Pahang

  • Family travel,  Lanchang,  Pahang,  Temerloh

    A visit to Deerland Park, Lanchang, Pahang

    Frankly, I did not know a deer farm known as Deerland Park existed in Lanchang, Pahang. I discovered the place by chance.

    My family and I, with a plan to visit Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary, reached Lanchang at about 10am, Sunday, from Temerloh. We stopped by a restaurant somewhere in Kampung Chempaka Kanan to take our late breakfast and later bought some bottled water from grocery shop next door. The taukeh asked me whether I was going to visit the elephants. I said yes and he told me that the activities only start at 2pm. Since it was only 11am, he told me to visit Deerland Park and that the signs would lead me there. I thanked him for the information and told my husband about it. So, we followed the sign and found the place. When we parked, I saw a van full of tourists visiting the same place. I was a bit ashamed of myself; well, who wouldn’t? They came with a plan to visit the place while I, a Malaysian living in Malaysia, just discovered the place by chance. But I guess that is a good sign that tourists are given good information of where to go and what to visit.

    We paid RM16 in total; RM12 for 2 adults, RM4 for a kid. We were given entry stickers (to stick on shirt) and a coupon for deer food. My son was really excited to feed the deers. At the enclosure, we exchanged the coupon and get two small baskets of deer food and fed the Javan Rusa deers. It was fun but deers can be quite aggressive sometimes. My purple shirt got chewed by a deer, probably mistaken me for purple sweet potato.


    My son feeding Javan Rusa deer. 


    Javan Rusa deers are principly found in deciduous forests, plantations and grasslands in the islands of Southeast Asia. Javan Rusa lives between 15 to 20 years and rarely do they live for more than 20 years.


    The deer enclosure here at Deerland park is quite big to allow deers to move about freely. The front area of the enclosure is for visitors to feed deers while surrounding area is very much a forest.

    Other than Javan Rusa deers, we got to see Sika deers and a mouse deer.


    Sika deers are native to much of East Asia and introduced to various other parts of the world. Spot patterns vary with region. 


    Greater mouse-deers are found in Sumatra, Borneo and smaller Malaysian and Indonesian islands, and in southern Myanmar, southern Thailand and peninsular Malaysia. They live near water, in tropical forests and mangrove thickets. They are terrestrial, but spend a lot of time in wet, swampy areas.

    Deerland Park is a great place to visit. A trip to this petting park is an opportunity for animal lovers to get up-close and personal with deers as well as a variety of animals such as Golden Pheasant, Bengal Cat, Rabbits, Parakeets, Phytons and few others. I’ll cover this on another post.

    Deerland Park opens daily (except Friday) from 10.30 am to 5.30pm. To get here from Kuala Lumpur, take the Karak Highway to Lanchang, passing Karak along the way. Once in Lanchang, turn left into the road just before the BP gas station, then follow the road signs that show the way to Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary. You will reach a junction where you can see a Deerland( 2km) road sign on your right.

    http://www.deerland.org
    http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Rusa_timorensis.html
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_mouse-deer
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sika_deer

  • Fraser's Hill,  Pahang,  Raub

    Fraser’s Hill flowers and plants

    Fraser’s Hill is a combination of sub-montane and montane forest and with its temperature between 16°C – 24°C, the hill makes a good place for some temperate flowers to grow. As a person who loves flower, this is very exciting. I am not sure of the nativity but I reckon some of the species were brought here when the British developed the hill station. Else, they just grow.

    Here are some of the flower that I got to see:

    Angel’s Trumpet — Also known as Brugmansia, this plant is a large shrub or small tree, with semi-woody, often many-branched trunks. It has pendulous, trumpet-shaped flowers, that have no spines on their fruit. It has a very pleasing fragrance.


    Daylily — I was having a hard time looking for the correct species because there are hundreds of them! I think this one is the Hemerocallis Hyperion species because it has blade-like foliage. A border favourite for decades. Sweetly scented and yellow flowering, also both heat and drought-resistant and long-lived plants.

    Everlasting Daisy — This species is a large tribe of Aster, a sub-species of Daisy. Also known as Golden Everlasting, its distinctive feature is the papery bracts that resemble petals. An Everlasting Daisy consists of a central disc which contains several tiny individual flowers, known as florets; that sit directly on an enlarged part of the stem known as the receptacle. Around the disc is an involucre of modified leaves, and stiff and papery petal-like bracts. Arranged in rows, these bracts curl over and enclose the florets, shielding them before flowering.

     

    Violet Queen Spider flower — Also known as Cleome hassleriana, this plant is made up of groups of 5-7 leaflets, cylindrical seed pods and long stamens that resemble the legs of a spider––the inspiration for its common name.  It has bright green hand-shaped foliage.

     

    Azalea — It is an ornamental plant but also grows in forests. Commonly grown as a border or fence. These flowers are known for releasing a sweet scent and having bright, cheerful colours. The white azaleas are frequently used by gardeners as a backdrop for other brilliantly hued blossoms; however, these flowers come in a variety of shades from orange and yellow, to pink and red.

    Flaming Trumpet Vine — A vigorous and rambunctious climber with tendrils, this vine produces abundant clusters of flaming-orange coloured trumpet-shaped flowers. The vine is draped over a large pergola, fence or espaliered on a trellis or building structures. I found this vine near the Pine Tree Trail area.

    I have more photos of flowers but I could not find the name of the species. Nevertheless,  I was excited to see this one plant:

    Poinsettia tree!!! I normally see potted Poinsettia during Christmas time and did not know that it actually can grow so big! This Noche Buena is native to Mexico and Central America and who would’ve thought that it is found here at Fraser’s Hill?  The coloured bracts—which are most often flaming red—actually leave. Because the flowers are unassuming and do not attract pollinators, brightly coloured leaves developed (aka bracts).

    Anyway, an effort by the Tourism Ministry will see that a new RM4.2mil floral park will be built here to add to the existing attractions. In addition to a glass house, the park would be planted with many plants including impatiens, spider flowers and anthurium. Here are some pictures of flowers already planted for this project.

     

    References:
    http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/HEHY.html
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerochrysum_bracteatum
    http://www.robsplants.com/plants/CleomHassl
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azalea
    http://shoaibnzm2.blogspot.com/2011/12/azalea-flowers.html
    http://www.jaycjayc.com/pyrostegia-venusta-flamevine/
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphorbia_pulcherrima
    http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/6/23/nation/20120623165624&sec=nation

  • Fraser's Hill,  line drawing,  moleskine,  Pahang,  pen & ink,  Raub,  Travel illo

    Moleskine: Fraser’s Hill sketch

    I bought a new moleskine with a plan to practice my pens sketches. Previously have black one, thought I get a red one this time. My first sketch is a sketch of Fraser Hill; the roundabout with a clock tower and post office. It took me quite sometimes to finish the details. I filled in the blue color digitally to break the monotonous. Everything else was traditional: pen and sketchbook.


    As seen on my Instagram page.


    Pen on Moleskine. 

    What do you think? Like it? Hate it? Leave me your thoughts.

  • Family travel,  Fraser's Hill,  Pahang,  Raub,  Selangor

    Fraser’s Hill Day Trip

    After having lunch in Damansara last weekend, my husband asked me, “where to next?” Instead of saying “home”, I said, “anywhere but here.” He replied, OK. Let’s go to Fraser’s Hill.” So, off we went.


    Road to Kuala Kubu.

    We took the Kuala Kubu Bahru route— E1, Route 1, Route 55 and Route 56—to reach Fraser’s Hill. We stopped by at Kuala Kubu Bahru town to buy USB phone cable; one of the things that we should have a spare in the car during spontaneous trip like this. Lucky our car has USB port, so charging is easy. The phone dubs as GPS.

     
    Kuala Kubu Bahru town.

    We drove across Sungai Selangor, passed by Selangor Dam and Chiling Fall and later found ourselves surrounded by thick forest of Selangor and Pahang. We wound down our side screens to smell the refreshing cool air filled with scent of trees and soil and perhaps Streptomyces too.

     
    Aerial view of Sungai Selangor seen from the bridge on Route 55. Did you know that On 6 October 1951, Sir Henry Gurney was shot to death by the Communist guerillas on Route 55 while on his way to Fraser’s Hill for a meeting?


    Empangan Selangor.


    View on Route 56.

     After driving for about an hour from Kuala Kubu Bahru, we reached Fraser’s Hill.


    Yassin and his cousin, Wanda. 

    It was a bit gloomy when we reached here and temperature was around 17°C, just nice to go for a walk around the hill—thanks to its 1524 m elevation. First place we visited was the clock tower, the British-looking little stone building covered with creeper vines. This most photographed clock tower was designed by Malaysian Landscape Architect Z. Jaal for Frasers Hill Development Corporation in 1989.

    So…, what’s Fraser got to do with this hill station situated in Pahang? Who is Fraser? I bet the history is familiar to some of you but I love to write about it again as you might missed some of the facts that I found while doing my reading online and offline.

    Fraser’s Hill is named after Louis James Fraser, a Scotsman who prospected for gold in Australia but eventually struck tin here instead in the 1890s. In 1900s, he went missing but only few years later, a big search for him was conducted by Bishop Ferguson Davie of Singapore. It was an unsuccessful search and some believed that his opium and gambling business got something to do with his disappearance (read: murder). I could not help but think that maybe he was attacked and eaten by tiger. Or, fell down from a ravine.

    Anyway…Bishop Ferguson Davie, on the other hand discovered a perfect hill resort and suggested to the authorities to develop the area.  By 1922 a road had been cut through the mountains to the valley, which soon sprouted bungalows and even one of Malaya’s first golf courses. Since then, Fraser’s Hill retains a wonderfully weird mixed-up character, where locals eat curries off banana leaves in an English cottage next to a golf course while the call to prayer sounds from the mosque.


    A colonial building converted into a bar and restaurant. A Scottish one. To commemorate Fraser, I suppose.

    Ok, enough with the history.

    After the clock tower we visited Allan’s Water; an old dam which was converted into a lake. The dam was formerly served as a reservoir supplying fresh water to Fraser’s Hill. Since it was no longer used, it is converted to a recreational lake, providing boating and picnic activities for visitors. The name Allan’s Water was a tribute to Mr J. H. Allan, an assistant engineer who surveyed the area and mooted the idea of building a dam there.


    We did not went on the boat but we walked along the trail at the right side of the lake. It was here that a LEECH decided to make me a victim. Tolong!! I was screaming like crazy but my husband and son laughed at me. While my niece was comforting me saying to just let it fall by itself, I took a twig and get it OFF me. Crazy la, such a scary experience. LOL.

    After Allan’s Water, we visited a flower nursery next to it. Previously, it was a flower garden but had been closed down for four years previously. A new owner took up the space and the nursery has been opened for almost 10 months now. It is still in its stage of adding more plants but one thing for sure, they have a mini strawberry farm here. We got to taste it and it was sweet! Unlike those sour strawberries I bought from supermarket. My husband bought a pot to care for. The nursery worker told us that a pot of strawberry plant can make up about 50 more and he later taught us how to go about it.

    Later we just wandered around the hill taking pictures. We passed by some of the nature trails; namely Bishop Trail, Mager Trail, Kindersley Trail but as we were not ready for long trails, we skipped the idea. Trail’s length are ranging from 500m (Abu Suradi Trail) to 5km (Pine Tree Trail). While passing by the latter, I saw that it was sealed with no-entry tape, almost certain that it was closed for the day or perhaps for good. Do check with the information counter at Puncak Inn near the Clock Tower if you wish to go on one of the trails.

    Before we get home, I captured some photos of flowers. I’ll cover more about flowers found in Fraser’s Hill in another post. we did drop by Smokehouse for coffee/tea but too bad that it was just closing for the day. It was around 6pm. But I did take some pictures.

     

    Bibliography:
    http://wikitravel.org/en/Fraser’s_Hill
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia_Federal_Route_55
    http://www.thesmokehouse.my/?page_id=2
    http://www.fraserhill.info/
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraser’s_Hill

  • Malaysia,  moleskine,  Pahang,  Tioman,  Travel illo,  TRAVEL/HOLIDAYS,  watercolor

    Drawing from memory

    Oscar Wilde once said, “Memory… is the diary that we all carry about with us.”

    True enough. Can you believe that  I drew this based on memory only?

    pen and watercolor on moleskine sketchbook

    I did not have underwater camera so I use my memory to record things I saw during my trip to Tioman few years back. To me this was quite an accomplishment as I don’t always remember things. I guess when we really want to remember, we can really remember. But this could not be compared to what Stephen Wiltshire can do. Really amazing! Watch this video: Drawing from Memory. I want his brain (in Sylar tone).

    P/S: I must visit them fish soon. But on upper part of East Coast. Perhentian is on my mind.

     

  • Bentong,  family,  Family travel,  Malaysia,  Pahang,  TRAVEL/HOLIDAYS

    Genting Highland

    We went up to Genting Highland last Wednesday. Yassin has been wanting to go there for quite sometimes already. We took the family package tickets (RM192) for 2 adults and 2 children. This package covers both indoor and outdoor parks except for some areas.

     

    It was fun visiting this big theme park with over 40 rides. There’s so much of excitement and fun loads of thrilling adventures. At the outdoor park, Yassin and his cousin Marina got on a tea-cup ride as their height does not permits entry.

    Known as the ‘Fun City Above the Cloud’, Genting Highlands is the only legal land-based casino, Casino de Genting, in the country and is owned by Genting Malaysia Berhad, a subsidiary of Genting Group.  The resort has three theme parks which are Genting Outdoor Theme Park, First World Indoor Theme Park and Water Park. There are over 20 signature attractions which include Flying Coaster, Genting Sky Venture, Haunted House, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum, SnowWorld, Space Shot. There are fees to enter these attractions.