of very hospitable and courteous people. We actually stayed at the late Dr Judson Tagal’s parents’ lodge. They are excellent host and although our contact and communication was brief, we could feel the genuine warmth of their welcome and care. What happened to their son was very sad indeed and their lost reverberated through their home. On a good note, it was really heartening to see a community that truly loved their minister. Civilisation is also more apparent at B’kelalan as they have better access to electricity and the outside world although it took us 5 hours of mud road driving to get from B’kelalan to the trunk road and onward to the nearest town of Lawas. And if you have never experienced the actual 4WD adventures, here is one opportunity that you shouldn’t miss. I promise that you will get an excellent massage on the backseat of the 4WD! *evil grin* And B’kelalan oh B’kelalan ~ it looks like a mystical place in the early morning as it is located in a valley surrounded by the beautiful and serene Kelabit Hills with clouds hanging mysteriously over these hills.

And that folks is our experience at Kelabit Hills. For more information and write-ups, you might want to google it or check out the following website: http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/6980/bario_1a.html

If you seek a different kind of adventure holiday, look no further than our own backyard. Kelabit Hills is certainly a highly recommended place to go.

Recently i went to Mersing. Therefore, I would like to recommend a place to stay in Mersing. The thing is, when the place is good enough for me, I wouldn't mind giving them a little credit and tell people about it. Why, people might ask. Not like the pay you for commission. Maybe they don't. But we need more place like this. And I would like to go back there one day, in the future. So, I would love to make sure that they're still up and running ten years from now.

It's called Raja Villa Hotel & Resort. Up on the hill. Way up, which is i might add a big bonus for the place because it has been blessed with a gorgeous see view. The room isn't as fancy as a 4 star hotel, though. But it's way decent than i expected considering it only cost me RM71.50 pernight. Air-conditioned, check. Clean, check. Hot water, check. A mini fridge, check. TV, check. Not to mention swimming pool overseeing the ocean. What's there to complaint, right?

I stayed in the Deluxe Room. Which is facing the hotel garden. I must say, i'm impressed because they have a cute looking garden although the view from my room was blocked with trees. So, i didn't get a clear view. But, again, i'm still happy.

There are other choices for room. The one room suites and the 2 room suites. These rooms got the best view. They're facing the ocean. And they got a private balcony too. I would love to stay in one of those room, but then, it'll cost me additional RM100 and in my case it's unnecessary on the first place. But maybe some day..

They're renovating, adding up a place for snooker and pool table. I spot a gym but I didn't check it out.

I would love to upload a picture or two for everyone to see. But, I haven't get the chance to transfer the pictures from my camera into my pc. So, sorry guys. No pictures for now.

Got to go for now. If any of you are planning to visit Mersing, a word of advice, check out this place. It may not be perfect, i admit. But, there's just something about the surrounding that make it feels so magical. Have a nice day!

Ya, i like malaysia :) of course due to many many reason and one of the main one is the variety of food that i can't ever find in other places. Nasi lemak, satay, roti canai, chinese dishes, halal food, non-halal food all is the best here..

Pangkor Island, holiday trip with my family. Nice scnery view, cool wind, nice sun, my favourite white sand beach and rock....really make me rock ! ya..one more..the coral..nice coral, beatifull and special :)

Hotel, apartment..cheap :) within my budget. Go to any website and just key Pulau Pangkor, a list of hotel/apartment will be there for you to chose. Driving almost 4 hours from KL to Lumut, take a nice ferry which cost not more than rm10 for two way with few minutes reaching the nice island.

    Why visit Malaysia? I could launch into torrents of endless ranting about the popular must-see tourist spots, the delicious must-taste mouth-watering cuisines, the lovely scenic beaches & lush forests & go on & on forever.

The truth is, there are a million & one reasons to visit this wonderful country I am proud to call my home. But of course, being Malaysians, most of us then to take the unique heritage of our homeland for granted. But believe me folks, tourists from around the world would find visiting Malaysia to be an eye-opening & unforgettable experience.

            People. Yup, it’s the citizens who add the various spices & flavours to our country. And why is that?  The answer is well-known & simple: we are a multi-racial country. Many races mean diversified cultures & religions, which also means that there are many different kinds of festivities celebrated all year round. Think about it, where else in the world can you find a country where Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali & Christmas celebrated nation wide, on a large scale? Everyone gets caught up in the excitement of the festive atmosphere, & there always seems to be a reason to celebrate! What could be more appealing then getting wrapped up in the flurry of colours these special occasions bring!

             And with diverse cultures come many different kinds of cuisines to whet your appetite.  Strolling down the streets of Malaysia, you could come across a Malay stall serving mouth-watering ‘nasi kandar’ at one end of the road with a good old fashioned Chinese ‘kopitiam’ just opposite it. Then, just a few doors down, the aroma from an Indian ‘mamak’ stall would set your stomach growling. There’s so much food to choose from to satisfy one’s cravings. Yes, eating is a BIG attraction to everyone, since it is known that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach!

            For nature lovers, or for anyone who is desperate to escape form the hustle & bustle of urban life, Malaysia is the perfect place to head to. If you are a sea lover, our scenic beaches, with swaying coconut trees, warm breeze & crystal-blue waters will have you swimming, surfing, scuba-diving or simply frolicking in no time. If you are the adventurous kind with a neck for the wild, jungle-trek & hike your way through our tropical forests, filled with different kinds of flora & fauna.

            And what if you are a shopping-addict? Why, with sales & bargains nationwide that never seem to end, you could shop till you drop at any of our shopping malls. But if you are looking for a more authentic shopping experience, there are pasar malam’s everywhere which you can visit. You may come here empty-handed but you will surely leave Malaysia with baggage-full of goods!

            The amazing sights, sounds & smells of Malaysia are what make her so unique & attractive. Anyone who has visited our country once & experienced the magic & enchantment of Malaysia will surely return for more. With so much to see & so much to do, one will never complain about feeling bored here. So folks, let’s put on our best smiles & extend our warmest welcome to the rest of the world. Come & visit Malaysia!