Of Batik Making @ Balok, Kuantan....

In Malaysia often when we talk about Batik making we are always remind of Terengganu or Kelantan. Yes these two states are famous for its Batik and Songket but now the art of making good Batik has move to the other parts of the country as well. In one case it to the south of Terengganu in the state of Pahang; not that far from the boarder between Terengganu and Pahang at a place call Balok.

Some years ago a friend took us to this little place call the Natural Batik Village situated on the right side of the road on the way to Kemaman from Kuantan. On our first visit there I found the place is unique in that it not only sells all kinds of Batik apparels it also create this work of art at the back of the premise. Every time I am there I would go and watch the artisans work meticulously on creating the Batik. Beside the main building that display and sell Batik there are other smaller outlets in its vicinity that sell antiques, painting and other handicrafts. Since I love the work of art I have bought a numbers of handicrafts that look unique to me and always looking to get more of it whenever I see one on a visit to the place.

After that first visit whenever we are in Kuantan we would drive to Balok to have a look at the Batik there. The Tablecloth, the Sarong, the T-shirt that is exclusively created there are among the items I always look for; most of the time we end buying new pieces to take home. As I had mentioned other that selling ready-made Batik apparels one can also watch the artisans making Batik at the other end of the building. Besides that there is also a space where tourists can experience themselves in art of Batik making. For a fee the management has provide materials for the making of self-created Batik. Even if one are not interested in learning the way of Batik making it worth a visit to watch the artisans works on turning the white cloths into a great work of art that is call Batik.  Every pieces of the Batik is done by hand thus there are actually no two pieces alike. It may look similar but it sure is not exactly the same, which made it a unique work of art.

All images in this posting are taken at the Batik village on a recent visit there.

 Have a nice day.

A Trip South of Kuantan....

It has been a long time. The last time I have been to the south of Kuantan was in 1989 when I visited Rompin while I was working in the state of Pahang. I retired in 1990 and since then have not visited that parts of the country. So I decided I would try to visit all those towns from Pekan to Johor Bharu whenever I had the opportunity. At this age it is not possible for me to drive all the way.  I had a talk about the visit with my nephew who now live in Kuantan and ply that road from time to time to do business as far as Singapore. It would be just nice to hitch a ride in his car when he next make the visit to Singapore. I then found that he would be making his next visit to Singapore on August 8 and 9 so I planned to follow him on that trip with a request that we make an overnight stop at Mersing which I had not visited since 1990. He agreed. [Above is a scene on the Mersing River]

So on August 6, 2014 with my spouse accompanying me I drove the Honda to Kuantan and spend the night there before proceeding to Mersing the next day. I left my Honda at his house and follow him on the trip south in his Nissan. While he drives the Nissan I sat to enjoy the scenery and at time take photos from the window of the moving car. We first pass the royal town of Pekan and then proceed on to Rompin. All along the road I saw progress like new plantations of Oil Palm and many bungalows along the roadside. The road all the way was straight and wider than when I was using this road twenty four years ago. In those days the road was narrow and townships near the river were small and hardly any development. This time it was different. There are development projects everywhere. The once small towns have now grown into a large township with schools and community hall and housing estate. Electricity and running water which was once confined to only a small sector of the town is now a norm. Every houses and buildings now got regular water supply and electricity and with that come all the appliances such as TV, refrigerators and the like and of course cars. So is the emergence of Malls and Supermarket and other stores to service the thriving populations. [On the left is a street in Rompin]

Our first stop is Endau; a town that sprung on both side of the Endau River which is the boarder of the state of Johor and Pahang. We cross the bridge and stop at the Rest and Recreation area on the Johor side and had lunch at a restaurant call Nusantara. It is sort of a rest area for folks travelling from Singapore to Kuantan and vice-versa. After a good lunch there we proceed to Mersing.

Along the roads I saw many big houses as well row and row of Oil Palm as well some coconut trees. I believe in the years to come there would be no coconuts trees along this road. It would be replaced with Oil Palm and houses. It was really nice to see such a scenic sight where coconut trees could still be seen. It would surely be history soon. Sad but that is what progress is all about.

We arrived at Mersing just before noon and spend the night at the best hotel in town but to me it was not as I had expected. It just an ordinary hotel in town, nothing to be talk about. We had no choice but to stay there since I wanted to see Mersing which I had not seen for some forty years. We took a spin of the town and saw the Air Papan beach nearby but did not see many people using it. I believe it worth having a picnic there and enjoy the the swim. When I was working in this part of the country in the mid seventies I often stop at this beach to enjoy my packaged lunch which I had brought along from Kluang where my office was then. To me Mersing is just an ordinary town on the east coast of Johor and not many people stay overnight there except for tourists who come to Mersing just to get to the island of Tioman in the China Sea. There is a Ferry Terminal here where one can get boats that ply regularly from morning till dawn. Most folks just come and stay in the budget hotel so as to get an early trip to the island the next morning.

There is nothing much to see in Mersing so early the next morning after a hearty breakfast at the hotel we left for Johor Bharu. With my nephew driving I just sat and enjoy the trip. We head for Kota Tinggi, a town near Johor Bharu. I soon found the road that I used to drive in 1967 were no longer the same. It is now wide and straight all the way. Along the roads which was once covered by Rubber plantations now has been replace with Oil Palm. On both sides of the roads are the green, green of the Oil Palms as far as the eyes could see. I was indeed surprised to see such transformations with Oil Palm been the main economic crops planted all over. With that I saw the prosperity in the township have grown beyond what I could ever dream of seeing. Indeed Oil Palm have brought prosperity to the people of these area beyond my wildest imagination. On the road both ways I could seem more buses and Singapore plate cars plying the road. I believe Singaporean use this road to get as far as Kuantan or even Kota Bharu on the east coast; where else Singaporean could drive on a long roads and enjoy driving. In the island of Singapore they could just cruise in the vicinity of the island. Here in the mainland they could have a field day driving everywhere; on Highway and Country roads with ease; perhaps taking their families for holiday to the country side away from the hustle bustle of the concrete jungle of the city state.

After a few hours of driving we arrived at Kota Tinggi. Here again I was surprise to see this once one street town has sprung into a big township. We stop for an early lunch and then proceed on town Johor Bharu. I saw for the first time that Kota Tinggi is link to Johor Bharu by a Highway, making it easy to travel both ways. On both sides of the Highway I could see Housing estate and Malls which was not even there when I was working in this part of Johor in the mid-seventies. Amazing indeed what peace and prosperity had done to this part of my beloved country. I am happy indeed to see such progress during my lifespan.  Everything I saw from the car's window is new to me and I love it. Mesmerised with the lush green and the beautiful townships everywhere I was sort of lost in time and before I knew it we had arrived at Johor Bharu. My nephew drops us at the Puteri Pan Pacific Hotel in the heart of the town and he proceeds on to his destination in Singapore. We spend two nights in Johor Bahru and return back to Kuantan with him via the same route that we came.

It was indeed a wonderful adventure to this part of the country. During this short visit I saw prosperity everywhere I look and happy to see the other parts of the country has been transformed into a prosperous area providing the local with prosperity that they had never dream of in such a short period of time. On the left is the beach in Mersing.






Have a nice day [ Please click on the image to enlarged it]

Sunrise in Cameron Highlands...

It not always that one get the opportunity to photograph such a glorious scene of the rising sun. Once I woke up early in Kuantan and went to the Telok Cempedak beach to watch the rising sun but because of the overcast clouds that early morning the sun rise without much fanfare. I just snap a few shots and enjoy the morning air and blog about it. [The above image was taken at 7.03am May 22, 2014 in Cameron Highlands]

                                                                 [at 6.35am]

We were in Cameron Highland from 21st to 23rd May, 2014 on a short holiday. While there I did not expect or even thought of watching the rising sun. I did not even know that our room on the 11th floor of the hotel was facing east but luck was on our side and we were indeed surprise of waking to the view of the rising sun from the window of the hotel. 

[at 6.45am]

 

[at 7.02am]

                                                            [at 7.07am]

I had brought my camera and all the lens and was happy that I got the opportunity to take the images  of the sun rising from such a vantage point at the 11th floor of the hotel. I was awakened by my spouse who saw the light over the horizon. I had a look and sure enough it was the rising sun at the horizon of the mountain range. I quickly wash myself and took my camera and wait. Soon the sun makes it appearance. It did in a spectacular display of light; majestic indeed. I had a field day snapping as many images as possible and am share it here a few shots for all to enjoy. 

All the above images was taken on the morning of May 22, 2014.

Have a nice day.

A Visit to Cameron Highlands...

It was a beautiful morning May 21, 2014. We had planned to visit Cameron Highlands a town which is 1268 meter above sea level, on the top of the main range in the state of Pahang. Just after 8am in the morning I drove the Honda taking the DUKE Highway into the North South Highway toward the north. I had planned to get into the Highlands via the Simpang Pulai exit 137 in the state of Perak, just south of the town of Ipoh. My nephew who lives in Kuantan came along to help in the driving. I drove all the way to the Tapah Rest and Recreation area and had a short break there while enjoying an early lunch and refreshments. Then my nephew took the wheel. This is the first time that we took that road toward Cameron Highland and found the road is less winding than the Tapah one. In the past there was only one way to get to Cameron Highland and that is via Tapah. Now there are three new roads; one from Simpang Pulai that we are taking that day and the other two are from Gua Musang in the state of Kelantan and the latest one is from Raub in the state of Pahang. Although Cameron Highlands is in the state of Pahang before the new roads was constructed the only way to get to Cameron Highlands from any other districts in that state was by driving through the state of Selangor and Perak before one get back into the State of Pahang where the district of Cameron Highland is. After a leisure drive of one hour from Simpang Pulai we reach Kampng Raja. Then drove slowly toward the Copthorne Hotel in Brinchang where we would stay while in the highlands. The road was winding all the way but was not as bad as the Tapah Ringlet stretch and sort of heavy with local traffic collecting vegetables and other produce to the market all over the country. Cameron Highlands is the biggest producer of temperate climate vegetables for the country as well for Singapore. [Above is the view of the Bharat Tea Plantaion]

We eventually arrived at the hotel, a sprawling complex which was the former Equatorial Hotel. We had book two rooms on-line and the checking in was in a breeze. We were given two adjacent rooms on the eleventh floor. On entering the room we found it has a splendid view of the countryside below. Had a short rest and then went out for lunch at Tanah Rata, the main town of the district. After going around we soon found a place call Hotel Titiwangsa that served food. We sat down and ordered a variety of Nasi Goreng and enjoy it at the lobby of the hotel cum restaurant in the cool comfort of the mountain air. After a while we decided to drive on toward the town centre to do a bit of sightseeing of the town and the greens around. We then got back to the hotel for a rest and refresh ourselves. Just after seven in the evening we went to the town of Tanah Rata again and had dinner at a Mamak restaurant there. The place was already thronging with tourists enjoying their dinners. I saw many backpackers’ tourists around, mostly Europeans walking around and enjoying their food there. Cameron Highlands has always been popular with foreigners because the weather is always cool. We ordered Tandoori and Chicken Tikka and sat to enjoyed it. After dinner since there were hardly any night-life activities we decided to get back to the hotel and call it a day.

I woke up early at about 4.30am in the morning because of the cough that I had been having for months already. My son in law who is an ENT specialist says it because of dry throat and give me some medicine for treatment; it sort of an old age problems. I could not sleep again until around 5.30am. Then I heard my spouse who had waked up saying that there is light coming out of the mountain range and it look like a sunrise. I woke up and went to have a look and sure enough it was the sun rising. I went to wash up and took my camera and wait for the sun to slowly rise against the horizon. Slowly the sun began to make its appearance with a spectacular display of light; Orange, Yellow, Amber and Red against the dark blue sky. It was indeed a magnificent sight to watch in that early morning. The time was just past seven in the morning. Soon the whole areas from the mountain range and the lush green of the lowland was ablazed with light, thus the morning begin with a wonderful display of light from our glorious sun. It was a wonderful welcome to us on our first day here in Cameron Highlands.

Our room come with breakfast for two. Since the breakfast is served from 6.30am to 10am we decided to get ready to enjoy the breakfast at the Coffee House downstairs. Just after 8am we went to enjoy our breakfast. As usual with Malaysian hospitality industries the breakfast come with a large buffet spreads.  So it is always wise when making booking for room at the hotel in Malaysia to see to it that it includes breakfast as well. We take our time to enjoy the breakfast. I found that the local spreads including the Nasi Lemak are as good as home made. After enjoying that breakfast we then got back to our room and refresh up before going out to play tourists. The weather outside the hotel was cool and not normal to us who live in the lowland so we have to wear light jacket or sweater. And I like it, it felt really good; cool and fresh.

With my nephew driving the Honda we took a spin of the town up to Ringlet, then make a turn back to Tanah Rata. On the way we stop for tea at the Tea House of the Bharat Tea Plantation, the second largest tea plantation in Cameron Highland. From the tea house one can see a sprawling tea bushes, green, green and greens as far as the eyes could see. We ordered tea and sat at a table with a view of that sprawling tea bushes below. It was a panoramic view of lush green like a postcard. Magnificent indeed!

I felt real good sitting there enjoying that peace and tranquillity of the place, atop the world with the lush tea farm below. I was at peace with myself and felt so nice that I wanted to stay there forever. It was a feeling that touches my heart; a special feeling indeed. It felt so good. And the Teh Tarek was heaven! I had brought my camera and the necessary lens to do photography and had a field-day photographing the scenes around the tea house.

After a while we left and got to our hotel in Brinchang to freshen up. Flowers grow well in the highlands. The hotel that we are staying took advantage of this and landscapes its front with colourful flowers thus enhancing the approach of the hotel. I love to see such display of flowers and took some image of the scene. On the morning of May 23, 2014 after having a hearty breakfast at the hotel we check out and on the way to Ringlet we bought the local vegetable and Strawberry to take home. We were thinking of taking the new road that would take us back to Kuala Lumpur via Bentong but could not find the exit. Since it was only less that 50 kilometres to Tapah where exit to the North South Highway is we decided to forgo going back via Bentong but instead chose the Tapah route. On the way we stop at the Lata Iskandar to watch a Water Fall there. As usual the place was throng with tourists making a stop on the way up to the highlands or going down toward Tapah. We left the place and soon got into the highway again. We proceed south on the highway and make a stop for lunch at the Tapah Rest and Recreation area  Then proceed on and reach home at just 4pm in the afternoon.  All in all our short holiday was a colourful one indeed. We did enjoy it.

Have a nice day.