Reminisce: One Christmas

One Christmas, Chin Heng suggested that we took a ride out of Taiping. He had bought his first car and I suppose, was game for a spin. I said I would love to visit Tambun to see for myself some prehistoric rock paintings. So, together with Mau Wei and Hoi Thien, we travelled along the North-South Highway and just before reaching the city centre of Ipoh, we took a turning towards the little town more famous for its sweet pomeloes. There is a Caltex Station along the way and we stopped and parked our car somewhere there and proceeded our journey on foot along little paths behind some residential houses. There was not a soul in sight and a miserable signboard in Bahasa Malaysia with the words Lukisan Pra Sejarah Tambun suggested that we were on the right trail. Then, I remember meeting a local Malay lady who pointed to us the actual location of the paintings. In no time at all, we were there, staring at the iron oxide paintings of animals which are located several meters high on limestone walls. These Tambun prehistoric paintings have been discovered by the British army in 1959. Rock art could be found elsewhere in the world. In France and Spain, paintings have been found in as many as 350 caves. The Grotte Chauvet or Chauvet Caves in the Ardeche region reputedly house the oldest of the lots and there is the Bradshaw-style sash painting in Kimberley, Australia. I have heard before someone saying that the Tambun prehistoric paintings bear resemblance to prehistoric paintings in Australia. Perhaps, the paintings here are not as extensive or as spectacular but still, if you pay a visit to this place, your heart will reach out to see the level of neglect accorded to paintings of such stature...


Can you spot the rock paintings in Tambun and identify the animals too?

The animals in the Tambun prehistoric paintings include a dugong, a flying fox, a tapir, a turtle, a catfish and a herd of deer.

Java Jamboree will be back!

Having a Bite at Oriental Village

We did not immediately make off back to our hotel after the cable car ride at the Oriental Village in Pulau Langkawi. Someone had suggested taking a bite and we passed off a posh Japanese Restaurant for some cheaper local delights at a little food court there. My friends had some Hai Lam mee which they said were quite delicious while I opted for some Penang Laksa. The proprietor had said that the laksa would taste the same as the Penang Laksa in Penang Island but it was really far from expectation. In fact, it was not as good as the average laksa in Malaysia. The Perlis Laksa which I took at the jetty in Kuala Perlis when we left for home the next day, in fact, had a better taste. However, I had no complaint for the mango juice which I had ordered. It was not really sweet but at least, the juice was fresh and authentic.



At the food court in the Oriental Village...




We had a bite...




My friend ordered Hai Lam mee...




I had Penang Laksa...





and Mango Juice...



But the Laksa Perlis at Kuala Perlis....





was better!...


Traveling Tip: Try the local delights!

Dropping In At A Bay

There was supposed to be a boat at nine to pick us up to the remote fishing village. When it didn’t turn up, we waited for another hour. Ah Seng then suggested that we go elsewhere. Let’s go Sitiawan. We can have cendol there and red wine vermicelli. I said. And so off we went! We had a quick lunch, after which Ah Seng in jest, suggested that we drive to Pulau Pangkor but of course, that was really impossible. To get to the island, we’d have to go to Lumut to catch a ferry. We would then have to travel for an hour or so and God knows when we were to hit for home. We really did not have so much time to spare. So, we went to Teluk Batik instead, the bay near Lumut, a spot for picnickers…

Travel Tip: Always be open to suggestion

Island Hop in Pulau Langkawi

I have heard of island hopping in Pulau Langkawi eons ago during my first tip there with Tuck Meng but it was only recently that I managed to island hop. Island hopping is an exploratory journey and you get to visit fascinating islands of Langkawi. You'll start from the beach near the jetty and the first island you visit would probably be Pulau Dayang Bunting, an island with a beautiful freshwater lake called the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden. It's a beautiful lake where you can go for a swim, paddle a solar powered boat or simply dip your tired feet into the cold water to be nibbled by catfish! Locals believe that if a woman were to drink the water from the lake, she'll get pregnant. From Pulau Dayang Bunting, you will then hop to an animal sanctuary where you can see eagles being fed by humans in Pulau Singa Besar and then it is off to Pulau Beras Basah, a place supposedly great for swimming and sun-tanning. Of course, I said supposedly here because it rained cats and dogs when we were there at Pulau Beras Basah and Pulau Singa Besar too. We did not get down to the two islands but were fortunate however to have a good look at the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden in Pulau Dayang Bunting before it started to pour. Going back in the rain was however a torturous affair. The sea was chopping and the boat bumped as if it was on a hard tarred road and yes, I would always remember this. I needed a pee badly and there was no toilet in the little boat!



Waiting for a boat...





Inside the boat...


Look, there is a pregnant maiden in Pulau Dayang Bunting...




The lake.....


Dipping your feet in the cold water...






At Pulau Singa Besar...



Leaving Pulau Beras Basah...

Wordless Wednesday - Outside My Window

Outside the window in my hotel room in Pulau Langkawi was one of the most serene scene I have seen - coconut trees, foliage, hills and quaint little houses... What is outside your window? Would like to tag you all for a meme. Post a photo to show what is outside your window, won't you ? Do invite me over to have a look. Click and leave a link here!

Thankful Thursday - Friends in Pulau Langkawi

Langkawi Island is an archipelago of 104 islands lying in the north western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Visiting the islands just a few days ago, I was glad to meet new friends. Together, we had the opportunity to go island hopping to two other islands namely the Island of the Pregnant Maiden (Pulau Dayang Bunting), Lion Island (Pulau Singa Besar) and Beras Basah Island.

Eating by the Roadside

Once, Kok Soo had to go to Teluk Intan, Perak for some business. It happened that I was free and I invited myself along. Well, you will have to be on your own for most of the time, Kok Soo said and I nodded in agreement. It was a trip that I found worthwhile.First of course, it was because I got to stop in Sitiawan and have my first taste of Sitiawan cendol. It was not just that the cendol was delicious but the Indian man who sold the sweet dessert did looked rather quaint with his tall white hat and red bow tie! It was really, really a pleasant surprise! I got to pretend that I was eating in some hotel rather than by the roadside. How cool could that be!




Eating cendol by the roadside...





The hawker....





Travel Tip: Watch out for surprises by the roadside.

A Market for the Festive Season

Tomorrow will be Hari Raya Puasa. That literally means Fasting New Year. Muslims all over the world will celebrate the end of Ramadan which is the fasting month in the Muslim Calendar. During this time, able-bodied Muslims will abstain from food for a long period of time. They will wake up early for Sahur, after which time, they will not eat, drink or smoke until late in the evening when they will break from fast. In Malaysia, breaking fast is a grand affair. Families break fast together and there will be treats for all. Ramadan Markets have sprouted to cater for their needs. When the Ramadan season first started, the Chinese were in the midst of celebrating Moon Cake Festival. I had gone over to Miss Tang’s house to give her some moon cakes which my niece had made. How about going to the Ramadan Market in Kamunting? I asked just before I left. Well, the rest was history…

The Crowd at Pasar Ramadan...

Food and drinks to break fast with...




Traveling Tip: You can visit the market!

Five minute Traveling

A sweet dessert, Cendol...




It was Sunday and I thought I do something different. So, off I went to town lugging my digital camera along. I had a sweet, savory dessert, Cendol sold by an Indian Muslim. Then, off I went to Taiping War Memorial which is situated between Taiping picturesque Lake Gardens and Bukit Larut and took some shots to share with you. Here you are, Taiping War Memorial:








t





Traveling Tip: You don't need a lot of time to travel!