Saturday, May 16, 2009

Pulau Pngkor!

Speaking from my own view point, Pulau Pangkor is a nice place for their food and quietness. Though its not much of an activity in comparison with Pulau Langkawi or Pulau Redang, Pangkor is not equipped with the extreme water sports or beautiful beaches as those there. I would personally give a 7.5/10 for the beaches.

And recently there's a mini airport built on pangkor. The flight is from Berjaya Air and it cost RM428 each which is totally out of the equation.

Pangkor is definately a good place to spend time with friends but not a place to have real extreme beach-ing pleasure as what you would get if you were to be in Langkawi.


Here's some info on Pangkor Island

Getting there

By ferry

The closest mainland settlement is the town of Lumut, an attractive, laid-back place about 7km away. Buses from KL and other places will drop you off at the bus station next to the pier. From the Lumut pier, ferries depart regularly to different parts of Pangkor Island. A single fare is 5 ringgit per person (return is 10 ringgit), and bicycles is free. First departure from Lumut is at 07:00, last at 20:30. First departure from Pangkor is at 06:30, last at 20:30. Departures are at 30-45 minutes intervals, depending on the time of day, and the crossing usually takes no more than 45 minutes.

The are two major ferry stops for the residents in Pangkor island, namely the SPK Jetty in Sungai Pinang Kecil and the Pangkor Jetty in Pangkor Town. Tourists should stop by the second pier, Pangkor Jetty as this is the main township in Pangkor Island and have a closer distance towards various beaches on the west cost of the island.

There third pier, the Pan Pacific Jetty at Teluk Dalam, is exclusively for guests of that hotel.


See
  • Pangkor Town
  • Dutch Fort at Teluk Gudang
  • Fu Lin Gong Temple and Mini Greatwall (福临宫) - but beware: the owner keeps some monkeys in small rusty and dirty cages. The poor animals look very ill and show behavioral disorders. Pure animal cruelty!
  • Batu Bersurat (inscribed stone) - also known as Tiger Rock due to the etching found on this huge granite boulder. The rock measures about 10.7m long and 4.6m wide and stands at 4.3m tall, and today, there is a pavillion built to shelter it. Batu bersurat is located close to the Dutch Fort, in Pangkor Island. The etchings shows the picture of a tiger carrying away a child. There are also two round-shaped leaves, and the letters "If Carlo 1743" and "VOC". The "VOC" probably refers to the Dutch East India Company. There are several theories about the inscription. One sinister version of the tale claimed that the Malays and Bugis kidnapped and murdered a Dutch dignitary's son in 1743, in revenge of the ill treatment of the the Dutch to the locals. When the Dutch looked for the boy, the locals made up a story that they saw the boy was snatched by a tiger. In comemorate to such incident, the Dutch soldiers etched such inscription.
DOs

Beaches

The beaches have clear water and almost white sand. Though the water seems to be clean, the beach is littered with plastic debris and driftwood. The island has some waste management problems, as can be seen in the southern part at the huge waste dump and at the small villages where sewage is discharged into the sea. Some travellers have reported sea lice.

  • Coral Bay - the best west coast beach, just north of Teluk Nipah, with clear emerald-green water due to the presence of limestone. Usually clean and pretty, but there are not to many people swimming there.
  • Pasir Bogak was the first-developed beach and thus the most famous. It is fine for swimming, but gets very crowded during holidays. The beach here has white sand but is rather narrow. It is the largest and most popular beach on the island. The beach is crescent shaped and numerous shady trees provide idyllic picnic spots under the canopy of their lush foliage. The water is shallow and crystal clear, offering endless hours of fun and frolic in the sunlit sea. There are some facilities for boating, fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving (Pulau Sembilan), kayaking, rafting.
  • Teluk Nipah - a wider beach.
  • Teluk Belanga - a wide beach spanning this whole bay. Privatly owned by the Pangkor Island Beach Resort (see below).

Activities

  • Jungle trekking - at Titi Gantung and Teluk Segadas Hill.
  • Motorbike tour - rent a motorbike (from RM 25) and go around the island. The road is good, but on the north side of the island it is quite steep. You can visit the Dutch-Fort, south of Pangkor town, but there is not much of the fort left. Another very nice place is the temple north of Pangkor Town.
  • Bicycle tour - rent a bicycle (from RM 8 a day) and cycle around the island. It takes about 5.5 hours at a leisurely pace. Some uphill and downhill roads are steep (20%). Make sure brake is working before you rent.
  • Taxi tour - pink taxi (from RM 40 per taxi per round) if it started form Teluk Nipah. It will show you airport, stop at seafood junk factory, Big Chinese Temple where you can find very big fish in the pool and mini china great wall and Kota Belanda (Dutch Fort).

Sleep

Budget

  • Delima Chalet (Teluk Nipah)
  • Nazri Nipah Camp (Teluk Nipah) is at the end of the road on the edge of the rainforest with new renovated A-frame huts and a lot of hangmats. 15/20 ringgit weekday/end for 2 pax A-hut with fan, dimmable light and socket. Very friendly place to chill out.
  • Seagull Beach Resort is located 200m apart from the noisy road and beach of Teluk Nipah. Air-con-rooms from 40 ringgit and fan rooms for 30 ringgit. They serve common breakfast. Its the place to go for backpackers. There is free Internet with WLAN. They give long-stay discounts. Free drinking water, a snooker table and table-tennis facilities for stay-in-guests. They are very friendly and helpful. Highly Recommend!

Mid-range

  • Pangkor Bay View Resort at Teluk Nipah beach. Despite the name, this resort doesn't actually have a view of the bay. However, rooms are nice and staff are friendly. Free WiFi which is available in some rooms (if you're close to the router), nice swimming pool and sun lounge area, TVs with astro, all rooms air-con. Discounts are available during quiet times and for staying a few days.
  • Coral Bay Resort at Pasir Bogak beach. Apartments, hotel rooms, penthouses,. Swimming pool, open air jacuzzi, sauna.
  • Puteri Bayu Beach Resort at Pasir Bogak beack. Hotel rooms, chalets, suites. Swimming pool with slides, tennis courts, futsal and street soccer courts.
  • Sea View Hotel at Pasir Bogak beach. Hotel and chalets. Swimming Pool and sports facilities. Hotel is owned and run by Mr Tan, a former Malaysian badminton champion. Excellent Chinese restaurant.
  • Golden Beach Hotel and Resorts offers a very welcome environment and comfortable stay for your holidays. This 3 star pleasant, homely and lovely resort is suitable and fascinate for your vacation.It is located near the prime beach of Pasir Bogak which is approximately 5 minutes away from the jetty of Pangkor Island. Pasir Bogak is the most popular stretch of beach on the island of Pangk

Friday, May 15, 2009

Langkawi!

Langkawi is an archipelago that consists of 99 islands in the Andaman Sea, south of Thailand, 30km off the mainland coast of northwestern Peninsular Malaysia. The islands are a part of Malaysia's Kedah state, but are adjacent to the Thai border. By far the largest of the islands is the eponymous Pulau Langkawi (Langkawi Island) with a population of some 45,000, the only other inhabited island being nearby Pulau Tuba.
Tourists flock here for the delightful beaches, superb resorts and refreshing nature-based activities. The best beaches include Pantai Cenang, Burau Bay, Pantai Kok and Pantai Datai.


GETTING THERE
But many still prefer the more adventurous crossing by fast air-conditioned boats from Kuala Perlis or Kuala Kedah on the mainland. Some even take the special ferry services from Penang Island. The usual jump-off points are from Kuala Perlis (approx. 45 mins.) and Kuala Kedah (approx 90 mins.). The one-way fare from Kuala Kedah is RM23.00.

From Penang to Langkawi - Ferry trips average 3 hours each way. From Penang, 8.15 am and 8.30 am ferry trips but ask if the ferry stops at Pulau Payar to pick/drop passengers. Avoid the Pulau Payar one as it saves about 15-20 mins. From Langkawi, the ferry trips to Penang are at 2.30pm and 5.30pm. Price for return trip (you can have an open booking for the trip back - confirm while you are on Langkawi island later) is RM105 per person. You can park your car at the parking space in front of the Penang Clock Tower for RM12 for the 1st day and RM6 for subsequent days. It is safe to do so - guarded at night by the Chinese who take the parking fee from you.



DOs
Islands Hopping - For about RM40 (about USD12) you can join the islands hopping. You will be brought to several islands around Langkawi, usually the Pregnant Maiden Island and Pulau Beras Basah. You will also have the chance to feed the eagles along the way. The island hopping takes about 6 hours. This is a very popular and sought after service, inquire from the hotel. They have pick-up service from your hotel.
Birdwatching - there are over 200 species of birds to spot.
Take the Cable Car to the summit of Gunung Mat Cincang at 700m to walk across the sky bridge and have a spectacular view of the islands including neighbouring Thailand. Valuable Trip. RM25 per adult. Includes a very steep section which is spectacular both going up and coming down. Doesn't operate in bad weather, so call 04-9594225 to check if they are open.
Countryside Biking. You may rent bicycles in many of the hotels. Expect to pay between RM10 to RM30 per day
Sailing- popular activity with first-class marinas providing berth for many international yatchs.
Jungle trekking.
Mangrove Cruise. They have special group tour to the mangrove area. Ask around the hotel you are staying, mostly will offer between RM60 to RM100 per person. They will provide English speaking guide. Even if the guide is not English speaking, you will probably will share the travel with many Malaysians who has decent English. Ask them nicely and they will help.
Mangrove River Safari & Dinner.
Mangrove Kayaking.
Nature Walk.

Scuba diving and snorkeling around Pulau Payar Marine Park(20km south of Langkawi) - there is a viewing platform for relaxation between underwater adventures.
Feed the sharks.
See the island from a bird's eye.
Walk above the clouds
- walking across the suspension bridge is scary but great fun.
Go-Kart - Morac Int. Go-Kart, near the airport. RM34 for 10mins.
Underwater World 604-955 6100. Every day 10AM-6PM. Try to catch all the feeding time (be there by 10.45am)
Feed the Eagles - near Tanjung Rhu. Wonderful display of a large number of eagles being fed was provided by a small and inexpensive boat tour. Take movies and not still photos, as the eagles swoop down very quickly.
Relax on one of many beaches!.
Airtrekking-flying through Langkawi's rainforest!.
Seven Wells (Telaga Tujuh) - This waterfall is named after the seven natural pools along its path. Legend has it that fairies used to come down to the pools to bathe and frolic. There are 2 viewing areas at Telaga Tujuh. The lower area is at the base of the waterfall and the higher area is where the 7 pools are. Be warned, to get to the 7 pools, you would have to climb 300+ steps which can get quite slippery when wet. As with most Malaysian tourist sites, the toilet facilities are not maintained and rubbish is strewn everywhere.
Play Smart-Free playland for kids at Harbour Park.
Koh lipe The only inhabited island in the Tarutao National marine park - Koh Lipe is a small island about 2km long in the Andaman sea, which is on the west coast of Thailand. The only inhabited island in the Tarutao National marine park, Koh Lipe is part of Satun province near Thailand's southern border just a short speed boat ride from Langkwai. The islands around Koh lipe offer some of the best dive and snorkeling sites around


Eat
Budget

Restoran Fatimah near the Kampung Tok Senik Resort on the road to Ulu Melaka. Try this for really authentic Malay food. Their lunch spread is amazing - so amazing that they attract bus loads of Malaysian visitors. If you are bent on trying things local this is the place. Just enjoy the food and leave your cultural baggage and complaints behind as you will be in a totally different ambiance but friendly, nevertheless.
Rafi's Place is a rustic shack sandwiched between Restoran Aliah's and Tomato Nasi Kandar on Pantai Cenang. No visible signboard either but ask around and you will find Rafi's. Locals come here for the nasi lemak (RM3) and the local tea and coffee (RM1) which are good by the way. Rafi is a Penangite but has been on the island since 1988 so he considers himself very much local. Ask him for recommendations and he'll happily tell you. Ample parking space in front of his 'shack'. Good ambience especially early mornings.
AddaMaya Café on Pantai Cenang (near Haji Ramli's; or opposite Nadia's Comfort Inn) is a small, cosy place for meals and coffee. The chef can whip up great meals - from local dishes to western fast food easily (and in that little cabin of his). Problem is, it can get a bit dusty as it is located fronting the main road. Locals like to come here for good food at reasonable prices.
The rest are upper class restaurant which doesn't seems affordable to us.

Stay In
Budget
AB Motel is one of the many budget hotels at Pantai Cenang. Charges can be from RM100 for a beach side room to RM60 with one on the other side of the road but with a balcony and RM50 for a room without one.
Palms Guest house is a great place to stay within budget specially for those who spends most of the time at the beach ( beach is only a 2 minute walk-on the p=other side of the road). They have 8 rooms,4 with ACs ( RM 65 per night) and 4 non ACs ( RM 45 per night). very clean and has a nice touch of homely atmosphere.
shirin home stay
New Champagne Pantai Cenang rates start at RM40, which gets you an air-con room with double bed, and private bathroom (hot shower, cold sink, western toilet). No minibar, Reasonable value, clean albeit not spotless.
Gekko Guesthouse is a friendly and nice place on Cenang beach. It's about half way down the beach and on the land side of the beach road. Rooms with fan for RM50 and dorm accommodation for 10. They have a bar there as well where you can buy beer and get breakfast.
GeoPark Hotel, Best Rates for only RM 22.73 , The world’s 52nd Geopark and the first in Southeast Asia, according to the UNESCO Global Network of Geoparks – guests can once again commune with nature.

MID RANGE
Awana Porto Malai - a charming holiday resort destination and is having good view. Rates from RM145. Be good to rent car or motorbike, as this is located in the southern tip, which offers a quiet and private stay. Got a very fun and colourful swimming pool with fountains and slide for kids.
Bayview Langkawi,
, is a high-rise hotel located in the heart of the commercial district of downtown Kuah, which is a mere 5 minutes from the jetty where ferry boats ply to and from the mainland, and only 25 minutes from the airport. The hotel has 282 rooms and rates start from RM175 for a Superior room (weekday).
Beach Garden Resort
a small, German managed insider resort right on the beach of Langkawi's Pantai Chenang. Short ways, clean rooms, small pool, ice cold draft beer and imported German beer. One of the best reataurants on the island. Cosy athmosphare.
Best Star Beach Resort, on Pantai Cenang. Clean, comfortable and friendly. It is located just next to the AB Motel, which is best avoided.
Eaglebay Hotel Langkawi, tel. 604-966 8585/6019-4499 880, facing the biggest park and the longest beach in town. 15 minutes walking distance from Kuah Jetty.
Federal Villa, further up Pantai Cenang just at the end of Pantai Tengah. Part of the Holiday Villa Resort. Pleasantly priced beginning at about RM180 or so it is a brick and mortar complex.
Helang Hotel
, next to the International Airport. This sister hotel to the nearby Langkasuka Resort offers 218 rooms with rates from RM155 for the Deluxe King room.
Kampung Tok Senik Resort, located along the road to Ulu Melaka. For a great rustic and rural ambiance try this full-fledged resort with a difference. No beaches here but a truly green surrounding.
Langkasuka Beach Resort, Kuala Muda. The closest resort to the airport and sister to the Helang Hotel, this 215-room property has its own private beach. Rates start from as low as RM109 nett on promotional packages.
Mutiara Burau Bay
, Burau Bay. This sprawling resort is nestled in the tropical splendor of the rainforest. The Mutiara has four restaurants as well as 150 cabanas and rates start from RM380 for a single Garden-View Superior Cabana.The beach here is way better than Berjaya's beach. There's a long stretch and plenty of space for you to stake your own private spot. The Seashell Beach and Cafe is a nice little place you can while away the evening with a couple of drinks and a pretty good live band. Go early to get a table as it can fill up pretty quickly after dinner!
Sandy Beach Resort, Pantai Cenang. Has been there for quite sometime. Rather sprawling... straddling both sides of the Pantai Cenang road. The beach-facing rooms are most popular. The regular beachside barbeque is great.
Sunset Beach Resort,
on Pantai Tengah/Pantai Cenang. This is indeed a great place where you will find solitude and that much sought after quiet as the place is tucked within a narrow niche away from the bustle of the Cenang thoroughfare.
Bella Vista Hotel, Best Rates starts at RM 100.00 , The hotel itself, resting on the windswept seafront of the tropical paradise that is Langkawi, Malaysia, is a sight to behold.
Tropical Resort on Pantai Tengah, opposite Sun Café. Quiet and clean chalets which go for RM80 a night. Owned by Musa and his German wife, Laila. Rooms come with fan, aircond, attached bathroom (hot and cold shower) and two single beds and TV. You can walk right down to the beach as the chalets are but a minute's walk away. Convenience shops, Malay style eateries, car rentals, stylish cafés, spa and all the amenities you need are just a walk away. Long term stays at discounted rates.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Pulau Sibu!

This is just for the information. NO DECISION HAD BEEN MADE.

The map to Pulau Sibu


The beaches are blanketed with soft golden sands against the enticing crystal clear water, and on the offshore awaits the unique multifarious colors of coral reefs with it's rich marine life. You can ride the waves of the South China Sea by wind surfing or sailing.


Take a plunge into the exciting blue waters and experience the wilderness of the underwater world. Or you can always opt for a game of beach volleyball and just relax under the shady trees with a cooling breeze and the gentle lapping of waves.

Pulau Sibu hosts a range of outdoor games and sea activities, which includes swimming, conoeing, wind surfing, volleyball, Frisbee action, cycling, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, jungle trekking - just to name a few.
For those who just adore fishing, come and experience "Kelong fishing" where you will be taken by boat to house on stilts in the ocean. Here, you can step into the lives of these real fishermen and enjoy the simplicity of it all. If you're looking for a \bit more excitement, our deep sea fishing is the answer. Who knows what you might haul in? Just about anything and everything happens here at Twin Beach Resort.

For the kids, we've got a safe playground for them and also lots of open space to run wild on!
So, what more could a person need?? At Pulau Sibu, it is your perfect sanctuary. A Fresh and natural hideaway from the hustle and bustle of city living.

More description on other places coming soon~!

Friday, May 8, 2009

Rat Dissection in Pictures!

cute ma?blur.. as usual looking blur
what you staring at?!

Mendel and his friend
Last moment of fun..?
The class on the first day
Han Kee the intruder!
Sam's masterpiece
Meng Hua and Kah Hui
All in the name of science
Wai Kien
KY
Meng Hua~
Kah Hui~
Yue Fen

Jenny Pig xD
Gregor Mendel Lim Jun Yang
The thrash bag
Kar Thye
Tung~!
sleepy sam?
Hon Kent!
The rat's reproduction system
Nis~
WK
The Brain
cruel shirley
Yee Ling :FTW?
Li Wah~


KY


Dennis






the rat's balls =)






LOL





=)