The Wanderlust in me.....

Took me ages to complete this travelogue of mine......objective of putting this down on paper is so that, looking back, I do not forget all the beautiful memories created when I was at these faraway lands, little things that truly make my life that much more beautiful and blessed. I hope this will also motivate and give me the determination to one day be able to set foot on the land known as South America.........

"Travel is my passion and being able to travel around the world is a great privilege that I am thankful for"

I was in my hotel room in Fisco, when the TV commentator asked what's interesting about San Francisco. That got me thinking of what's memorable to me in each station that I've visited so far and hence, the list as below:

Amsterdam, Holland
Flower market, Tulips garden 'Keukenhoff', water canals, windmills, the red light district, Kraverstraat, clog wooden shoes, weed.

Athens, Greece
Acropolis, Parthenon, Beautiful coastal shores, grilled seafood, Aegian Sea and its many islands (island-hopping), Olympic stadium, Olive and citrus trees.

Paris, France
Seine river, The Lourve Museum, Portrait of the Mona Lisa, Eiffel tower, Notre Dame, Moulin rouge, Champ el selyse, Arc de Triomphe, Euro Disney, tea-sipping at the many cafes, Palace of Versailles.

Manchester & London, UK
Stonehenge, Roman bath, red double decker bus, Buckingham Palace, Soho, British Museum, Chinatown, Tralfagar square, car boot sale, Waitrose, M&S, Old Trafford shopping centre, National Gallery

Frankfurt, Germany
River Rhine cruise, Old castles, German wines and vineyards, snow, small italian joint where crews like to hang out having delicious spinach pizza, F&N orange.

Lisbon & Sintra, Portugal
Tango, Belem tower, Portuguese egg tart, Moorish castle & Pena castle in Sintra, beautiful forests and simply walking and exploring the old town of Lisbon

Rome, Pisa, Florence, Venice in Italy

Inspired......

Inspired....

I was listening to Mariah Carey the other day and pondering on what or who actually inspired me to start writing. Hah! me? I was never known to be a sentimental person. Well, I finally dug out my 'diary' the other day which i kept tucked away in the bedroom drawer for almost a decade. This 4" X 6" note book was filled with so much raw emotions that I could feel myself tearing....vivid memories that I've penned down so that I would not forget. Happy ones, regrettable ones and downright silly memories that made me laugh.....

 I sort of stumbled upon a picture of me and my parents on my graduation day, glued to the back of its front cover. My eyes automatically scanned for my late mother's face in the picture and on one of it's pages read:

"Never really cherished what I had till I've lost someone really dear to me. My mom. This was perhaps my most accomplished moments so far, my graduation. I managed to emerge top in my class. It was a great event. Family, boyfriend and friends were there for the ceremony. It was a great feeling. I guessed my mother's death actually inspired me to write. Writing was my outlet for grief, unspeakable sadness due to her untimely death. Writing made me realised that life must go on and I promised myself that I will live my life to the fullest and cherish the people in my life. I missed my mom so much. Mom, you will always remain in my heart till the day I die. I love you mom."

A birding experience at Sepilok, Sandakan

My husband and I developed a pension for birds by chance. We were on a holiday trip to Lake Kenyir where our hotel room fronted several large palm and fruiting trees. To our surprise, we were treated to a bird feast where we spotted many beautiful birds perched on the trees, in search of foods such as berries and bugs. That really got us started on bird-watching and it is a wonderful hobby.  The thrill of finding and identifying uncommon birds and the love of photography prompted both of us to take up this hobby seriously. 

All you need are a pair of binoculars, high-zoom camera (if you enjoy taking wild-life pictures) and preferably a bird-identification book, so you could at least identify some of the birds that you have spotted. Lastly, you must be patient as this is basically a ‘waiting’ game where you will have to wait for the birds to appear or fly pass. The best time to go bird-watching would be from 7:00 am to 10:00 am and 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm (Peninsular Malaysia) and earlier if you are at East Malaysia, where the birds are at their most active. 

Our recent birding trip was to Sepilok, Sandakan, situated in the state of Sabah. Sepilok boasts some of the nation’s best tourist attractions such at the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center and the Rainforest Discovery Center (RDC) which are home to more than two hundred species of birds (some of these birds are found only in Borneo).  You can get to Sandakan via flights from airlines such as MAS, Firefly and Airasia. (Ticket priced at RM 219/person for a return flight plus in-flight food). From the Sandakan airport, catch a taxi ride to Sepilok which is about 30 minutes away (RM 35 one way). You can check yourself into one of the many resorts and bed and breakfast establishments in Sepilok. We stayed at Sepilok Bed and Breakfast for RM 68/night (with complimentary light breakfast prepared for guests as early as 6:30 am daily). 

This rustic-looking establishment is located strategically at the fringe of the RDC and is about 1 km from the Orang Utan Sanctuary, thus saving you alot of money on transportation. Though our accommodation is nowhere near town, you can still find food as many of the accommodations have cooks and the food served is reasonably priced (RM 9/meal). After unpacking, we began our itinerary as follows:

Day 1 – Day 2

Rainforest Discovery Center (RDC)

RDC is a great conservation and education effort from the government of Sabah. RDC was established to help showcase the wonder and importance of Borneo’s rainforests. The RDC’s main highlights are the canopy walks, birders’ trails, Plant Discovery Garden and a small lake for boat rides. Projects are underway to extend the canopy walkway and to build a café where people can stop to rest and have some food and drinks. As of 2009, RDC has also become the official venue for the annual Borneo Bird Festival which attracts thousands of international and local bird enthusiasts to Sabah. The center opens daily, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (entrance fee costs RM 5/person for Malaysians and RM 10 for international visitors).

A beautiful male sunbird

My husband and I enjoyed trekking on all the birders’ trails (e.g Kingfisher trail, Pittas path, Ridge trail, Woodpecker Avenue) and the canopy walkway. The walkway and its towers (called Bristlehead and Trogon towers) are also great for bird-watchers to steal a glimpse of the resident Bornean bristleheads, one of the rarest birds in Sabah! Apart from that, there are another 250 species of birds to look out for, including hornbills, pittas, kingfishers and broadbills. Unfortunately we did not manage to see any Bristlehead, but we did encounter many resident birds such as the Oriental Pied Hornbill, Red-naped Trogon, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, Brown Barbet, Black-and-red Broadbill and Black-and-yellow Broadbill. We spent two days in RDC and recorded about 40 species of birds in total. The more experienced birders may be able to spot more than 100 species of birds by listening to their calls and finding them on birding scopes.

A female red-naped trogon

Day 3

The Kinabatangan Floodplain

The Kinabatangan River is the longest river in Sabah and provides a rich ecosystem. The Kinabatangan floodplain is a two-hour drive away from Sepilok, or two and a half hour from Sandakan town. You can find many wildlife animals, namely the Bornean Orang Utan, silver-leaf monkeys, proboscis monkeys, long-tail macaques, most of which are endemic to Borneo. Of all the primates, I have to say that the Proboscis monkey is the weirdest-looking. The male proboscis monkey has a long pendulous nose and an out-sized stomach. The dominant male is always seemed surrounded by many females (a group of them is called a harem), apparently attracted to its good looks. These elusive creatures feed on leaves and seeds.

For birders, you can expect to see water-dwelling bird species such as the Oriental Darter, Lesser Adjutant, Storm Stork, Blue-eared kingfisher, Crested Serpent-Eagle and Lesser Fish-Eagle. You may also see crocodiles, and if you are very lucky you may catch a glimpse of the Bornean Pygmy Elephant feeding on the edge of the Kinabatangan River. Apart from the mammals and bird life, you can also spot many insects, reptiles and amphibians including snakes, frogs and stick insects.

Kinabatangan river cruise

The day tour for the Kinabatangan River Cruise will set you back about RM 275/person (for a two hour cruise), but it is worth every ringgit. You can also opt for a 2D1N or 3D2N jungle stay at one of the lodges along the river edge and cruise the river again the following day or simply enjoy the many activities offered such as night walks and night river cruise.

Day 4

Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center

This is a more touristy place compared to the RDC. Many international visitors flocked to the place to witness the Orang Utan in their element. Entrance fee is the same as the RDC but you would also need to fork out an additional RM 10 if you are carrying photography equipment. Once there, you are treated to a video presentation of the sanctuary and it inhabitants. The center located on over 4000 hectares of lush forest was set up in 1964 to rehabilitate orphaned baby Orang Utan. The feeding times for the Orang Utans are at 10:00 am and 3:00 pm daily. The gentle creatures will assemble at the feeding platforms once they see their guides and feeders coming with vegetables and fruits. Apart from this primate, you can also see the aggressive-looking pig-tailed macaques wondering about at the sanctuary, playing and goofing around with one another. 

Orang Utan

After the feeding sessions, birders can also participate in another activity where they can proceed to the birders and mangrove trails in search of forest birds such as the Rufous Picculet (the smallest woodpecker), Flycatchers, White-crowned Sharma and Broadbills.  The trails are only open from 11:00 am and for about an hour only. Hence, you need to be aware of the time so you won’t miss out on this opportunity. My husband and I were very fortunate as we were caught in a middle of a bird wave (Note: a bird wave is where many species of birds fly together in search of food and it seems that flying in large flock serves as a protection from predators as well). During the bird wave, we managed to identify about seven species of birds, namely the Greater-racket tailed Drongo, Bronze Drongo, Raffles Malkoha, two species of woodpeckers, Black-and-Red Broadbill and a pair of green leaf birds.

Black-and-yellow broadbill

Before we knew it, it is about time to head back to Kuala Lumpur. Sepilok and its surroundings are indeed bird havens due to the almost untouched rain forests. In a nutshell, Sepilok and the people (and also birds) of Sabah managed to capture our hearts and we know we will be coming back for more in the near future (Note: Pics from David Chan).

Black hornbill

The green lungs of KL: Popular birding spots in Klang Valley

Birding is a hobby which is not necessarily expensive and is a stress-reliever during the weekends.

All birds have their signature calls and these are music to the ears, soothing sounds that greet us early in the morning against the backdrop of incessant car honking and the revving sound of motor engines (Pic: Common Shrike).

The benefits of bird-watching:

1.Health – increase physical activities and relieve stress

2.Personal development – develop patience and love/empathy for life

3.Conservation – Educate and create awareness about biodiversity and birds to others

How and where to start birding?

Firstly, you need to know how and where to go about birding. You need not venture far as many beginners started bird-watching at their own backyard or at their own balconies at home. Try looking at places such as telephone and lamp posts (you may find an eagle perched on these structures), dead tree branches (good perching points for birds like common mynas, dollarbirds, falconets, kingfishers and bee-eaters) and telephone lines (swallows, bulbuls and crows) to gain ‘awareness’ of their existence. Simply looking up at the skies or just any trees and chances are you might spot starlings, pigeons, doves and sunbirds going about their business.

Best times for bird-watching are from 7:00 am to 10:00 am and from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm where most birds come out to find food. Have an insect repellent ready at hand to ward off mosquitoes. If you are contemplating visiting forest reserves for bird-watching activities, do ensure that you bring sufficient amount of water to avoid dehydration and heat strokes. Wear appropriate attire (no bright-coloured clothing) and comfortable walking shoes. A pair of good binoculars and bird-identification book will also make birding easier. Try listing down the species of birds spotted at specific locations and start archiving from there. You can always add on and improve on this list when you go back for your next birding trip (Pic: Bittern).

Bird-watching essentials:

1. Bottled water

2. Sunscreen SPF 50 and above

3. Cap/hat

4. Comfortable attire (plus a pair of good walking shoes)

5. Granola bar or fruits/packed food (for energy sustenance)

6. A pair of binoculars (camera if you want to capture the birds on film)

7. Guide book on birds (for identification)

8. Notebook & pen (for bird-listing)

9. Insect repellent

Most people are not aware that there are many uncommon species of birds surrounding us, yes, even in the big city of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. Amidst the dense industrial, commercial and residential areas, you will still find pockets of green lungs where animals (and birds included) call home. Most of the birds are resident birds but you can also find migratory birds on their passage either to the Southern or Northern hemisphere, using Malaysia as their pit stop to rest before making their way again.

These are my top 3 favourite birding sites in Klang Valley:

1. Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM), Kepong

Located in Kepong, FRIM is ideal and a must for families and nature lovers who are staying in Klang Valley. Many people came here for nature sports such as biking, jogging and brisk-walking. FRIM is also a popular choice for many organizations to organise their company activities such as camping. Founded in 1929, this 600-hectare tropical forest serves as a research institute, tourist attraction (responsible eco-tourism) and also the habitat for more than 20,000 species of plants and animals.

Entrance fee: RM 5.00 for the driver and car; each passenger is charged an additional RM 1.00.

Walk-in visitors need to pay RM1.00 per person. The Canopy Walk is only open from 9am - 1.30pm and closed on Monday and Friday.

Operating hours:

Mondays - Thursdays 8.00 am - 1.00 and 2.00 pm - 4.30 pm
Fridays - 8.00 am - 12.15 pm and 2.45 pm - 4.30 pm

(Pic: Emerald Dove)

2. Taman Cahaya Alam (Taman Pertanian), Shah Alam

The Malaysia Agriculture Park was opened to the public in 1986 and located in Shah Alam, Selangor. The area, which is also known as Bukit Cherakah, covering 1,295 hectares of virgin jungle is the world's first agro-forestry park. There are many gardens in this park amongst which are the Spice Garden, Ornamental Garden, Orchid Garden, Cactus Garden and an animal park. Bicycles are available for rent at the park while free bus service is provided to ferry visitors to various spots within the park. If you like fishing, there are lakes within the park that you can fish for a fee of RM2 per fishing rod.

Entrance fee: RM 3.00 per adult, RM 1.00 per child/senior citizen (excludes bicycle rentals, sky-trex, four seasons temperature garden).

(Pic: Maroon woodpecker)

Operating hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm Tuesdays to Sundays. Closed on Mondays except public or school holidays.

(Pics: Greater Racket-tailed Drongo and White-rumped Munia)

3. Paya Indah Wetlands, Dengkil

A sanctuary it is for the birds (water birds), this 3,100-hectare is located in Dengkil in the state of Selangor (an hour ride from the capital city, KL, and 20 minutes from KLIA). This wetland is a degraded ex-tin mining land and peat swamp forest. The authorities have intended for Paya Indah to be an eco-tourism attraction, showcasing Malaysia’s efforts towards achieving environmentally sound development in tourism, restoration of degraded areas and conservation of natural resources. Currently, only the recreational zone is open to public. Besides birding, one can try other activities such as fishing, cycling and hippo feeding. There’s also a crocodile pond.

Entrance: Free (there are also chalets and camping sites for rent)

Operating hours: 7:30am – 7:30pm

The love for birds and conservation can be inculcated in everyone, especially young children (rather than the focus on material things). This also moulds the future generation to be aware that we, the human beings are not to be considered as superior beings compared to other living beings on the face of the earth but should co-exist for a harmonious and sustainable existence.

(Pic: Black-backed Swamphen)

Surviving Mt. Merapi, Jogya

Did you know that Yogyakarta is the most visited city in Indonesia, after Bali? It is located at Central Java which is also the center for Indonesian Higher Education. Indonesia, a vast archipelago of 235 million people, is prone to earthquakes and volcanoes as it sits along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a horseshoe-shaped string of faults that lines the Pacific Ocean. Of all the volcanoes in Indonesia, Mount Merapi is the most active.

Gunung Merapi (Mountain of Fire) is located about 30 km from Yogyakarta, a city of 400,000 citizens. It is the most active volcano in Indonesia and has erupted regularly since 1548. The volcano last erupted in October 2010. Evacuation zone at a 20 km radius from the crater caused many locals to leave their homes and flee to neighbouring cities. Schools, universities and airports were closed due to poor visibility and the potential health hazards posed by the volcanic eruptions.

The natural disaster has put Jogya in the limelight as it made the world headlines in most major newspaper/TV for the past few weeks. My family and I was staying in a hotel located some 30 km from the mountain. While we were there, Mount Merapi continued to erupt, spewing hot ashes a few km into the sky, blanketing the whole city. It shot clouds of gas and debris up in the air and pyroclastic flows poured down the mountain slopes, killing more than 100 people to-date.

Besides the latest news about the notorious Mount Merapi, most people remember Yogyakarta for its two UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Borobudur and Prambanan temples. Both monuments were built when the ruling dynasties embraced Buddhism and Hinduism respectively in ancient Java.

After touching down at the Adisucipto International Airport, we wasted no time and went to the Borobudur Park. It is situated in the Kedu basin near Magelang city in Central Java. Borobudur is a Buddhist monument which comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with thousands of relief panels and 504 Buddha statues.

The main dome, located at the center of the top platform is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues housed inside perforated stupas. The relief panels on the walls depict interesting stories associated with actions and consequences (good deeds = good karma and vice versa). Today the monument remains one of the most visited in Indonesia and once a year, Buddhists will congregate at Borobudur to celebrate Vesak Day.

After Borobudur, we visited the Prambanan temple. The temple is the largest Hindu temple of ancient Java. The temple was built to honour Shiva (the center temple), flanked by two more temples designated for Brahma and Vishnu. In front of each of this temple, a smaller temple is built to house the vehicle statues for Shiva (nandi – the divine bull), Brahma (angsa – the swan) and Vishnu (garuda - eagle). The reliefs that are found in the Prambanan archaeological park depict the love story of Rama and Sita and interestingly, you may also find relief panels of Kama sutra. At night, you can watch the Ramayana Ballet which showcases the love story with the Prambanan temple as the backdrop.

Yogyakarta is also known for its silver work, pottery, leather puppets used for shadow plays (wayang kulit), and batik. You can witness the locals painstakingly create these beautiful masterpieces which are then sold at affordable prices in the local shops at popular shopping streets such as Malioboro. You can also visit the factories and see these skilled locals at work. Apart from that, you may also visit the Parangritis beach for a leisurely walk or pay a few rupiah for a horse ride along the shoreline.

Food is aplenty in this fertile land. Thus, finding good local food is not difficult, provided you know where to look.

Gudeg is a traditional food from Yogyakarta which is made from young Nangka (jack fruit) boiled for several hours with palm sugar, coconut milk and some spices. Gudeg is usually served with white rice, chicken, hard-boiled egg, tempeh, and sambal. The locals love it but I have to say it is an acquired taste as the dish itself is rather sweet than savoury. Other well-known local dishes include Mee Java, Mee Soto, Bakso, Bebek goreng (duck) and Nasi Goreng. Famous local pastry is the Bakpia (a small round-shaped Indonesian pastry, usually stuffed with mung beans), which you can sample and buy fresh from the factory where they are produced.

Avocado juice (jus alpukat) with a squirt of chocolate syrup and condensed milk is a must try in Jogya. Another sweet dessert that you should not miss is the Ronde. You can find push-cart traders selling ronde by the street for a mere 4000 rupiah per bowl. The ronde seller normally opens after sunset as this drink suits the evening when the temperature cools down.

Ronde is a sweet dessert, particularly popular in Central Java. This dessert may have originated from the Chinese dessert, Tang Yuen. Red ginger is added in the syrup for a stronger taste. Besides the glutinous rice balls filled with peanut paste and the ginger, you may find fruits, square-cut toasted bread and roasted peanuts used in this Javanese version.

There's also the famous sambal that goes with almost anything edible here. There are a variety of sambals with different degrees of heat and sweetness. Warung SS is the place to go for sambal lovers. For the beer drinkers, local production such as Bintang and Anker are popular choices.

If you are a coffee lover, you should try Indonesia’s famed Kopi Luwak. At USD 8 for a sachet that makes only a cup, it is indeed the most expensive coffee in the world. Luwak coffee comes from the Indonesian island of Sumatra, an area well-known for its excellent coffee.

Also native to the area is a small civet-like animal which the locals call Luwak. One of their favourite foods is the red, ripe coffee cherry. Unable to digest the coffee beans, the luwak graciously deposits them on the jungle floor where they are eagerly collected by the locals. The stomach acids and enzymatic actions involved in this unique fermentation process resulted in the rarest coffee beans in the world. Due to the strange method of collection, there isn't much Kopi Luwak produced in the world, hence the outrageous price. Well, I guess you are paying for the 'experience' as it tasted just like any strong coffee to me (anyway, I would not be able to tell the difference if it was arabica beans or otherwise).

Perhaps the fondest memory that stays with me from the trip is the friendliness of the Jogya people. I was surprised by their hospitality and soft-natured demeanor. We detoured to Surabaya by bus (8 hours ride) on the last day to catch our flight back to Kuala Lumpur as the Jogya airport was still closed. With the help of the local guide and friendly people in the bus, we managed to arrive at Surabaya airport on time.

We were also fortunate to be able to visit many places (bright sunny day) but right after we were done (especially the last day), these places were closed to public...phew...close call.

Much to do at Kuala Selangor

A long weekend during the Malaysia Day holiday recently called for a trip to Kuala Selangor. Kuala Selangor is a little quaint town spanning about 117,844 hectares with many hills which have become landmarks such as Bukit Melawati (also was a fortress back during the British occupation), Bukit Belimbing, Bukit Hospital, Bukit Jeram, Bukit Permatang and Bukit Tanjung Keramat.

According to history, Selangor sprang from the name of the Selangor River and is depicted as one of the oldest kingdoms in Malaya, after Kedah. Most of the early inhabitants of Selangor were seafarers who carved a living as fishermen. Today, you will still find fishing as one of the major source of livelihood among the people of Kuala Selangor, along with agriculture, cattle-farming and tourism. Kuala Selangor was also the capital city of Selangor which was later changed to Klang and now Shah Alam.

You know when you have reached the town of Kuala Selangor when you see a big sign post with the name of the town atop the Bukit Melawati (just like when we see the 'Hollywood' sign in Los Angeles). At the foothill, you can choose to walk up the hill to the lighthouse, or pay RM 2/person for a tractor/train ride that takes you to the Historical Museum (next to the lighthouse). The Museum houses many artifacts that were excavated around Kuala Selangor thousands of years ago .

Many people also love to go up to the hill to feed the friendly silver-leaf monkeys, popular residents of the hill. The tractor ride round the hill also takes you to the Taman Alam Sanctuary Park. You may also have a cup of tea at the Rest House, Bukit Melawati (serene atmosphere although the building is currently in a debilitated state). There are also many fruit-bearing trees at the hilltop that attract interesting birds such as the Lineated Barbet, Coppersmith Barbet and Oriental Pied Hornbills, just to name a few.

Kuala Selangor is indeed a haven for nature lovers. Many local and foreign tourists come to Kuala Selangor to appreciate the flora and fauna that it has to offer. Take a leisure walk at the Taman Alam Sanctuary Park and you will be amazed with the wonders of nature. Families often enjoy bringing their children for a day trip to the nature park, as the trails are simple and moderate in distance. Ticket price is RM 4 for adults and the proceeds go to the conservation of the sanctuary. However, do remember to apply insect repellent before entering the park especially during dawn and dusk to ward off pesky mosquitoes.

A ten-minute walk from the entrance straight into the park will lead you to a small bridge. After crossing the bridge, you will come to a cross road. Going straight will eventually lead you to a large lake. It is best to turn right at the cross road as this will take you round the entire lake. I especially enjoyed the mangrove walk, an elevated concrete walkway built a few feet above the mangrove swamp so people can experience the mangrove ecosystem at its best. The different trees and plants that grow at Taman Alam are marked with signboards that describe them scientifically, making it easier for the lay person to learn more about the flora at the park.
The next most popular activity in the park is bird watching, and this comes as a no-surprise as Taman Alam Kuala Selangor lies along the migratory route for coastal birds, especially raptors (e.g., Brahminy kites, Crested Serpent-Eagle and Oriental Honey Buzzard). Huts, sheds and watch towers have been placed strategically around the wetlands area, especially the largest lake, allowing visitors to quietly observe the Grey and Little Herons and kingfishers (e.g Common, White-throated and Collared kingfishers) going about their daily business. Besides water-dwelling birds, you may also chance upon other species of birds such as the Chestnut-bellied Malkohas, Shrikes, Tailorbirds, Pied fantails, and Woodpeckers.

Kuala Selangor is also famous for its seafood. Every night (especially during the weekends), people from all walks of lives come to Kuala Selangor to have fresh seafood. Many seafood restaurants are situated along the river banks but the one that receives the most visitors is called River View Restaurant. The seafood dishes arrived speedily and tasted really good. Prices are really affordable (averaging about RM 20/person), depending on what you order, of course. After a satisfying meal, we stopped at a shop that sells local produce where people can buy dried shrimps, anchovies and sugar-coated cuttlefish for family and friends back home (RM 10 for packs of three).

Another night activity unique to Kuala Selangor is watching firefly. You can watch these nocturnal insects either at Kampung Kuantan or Bukit Belimbing. Fireflies are also called lightning beetles and as adults, they congregate at "Berembang" trees to feed on their nectar. Each firefly emits light from the tip of their abdomen. Male fireflies emit brighter lights to attract females. Their life cycle is about six to seven months and an attempt to catch them will land you a RM 1000 fine!

Best time to watch fireflies is when the sky is pitch-black (check the Chinese calendar at avoid full moon). During these times, trees along the river bank will naturally light up like Christmas trees! If you decide to watch the fireflies in Kampung Kuantan, be prepared to be chauffeured by the local boats men on skiffs (locals rowing a small sampan). Rental of the skiffs is at RM 40 (RM 10/person) that fits only four people. On the other hand, firefly-watching at Bukit Belimbing is much more commercialised as motorboats are available for this purpose.

All in all, Kuala Selangor is an ideal getaway, especially if you need a short break from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

Tioman, the dragon island of South China Sea

Locals in wanting of a beach retreat may find Tioman Island to be a hidden gem. Situated in the state of Terengganu, this island is covered by lush tropical jungle. Legend has it that a dragon princess from China, while flying en-route to Singapore to visit her prince, rested in the calm waters of the South China Sea. Awed by the beauty of the area, she discontinued her journey and took the form of an island. Today, many associate the shape of the Tioman Island to a dragon, with the mountainous twin peaks that resemble a dragon's horns and big white boulders that look like the claws of a dragon.

A two-hour ferry ride from the Mersing jetty will take you to the main island (RM 35/person, one way), with a number of jetty stops along the way depending on where you are staying while on the island. Many people choose to stay in Kampung Genting, Salang, Tekek and also Paya. This is my first trip to the island with my husband. We chose to stay at the Paya Beach Resort, located five-minutes on foot from the Paya jetty (RM 330/person for a 3D2N full board package).

Beach retreat is all about sun, sand and sea and Tioman did not disappoint. The hot and sunny weather was great for all sorts of beach activities and the first in anyone's list would be snorkeling. There are many small enterprises offering snorkelling trips in Tioman (RM 50 - RM 100, depending on the number of snorkeling trips and locations). Popular snorkeling locations are Tulai and Renggis Islands as well as the Marine Park. Every visitor needs to pay a RM 5 conservation fee for the Marine Park which will also entitle you to a free entry at the Mersing jetty.

The untouched coral reefs and the clear blue sea beckoned as we sat in our speedboat from Paya jetty to Tulai Island, a.k.a Coral Island. Once under water, a whole new world emerges. The coral reefs are teeming with sea creatures such as sea cucumbers, sea urchins, fishes and shrimps. This beautiful ecosystem is to be cherished and preserved, not just for the tourism industry, but for the next generation of people to experience. For those who wanted to take a breather from all that snorkeling, they can choose to explore the white Long Beach of Tulai Island.

Our local guide then dropped us at the village of Salang, where we had packed lunches and rested for a bit. We also took the opportunity to explore the village on foot. There are a few sundry shops selling essential goods and crafts, including small eateries scattered around the village.

After that, we boarded our speedboat and went to the next stop, the Marine Park. Many local tourists love to buy breads and feed the fishes at the Marine Park. Hence, it is not a surprise to see that the fishes here are larger and friendlier towards people. I did not particularly enjoy the Marine Park as the visibility was poor and there were no coral reefs (just man-made ones).

One last stop was the Renggis Island. It is located a few minutes away from Salang. This is probably the best place for snorkeling. The water here is deeper and there are plenty of fishes to see. The more adventurous would snorkel the circumference of the small island, where there may be a good chance of spotting sharks. Although they do not attack humans, they are still a force to be reckoned with. Tioman Island is also a good place for people to pick up diving and to obtain their PADI cert for open water diving.


Besides snorkeling, nature lovers can try jungle trekking and a good start for novices would be the trail from the Paya Beach Resort to Berjaya Tioman Resort, by following the power lines. The 45-minute trek will take you to a turtle sanctuary called Tat. From the sanctuary, you can choose to walk along the shoreline back to Paya when the tide is low. This is a faster route, often taken by the local villagers. However, you should exercise caution as the terrain can be difficult to walk on without proper shoes. Another trek you could do is the Tekek-Juara trail. The trek runs from Tekek to Juara and takes approximately 2 1/2 hours to complete. This trail is known to be treacherous and thus, it is advised to hire a guide who knows the place well.

Tioman is also a bird-watchers' paradise. There are a few species of birds one could easily spot, namely the common kingfisher, dollarbird, tailorbird, barn swallows, sunbirds and spotted doves.

Birds of prey such as the White-bellied Sea Eagle and Brahminy Kite were also spotted circling the island during noon times, as the rising hot air helps the raptors glide as opposed to flapping their wings which tires them. You can also see the terns, which are common seabirds, flying above the seawater, in search of fishes.

Fishing is a great way to spend your time in Tioman and although I did not have the chance to do any fishing this time, I am contented just by watching the locals fishing by the pier. Anchovies which are caught are best served deep-fried and go very well with cool drinks. The sea breeze that day was wonderful and relieved us of all stresses.

As for shopping, Tioman is a duty-free zone, thus making buying cigarettes and alcohol cheap. Tourists and locals normally purchase these when they were about to leave the island. The schedule for ferry (Blue express) can be unpredictable and frustrating, so better to buffer about one to two hours waiting at the pier for your ticket ride back to Mersing. Bring a book or magazine to read while waiting. In a nutshell, Tioman is a good place to recharge one's batteries before returning home, feeling fresh and positive.