Mossy Forest, Malaysia - and more

If you love nature walks and/or forests, here's one to visit when you visit Malaysia.

Source: MSN

Mossy Forest, Malaysia
This moist, tropical evergreen forest is ideally suited for moss, ferns, lichen and orchids, with a wide variety of insects, snakes, frogs and birds spotted here. You can explore the forest on a walk, just before the peak of Gunung Brinchang.

Gunung Brinchang is at the Cameron Highlands which you can read more about Camerons Highlands on Wikipedia.

MSN noted 25 other forests around the world you can visit including the Dragon's Blood Forest in Yemen..

Dragon's Blood Forest, Yemen
The spooky Dragon’s Blood Forest in Socotra is home to trees with UFO-like tops, which are colloquially known as dragon’s blood trees. You can also marvel at granite mountains and limestone plateaus. The forest is also home to large tracts of frankincense trees, as well as several rare species of birds.

as well as the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, California, US

The Bristlecone Pine Forest is home to some of the oldest trees on the planet, specifically the nearly 5,000-year-old Methuselah. The location of that tree is kept secret, to avoid defacement by vandals. The trees can grow at altitudes of 10,000 feet (over 3,000 meters) and offer some of the most gorgeous groves in the world.

And this one too, which is a popular tourist destination..

Jiuzhaigou Valley, China
Also known as the “Valley of Nine Villages,” the Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park is dotted with beautiful lakes, waterfalls and snow-capped mountains. With elevations ranging from 6,560 to 14,800 feet (2,000 to 4,500 meters), the forest has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992.

Visit MSN's list of 26 majestic forests for nature lovers to explore

C is for Cameron Highlands

C is for Cameron Highlands.

Cameron Highlands or commonly referred to as 'Camerons', is one of two hill stations developed from the British colonial times which still stands today. I'll let Wikipedia take over..

'The Cameron Highlands were named after William Cameron, a British explorer and geologist [7] who was commissioned by the then colonial government to map out the Pahang-Perak border area in 1885.

In a statement concerning his mapping expedition, Cameron mentioned he saw “a sort of vortex on the mountains, while for a (reasonably) wide area we have gentle slopes and plateau land.”

When approached, Sir Hugh Low, the Resident of Perak (1887–1889), expressed the wish of developing the region into a "sanatorium, health resort and open farmland”. A narrow path to “Cameron’s Land” was then carved through the jungle. Nothing much happened after that.

Forty years later, the tableland was given another review when Sir George Maxwell (1871–1959) visited the locale to see if it could be turned into a resort. He spent about nine days surveying the territory. On his return from the highlands, Maxwell described the terrain as being “somewhat oval in shape.” After comparing it with Nuwara Eliya in Sri Lanka and Baguio in the Philippines, he decreed that the site should be developed into a hill station.'

Tea plantation in Cameron Highlands

You can also read the entry on Cameron Highlands last year - map from Wiki and interesting video included.

C is for Cameron Highlands

C is for Cameron Highlands.

Cameron Highlands is a popular holiday destination in Malaysia. The cool temperate weather is one of the main draws to this hill station with elevations ranging from 1,100 metres (3,600 ft) to 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) above sea level.

Developed in the 1930s, the tableland is one of the oldest tourist spots in Malaysia. Apart from its tea estates, the plateau is also noted for its cool weather, orchards, nurseries, farmlands, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, wildlife, mossy forest, golf course, hotels, places of worship, bungalows, Land Rovers, museum and its aborigines (Orang Asli).

Tea plantations in Cameron Highlands.. Wikipedia

The Time Tunnel museum located within the Kok Lim Strawberry Farm.. Wikipedia
Situated at the northwestern tip of Pahang, the “Camerons” is approximately 90 kilometres (56 mi) from Ipoh, roughly 200 kilometres (120 mi) from Kuala Lumpur or about 355 kilometres (221 mi) from Kuantan, the capital of Pahang.

During the colonial era, the “Camerons” was a haven for those who were homesick. Today, it is a stopover for those who want to escape from the heat of the lowlands. [36] Over the years, there have been many improvements at the province. Some landmarks have withstood the test of time such as this, Ye Olde SmokeHouse Hotel, an English Tudor boutique style hotel, built in 1939 and is situated adjacent to a beautiful golf course.

As you can see from the map below (courtesy of Ye Olde SmokeHouse Hotel), there is a lot of things to partake in at Cameron Highlands.

Here's a You Tube video to give you an idea of one of the attractions or what's in store for you on a weekend visit to Cameron Highlands.

This video was published recently, May 20, 2017. Here's what the publisher, Expat Angela, has to say:

The next time you're headed up to the gorgeous hill stations of Cameron Highlands, plan your trip around the weekend so you can explore the delicious and fun night market there. Malaysia's Cameron Highlands Pasar Malam is the ONLY night market in all of the Cameron Highlands and it is full of some unique and tasty treats, tons of fruits and vegetables from local farmers, homemade honey and juices, and even locally made wooden and other handicrafts. And if you're coo coo for strawberries, well this place is your nirvana because they have everything from organic fresh berries to keychains and strawberry umbrellas!

I honestly had so much fun. My only regret was that it was raining and I had to hold my camera with only one hand! I ate a ton, shopped a bit, and really enjoyed the lovely friendliness of everyone I encountered.

Enjoy!

Tor-tor dance and Gordang Sambilan to be part of Malaysian heritage

Malaysians are made up of many cultures, Chinese, Indian, Sikh, Malay and the latter is again subdivided into various cultures including those from Indonesia, i.e., Minangkabau, Bugis, Javanese, Sunda, Kalimantan and Pontianak, Mandaling, etc.

Recently, Malaysia gazetted as national heritage the Mandailing community’s Tor-tor dance and the Gordang Sambilan (nine great drumbeats). This has outraged some groups in Indonesia resulting in protests at the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta.

The protests worsened last Friday as several sections of the Malaysia Hall building were damaged by large stones hurled by about 50 rioters.

According to The Star/Bernama,

Non-governmental organisation Pancasila Youths, who earlier torched the Malaysian flag and hurled eggs in the compound of the Malaysian Embassy in Kuningan after Friday prayers, headed for Malaysia Hall in Jalan Hos Cokroaminoto, Menteng and began acting more violently.

At Malaysia Hall, they attacked a security guard, who sustained slight injuries, threw large stones and pieces of wood which shattered the warden's windows, apart from damaging the main gate and messing up the windows by hurling eggs.

The stones thrown by the rioters also damaged the front roof of Malaysia Hall.

Malaysia Information, Communications and Culture Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, said every community was entitled to the freedom to adopt its culture of origin and the Tor-tor dance and gendang besar (great drum) were not owned by anybody, as stated in the Geneva Convention.

“The United Nations guarantees freedom to a community to adopt their original culture and way of life,” he said when commenting on the Indonesian media protest over his proposal to gazette the Mandailing’s dance and drumbeat as national heritage.

“The people of Malaysia, who inherited original cultures of the archipelago for decades and centuries, deserve to maintain their culture of origin.
Source

Let's leave politics to the politicians and take a look at what the Tor-tor dance and the Gordang Sambilan (nine great drumbeats) are all about.

Tari tortor batak (Indonesian dance)


Traditional Drum of Mandailing Culture (GORDANG SAMBILAN)

Dataran Merdeka is off-limits but hats are not..

Hats are not popular here in Malaysia when they ought to be in this tropical climate. The weather the past few days has been hot and dry and humid at the same time. The strange thing about our weather is, when it rains it pours and when it's dry, it can get really, really hot.

By the way, if you intend to be at the Bersih 3.0 rally tommorow, it would be wise to bring along a hat or an umbrella or both - to protect yourself from the sun, to fan yourself with, or to shield yourself from any shower, if you get what I mean.

Doesn't this look like the giant tv at Dataran Merdeka, and with a message too that says the square is offlimits.

Image source: The Star

Bersih 3.0 Venue & Dataran Merdeka

This is Dataran Merdeka, quiet and deserted after KL Mayor, Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail, declated Dataran Merdeka and all roads leading to it would be closed from 6am Friday to 6am on Sunday.

Meanwhile the Magistrates court has issued an order preventing the organisers of Bersih 3.0 and members of the public from entering Dataran Merdeka on Saturday. The order was made at 8:30pm Thursday by Magistrate Zaki Asyraf Zubir following an application by the police.

The court order bars organisers and members of the public from gathering at Dataran from midnight Friday until May 1.

From what I read, the venue for Bersih 3.0 is Dataran Merdeka. There will also be a Bersih rally in Ipoh, at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Recreational Park, popularly known as the Polo Ground. The Bersih movement is for free and fair elections in the country.

Flashback to last rally, last year..
Dataran Merdeka before the last rally, Bersih 2.0 on Jul 9 2011
Situation in parts of Kuala Lumpur then
Yellow, a tricky color to wear

Vote for Sipadan in the Second Phase of the New7Wonders

Have you cast your vote yet for Sipadan Island to be included as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World? The last time when I first talked about voting for Sipadan, the New7Wonders site was quite difficult to access, but not this time. Give it a shot. Vote for Sipadan in the Asia continent.


A little update since the last time, Sipadan has qualified to be among the 261 national and multinational nominees emerging from 222 participating countries in the nomination stage. The next stage requires Sipadan to make it to the top 77 by group category in the second stage that started in January ending on July 7 this year. So every vote counts.

On the site's Live Ranking, Sipadan is currently in 17th position in the ISLAND category.

Sipadan Island

Below is a shot of a giant turtle in the waters off Sipadan Island. This photo, and the others, were taken by a friend's friend who went on a week-long diving-holiday a few years ago. He said he had such a wonderful experience that he would not hesitate to go back there again.


Sipadan Island has long been noted as a world-class diving site. It is located in Sabah in East Malaysia on Borneo Island. Those who have been there would be able to see for themselves the true beauty of Sipadan Island (or Sipadan as it is commonly-referred to) and its surroundings of white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, abundant variety of marine life, more than anyone can imagine.

Sipadan Island, Malaysia's only oceanic island, has been nominated in the running to be listed as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World along with Thailand’s Ko Phi Phi, Bora Bora, the Galapagos, Cocos Island and Terra del Fuego.

According to the Sabah Tourism chairman, Tengku Datuk Zainal Tengku Mahmud,

“We only knew about three weeks ago that some people who had dived at Sipadan had nominated the island for the listing and we moved quickly to qualify by setting up the official supporting committee.”


We are beginning to see the need to preserve our heritage sites all over the country, so preserving Sipadan with all its natural splendour is a natural progression.

How do we ensure Sipadan's preservation? Since it is in the running to be listed, online voting is ongoing just as we speak. Let us do our part by putting in our vote to have Sipadan Island listed as one of the new 7 wonders of the world. This is the only way to ensure the preservation of this natural wonder as well as to ensure continuous effort is placed on its upkeep. To cast your vote, go to the new7wonders website.

From Wikipedia:
Sipadan is located at the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin, the centre of one of the richest marine habitats in the world. More than 3,000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species have been classified in this ecosystem.

Normally rare diving scenes are frequently seen in the waters around Sipadan: schools of greenback turtles and hawksbill turtles nesting and mating, schools of barracuda & big-eye trevally in tornado-like formations, pelagic species such as manta rays, eagle rays, scalloped hammerhead sharks and whale sharks.

A mysterious turtle tomb lies underneath the column of the island, formed by an underwater limestone cave with a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers that contain many skeletal remains of turtles that have become lost and drown before finding the surface.

After the episode of the 2000 terrorist attack by the Filipino terrorist group, Abu Sayyaf, Sipadan is now heavily guarded by the Malaysian military to ensure safety of tourists. Visitors to the island are required to seek approval through the resorts operating on the island.

Best time to go to Sipadan Island

Try to avoid going from December to February as it is the rainy season though you will not have to contend with the crowd.

For diving, go between April to November and best months are July and August.

How does one get to Sipadan Island?

You will have to fly into Sabah and the point of entry is either Kota Kinabalu or Tawau. If you arrive at Kota Kinabalu, you will need to catch a connecting flight to Tawau.

Advance booking on accommodation is necessary. Do some research and see which resort you would like to stay in. The resort operator will meet you at the airport and send you in a van to Semporna. The journey from Tawau airport to Semporna is around an hour. The scenery along the way is nothing to shout about but an hour of plain oil-palm plantations passes by fast as the roads are good.

It is advisable to fly into Tawau on an earlier flight to catch the resorts scheduled boat transfers. Travelling on unscheduled transfers may cost more.

Suggested airlines include Air Asia and Malaysia Airlines. If you are flying into Singapore, it would be cheaper to take Air Asia from Senai airport in Johor Bharu. Air Asia flies direct to Kota Kinabalu from Senai.

Buses are also available from Tawau to Semporna or from Kota Kinabalu or Sandakan to Semporna. Semporna is where you take the boat-ride to Sipadan. It takes an hour or so by speedboat.

You can also take a taxi from Tawau airport to Semporna at the rate of between RM80 to RM100.

Welcome to Malaysia and enjoy your visit to Sipandan!


More information can be found on WikiTravel - http://wikitravel.org/en/Sipadan