A cement path follows the river then climbs up the gentle slopes to the cascades.
© Liz Price
No reproduction without permission
Enjoy!!!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Sungai Tekala at Ulu Langat
A cement path follows the river then climbs up the gentle slopes to the cascades.
© Liz Price
No reproduction without permission
Semenyih Dam at Ulu Langat, Selangor
Semenyih dam is one of the reservoirs that supplies the Klang Valley. It is situated near Semenyih in Ulu Langat in Selangor.
See separate album on Sungai Tekala.
© Liz Price
No reproduction without permission
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Indonesia brick-making | The Brunei Times
Published on The Brunei Times
Indonesia brick-making alive and well
Oven-baked clay: (Top to Bottom) The mud is compressed into shape after it has been mixed with water in special pits. The bricks are left to dry for a month before firing in a brick-lined kiln for 40 hours. It takes three days for them to cool down. South of Ambon Island are small villages such as Latuhalat where the main income is from making bricks. Pictures: Liz Price
Liz Price
AMBON, INDONESIA
Saturday, February 9, 2008
THERE are still local cottage industries in many parts of Indonesia. One such activity is brick making in Ambon. Ambon is the capital of Maluku province. Together with the separate North Maluku province, these two areas are better known to Europeans as The Moluccas. Since as early as the first century the islands of the Moluccas were known to spice traders and later became known as The Spice Islands, due to the cloves, nutmeg, mace and cinnamon which grow there. It was these East Indies that Columbus was looking for when he accidentally found America in 1492.
South of Ambon Island are small villages such as Latuhalat where the main income is from making bricks. It seems to be a family run business, with one household setting up the necessary equipment. The operation needs a kiln and thatched-roof open-air structures where the bricks are made and dried. Small scale brick factories like these are fairly common in the area since the soil contains suitable clay.
The raw material of clay is obtained locally or may be bought. One or two pits are dug in the ground and the clay is put in the pit and water added. This slurry is mixed with the feet, which is good fun for the children as they can get messy whilst doing a useful job. The resulting paste is then removed and left in piles to dry before use.
To make the actual bricks, the worker — usually the woman — lines a wooden frame with ash from the kiln, then takes a large lump of clay and throws it hard into the mould. She compresses it and scrapes off the excess to level it. The wet brick is eased out of the mould and carefully added to the pile of formed bricks.
I watched in fascination as the woman was able to work so quickly, and was so experienced she made the whole process look easy. But it isn't! My friend decided to have a go and made a real mess of things. Firstly a lot of clay didn't fall into the mould and then when he lifted the mould the brick was distorted as he hadn't compressed it sufficiently. Fortunately the clay could be reused to try again, the same as a learner pastry chef would do in the kitchen.
There are two thicknesses of bricks, they are all made as the larger size but may be cut in half using a wire like a cheese cutter. It seems that nowadays the thicker bricks are preferred, although in this particular house, mostly thin ones were piled up to dry.
The process is difficult, gritty and repetitive work. The lady said she could make 500-600 bricks a day which is quite a staggering number. The raw bricks are left to dry for a month before firing. This is where the man takes over. Firing is done in a brick-lined kiln which has two openings. In the kiln we saw, 13,000 bricks can be fired at one time and are heated for 40 hours. It then takes three days for them to cool down. Coconut husks and wood are used for the fire. In this particular kiln they were using mango wood, and the heat from the fire was intense. It must be an awful job loading the kiln, having to lift the bricks into the extreme heat.
The grey coloured bricks turn red after firing and are piled up until sold. Firing takes place once every two months. The bricks then await transport to their destination.
If the lady makes 500-600 bricks a day, it takes almost a month to make a full load of 13,000 for firing. It was interesting to see that the woman in the house I visited worked alone, the men and children just stood around watching. We were told the thin bricks sell for Rp 400 ($0.06) each. Making 13,000 every two months gives an income of Rp 5.2 million. However, out of this money, they may have to pay for the clay and wood, also the delivery of these items and maybe the transport of the finished items. The lady we spoke to said she personally makes a mere Rp 1 million a month for such constant and repetitive work.
The Brunei Times
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source URL:
http://www.bt.com.bn/en/en/life/2008/02/09/indonesia_brick_making_alive_and_well
Indonesia brick-making alive and well
Oven-baked clay: (Top to Bottom) The mud is compressed into shape after it has been mixed with water in special pits. The bricks are left to dry for a month before firing in a brick-lined kiln for 40 hours. It takes three days for them to cool down. South of Ambon Island are small villages such as Latuhalat where the main income is from making bricks. Pictures: Liz Price
Liz Price
AMBON, INDONESIA
Saturday, February 9, 2008
THERE are still local cottage industries in many parts of Indonesia. One such activity is brick making in Ambon. Ambon is the capital of Maluku province. Together with the separate North Maluku province, these two areas are better known to Europeans as The Moluccas. Since as early as the first century the islands of the Moluccas were known to spice traders and later became known as The Spice Islands, due to the cloves, nutmeg, mace and cinnamon which grow there. It was these East Indies that Columbus was looking for when he accidentally found America in 1492.
South of Ambon Island are small villages such as Latuhalat where the main income is from making bricks. It seems to be a family run business, with one household setting up the necessary equipment. The operation needs a kiln and thatched-roof open-air structures where the bricks are made and dried. Small scale brick factories like these are fairly common in the area since the soil contains suitable clay.
The raw material of clay is obtained locally or may be bought. One or two pits are dug in the ground and the clay is put in the pit and water added. This slurry is mixed with the feet, which is good fun for the children as they can get messy whilst doing a useful job. The resulting paste is then removed and left in piles to dry before use.
To make the actual bricks, the worker — usually the woman — lines a wooden frame with ash from the kiln, then takes a large lump of clay and throws it hard into the mould. She compresses it and scrapes off the excess to level it. The wet brick is eased out of the mould and carefully added to the pile of formed bricks.
I watched in fascination as the woman was able to work so quickly, and was so experienced she made the whole process look easy. But it isn't! My friend decided to have a go and made a real mess of things. Firstly a lot of clay didn't fall into the mould and then when he lifted the mould the brick was distorted as he hadn't compressed it sufficiently. Fortunately the clay could be reused to try again, the same as a learner pastry chef would do in the kitchen.
There are two thicknesses of bricks, they are all made as the larger size but may be cut in half using a wire like a cheese cutter. It seems that nowadays the thicker bricks are preferred, although in this particular house, mostly thin ones were piled up to dry.
The process is difficult, gritty and repetitive work. The lady said she could make 500-600 bricks a day which is quite a staggering number. The raw bricks are left to dry for a month before firing. This is where the man takes over. Firing is done in a brick-lined kiln which has two openings. In the kiln we saw, 13,000 bricks can be fired at one time and are heated for 40 hours. It then takes three days for them to cool down. Coconut husks and wood are used for the fire. In this particular kiln they were using mango wood, and the heat from the fire was intense. It must be an awful job loading the kiln, having to lift the bricks into the extreme heat.
The grey coloured bricks turn red after firing and are piled up until sold. Firing takes place once every two months. The bricks then await transport to their destination.
If the lady makes 500-600 bricks a day, it takes almost a month to make a full load of 13,000 for firing. It was interesting to see that the woman in the house I visited worked alone, the men and children just stood around watching. We were told the thin bricks sell for Rp 400 ($0.06) each. Making 13,000 every two months gives an income of Rp 5.2 million. However, out of this money, they may have to pay for the clay and wood, also the delivery of these items and maybe the transport of the finished items. The lady we spoke to said she personally makes a mere Rp 1 million a month for such constant and repetitive work.
The Brunei Times
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source URL:
http://www.bt.com.bn/en/en/life/2008/02/09/indonesia_brick_making_alive_and_well
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Deer Farm in Perak
Published on The Brunei Times
Malaysia deer farm proud home to 1,000 species
Prized for their hides: Visitors at the main hall of the Ulu Perak deer farm (Top), Pusat Ternakan Haiwan Lenggong, where deer roam freely. The farm sells deer products only to the local market and hasn't yet got into commercial production. Pictures: Liz Price
Liz Price
ULU PERAK
Sunday, February 3, 2008
WE WERE on our way to climb a waterfall but when we went past a deer farm claiming to be the largest in Malaysia, we decided to stop for a look. I was surprised that we could see no deer at all, so when we entered the building, my first questions was "where are all the deer?" Encik Wan Yup, the veterinary assistant explained that the farm is large and therefore the deer are somewhere in the far reaches. He went on to say they have more than 1,000 deer of different species.
I know that deer meat is popular in the food industry, but I hadn't realised that deer hide is also used in the world of fashion. While we were looking around, some locals arrived to buy some frozen deer meat, or venison. I assumed that this farm would supply hotels and restaurants, but Encik Wan said they only sell to the local market. Although the farm was opened in 2000, it hasn't yet got into commercial production.
The deer farm, Pusat Ternakan Haiwan Lenggong, comes under the Jabatan Perkhidmatan Haiwan or Veterinary Services Department. The original farm was at Tanjim Malim in Perak, but had to make way for the building of Proton City, so was relocated to this site near Lenggong in Ulu Perak in 1997. And another farm was set up near Taiping, covering 3500 acres. The farm near Lenggong has 1500 acres, which is split into 1000 acres for deer and 500 for cattle and goats on the other side of the road. Behind the office buildings are the staff quarters and behind those are rolling hills where the deer roam. Part of the land is open grassland whilst the rest is still wooded. There is a watchtower on one of the hills.
The majority of deer are Rusa Timorensis (Cervus timorensis), commonly called the Java rusa. Originally from Indonesia, these deer are smaller than the Sambar. The farm has about 60 Sambar, (Cervus unicolor). These are the commonest deer in the southeast Asian region and they prefer the forest whereas the Java rusa can inhabit open grasslands. The Sambar have longer antlers and I learnt that the antler velvet is a valued commodity. Velvet is the soft downy skin that covers the antler whilst it is growing, and before it hardens into bone. The young antler is basically soft tissue covered with fine soft hair or velvet. Male deer grow antlers every year.
The velvet from the Rusa timorensis sells from between RM50-350 ($22-152) a kilogramme, depending on the grade.
For over 2000 years, the velvet antler of male deer has been prized by the Chinese for its powerful health-promoting properties. The traditional uses of velvet antler are many and various, such as body strengthening, helping the immune system and blood cell production, and for cardiovascular health and function. A popular use in Malaysia is as a sexual enhancer, taken in powder form.
It seems that all parts of the animal can be used. The most obvious use is the meat, which averages around RM30 a kilo. Under certain conditions it is possible to buy a live male animal, but you have to fulfill strict requirements re the transport of the animal. Deer are very nervy creatures and do not travel well, so you are only allowed to buy livestock if you have a vehicle suitably equipped. An average male Rusa timorensis can weigh 130kg.
The skin is used in the fashion industry. The offal — heart, liver, kidneys, and lungs — can all be used, as well as the tongue and bones. The mature antlers as well as the teeth are used as carved decorative items. For traditional medicine, the tail, testes and penis, sinews, skull and even the foetus are used.
I was surprised to learn the latest product is keropok kulit rusa (deer hide crackers). To make the crackers, the hide must be immersed in water for at least a week and scraped to extricate the hair before it was boiled for at least a day. The resulting gel is mixed with tapioca flour, boiled and cut into chips. Then the chips are left to dry in the sun before frying. It is an expensive snack at RM50 per kg. However, these keropok cannot be eaten in large amounts; they should only be taken a few pieces at a time, as they are said to be "heaty". Making keropok from animal hide such as buffalo and cattle was popular in the olden days and this practice is now being revived.
There are 26 staff at this Lenggong farm. The deer are fed in the morning, or if it is raining, it is delayed till the afternoon. They are fed on a special formula, but as they are free roaming the deer also feed on pasture and leaves. I asked about Mouse deer and was told they have a few, as well as the Hog deer or Rusa axis. The latter resembles a Sambar but is much smaller.
Having learnt so many interesting facts about deer and their products I then wanted to see some live animals. Encik Wan lead us out to the fields at the back, but sadly the deer were far away on the hill slopes and were awaiting the tractor which was delivering their morning feed. Still, it was good to see them roaming freely and not confined to cages or even small enclosures. It's a pity we were unable to taste the meat, but that will give me a reason to go back.The Brunei Times
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source URL:
http://www.bt.com.bn/en/en/travel/2008/02/03/malaysia_deer_farm_proud_home_to_1_000_species
Malaysia deer farm proud home to 1,000 species
Prized for their hides: Visitors at the main hall of the Ulu Perak deer farm (Top), Pusat Ternakan Haiwan Lenggong, where deer roam freely. The farm sells deer products only to the local market and hasn't yet got into commercial production. Pictures: Liz Price
Liz Price
ULU PERAK
Sunday, February 3, 2008
WE WERE on our way to climb a waterfall but when we went past a deer farm claiming to be the largest in Malaysia, we decided to stop for a look. I was surprised that we could see no deer at all, so when we entered the building, my first questions was "where are all the deer?" Encik Wan Yup, the veterinary assistant explained that the farm is large and therefore the deer are somewhere in the far reaches. He went on to say they have more than 1,000 deer of different species.
I know that deer meat is popular in the food industry, but I hadn't realised that deer hide is also used in the world of fashion. While we were looking around, some locals arrived to buy some frozen deer meat, or venison. I assumed that this farm would supply hotels and restaurants, but Encik Wan said they only sell to the local market. Although the farm was opened in 2000, it hasn't yet got into commercial production.
The deer farm, Pusat Ternakan Haiwan Lenggong, comes under the Jabatan Perkhidmatan Haiwan or Veterinary Services Department. The original farm was at Tanjim Malim in Perak, but had to make way for the building of Proton City, so was relocated to this site near Lenggong in Ulu Perak in 1997. And another farm was set up near Taiping, covering 3500 acres. The farm near Lenggong has 1500 acres, which is split into 1000 acres for deer and 500 for cattle and goats on the other side of the road. Behind the office buildings are the staff quarters and behind those are rolling hills where the deer roam. Part of the land is open grassland whilst the rest is still wooded. There is a watchtower on one of the hills.
The majority of deer are Rusa Timorensis (Cervus timorensis), commonly called the Java rusa. Originally from Indonesia, these deer are smaller than the Sambar. The farm has about 60 Sambar, (Cervus unicolor). These are the commonest deer in the southeast Asian region and they prefer the forest whereas the Java rusa can inhabit open grasslands. The Sambar have longer antlers and I learnt that the antler velvet is a valued commodity. Velvet is the soft downy skin that covers the antler whilst it is growing, and before it hardens into bone. The young antler is basically soft tissue covered with fine soft hair or velvet. Male deer grow antlers every year.
The velvet from the Rusa timorensis sells from between RM50-350 ($22-152) a kilogramme, depending on the grade.
For over 2000 years, the velvet antler of male deer has been prized by the Chinese for its powerful health-promoting properties. The traditional uses of velvet antler are many and various, such as body strengthening, helping the immune system and blood cell production, and for cardiovascular health and function. A popular use in Malaysia is as a sexual enhancer, taken in powder form.
It seems that all parts of the animal can be used. The most obvious use is the meat, which averages around RM30 a kilo. Under certain conditions it is possible to buy a live male animal, but you have to fulfill strict requirements re the transport of the animal. Deer are very nervy creatures and do not travel well, so you are only allowed to buy livestock if you have a vehicle suitably equipped. An average male Rusa timorensis can weigh 130kg.
The skin is used in the fashion industry. The offal — heart, liver, kidneys, and lungs — can all be used, as well as the tongue and bones. The mature antlers as well as the teeth are used as carved decorative items. For traditional medicine, the tail, testes and penis, sinews, skull and even the foetus are used.
I was surprised to learn the latest product is keropok kulit rusa (deer hide crackers). To make the crackers, the hide must be immersed in water for at least a week and scraped to extricate the hair before it was boiled for at least a day. The resulting gel is mixed with tapioca flour, boiled and cut into chips. Then the chips are left to dry in the sun before frying. It is an expensive snack at RM50 per kg. However, these keropok cannot be eaten in large amounts; they should only be taken a few pieces at a time, as they are said to be "heaty". Making keropok from animal hide such as buffalo and cattle was popular in the olden days and this practice is now being revived.
There are 26 staff at this Lenggong farm. The deer are fed in the morning, or if it is raining, it is delayed till the afternoon. They are fed on a special formula, but as they are free roaming the deer also feed on pasture and leaves. I asked about Mouse deer and was told they have a few, as well as the Hog deer or Rusa axis. The latter resembles a Sambar but is much smaller.
Having learnt so many interesting facts about deer and their products I then wanted to see some live animals. Encik Wan lead us out to the fields at the back, but sadly the deer were far away on the hill slopes and were awaiting the tractor which was delivering their morning feed. Still, it was good to see them roaming freely and not confined to cages or even small enclosures. It's a pity we were unable to taste the meat, but that will give me a reason to go back.The Brunei Times
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source URL:
http://www.bt.com.bn/en/en/travel/2008/02/03/malaysia_deer_farm_proud_home_to_1_000_species
Shangri La: Tibetan way of life (BT)
Published on The Brunei Times
Shangri La: The Tibetan way of life
Liz Price
SHANGRI LA
Sunday, January 13, 2008
WHEN I was invited to a trip to Shangri La, I had no idea where it was. Of course I was familiar with the term Shangri-La being used to describe an imaginary paradise on earth. When I looked it up in the dictionary, it described it as the name of a hidden Tibetan valley in J Hilton's Lost Horizon (1933).
Next task was to check my Encarta world atlas. Nothing. Shangri La didn't exist. So out came the trusty old Lonely Planet guidebook to China, and lo and behold, there it was. I realised it was a new name given to attract tourists to this area. The main town is Zhongdian and lies in the north of Yunnan province, in southwest China.
At least I knew where I was going. I enjoy mystery tours, but I also like to read up in advance of where I am going, so I have some idea of what to expect. Although there is an airport at Zhongdian, we were doing things the hard way, driving there. In a convoy of 15 cars, we had driven from Bangkok to Mae Sai, then through Myanmar and into China, and through Yunnan province, from Kunming to Dali, then Lijiang and up to the Himalayan plateau where Shangri La lies.
As we entered the town of Zhongdian, I was excited to see snow lying on the pavements. It has been many years since I last saw snow. To combat the cold I had bundled up in five layers of clothing. It was about five degrees Celsius in the bright November sunshine. The first thing that struck me was that the town consisted of fairly wide streets with small but brightly painted shops. There was quite a Tibetan feel to the place.
Zhongdian is the last large town in China before the Tibet border. It lies 198km north of Lijiang and marks the start of the Tibetan world. It is a boomtown, the rise in Shangri La driven tourism has caused the construction of a bland Han Chinese town. Our hotel, the Holy Palace was in the new part of town.
On our first afternoon, we drove out to see the sights. First we went to the Napa Lake, about seven km northwest of the town. I was surprised to arrive and see no water, but then found out this is actually a seasonal lake, and at the time of our visit, was dry. It is part of a nature reserve and is surrounded by a large grass meadow, and is an important area for bird watching. One of the more common of the avian visitors is the black-necked crane.
The easiest way to see this large meadow is by horseback. A large group of locals dressed in their traditional Tibetan costumes were waiting with their horses and ponies. It was a photogenic sight, but the locals were more interested in getting our custom than having their photos taken. I paid my 30 Yuan ($6) for the half hour ride, and followed the herd of ponies trekking across the plateau.
We didn't go far, but it was a pleasant way to view the scenery of small hills, blue sky and snow-capped mountains in the distance. West of Zhongdian the mountain range includes 13 mountains all peaking over 6000m. The main peak, Kagebo, towering at 6,740 metres above sea level, is the highest mountain in Yunnan province, and one of the eight sacred mountains worshipped by the Tibetans. Legend has it that the peak is the incarnation of a Tibetan deity who helped local people drive away evil spirits.
For those who didn't want to ride, there was the chance for them to try their hand at archery.
And of course there were the inevitable souvenir shops. Since modern technology has arrived in this part of the world, stalls were offering the possibility to have your photo taken and then digitally printed. It seems that no place has escaped from computers nowadays.
The Ganden Sumtseling Gompa was my undoing. It is a 300-year-old Tibetan monastery on the edge of town, and is the most important monastery in southwest China. Some 600 monks stay here.
As I began to climb the long flight of stairs up to the monastery, the altitude got to me. I have had altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness, three times previously and I had vowed to myself never to go to altitude again by choice. As I climbed the steps a thumping headache began pounding in my skull and I was getting short of breath. A colleague tried to help me up the steps, but it wasn't much help as I had to frequently stop and rest. I felt like an old grandmother creeping up the stairs. An elderly lama overtook me, but even he was puffing and panting.
The monastery is of typical Tibetan design. Dark interiors, with lots of colourful thankas or religious paintings adorn the walls and the air is thick with the smell of rancid butter and oil from the lamps. I shuffled around very slowly, I just couldn't go at normal speed as there wasn't enough oxygen getting to my lungs.
In mid June the town plays host to a horse racing festival which lasts several days, and comprises of singing and dancing, eating, and of course horse racing. In September there is a festival featuring minority artistes from southwest China. On our first evening we were invited to a cultural show, but several of our group had to give it a miss as we were suffering from the altitude. As we had driven directly up to Shangri La we had had no chance to acclimatise, Zhongdian lies at 3200m. But as many tourists fly in, they would also suffer from the same problem. There isn't a great deal to do in the town other than wander around and absorb the atmosphere. But it is a good place to get a feel of the Tibetan way of life.
The Brunei Times
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source URL:
http://www.bt.com.bn/en/en/travel/2008/01/13/shangri_la_the_tibetan_way_of_life
Langkawi animal park - Brunei Times
Published on The Brunei Times
Langkawi well-kept Wildlife Park exceeds expectations
Well-cared for: An emotive emu. Picture: Liz Price
Liz Price
LANGKAWI
Sunday, January 6, 2008
I'VE never really been a fan of zoos and wildlife parks in Asia as the animals are often kept in less than ideal conditions. So when a visiting friend wanted to go to the Langkawi Wildlife Park I was a bit reluctant. When we arrived at the Park, the taxi driver said he would wait for us. Seems this is normal for the drivers here, so we said OK, especially as I didn't expect to stay long.
I was wrong. The animal park actually exceeded my expectations and we were inside until almost closing. Our poor taxi driver was wondering what had happened to us. I had been expecting just to see birds, but the park is much more, housing a variety of small mammals and reptiles as well as lots of birds.
The animals looked quite well cared for, in adequately sized cages, and with fresh food and water. The place used to be called the Langkawi Bird Park but is now known at the Langkawi Wildlife Park.
We entered into the macaw's courtyard and these birds were stunning with their multicoloured plumage. Some of the birds even seemed to pose for photos. I was interested to see that several of the birds were perched in pairs, so I assume these were couples who had paired for life, which was nice to see. There were macaws, parrots and cockatoos, from SE Asia as well as from Africa.
I am not a great bird lover, as my Malaysian birding friends know, but I did spend quite some time admiring these birds. Nevertheless, as soon as I saw the first mammals, small-clawed otters, I hurried over to see them. These were sleek and shiny, though I was amused to see they were snacking on dog biscuits.
Next was a large pen containing mouse-deer. These tiny deer feature prominently in Malay folklore. The greater mouse-deer is only about 30 cm high, whilst the lesser species is much shorter. I've seen these little creatures at night in the wild in Taman Negara, but it was good to see them at close quarters and in daylight.
The next section contained a variety of birds and mammals in separate cages. A binturong was sitting on a tree trunk in full sunlight as if sunbathing. I thought he must be so hot with his thick, shaggy dark fur, but he seemed content, even though they are normally nocturnal creatures. Binturongs are also known as bear-cats and are actually large civets. A giant squirrel resided in the opposite cage. Further on were more mouse-deer and one cute little guy came right up to the wire mesh to see if I had any fruit for him.
There were common macaque monkeys, as well as some beruks, which are the pig-tailed macaques used in kampungs to collect coconuts. Even the birds held my attention again, especially a pair of buffy fish owls. My friend thought they were stuffed as they didn't move, but I noticed the eyes moving on one as it watched me zoom my camera. It was holding a half eaten fish in its talons. The electus parrots always fascinate me as the male is predominately green whilst the female is red. I'd recently seen these in the wild in the Moluccas, which is where they hail from. One grey palm cockatoo was breaking up some small black stones with his beak and I was surprised he didn't chip his beak. This was the only animal I saw acting strangely, I'm not sure if he was stressed, or maybe he was looking for minerals in the stones.
We went through a walk through aviary, and the brightly coloured budgerigars zipped around like streaks of coloured lightning. As we walked to the exit some budgies followed us and I thought they wanted to escape, but instead they had spotted some grain left in a pile near the door. From there we entered the pond area, and on the way saw a solitary crocodile. There were many types of birds in the pool, such as flamingo, crowned cranes, pink backed pelicans, various ducks, and some black swans which hail from Australia. Fish were swimming in the same pond and didn't seem concerned about the birds.
Langkawi is famous for its geology and has recently been gazetted as a Geopark. Many of the rocks are limestone, there are many caves, and in recent years there are several marble industries on the islands. Crystals feature prominently and even in the Wildlife Park, there was a display on crystals, mainly from Brazil and China. There's even an exhibit of the world's largest crystal ball, weighing a whopping 668kg.
The path inevitably led us through the crystal shop, but as we had no interest in making a purchase we hurried through, eager to see more animals. We were rewarded with different types of hornbills, as well as some eagles which are the symbol of Langkawi. One white-bellied sea eagle was kept on a perch and would sit on a visitor's arm to pose for photos.
Outside was a solitary cassowary from Australia. These birds are fascinatingly ugly, with their horn-like casques, and a neck covered in keratinous skin. The three-toed feet almost look too big for the body. The middle claw is used as a dagger. Cassowaries are related to emus and ostriches. I find emus very cute with their big eyes, large flat beaks and fluffy heads. The largest of these birds are the ostriches and one made a determined grab at my camera as I tried to take close ups of its head.
The park claims to have over 3,000 birds of some 150 different species from around the globe — South East Asia, South America, Africa, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Russia and China. As we left, a peacock began displaying to a peahen, but she looked less than interested. We were virtually the last remaining visitors — our driver had already been in to check if we were still there.
The Brunei Times
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source URL:
http://www.bt.com.bn/en/en/travel/2008/01/06/langkawi_well_kept_wildlife_park_exceeds_expectations
Penang outdoor war museum - Brunei Times
Published on The Brunei Times
'Ghosts' of Penang outdoor war museum
War relic: British-built fort Bukit Batu Maung was two times the size of Singapore's fort. The Japanese used it as a detention centre for POWs. Picture: Liz Price
Liz Price
PENANG
Friday, December 28, 2007
THE fort lay lost in the jungle for some 57 years. Few locals dared to visit the site as it was reputed to be haunted, in fact they called it Bukit Hantu ("Ghost Hill"). Then along came Johari Shafie. This enterprising man from Kedah rediscovered the site and transformed it into a living war museum.
Next time you are in Penang, make sure you visit the outdoor Living War Museum at Bukit Batu Maung. It is an educational step back in time and is a unique concept, situated in the grounds of this apparently haunted fort. During its heyday in the 1930's this mighty fortress protected the island from its enemies. It was built by the British and was two times the size of Singapore's fort. Then during the Japanese era it was used as a detention centre for POW's. After the war ended in August 1945 the fort was abandoned and slowly the jungle covered the site. The locals had no interest in the site and it lay lost and ignored until 1993 when Johari found it.
Johari had actually played around its base of the hill as a child, but it wasn't until many years later that he went up to the summit, and found the fort. He developed an idea to turn the fortress into a living war museum. Accompanied by his wife Jenny, they travelled overseas to some 28 countries visiting war museums and doing research, returning to Malaysia in 1995. Johari submitted a paper to the government for permission to open the site as an outdoor museum and got the go ahead in March 2002. The next six months were spent clearing the site. They cleared and restored the artifacts, adding some extra ones. The area was exorcised to remove the spirits and they returned the buildings to their original state.
The result is quite amazing. This mighty fortress has been returned to its former glory. Signposted trails lead around the site and information boards are placed at each of the relics. You can get an idea of how the soldiers lived, see their barracks and cookhouses, even an infirmary. Go into the underground communication rooms and stores, and the more adventurous can explore the narrow dark tunnels. As you walk around and see the pillboxes and canon firing areas you really begin to get a feel that you have stepped back in time. There are some 60 relics to see.
The fortress was designed by Royal British Engineers, and built by convicts who had a death warrant; they were shipped here from overseas, from places such as Gibraltar and India. The barracks were designed according to rank. There was one set for the British officers, others for the British Other Ranks and also the Indian Other Ranks, and one for the Malays. They each had their own cookhouse according to their religion, although the Brits had rations sent in from outside. You can really get a feel of how the men lived in wartime as you walk around their quarters. Their toilet consisted of a bucket secluded in a walled cubicle, with a basic washroom next to it. Underground pipes supplied water from a well.
When the Japanese invaded in August 1941 the site became a prisoner of war camp. From here the prisoners were sent to Kanchanaburi or Singapore, according to their fitness and skills. The fortress became a torture centre. The Japanese tortured many of the local Chinese people, as the latter supported the Chinese who were massacred by the Japanese during the invasion of Nanking in 1937.
The famous executioner Suzuki beheaded people without a blindfold. He would drip blood from the knife into a bottle of brandy and drink it. This was to scare the locals against the Japanese. The locals then ran away to the jungle. Some bodies were dumped, others were taken to the British or Japanese cemetery. Some men had to dig their own grave. You can see the guillotine site as well as the gallows. When the site was cleared a grave was found, and the area was burnt to settle the spirits.
I was fascinated by the underground areas. There are offices and halls, logistic and intelligence centres, ammunition stores, all with ventilation shafts supplying fresh air. The military tunnels are worth exploring if you are not claustrophobic. But be cautioned, they are rather small. Some are body sized, in others you have to crawl, and one is now inhabited by bats. It can be a bit unnerving to be in a small tunnel with bats flying close to you but they soon get out of your way. There is no lighting here, but you can borrow a torch from the ticket office.
An explosives dump was situated 4 storeys underground. There was a pulley to bring up the heavy loads, but the men had to use metal stairs to go up and down to the tunnels. They also had an escape hatch for times of emergency. You can see mortar shells on display at one of the canon firing bays. The six-inch breech guns were used to fire on enemies approaching from the sea. From the site the officers could communicate directly with the Cabinet War Room in London. There is even a submarine-landing bay.
As you walk around, you begin to get some idea of how the largest military complex in Malaysia was run. There are lots of notice boards giving the history of World War II followed by the Japanese invasion in this area. You can imagine how the people lived, trained and fought here. Listen carefully and you can almost imagine the screams of soldiers being tortured or executed here. Many people describe the place as creepy.
The site has been left in its natural state as much as possible, so you walk back in time in a natural environment. There is even a chance of seeing small mammals and birds, maybe even lizards and perhaps a snake. You can enjoy the fresh air and the peaceful surroundings whilst immersing yourself in history.
Whether you are a local or a foreigner, you will be captivated by the adventure of reliving the times gone by.
But watch out for the ghosts.
The Brunei Times
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source URL:
http://www.bt.com.bn/en/en/focus/2007/12/28/ghosts_of_penang_outdoor_war_museum
'Ghosts' of Penang outdoor war museum
War relic: British-built fort Bukit Batu Maung was two times the size of Singapore's fort. The Japanese used it as a detention centre for POWs. Picture: Liz Price
Liz Price
PENANG
Friday, December 28, 2007
THE fort lay lost in the jungle for some 57 years. Few locals dared to visit the site as it was reputed to be haunted, in fact they called it Bukit Hantu ("Ghost Hill"). Then along came Johari Shafie. This enterprising man from Kedah rediscovered the site and transformed it into a living war museum.
Next time you are in Penang, make sure you visit the outdoor Living War Museum at Bukit Batu Maung. It is an educational step back in time and is a unique concept, situated in the grounds of this apparently haunted fort. During its heyday in the 1930's this mighty fortress protected the island from its enemies. It was built by the British and was two times the size of Singapore's fort. Then during the Japanese era it was used as a detention centre for POW's. After the war ended in August 1945 the fort was abandoned and slowly the jungle covered the site. The locals had no interest in the site and it lay lost and ignored until 1993 when Johari found it.
Johari had actually played around its base of the hill as a child, but it wasn't until many years later that he went up to the summit, and found the fort. He developed an idea to turn the fortress into a living war museum. Accompanied by his wife Jenny, they travelled overseas to some 28 countries visiting war museums and doing research, returning to Malaysia in 1995. Johari submitted a paper to the government for permission to open the site as an outdoor museum and got the go ahead in March 2002. The next six months were spent clearing the site. They cleared and restored the artifacts, adding some extra ones. The area was exorcised to remove the spirits and they returned the buildings to their original state.
The result is quite amazing. This mighty fortress has been returned to its former glory. Signposted trails lead around the site and information boards are placed at each of the relics. You can get an idea of how the soldiers lived, see their barracks and cookhouses, even an infirmary. Go into the underground communication rooms and stores, and the more adventurous can explore the narrow dark tunnels. As you walk around and see the pillboxes and canon firing areas you really begin to get a feel that you have stepped back in time. There are some 60 relics to see.
The fortress was designed by Royal British Engineers, and built by convicts who had a death warrant; they were shipped here from overseas, from places such as Gibraltar and India. The barracks were designed according to rank. There was one set for the British officers, others for the British Other Ranks and also the Indian Other Ranks, and one for the Malays. They each had their own cookhouse according to their religion, although the Brits had rations sent in from outside. You can really get a feel of how the men lived in wartime as you walk around their quarters. Their toilet consisted of a bucket secluded in a walled cubicle, with a basic washroom next to it. Underground pipes supplied water from a well.
When the Japanese invaded in August 1941 the site became a prisoner of war camp. From here the prisoners were sent to Kanchanaburi or Singapore, according to their fitness and skills. The fortress became a torture centre. The Japanese tortured many of the local Chinese people, as the latter supported the Chinese who were massacred by the Japanese during the invasion of Nanking in 1937.
The famous executioner Suzuki beheaded people without a blindfold. He would drip blood from the knife into a bottle of brandy and drink it. This was to scare the locals against the Japanese. The locals then ran away to the jungle. Some bodies were dumped, others were taken to the British or Japanese cemetery. Some men had to dig their own grave. You can see the guillotine site as well as the gallows. When the site was cleared a grave was found, and the area was burnt to settle the spirits.
I was fascinated by the underground areas. There are offices and halls, logistic and intelligence centres, ammunition stores, all with ventilation shafts supplying fresh air. The military tunnels are worth exploring if you are not claustrophobic. But be cautioned, they are rather small. Some are body sized, in others you have to crawl, and one is now inhabited by bats. It can be a bit unnerving to be in a small tunnel with bats flying close to you but they soon get out of your way. There is no lighting here, but you can borrow a torch from the ticket office.
An explosives dump was situated 4 storeys underground. There was a pulley to bring up the heavy loads, but the men had to use metal stairs to go up and down to the tunnels. They also had an escape hatch for times of emergency. You can see mortar shells on display at one of the canon firing bays. The six-inch breech guns were used to fire on enemies approaching from the sea. From the site the officers could communicate directly with the Cabinet War Room in London. There is even a submarine-landing bay.
As you walk around, you begin to get some idea of how the largest military complex in Malaysia was run. There are lots of notice boards giving the history of World War II followed by the Japanese invasion in this area. You can imagine how the people lived, trained and fought here. Listen carefully and you can almost imagine the screams of soldiers being tortured or executed here. Many people describe the place as creepy.
The site has been left in its natural state as much as possible, so you walk back in time in a natural environment. There is even a chance of seeing small mammals and birds, maybe even lizards and perhaps a snake. You can enjoy the fresh air and the peaceful surroundings whilst immersing yourself in history.
Whether you are a local or a foreigner, you will be captivated by the adventure of reliving the times gone by.
But watch out for the ghosts.
The Brunei Times
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source URL:
http://www.bt.com.bn/en/en/focus/2007/12/28/ghosts_of_penang_outdoor_war_museum
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