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01 Body Temperature Screening All travellers must undergo body temperature screening before entering the terminal building. If your body temperature exceeds 37.5 C, you will not be allowed to proceed. Do check on the requirements for any additional documents or medical tests i.e., COVID-19 swab test that is required before arriving at the airport. O
he resurgence of the COVID-19 cases early this year has Tresulted in the reinstatement of the ban on interstate
travel. However, the public are still allowed to move about if they have the necessary documentation and justification for their travel. Thus, it is crucial for travellers to adhere strictly to all safety measures during their journey including scanning the MySejahtera QR code before entering any premises. As the main airport operator in Malaysia, Malaysia Airports has always prioritised the safety and security of the airport as they look forward to hosting joyful connections for all travellers that passes through its gates. Hence, the implementation of strict safety guidelines at all airports will ensure safe and seamless travel experience for all guests.
02 Contactless Airport Experience As part of the digital transformation efforts, Malaysia Airports has deployed face recognition technology and contactless security screening at checkpoints to minimise physical contact during your journey throughout the airports.
03 Sneeze Guard Protector To further ensure your safety, sneeze guard protectors have been installed at the airports as an additional safety barrier.
04 Physical Distancing Markers Keeping a safe distance from others is key to breaking the chain of COVID-19 infection. As such, you will find physical distancing markers throughout the airports to help you maintain a 1-metre physical distancing from others.
07 UV Escalator Handrail Steriliser The installation of UV handrail sterilisers at the escalators is to ensure the safety and peace of mind of the passengers. The device acts to eliminate germs and disinfect the handrails 24/7.
06
05
Good Personal Hygiene
Ultraviolet Chambers (UVC) at the Washrooms Airport washrooms are equipped with UVC device to interrupt the transmission of airborne infectious pathogens through the technology of ultraviolet. It is also worth noting that they always maintain a strict cleaning schedule for the facilities throughout all airports.
Wash your hands with soap and water, or hand sanitiser frequently to reduce the risk of infection. Hand sanitisers can be easily found throughout the airports.
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08 Go Cashless It is highly recommended for you to go cashless and utilise the contactless payment to minimise physical interaction. Malaysia Airports premises accept major credit cards and online payment applications. Your body temperature will be screened prior to entering any of the retail outlets.
Automated UV Disinfection Tunnel at Baggage Conveyor Belt All arriving bags will now be sanitised automatically as it passes through the conveyor system. This will mitigate the risk from infectious airborne microbial contaminants not only for passengers but also the ground staff handling the baggage.
We hope to see the decline of COVID-19 daily cases for the interstate movement ban to be lifted and start to travel again soon! In the meantime, do not forget to adhere to all the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and safety guidelines provided at all airports and together break the chain of COVID-19 infection.
Gaya Special Feature
It’s Time to #LepakMalaysiaLah! X
If you think satisfying your wanderlust is only possible when you travel abroad, think again. You might be surprised by the endless variation of attractions available within Malaysia. Get better acquainted with your very own turf by playing tourist at domestic destinations that you probably haven’t been to for many years, or better yet, take time to traverse the road less travelled and unearth the local hidden gems. With that in mind, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) collaborates with Gaya Travel Magazine to come up with #LepakMalaysiaLah programme that aims to reinvigorate the domestic travel scene in Malaysia, especially after being hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The programme brings a group of digital content creators to selected states namely Pahang, Perak, Perlis and Negeri Sembilan in search for unique places at home. Check out the posts relating to #LepakMalaysiaLah on social media platforms for travel inspirations!
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Contents
ISSUE 16.1 WE ARE NOW AVAILABL E
ONLINE
Cover Illustration by Mohd Asyraff Bin Abd Rajak .......... Photo By Azreen Yunus #RINDUSABAH
www.issuu.com/gayatravel
Departments
014. Editorial Jottings
Gaya Special Feature
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030. 10 On 10 With Islamic Tourism Centre 086. The Philosophy Behind Terengganu Woodcarvings 096. Let’s Explore The Extraordinary Kelantan 098. Top Places To Visit In Johor 106. 9 Must-Do In Seremban 108. 9 Must-Visit Selangor’s New Tourism Attractions In 2021 114. 10 Activities To Do For A Fun Trip In Kenyir 120. Administratively Beautiful Putrajaya 125. #Rindusabah
GAYA Traveller
021. The Little Things We Miss...
Photo Contest winner
Destinations
034. Itinerary For The Adventurous: Lenggong, Gerik, & Royal Belum 042. Trip To Teluk Intan & Bagan Datuk With Tourism Perak 052. Terengganu: Of Beaches And Beyond 062. ‘Kita Ke Kampung’ 3.0: Celebrating Handicraft Heroes 072. Rentak Selangor 5.0: Combing The Threads Of Selangor’s Musical Cultures 080. Perlis: Small State, Big Experience 088. Taiping, A Town With Everlasting Heritage Gems
Gaya Dine & Café
108. Kafe Kleptokrat: The Epitome Of Resilience
Hotels & Resorts
108. Sutera Sanctuary Lodges Kinabalu Park
Congratulations
Yang Mulia Tengku Shamsulbhari AlHaj Ibni Yang Amat Mulia Tengku Azman Shah AlHaj S.MK, J.P
on your appointment as
The Patron & Chairman of Gaya Travel Magazine
Our team looks forward to working closely with you in all of our upcoming endeavours. We also wish you success in all of your present and future undertakings.
Digital Illustration by Rain Hamzah (Facebook: Rain Hamzah
Editorial Jottings
After over one year of having our travelling restricted to only domestic destinations due to the movement control order (MCO) and the closure of borders as a way to contain the spread of COVID-19, Gaya Travel team members are now itching to travel far and wide again, especially when many governments throughout the world have begun inoculating their citizens. All of us have already signed up to get vaccinated (just so that we can travel again) and are currently waiting for our turn, which might be any time between May 2021 and February 2022 (let’s pray we don’t have to wait THAT long). We can’t wait to get the chance to fly across the seas again, even if it means to only visit Sabah, Sarawak and the Federal Territory of Labuan unhindered, all located on Malaysian Borneo. And we can’t wait to travel internationally too, especially to the countries neighbouring Malaysia, which we love to explore to break the monotony of our daily lives. Truth be told, it feels like it has been ages since we last set foot there...
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But don’t get us wrong - we are always grateful for the chance to uncover inspiring destinations and attractions within Peninsular Malaysia that we would otherwise have overlooked, if it weren’t for the border closure. Since we are based in Klang Valley, we are lucky that the surrounding state of Selangor - despite its developed status - is still home to serene traditional villages inhabited by artisans who produce unique crafts and items (page 62), including entrancing cultural performances (page 72). On the same note, Perak - the state adjacent to Selangor - offers immersive experiences when travellers discover Lenggong, Gerik and Belum (page 34), Teluk Intan (page 42), and Taiping (page 88). Travellers who have a penchant for beaches, laidback lifestyle, traditions and craftsmanship will find Terengganu (page 52) mesmerising, while those who prefer paths less travelled can start jotting the underrated Perlis - Malaysia’s smallest state - in their bucket list (page 80). If you were seeking for ideas on how to savour an aspect of Sabah, the article on Sutera Sanctuary Lodges Kinabalu Park (page 129) might help. In short, there remains much to see in Malaysia, therefore it is best for travellers who are stuck within its borders to take advantage by learning more about this wondrous country that leaves us all the better for it, experience-wise and emotional-wise. Be sure to continue following Gaya Travel for more updates on what to see and do in Malaysia, besides other destinations, in our printed issues and social media platforms. See you next time. Stay safe and healthy everybody! JUHAN KAMARUDDIN@JEREMY KHALIL
Email your comments to jeremy@gayatravel.com.my
O F F I C I A L W E B S I T E www.gayatravel.com.my S U B S C R I P T I O N , E D I TO R I A L A N D A DV E RT I S I N G E N Q U I R I E S A D V E R T I S I N G E N Q U I R I E S advertising@gayatravel.com.my | +6 03 7972 0952 E D I T O R I A L E N Q U I R I E S editor@gayatravel.com.my E D I T O R I A L O F F I C E Suite 3-57, The Scott Garden, Jalan Klang Lama, 58000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | +6 03 7972 0952
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ESCAPE + EXPLORE + EXPERIENCE
and friends
Te x t & I m a g e s b y I RN EE N O RRI S & I RI NA N O RRI S FB | TW | IG | YOU TUBE @gayatraveller #gayatraveller
Special Issue
Handsome locals! ... Shad
London! ... Nuar
Basking under the sun on a tropical island ... Ed
The chance to escape from the humdrum of day-to-day life ... Jeremy Camping under the stars ... Hasif
Heavy bag-packs & train rush...to the mountains
... Adela
Winter
... Anas 021
Life Lessons Freedom
... Irina
Heart pounding adventures & life changing experiences ... Aan
“To all visitors, Welcome to Malaysia, To all Malaysians,Welcome Home”
... Irnee
Views from the cockpit!
... Pilot Parker
MAS Pilot Parker has been travelling with GAYA Traveller since 2015 @gtxpilotparker
Macleod Island, Mergui Archipelago, Myanmar
First issue of Gaya Travel Nusantara 2005 : Sabah
Gaya Travel Nusantara with a new logo Issue 2.4
GAYA Traveller First article in Issue 3.5
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2021 marks our magazine’s 16th year in publication. GAYA Traveller has been part of Gaya Travel Magazine since 2008; that’s 13 years of sharing snippets of our domestic and overseas travels! We hope to share more travel tips and information for many years to come. However, at time of writing, the world’s travel industry is still at a standstill and has been so since March 2020. With the Covid-19 vaccine finally being rolled out and the Government of Malaysia able to secure vaccine supplies for all of its citizens, there is a ray of hope for the travel industry. As we sat down and think about what to share in our first column for 2021, we realised that it has been more than a year since we last travelled abroad. Like other fellow Malaysian travellers, we took our previously carefree travelling life for granted. Gone were the days when we excitedly decide on the region to be explored, the anticipation of getting the best price
GAYA Traveller Fun Facts :
GAYA Traveller team made it on the cover of Gaya Travel Nusantara Issue 8.2
» 59 features to date » 22 features on domestic & 37 on international destination » 5 features on Taiwan » 5 features on Sabah » Dato’ Sheila Majid is the only Malaysian Singer that has been on our cover- we discovered Belum Rainforest together!
Since nothing is for certain yet, we asked friends of GAYA Traveller about their take on the current travel situation.
for flights, the furious googling to get the itinerary together, the sleepless nights as the travel dates gets nearer… these are just the tip of the iceberg. As the yearning to travel continues well into 2021, we thought it would be nice to reminisce and put together a list of things we miss now since we are practically grounded at home due to the Movement Control Order 2.0 imposed by the Malaysian government to contain the spread of COVID-19.
We asked each of them: 1.What do you miss most about travelling? 2.Where is the first place you would head to once international travel is allowed? Looks like they are missing what we have been missing too... May we all get to reach our international travel destination wish sooner than expected! * Feedback from Friends of GAYA Traveller are in the blue boxes *
What GAYA Traveller misses the most about Travelling… Admittedly, we are not the devil may care type of travellers. All of our travels are meticulously planned, discussed, thoroughly researched and definitely booked well in advance. Being ladies who appreciate comfort at a good price, we know good bargain hunting begins early! Our travel preparation starts as early as a year before the intended date of departure.
» We miss the airport dramas!
We have a love-hate relationship with airports, especially when it comes to connecting flights. There are countless times we had to run to the next boarding gate, located at the other end of the airport! Lesson learned: allow a minimum of 4 hours in between flights.
Some countries require travel visas for Malaysians. The most nerve-wrecking one was to America back in 2011. Being Muslim ladies wearing headscarves, we were unsure whether it was a good idea to visit the country post 9/11.
The Haad Tien Beach Resort
» We miss the preparation!
» We miss applying for travel visas!
Wan Aliazar Wan Abd Halim @wan_aliazar Professional Emcee, TV Host 1. Everything! The journey to
the destination, trying new food, meeting new people, adjusting to new bed, counting foreign currency… I normally travel to recharge myself after finishing one assignment. 2. Indonesia and Thailand are my favourite countries and I call them my second homes.
GAYA Traveller Recommends: The Haad Tien Beach Resort at Thian Og Bay (Shark Bay), Koh Tao, Thailand. @haadtien www. https://www.haadtien.com
China Airlines’ Trail Mix READ ONLINE: Garut, The Road Less Travelled. Garut, Indonesia Issue 7.5
But we persevered, and the whole interview process was not at all what we imagined it to be. It was friendly and relaxed over-the-counter conversation. Another memorable one was when we were asked about our visa while checking in for our flight to Dubai at Muscat Airport, Oman. Honestly, it never crossed our minds that we needed to apply visa to Dubai, and never bothered to check beforehand. It was truly a lesson well learnt for us, to always remember to check if visa is required to every country we want to visit. It is a good thing that for Malaysians, visa is granted by the United Arab Emirates immigration upon arrival!
» We miss hearing in-flight announcements!
We know we are not alone on this; we always look forward to hearing “Please be seated, we are ready for take-off ”. Our most favourite announcement of all is by Malaysia Airlines, especially “ And to all Malaysians, welcome home” after returning from somewhere far.
» We miss in-flight meals! Ghaz Abu Bakar @ghazabubakar TV producer & Director 1. What I miss the most about travelling is the smell of the airport! And of course the “overseas feeling”, being in different atmosphere and all.
2. I would love to go back to my favourite country, Japan!
We have had our fair share of travel comfort while travelling long haul; we have flown from Economy Class right up to Business Class and First Class. We love it when being handed out the menu card, which gives us something to look forward to during the long hours. Our favourite snacks are Malaysia Airlines’ peanuts, China Airlines’ Trail Mix, Turkish Airways’ Turkish Delights and Oman Air’s pies. We would always ask for apple juice as it helps to settle our stomachs throughout the journey.
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» We miss in-flight entertainment!
We have been taking long haul flights since early 1990s, therefore we have experienced the shared big screen where we have no choice but to just watch whatever is shown or just sleep! It was indeed a refreshing change when the economy class started to offer individual screens, and now we can even choose from the extensive list of available entertainment.
» We miss looking down the window and see clouds!
This can only happen when you opt for the window seat. To our dismay, this doesn’t happen often enough! But when it does, we try to gaze out the window and take as many photos of the beautiful clouds and landscapes as we could!
» We miss the long queues at Customs Clearance / Immigration!
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Customs clearance seems to last a long time at any popular airport! What do we do as soon as we join the queue? We search for free wi-fi to send a report home saying we have safely landed. It is nice to people-watch during the long wait too. Once an immigration officer asked for help if we could become an interpreter for a Malaysian Chinese elderly lady who cannot speak English well. Thankfully, she spoke Bahasa Malaysia, and we managed to assist her at the immigration.
» We miss getting our passports stamped!
It is one of the simple joys of life: checking out the freshly acquired stamp as soon as we say thank you to the immigration officer. We would be elated if the officer did a nice job by stamping it neatly and orderly, and irritated if the stamping were done sloppily and randomly!
» We miss the nervewrecking wait at the luggage carrousel!
The anticipation of seeing our luggage on the carousel is enough to cause panic attack at times, especially when the announcement on last luggage comes up and your luggage is nowhere to be seen!
» We miss the excitement of walking out the arrivals gate!
Chef Norman Musa @chefnormanmusa - TV Chef, Tutor, Author, Lecturer, Entrepreneur 1. I miss the excitement that hits
you a few days before travelling for holiday, the days when you picture yourself in the destination where you get to enjoy and breathe the air, interact with the people and relish local delicacies. 2. My favourite Redang Island will be the holiday I will first book once we can travel again. I want to travel back to Malaysia from The Netherlands, swim in the crystal clear sea water and enjoy the beautiful sunset!
We enjoy both independent and hosted trips. There is a different level of excitement and stomach churns whenever we walk out the arrivals gate. Of course, it is always nice to see your name on a placard held by the host and you could sigh a relief knowing you are in good hands. But nothing beats the adrenaline rush when trying to figure out your bearings in a foreign city yourself!
» We miss living minimally!
Believe it or not, we could survive living out of a small suitcase for three to four weeks! Our secret of travelling light is only pack 3 sets of clothing. We have been living by this rule for all of our trips; be it for a three-day or a three-month trip. Since we only bring three sets of clothing, we need access to a laundry facility every other day.
Good to know:
Chef Norman Musa, who is currently residing in Netherlands, actively promotes Malaysian food to the European market and beyond via his social media platforms. Norman & Friends Live Cooking Demo is held every Thursday. Recently, his virtual travel tour, Travel Cook Eat! takes viewers to Penang and Melaka to discover interesting places and delicious culinary delights at the comfort of your home.
Deanna Yusoff @deannayusoff_official Actress 1. The different seasons, the food, the scenery and people.
2. Malaysia!!! I need to go home first!
Mostar Bridge, Bosnia and Herzegovina READ ONLINE: Chasing Auroras Iceland Issue 12.6
GAYA Traveller Tips:
Make it a habit to take a photo of your luggage before Check-in and the tag is printed to the correct destination. It happened to us before on our Palestine, Jordan & Umra trips; our luggages decided to stay in Jordan. IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, YOU HAVE A PHOTO OF YOUR LUGGAGE!
Shafik Jaafar @shafik_jaafar Medical Doctor 1. I think it’s the amount of
freedom, the break from routine. Travel offers us an easy escape, a change of scene that recharges our senses. Meeting new people, experiencing new cultures and making new memories! 2. Peru
Chefchaouen, Morocco READ ONLINE: The Handsome Highlands of Scotland Issue 9.6
We love Taipei’s Taoyuan International Airport luggage security procedure; we must ensure our luggages entered the baggage handling carousel system safely before going into the departure hall.
» We miss our quirky hunts!
We each have our own favourite hunts to keep our travels amusing and fun. Irnee hunts for doors, while Irina hunts for George Clooney! Friends would often send us photos of beautiful doors and handsome George Clooney too whenever they travel. Besides these two, we also try to hunt for more serious stuff like the UNESCO World Heritage sites and Kilometre Zero.
» We miss not sleeping in our bed!
As much as we love our own bed at home, travelling allows us to experience the different levels of comfort. Extra fluffy pillows and thick duvets are something to look forward to at the end of a long adventure-filled day. Nice decors and facilities are much appreciated too. This is exactly why we travel: to live outside our comfort zone and gather inspiration as much as we can.
» We miss wearing jackets!
Our favourite seasons to travel are spring and autumn. Not too freezing cold and not too warm either. Nice weather to be wearing jackets!
Fiqrie @fiqrieisme Professional Emcee, Radio DJ/TVHost
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1. The adventure, the air you
breathe in, the food, the different cultures, the anticipation of experiencing everything new! 2. I was supposed to go to Japan for a homestay experience last December in a UNESCO Heritage Site. I also was supposed to be in Dubai for work. Hopefully those two materialise again.
Dina Zaman @tdinazaman suggests three travel fiction books: The Anarchy: The East India Company, Corporate Violence, and the Pillage of an Empire William Dalrymple
......... My Twenty-five Years in Provence: Reflections on Then and Now Peter Mayle
......... Beauty Is A Wound Eka Kurniawan
» We miss learning new skils!
READ ONLINE: Journey of the Hujjaj Our Hajj Journey Issue 10.1
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Älmhult Station, Sweden; 12 min walk to IKEA Museum
» We miss the train rides and train stations! We love train stations with beautiful architecture and consider the train to be our most frequent mode of transportat when travelling between countries and cities. We feel that the train offers more comfort and space compared to the bus. One of the most unique train stations we had encountered was Madrid’s Atocha Station; home to more than 300 turtles! However, we heard that the turtles got evacuated in 2018 as they were getting uncontrollable. We love scenic train rides the most, especially the ones we boarded when travelling across Switzerland and the Scandinavian countries – downright breathtaking! The only thing we hate about train rides was the need to carry our luggage up and down the trains. Most of all, we miss hearing “Mind the gap” on repeat!
Dato’ Sheila Majid @sheilamajidofficial Professional Singer 1. I miss going to countries that
have rich Islamic history and look at the culture. I am not a shopping person. The last thing I’ll do is go shopping (while on holiday). Because to me when I travel to other countries, I would like to learn more about their traditions, culture and history instead of the going to the shops, unless I am going to go buy stuff that are uniquely authentic to those countries. I love to go sightseeing. That I miss the most. 2. I would like to go to Mecca. I really miss that place. I love going there, with all the chaos and the hurry burry and not getting enough sleep. I feel a strong sense of fulfilment and calmness being close to a place where our prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was born. I feel safe and I don’t have the word to describe it. I just feel peaceful there.
Dayang Nurfaizah @dayangsayangkamu Professional Singer 1. Time out and relaxation, the way it slows down things and helps you appreciate every moment. 2. Korea
We go for classes when time permits, for example learning about choux pastries in Paris, cooking Thai cuisine in Bangkok, making floating paper lanterns and making aromatherapy pillows in Taiwan. Interacting with locals and fellow travellers is the best way to learn about other culture and their people.
» We miss driving in a foreign country!
We love road tripping and have done a few throughout the years. Driving on a different side of the road can be harrowing at first, but after a while you get used to it. A big plus is that you can move at your own pace and there is no need to tow around your heavy luggage!
Latest Music Releases: Album: Berlagu Dayang Nurfaizah
......... Single: Ketika Cinta Ingin Dimengerti Sheila Majid
......... Single: Sendiri Anuar Zain
Anuar Zain @anuarzainnetwork Professional Singer 1. The preparation before
» We miss going for concerts, theatres and the various television & movie shooting locations! We love entertainment; be it in the form of music, movies or theatres. Since we live in Johor Bahru, we frequently go to Singapore to catch various shows like NKOTB, Michael Jackson, and even Malaysia’s very own Anuar Zain, just to name a few. We also managed to get tickets to Celine Dion’s comeback show in Las Vegas back in 2011. Sheila Majid’s 2016 concert in Jakarta was memorable too! Apart from entertainment, we go for sporting events like the Gland Slam Tennis series (Australian Open and Wimbledon) and a National Basketball Association (NBA) match in New York.
» We miss London!
As whiny as it may sound, London has been our favourite base whenever we travel; it provides easy access to many countries and regions worth exploring. Hence we will always keep an eye out for cheap flights to London from Kuala Lumpur before deciding on our holiday destination. Since we go to London annually, we do have a standard list of things to do while in the UK. It has somewhat become a tradition for us.
travelling, going to the airport, going through immigration, arrival and the feeling that you are on a different display than what you are used to (home country). 2. Anywhere, as long as I get the tickets and going to the airport! Maybe to Kent, York and a few UK countryside destinations.
Good to know:
Kent is called the Garden of England and it is very close to Dover ferry port to Calais, France.
GAYA Traveller Recommends: » Solley’s Ice Cream Parlour » Castle Farm Lavendar Hill, near Shoreham » Scotney Castle, near Lamberhurst
Art Fazil @art_fazil Professional Singer 1. I miss waking up in an unfamiliar environment. Celine Dion Concert : The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.
2. London
And most of all:
» We miss eating all the yummy local food! We are Malaysians after all, therefore we live to eat! Wherever we are in the world, food is always one of the highlights. Being Muslims, we try our best to search for halal options before embarking on our journey. Other than eating local food, we also love going to cake shops and bakeries to ogle at all the beautiful pastries and desserts!
Novak Djokovic Wimbledon 2013 027
READ ONLINE: Idyllic IRELAND in 9 Days Issue 13.3
Once international travel is allowed, where will GAYA Traveller head to? As we patiently wait for our turn to obtain the Covid-19 vaccine, our future travel dreams continue. Though we are eager to get our passports stamped, we must be mindful and careful too. We love being in big cities and board intercity buses and trains to satisfy our curiosities. However, it is a different world we are living in now. Covid-19 is still at large. Slowly, our travel appetites are evolving to suit the current situation we are in. Until Covid-19 is safely gone and we can behave like it was 2018, we need a new game plan! Most famous churros in Madrid; Chocolatería San Ginés
Chef Adu Amran @chefaduamran Celebrity Chef 1. What I miss most about travelling is the opportunity to discover different cultures, people and at the same time, reflect upon myself. I’m a lone traveller most times, so I find tranquillity and chaos when moving about. 2. India. The last time I was there was 10 years ago. Since then, I have been going back to the UK, France and South East Asia. Don’t get me wrong, I love it there in the UK or France, and South East Asia especially Indonesia; but I miss India so much. I feel spiritually connected to India and Indonesia.
Trdelnik; Czech sweet pastry roll
We would love to go on The Ghan Expedition between Darwin and Adelaide! @journeybeyondrail
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Good to know: READ ONLINE : OPULENT CHARM Part 3 Agra & Jaipur, India Issue 6.4
Halal food is sometimes hard to access while travelling. There are plenty ready-to-eat cooking paste available in the market now and we love Chef Adu’s ADU SUGAR premium cooking paste!
Pojie @pojiegraphy Travel Blogger & Content Creator 1. Hearing foreign languages and tasting different food.
Mouthwatering patisserie at Harrods Roastery & Bake Hall
2. Islands in Indonesia. To relax, enjoy the beauty and catch up with my friends there!
We have thought and discussed long and hard about our first international destination once it is allowed. We agreed that it should be somewhere not too crowded, and social distancing can be achieved easily. Perhaps somewhere that is not too far and preferably with a good COVID-19 containment track-record. Singapore, Taiwan or Australia seem to be safe choices for us. We have been to these countries multiple times and we are familiar with the people and places, therefore we can better plan our trip and enjoy the destination more. Fast paced city-hopping may no longer be suitable for the time being. Let’s opt for longer stays and lesser inter-city movements by treading the paths less travelled and discover hidden local gems instead! How does stargazing in the Australian outback sound?
Gaya Special Feature
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10 on 10 with I s l a m i c To u r i s m C e n t r e “Islamic tourism” and “Muslim-friendly accommodation” are becoming familiar terms in the tourism industry space to reflect the growing Muslim tourist market globally. The Muslim tourist market is huge with unique needs when it comes to travelling. That’s why Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) has taken a great interest in championing the development of Islamic tourism to cater to this high-value market segment.
To learn more, we spoke to ITC Director General, Dato’ Dr. Mohmed Razip Hasan on this subject. 1. Are there many Muslims who travel? Well, before the pandemic, when borders were still open, we were seeing a lot of Muslim tourists traveling. In 2019, it was estimated that some 200.3 million Muslim travellers contributed USD194 billion in travel spend globally. That same year, Malaysia alone welcomed 5.33 million Muslim tourists to our shores. The COVID-19 pandemic unfortunately has crippled growth in this sector which is only expected to recover to pre-pandemic levels by 2023. Having said that, we believe that once borders open again, we will see a high interest in travel among Muslim tourists, insya Allah. Therefore, as a leading destination among Muslim travellers, Malaysia must consistently position itself strongly in the marketplace. I believe that the Muslim tourist market will likely pick up travel in a big way once the Covid-19 situation improves, and thus, I call for destinations and industry players to prepare for the eventual reopening of tourism now. 2. Are Muslim tourists different from other tourists? When it comes to travel interests, Muslim tourists are just like any other tourist with varied interests and propensity to spend. Among the Muslim tourist markets known for their high consumer purchasing power are the Gulf Cooperation Council, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Iran, Turkey, Western Europe, and North America markets. However, they do have unique faith-based needs to fulfil during their travels. Key among these needs are halal food and prayer facilities.
ITC publishes research on diverse areas of Islamic tourism in its Islamic Tourism Journal
Director General, Islamic Tourism Centre, Dato’ Dr. Mohmed Razip Haji Hasan 3. But Malaysia already has plenty of halal eateries and prayer facilities for Muslims… Yes, being a majority Muslim country, we are fortunate that halal food and mosques/musollas are plentiful and easily accessible. However, ITC’s mission is to establish a standard Islamic tourism framework that can be adopted by everyone in the tourism ecosystem -- from hoteliers to tourist guides, from transportation providers to tourist attraction operators. By doing this, we can position and brand Malaysia as an ideal Islamic tourist destination, inspire confidence among Muslim travellers that they can enjoy travel without compromising their religious requirements here, and set the benchmark for other destinations to follow. 4. How does ITC help make Malaysia Muslim-friendly? One of the most basic things ITC does is to engage and train tourism industry players -- the hoteliers, the tourist guides, owners of tourist attractions, etc. to understand the Muslim tourist market and their needs. That is why the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia (MOTAC) and ITC had focused on stakeholder training during the downtime generated from the pandemic. Our training for tourist guides, for example, includes creating awareness among tourist guides that when they lead a group of Muslim tourists for sightseeing, they need to be aware of and observe the Muslim prayer times and select only halal food establishments to dine at. Such training also ensures that safety, security, and hygienic values are incorporated in the itineraries.
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Inspection of a Silver-category Muslim-friendly hotel, Sunway Clio
From Left: ITC also conducts training on Muslim-friendly tourism and hospitality and its economic potential ; Participants from all over the world attend experiential and educational training programmes by ITC to learn from Malaysia’s experience as a Muslim-friendly destination.
5. What else does ITC do? Since 2009, ITC has been advocating for Muslim-friendly tourism and hospitality by organising business outreach programmes, training, consultation and technical support, commissioning research on diverse areas of Islamic tourism, and creating industry linkages worldwide to establish quality standards for Islamic tourism. We are also focussing on engaging with various partners, training institutions, and higher learning institutions, deepening our relations with industry players, and strengthening our ITC brand locally and internationally. Essentially, our efforts are towards supporting the tourism industry players to tap the Muslim tourist market. We do this by establishing guidelines for best practices, reviewing their premises, and advising them on how best to position themselves to attract these tourists. One of the things we’ve done is by identifying Muslim-friendly accommodations in Malaysia so that Muslim tourists have a choice of staying in hotels where the facilities and services cater to their faith-based needs. 6. What are Muslim-friendly accommodations? Since 2009, ITC has been advocating for Muslimfriendly tourism and these are hotels that meet the faith-based needs of Muslim tourists. For example, these hotels have a kitchen with halal certification from JAKIM (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia), at least one restaurant offering halal food and beverages prepared by Muslims, provide qibla direction in guest rooms, and have a surau/musolla with ablution facilities on the premises. 7. As a tourist, how can I be certain that these hotels are Muslim-friendly? Simply look for the Muslim-friendly Accommodation Recognition (MFAR) logo at these hotels, or ask the hotel for the MFAR certificate accorded to them by ITC. With this, you can be sure that ITC has inspected the hotel and deemed it suitable for Muslims.
For the full listing of the 44 MFAR hotels, visit www.itc.gov.my/muslim-friendly-directory or scan this QR code
Guests staying at MFAR hotels have triple assurance -- from MOTAC, JAKIM, and ITC 8. So, I can be assured that these MFAR hotels are Muslim-friendly? Yes. In fact, these hotels are all registered with MOTAC in the first place for star-rating. Their kitchen facilities have been certified as halal by JAKIM. So, guests staying at MFAR hotels have triple assurance from MOTAC, from JAKIM, and from ITC. 9. But are MFAR hotels only for Muslims? Certainly not. The MFAR hotels are inclusive for both Muslim and non-Muslim guests. While these hotels have fulfilled the criteria to cater to the Muslim tourist’s faith-based needs, their rooms, services and facilities are also available for non-Muslims to enjoy. 10. Are there different categories of MFAR hotels? Yes. There are currently 44 MFAR hotels in Malaysia with different categories. The Silver category of MFAR hotels observe the most basic of ITC’s requirements which encompass the availability of halal food at a minimum of one on-site restaurant and prayer facilities. The Gold category of MFAR hotels fulfil the criteria mentioned above and go the extra mile to provide special hours for Muslim female guests to use the hotel facilities such as gymnasium and swimming pool. Finally, the Platinum category of MFAR hotels have all their kitchens and dining outlets certified halal by JAKIM. Hotels within this category do not serve alcoholic beverages and employ a Shariah officer or Halal executive to monitor the compliance of its operations according to the Shariah law.
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Destinations
Itinerar y for the Adventurous: Lenggong, Gerik, & Royal Belum Te x t & I m a g e s b y M U H A M M A D H A S I F M O H D J E L A N I
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Let’s be honest. Perak is one of Malaysia’s most exciting states that can easily meet the preference of any type of traveller for instance foodie, history and art aficionado, or nature enthusiasts; you name it, chances are Perak might have it. For adventure seekers, the following pages outline an itinerary that Gaya Travel Magazine has prepared just for you! Read on to find out how to spend an unforgettable four-day and three-night journey covering Lenggong, Gerik, and Royal Belum, which are all part of the district called Hulu Perak within the state of Perak.
Don’t forget #TravelPerakLah When uploading your travel photos online, don’t forget to use #TravelPerakLah to share your experience with other fellow travellers.
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Stunning sunrise view that can be viewed right from where the houseboat is docked.
DAY 1: LENGGONG 10.30 AM – DEPART FROM KUALA LUMPUR 2.30 PM – PAK SYED CAFÉ GPS: 5.097665, 100.965197 This humble roadside restaurant is well known for its nasi talam, which actually refers to a set of local traditional dishes, including rice, all placed in one circular tray. The set consists of ikan bakar sepuh (grilled tilapia fish coated with gravy), gulai kawah (beef curry with banana stem), pekasam goreng (pickled fish), gulai tempoyak ikan patin (silver catfish in tempoyak curry), kerabu (salad made up of banana flower, bean sprouts and yellow sawah lettuce), daun nasin rebus (boiled sauropus androgynus), ulam mantah (traditional raw salad comprising barringtonia racemosa, cucumber, and the stem from a type of caladium plant called lambuk). Simply put, the lunch that day was splendid! 036
The restaurant opens daily except Sunday. 3.30 PM - AKI’S GALLERY GPS: 5.144815, 100.9890883 After 15 years of dedicating his life in collecting antiques, Lukhman Mahmud (fondly known as Tok Aki) decided to turn his house into a gallery where he keeps around 500 artefacts for record that can now be viewed by the general public. Aki’s Gallery - located in Kampung Chepor, Lenggong - is a unique Malay traditional house because last November 2019, it was wholly transferred to a plot 100 feet from where it was originally situated November 2019 using manual labour (a group of men together carrying the house in one piece using their own collective strength), a tradition that is fast disappearing. Among the items on display are 20 cent notes, antique irons, telephone sets, wedding accessories, metal potteries, fishing and carpentry apparatus.
4.30 PM - KAMPUNG LUAT DEER FARM GPS: 5.059526,100.9793837 There are around 200 deer farms in Lenggong that is home to approximately one thousand deer in total. Kampung Luat is one of them. Interestingly, these Java timorensis deers are not fed with pallet food but instead fresh grass, making their meat healthier as they are low in fats. 5.30 PM - KUAK HILL RESORT GPS: 4.9895504,100.915452 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ HelloKuak/ After a thorough renovation, this highly anticipated resort has now officially opened since January 2021. It offers different types of accommodations such as dome tents and villas for travellers to choose. Since it is located on a hillside, the view from the resort is simply breathtaking, especially during sunrise and sunset. Expect to see a stunning landscape of Tasik Raban as backdrop, including some parts of the mountains that make up the Titiwangsa Range. Facilities include all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), cafe, prayer room, swimming pool (using fresh water from the river), mini zoo and more! To get here, travellers are advised to take a four-wheel drive (4WD), which can be arranged by the resort. DAY 2: GERIK & ROYAL BELUM 9.30 AM - CHECK-OUT FROM KUAK HILL RESORT 11.00 AM - KAYAK AT BERUK RIVER GPS: 5.526765, 101.136611 For a fresh, exhilarating kickoff in Gerik, try kayaking along Beruk River. After firstly convening at Castella Cafe, travellers will be brought to the kayak departure point on 4WD. The whole activity takes around an hour, depending on the river’s current. In our case, it was rather rapid. But the view along the riverbanks such as rainforest
and rubber plantations including the stopping, as well as resting at designated stops along the way, make the entire experience uplifting. The kayaking culminates back at Castella Café. 12.30 PM - CASTELLA CAFE As soon as we arrived, the food had already been prepared on the table! With the concept of dining in the river with diners’ legs literally submerged under water, the cafe brings back menu from the old days that fit for Pattani Malay nobles like ikan baung masak lemak rebung (catfish in green-coloured curry with bamboo shoots), nasi bemban (traditional rice cooked in bamboo), grilled fish, and the staple of Perak, ikan terubuk pekasam (pickled fish). The set is not for walk-ins. To book, call +6 011 2050 3454. 3.00 PM - DENAI KABUS AGRO FARM & ADVENTURE RESORT GPS: 5.4951563,101.0967533 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ denaikabusofficial Travellers should make it a point of staying here for at least one night since this place is covered in mist during early morning, hence the property’s name. But if time is a concern, travellers can come to this place for activities like fishing (there are several fish ponds), ATV-riding, kayaking, barbeque, jungle-trekking, flying fox, and more. It is worth mentioning that the view of Kenderong and Kerunai mountains from this resort is simply stunning. 5.00 PM - LAKSA TELUR BERSARANG GPS: 5.4993714,101.1279763 Known as Kak Cah Cafe, this eatery’s specialty is laksa telur bersarang, a fat rice noodle in fish-based gravy made from tamarind juice, chillies, shallots, and shrimp paste, served with deep fried egg floss. Other dishes worth trying is mee bandung udang, noodles bathed in spicy gravy containing prawns in generous portions.
Clockwise from top, left: Tok Aki explaining some of his old collections at his gallery; Deer at Kampung Luat Deer Farm; A plate of scrumptious traditional food to be savoured at Castella Cafe; Kayaking along Beruk River.
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6.30 PM - HOUSEBOAT CHECK-IN AT HENTIAN ROYAL BELUM GPS: 5.551905, 101.347586 We recommend travellers to book a houseboat with Arus Belum Houseboat. It can accommodate up to 40 persons at any one time. The rooms are clean with shared bathrooms, generous living space with karaoke set, and two separate prayer rooms for Muslims’ convenience. The food served on board complements the Royal Belum experience. Not forgetting, the guide and boatmen are all accommodating and helpful. Contact +6 019 526 0067 or +6 019 466 8244 for more information. DAY 3: ROYAL BELUM 6.30 AM - ENJOY SUNRISE Royal Belum State Park offers one of the most epic sunrise and sunset views in the country that we think would be a huge waste if travellers do not take time admiring it!
9.30 AM - VISIT RAFFLESIA SITE There are three types of Rafflesia (the largest flower on Earth) that can be found within Royal Belum namely R.cantleyi, R.kerrii, and R.azlanii. We were lucky to encounter the R.azlanii in full bloom, which is indigenous to Peninsular Malaysia and named after the late Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah.
Did you know? R.azlanii Rafflesia is so significant that its image is emblazoned on the MYR10 note! 2.00 PM - SUNGAI KOOI WATERFALL Being the largest waterfall within Royal Belum, Sungai Kooi Waterfall reaches the height of approximately 50 metres. To get there, it requires an easy 30-minute hike. But upon arriving, travellers must take note of the slippery rocks resulting from the waterfall’s
misty spray. Nevertheless, this waterfall is undeniably stunning. Along the way, fascinate over the inhabitants of the tropical rainforest such as small insects and humongous trees like medang. 5.30 PM - WATER ACTIVITIES NEAR THE HOUSEBOAT Arus Belum Houseboat provides kayaks as well should travellers feel like kayaking nearby. Kayaking in Royal Belum feels different as its waters are calm and the surrounding view are nothing but green and blue. Swimming is recommended too! DAY 4: ROYAL BELUM & LENGGONG 9.30 AM - SALT LICK AT SUNGAI PAPAN Naturally produced amidst rocks, salt lick is where animals, mostly herbivores, obtain nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, and
zinc. There are two salt licks around this area and travellers can spot marks left by animals like tapir, elephant, and sun bear in the form of footprints and faeces.
Good to know: » Although the probability of encountering predators are low, travellers should not take it lightly and need to trust the guide and follow the instructions at all times. » Leeches are abundant here, probably because of animals frequently passing by the area; just in case travellers feel reluctant to ‘donate’ their blood to these creatures, remember to cover yourself with insect repellent!
1.30 PM - CHECK-OUT FROM ROYAL BELUM
2.00 PM - KAMPUNG HAYEK RAKIT ORANG ASLI Besides fauna, Royal Belum State Park also has human residents, who are from the aboriginal, nomadic Jahai tribe. There are several settlements where these people are still living in their primitive way of life and refuse modernity. However, there are some who are open to share a glimpse of their daily life to travellers like in Kampung Hayek Rakit Orang Asli. We took a 20-minute boat ride from Hentian Royal Belum to this place where we were greeted warmly by a Jahai family. Besides buying handmade merchandises from them, travellers can even make donation through a collection box at the entrance of the settlement. 4.00 PM - LATE LUNCH AT RESTORAN TASIK RABAN GPS: 5.0378557,100.9502138 If possible, try to arrive early at this restaurant. Though it will be jampacked, it is worth dropping by
because this is where fresh food can be relished, especially the restaurant’s popular grilled fish and mouthwatering local dishes served in a buffet style. The restaurant has two more branches, one in Simpang Pulau and another at Pengkalan (ST18). The restaurant opens daily from 10.30 a.m. until 4.30 p.m. 5.00 PM - DEPART BACK TO KUALA LUMPUR
Clockwise from left: A breathtaking view from Kuak Hill Resort; Denai Kabus has several ponds for angling enthusiasts; R.azlanii Rafflesia found at Royal Belum State Park; The guide showing traces of elephant markings at a tree near the salt lick at Sungai Papan.
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Majestic Sungai Kooi Waterfall, the largest waterfall within Royal Belum State Park
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Destinations
Trip to
Teluk Intan & Bagan Datuk With Tourism Perak Te x t b y FA R H A N A F UA D Images by MUHAMMAD HASIF MOHD JELANI
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Some would think that travelling is an attempt for us to escape from our hectic life. It is the time for relaxation and pleasure but to me, travelling is not only that. I take travelling as a valuable opportunity to widen my horizons and learn more about the world and life, just like the saying “we travel not to escape life but for life not to escape us”. As someone who loves travelling, even a two-day escape is a blessing that I definitely can’t miss. My first trip with Gaya Travel Magazine took up to four days and three nights, which was enough to fit in many activities. The trip, which was organised by Tourism Perak in collaboration with Gaya Travel Magazine, was to Teluk Intan and Bagan Datuk in the Malaysian state of Perak. Teluk Intan is a provincial town famous for its Leaning Tower, but did you know that there is more to the place? Interestingly, the downstream part of the 400-kilometre Perak River meanders through Teluk Intan and finally meets the sea at Bagan Datuk. Read on to find out what you can do in Teluk Intan and Bagan Datuk, which we hope might bowl you over…
Teluk Intan River Cruise
As we continued, we saw deepsea ship factories that employ the traditional methods of ship-building using plywood. Mr Sahril shared that it takes around six to seven months to build one ship and can reach up to MYR800,000. We also passed by floating restaurants, tilapia fish farms, old ferry from Rawa Island, sandmining ship, and sunken train ship before finally reaching Bangau Island, the nesting ground of thousands of egrets.
We started our first activity by going on a river cruise that is operated by Sahril Pekan Enterprise. Since the Perak River cuts through Teluk Intan, why not take this opportunity to cruise along and be fascinated by the vestiges of the historical port that dot along the river, including catching a glimpse of egrets flying back home to Bangau Island (a sanctuary for migratory birds), followed by witnessing fireflies at the riverbanks when it gets dark? I got the chance to cruise on the same boat as Mr Sahril, our tour guide. The cruise takes passengers to different sites and places along the riverbanks. Along the way, we saw a row of freshwater fish farms reaching out towards Bangau Island. Travellers intending to see the amazing sunset (if weather permits) and thousands of birds flying above as they return to Bangau Island, it is advisable for them to be there after 6:30 p.m. The tour ends after passengers witness the fireflies. During the cruise, Mr Sahril briefly told us how the name Teluk Intan’ çame about. Teluk Intan was once known as ‘Teluk Mak Intan’ after a rich widow from Mandailing in Sumatera who was beautiful. The local merchants in the area were crazy about her to the point that even the British were into her as well, but she played hard to get because she was already rich, hence independent. After the British came to the area, the name was changed to ‘Teluk Anson’ in honour of Sir Archibald Edward Harbord Anson, Governor of the Straits and also the first district officer of Teluk Intan. Sir Edward Anson developed the rail infrastructure linking Tapah Road and Teluk Intan so that tin and raw materials can be transported out. Teluk Anson then had a big port and similar in stature with Port Dickson and Port Klang. However, with the advent of modern road systems, the rail
A guide from Teluk Intan River Cruise explaining about the different species of egrets perching on the trees at Bangau Island.
line as well as the port were rendered obsolete, thus eventually closed, ending the glory days of Teluk Anson. Its name was then changed to Teluk Intan with the consent of the Sultan of Perak. From the boat, the guide pointed out to the historical sites along the river; the first place was the three piling poles situated on the riverbank. He explained that the poles are the former port known as Anson Port. One unique thing about Perak River is that the river is deeper along its banks compared to the middle, capable in accommodating merchant ships coming from Europe. The water level can reach the depth of 100 feet, which is equivalent to a three-storey building. During the cruise Traveller might notice many boats along the river because people are fishing for lobsters, fish and more. As a matter of fact, the main activity along Perak River is lobster fishing. Lobsters in Perak River are not dependent on season, therefore always available. This is attributed to Perak Fisheries Department’s initiative in releasing as many as 50,000 to 100,000 lobsters every year for breeding, ensuring Perak River’s ecosystem and the fishermen’s livelihood are maintained.
Egrets fly out of the island as early as 6:30 a.m. to find food around Perak River and they would all return to the island beginning 6:30 p.m. These egrets lay eggs on the island, thus could not fly too far to find food. There are different species of egrets on Bangau Island and the guide told us that there around 40,000 to 50,000 of inhabiting the island. During my trip, it was breeding season, so my travel companions and I managed to see many egrets hanging on the trees. As it got darker, fireflies began coming out, especially between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., when they are the most active. There are two firefly species here: Pteroptyx Tener; and Pteroptyx Alba. The former blinks or flashes at the same time, while the latter flashes randomly. Mr Sahril also briefed us on the characteristics and fun facts about the fireflies. To be able to ride on the cruise, you need to make a booking with Teluk Intan River Cruise, which offers four different packages ranging from MYR15 to MYR60 per person based on activities and places where they stop. Operation day: Weekends, Public Holidays & School Holidays Operation Time: 8:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. For more info, visit https://www. facebook.com/rivercruisetelukintan
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Clockwise from Top, Left: A tour guide telling the history of Sungai Kerawai Elephant Memorial; The front view of AlIhsaniah Madrasah; Church of St Anthony of Padua; Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan; Checking out the surrounding views from one of the floors on the Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan.
Teluk Intan Heritage Trail Travellers usually make the effort to come to Teluk Intan for its famous Leaning Tower, take a few pictures and leave. However, there are actually more heritage buildings and interesting places that travellers can discover to appreciate the history and culture of Teluk Intan. A self-guided heritage trail led by Persatuan Pencinta Sejarah Masyarakat Perak (History Lover Society of Perak), in collaboration with Persatuan Pelukis Teluk Intan (Teluk Intan Painting Society), takes you to 20 different landmarks encompassing historical sites, war memorial, mosque, temples, churches and various cultural attractions in Teluk Intan, indicating that there is more to Teluk Intan than meets the eye! The Heritage Trail begins with a journey to Sungai Kerawai Elephant Memorial, which used to be a railway line between Tapah Road Teluk Intan station. A year after the railway service became operational, a train crashed
into some members of an elephant herd, which were killed on the spot. The leader of the herd then went on a rampage and crashed into the same train the next day, causing the train to derail. As a result of the collision, the skull and tusks of the dead elephant are currently displayed in Taiping Museum, while its one metre hip bone is displayed at Johor Bahru KTMB mini museum. The British erected a memorial with a signboard indicating the place where the accident happened. Travellers can view the remnants of the railway line along with a brief description of the incident here. The next landmark is the Al-Ihsaniah Madrasah, the first modern madrasah (Islamic religious school) in Perak that was built in 1901. The original structure of the Al-Ihsaniah Madrasah that made up of leftover wood. It was later rebuilt with better materials resulting in the current structure seen today that
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has stood the test of time.
First and Second World Wars.
Walking across the road in front of the madrasah is the Hock Soon Temple, built as early as 1883. The most significant feature of the temple is the Southern Chinese architecture with arches and classical columns to support the building. The main hall is designated for worshipping the deities while the front courtyard towards the right side of the temple stood an eightmetre tall Buddha statue, the tallest in Malaysia.
The next stop is the Old Police Station, the earliest building erected by the British. Upon its completion, it was first used as a taxation and customs office for the Port of Teluk Intan. The building was then repurposed into a police station until it was finally abandoned. Currently, visitors can only see it from afar since the building is locked. Next to it is the Post Office; in its early days, services provided were sending of mails, voter registration and even buying lottery tickets. Adjacent to the post office is the HSBC Building, constructed in 1948 and remains unchanged until today.
The Lower Perak District War Memorial, or also known as Batu Tenggek Teluk Intan by the locals, sits along Jalan Changkat Jong near Jalan Maharaja Lela. The monument consists of one granite stone that rests on a dressed stone, then placed on concrete. A long time ago, it was said that the granite stone was only the size of a match box but in time grew to its current form. The War Memorial commemorates the lives lost during the
The tour guide later brought my travel companions and I to several old churches and temples around the same area such as The Church of St Luke the Evangelist, Tamil Methodist Church, Church of St Anthony of Padua and Sri Thendayuthapani Temple. We were able to learn a great deal about
the history and unique stories about these landmarks and were in awe by of their architecture. We took selfies at everywall, path and corner of these buildings so that we could upload them on our social media. Since our time was limited, we ended the Heritage Trail by visiting the Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan, which has a clock at the top that chimes every 15 minutes. The clock tower was originally used as a water tower to supply water to the town area. Teluk Intan Leaning Tower started to tilt four years after its construction finished due to an underground stream. There was a large flood happened that made the water tank heavy, tilting the tower on one side. The tower no longer stores water and is currently a local tourist attraction. For more info about the Teluk Intan Heritage Trail, visit https://www.telukintanheritage.com/.
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The participants during the trip to Teluk Intan and Bagan Datuk striking a group pose at the Sky Mirror in Sungai Burung Village, Bagan Datuk.
Bagan Datuk Waterfront Bagan Datuk is a small, quaint town located about an hour’s drive from Teluk Intan, so we include it in our itinerary. What appeals to us is that the town boasts an area called Bagan Datuk Waterfront where travellers can have a short stop to chill and take pictures of the colourful Bagan Datuk signage and shophouses, including art murals that grace the walls near the waterfront. Be sure to catch the sunset view and enjoy the night atmosphere of this town too! Sky Mirror in Sungai Burung Village From Bagan Datuk Waterfront we proceeded to Sungai Burung Village where we had our lunch prepared by the Nine Island Agency consisting of Muslim-friendly dishes made
by the villagers. Sungai Burung Village is a small fishing settlement with a population of around 400 people. Sungai Burung Village is an interesting destination for visitors to experience the fun-filled ‘sky mirror’’ photo opportunities and stop by the scenic sunflower garden, one of Bagan Datuk’s emerging tourist attractions.
the area, the organiser started creating a puddle filled with water so that we could take excellent mirror-like reflections that were truly memorable! For more info about the Nine Island Agency and other activities it offers, visit https://www.facebook.com/ Nineislandagency or contact Cindy at +6 017 622 0815.
We revelled in fun photography session at Sky Mirror in Sungai Burung Village, Bagan Datuk with Nine Island Agency. Within 15 minutes on a boat ride, we reached a knee-deep water spot where we had to wade towards an area where shallow waters can be found. Standing in the middle of the sandbank with water around my ankle feels like I was about to sink into the sea. However, as soon as we reached
Sunflower Garden in Bagan Datuk We ended our day at the Sunflower Garden, arguably the highlight of our trip in Bagan Datuk district. I found myself magically transported to a dreamy realm when standing amidst tall sunflowers. The mesmerising view of this 0.8-hectare garden filled with over 2,000 giant sunflowers makes it an ideal location for taking wedding pictures for newlyweds,
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Top: Some of the participants taking a wefie in the middle of the sunflower garden. Middle: Kayaking activity at Ladang Moccis.Bottom: One of the participants, Ekmal Suhaimi, feeding the deer at Ladang Moccis petting zoo.
on top of taking Instagram-worthy selfies. Sunflower Garden opens every day from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. with entrance fees ranging between MYR5 to MYR13 according to age. Ladang Moccis Ladang Moccis provides the best place to relax and escape from the city. Visitors can rent BBQ set, kayak, bicycle, ATV and fishing equipments while staying here. There is also a Mini Zoo that showcases deers, Bengal cats, rabbits, and other kinds of animals here. Ladang Moccis also provide a total of 10 homestay units for accommodations. 1 unit of the homestay comes with 3 rooms, private bathroom, and air-conditioner. Homestay fees ranges from RM200 – RM300 depending on unit sizes.
In short, our time in Teluk Intan and Bagan Datuk was definitely worthwhile! Though both destinations might not be as popular as other cities in Malaysia, they have so much to offer, hence deserve more attention among local and foreign travellers. Be sure to visit these charming destinations when you head to Perak soon!
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COV I D - 1 9 PA N D EM I C : 050
IPOH CIT Y RECOVERY PLAN
The Movement Control Order (MCO) imposed by the Malaysian government in mid-March 2020 to contain the Covid-19 outbreak had profound consequences on many sectors of the economy, with tourism industry being the most badly affected. Travel ban and restrictions have led to a large drop in the number of tourists visiting Malaysia. However, though borders remain closed at the time of writing, domestic tourism is now allowed to resume operations. With the economy-wide stimulus packages rolled out by the government, the tourism sector is beginning to regain its foothold. Affordable accommodation offered by hotels and resorts – including attractive travel packages – have allowed people in the B40 and M40 groups to enjoy the benefits of travelling to popular destinations within Malaysia. Nevertheless, due to the uncertainties brought about by the pandemic, Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) are strictly enforced in hotels, resorts, campsites, restaurants, eateries and transportation to break the Covid-19 chain. In response to the challenges brought about by the pandemic and economic downturn, Ipoh City works hard to improve its tourism industry under the leadership of the 12th Mayor, YBhg. Dato’ Haji Rumaizi bin Baharin @ Md. Daud, who is committed to attracting more people to visit
and even invest in Ipoh City by putting in place short-term and long-term planning to make the city more sustainable and liveable. YBhg. Dato’ Haji Rumaizi envisions Ipoh City to become the third most well-known tourism city in Malaysia by 2025 via the 3H concept: Hipster, Heritage and Health. Tourism industry is vital in lifting the economy because tourists, either local or foreign, spend on accommodation, sight-seeing, food, and purchasing items like memorabilia or souvenirs. The revenue generated from these activities are channelled back towards developing and upgrading the city’s infrastructure to create more jobs for locals and enhance their quality of life.
Although Ipoh City is popular for its culinary offerings, efforts are being made to find ways for tourists to spend more nights in Ipoh City not only for its food but its rich heritage as well that tourists can experience before heading to other destinations. As such, YBhg. Dato’ Haji Rumaizi declared that tourism development in Ipoh City to concentrate within the Ipoh Tourism Triangle covering recreational sites such as Gunung Lang; Ipoh Padang and its surroundings; D.R. Seenivasagam Park; and Kampung Kuchai, particularly the Panglima Kinta Mosque and its historically-rich vicinity. Several of the projects are already under way and will be completed by early 2021. These include the Petting Zoo at Gunung Lang; the Kinta Riverwalk; and the light-and-sound features at Ipoh Padang. As for Kampung Kuchai, discussions are being held to designate this area for ecoheritage tourism. One thing that snap-happy tourists should not miss in Ipoh is to follow the two-hour Heritage Trail around Old Town, which leads them to the area’s unique charms, for instance the mural drawings that grace the back-lane
Kellie’s Castle, Batu Gajah
of the shophouses, irresistible souvenirs on sale at Concubine Lane, and a shop featuring accessories displayed upside down. Hipster cafes can be found along the Heritage Trail too, which are magnets for youths and the young at heart generation. On top of that, Ipoh City Council collaborates with other local district authorities in the State of Perak such as Batu Gajah, Kampar and Kuala Kangsar to promote tourism products within the respective districts under a pilot project known as Greater Ipoh. Each of the mentioned districts has its own identity and attractions ranging from geopark to culinary and heritage. Ipoh City is only two hours by train from Kuala Lumpur and an-hourand-a-half drive along the highway from Penang. Both domestic and international tourists can enjoy various cuisines and spend a night or more when savouring the delights of Ipoh City before departing elsewhere. For more information, visit http://www.mbi.gov.my/en.
Gaharu Tea Valley, Kampar
Ubudiah Mosque, Kuala Kangsar
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Kampung Seberang Takir Mosque is set to be the new Islamic-inspired architectural marvel in Terengganu.
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Terengganu:
Of Beaches and Beyond Te x t & I m a g e s b y S H A H I DA S A K E R I
Pristine tropical islands. Crystal clear waters. Powdery white sands. Turtles. These are just some of the mental images conjured when we talk about Terengganu. Though these are true depictions, this east coast state’s allure does not just stop there. Now with a newly completed Islamic-inspired architectural marvel, an unexplored eco-tourism spot, and an interactive living museum, Terengganu’s tourism offerings now become more diverse, appealing to a wider range of travellers with differing preferences. Read on to discover the full list of attractions meant for a well-rounded itinerary that travellers may use for their next visit to Terengganu…
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Terengganu Cultural Village (www.instagram.com/kampungbudayaterengganu) Start the journey right by being immersed in local culture at the recently launched Terengganu Cultural Village, a living museum where travellers can peek into the life of local communities. Expect to be blown away by the impressively restored traditional houses, along with the number of activities that travellers can partake. Some of them include batik-colouring, weaving, playing traditional games and donning beautiful traditional attires. This is also the place to shop for impeccable artisanal batik and songket at affordable prices! Entrance fees are: MYR15 (adult) and MYR10 (child) for MyKad holders; MYR30 (adult) and MYR20 (child) for international travellers; MYR10 for senior citizens and people with disabilities.
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Merchang Lestari Explore the untouched ecosystem of Merchang, Terengganu, where fishery and agriculture are the area’s main economic activities. The local community here under the supervision of Majlis Daerah Marang initiates a new community-based tourism offering called Merchang Lestari, a programme that allows travellers, especially those who are into eco-tourism, to cruise along the Merchang River, learn about the wild herbs on Pulau Ranggut, catch Nipah crab (mud crab) using traditional equipment called bito, find clams, and savour fluffy coconut pancake, which is Merchang’s delicacy, popular for breakfast and teatime. Terengganu Drawbridge (www.terengganudrawbridge.com.my) Drawing inspiration from the iconic London Tower Bridge in England, this first drawbridge in Southeast Asia was officially opened to the public on 2 June 2019, linking Kuala Terengganu city centre and Kuala Nerus. Take the time to go up to the skybridges, where you will get to admire the juxtaposition of the modern and the old Terengganu as far as the eyes can see. On top of this, the state government has many plans in the pipeline to turn this drawbridge into a major attraction. It even bagged the ‘Best New Tourism Icon’ award during the Malaysia Tourism Council Gold Awards 2019. Pasar Payang 2 Shop for genuine Terengganu batik and other unique Terengganu souvenirs like songket and local snacks at Pasar Payang 2, the shopping hub for anything Terengganu. It is
located within a new building not far from the old Pasar Payang that is currently undergoing a full renovation. The new site has 762 lots and other facilities such as toilets and Muslim prayer time. The market opens every day, from 8:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Tips: There are two signs that travellers can look for when trying to differentiate the genuine Terengganu batik from the counterfeit ones: 1) Genuine Terengganu batik features the same pattern and colour on both sides. 2) Genuine Terengganu batik has no serial number printed on the fabric.
Kampung Seberang Takir Mosque Located by the riverbank of Seberang Takir, travellers can reach this newly completed mosque by driving through the Terengganu Drawbridge. Alternatively, they can opt for a breezier ride via water taxis that can be found easily at both Pasar Payang and Shah Bandar’s jetties. The mosque was originally built during the administration of the seventh Terengganu Chief Minister, Tan Sri Ibrahim Fikri Mohamad, in the 1960s. The building got old over time, and eventually attracted the attention of Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman, the 14th Chief Minister of Terengganu. He then gave the order for the mosque to be renovated, with a new gallery dedicated to Terengganu’s heritage and culture added into the design. The whole project costs approximately MYR2 million to complete and features the distinctive limas roof style. Terengganu Monsoon Surfing Travellers tend to shy away from the east coast during the monsoon season, typically characterised by angry waves, torrential storm, and strong wind. But do you know that Terengganu has some of the best beaches for surfing activity that are surprisingly popular during monsoon? The surfers usually frequent beaches like Cherating and Batu Burok from late October till February or March; but of late, the beach at Pulau Kekabu, Marang, is starting to appear on surfers’ radar too. In fact, the state government plans to make the Terengganu Monsoon Surfing Competition as an annual affair at Pulau Kekabu. In 2020, the competition drew 65 entries of surfers from across Malaysia, including some renowned Malaysian athletes who have competed in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Every inch of the traditional house at Terengganu Cultural Village is carefully assembled, sending visitors back to the past era.
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Clockwise from top, left: Coconut pancakes go perfectly with a cup of hot tea on a breezy evening; visitors get to experience finding clams with their bare hands at Merchang Lestari; take the chance to don beautiful traditional costumes for free while exploring Terengganu Cultural Village; the village is also where visitors get to witness how keropok lekor being fried by only using sands; and take time to learn weaving skill from the masters at Terengganu Cultural Village; the iconic Terengganu Drawbridge; some of the beautiful Terengganu batik fabrics that visitors can purchase at Pasar payang 2; and a surfer is seen waxing his board before his surf session at Pantai Pulau Kekabu.
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WHERE TO EAT Kedai Che Ngoh RM1 Kedai Che Ngoh at Kampung Alur Limbat presents a spread of more than 80 breakfast items including local delicacies that are uniquely Terengganu. The best thing is, all items are priced at only MYR1 each, making the shop a food haven for all foodies! Be sure to try deliciously authentic local snacks like pulut nyor and tepung bunga when you are here! 058
Adil Roti (www.facebook.com/adilroti16/) Located under the Sultan Mahmud Bridge, Adil Roti is the breakfast hot spot in town that serves over 40 types of flat bread and Middle Eastern-inspired dishes. The bestseller here includes ‘roti sarang dinosaur’ (‘dinosaur nest bread’), which is made from a flatbread that is so flaky outside, yet fluffy inside, then topped with soft-boiled eggs and generous amounts of chicken kebab. Ali King Soup (www.facebook.com/alikingsoup) Established since the 1980s, this shop dishes out unique recipes to all locals and travellers alike. Our favourite here is the beef noodle soup, but if you’re feeling adventurous, try out the shop’s eel soup, colek kaki ayam (chicken feet salad), kateh (cow’s leg) fried rice and colek perut (cow stomach salad), which all have received raved reviews. B’Beteng, Taman Tamadun Islam (www.tti.com.my/bbeteng-restaurant/) Dine in while enjoying the relaxing river breeze at B’Beteng, which aptly means ‘riverside’ in Terengganu dialect. The restaurant is conveniently located within many tourists’ favourite attraction, Taman Tamadun Islam, so swing by this restaurant when you feel peckish after exploring the theme park. The menu here is diverse, but the seafood dishes are worth a try!
Clockwise from top, left: Ali King Soup’s menu offers light yet satisfying meals that are perfect for a quick pick-me-up; ‘Roti Sarang Dinosaur’ by Adil Roti is loaded with a whole lot of flavors guaranteed to satisfy even the most picky eater ; the food at Kedai Che Ngoh is packed well in advance to help the customers choose the items easily.
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Pulau Rawa
MERSING
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UNEARTH THE JEWEL OF THE SOUTH
PulauPONTIAN Kukup 061
UNEARTH THE JEWEL OF THE SOUTH
A pressed flower artwork displayed at Puan Esiah’s atelier. Puan Esiah claimed that she can read a person’s character from his or her selection of colours and design when creating a pressed flower artwork.
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‘Kita Ke Kampung’ 3.0: Celebrating Handicraft Heroes Te x t b y S H A H I DA S A K E R I Images by MUHAMMAD HASIF MOHD JELANI
Quick question, when was the last time you bought any product directly from a local artisan?
In a world where almost everything is mass produced and churned out by
machines and automation, traditional handicrafts are slowly losing ground. Ignore them longer, this precious fabric of our cultural identity might be gone for good. Do we want this to happen? Fortunately, there is still light at the end of this tunnel.
Case in point, the recent lockdown in Malaysia sees the rise of armchair shopping among Malaysians, which eventually led to the #SupportLocal movement that
encourages people to shop from local brands. This is a fantastic effort to support the local economy. If we continue to buy a wide range of products locally, many local artisans may actually get the chance to be successful.
Hence, with this notion in mind, ‘Kita Ke Kampung’ programme returns for the third time, highlighting the local heroes who think and work with their
hands, especially the small business crafters in Selangor who tried to endure the
knock-on effects from the COVID-19 pandemic. The programme is a joint effort
between Selangor’s Rural and Traditional Villages Development, Malay Customs, Culture and Heritage Committee; Selangor State Economic Planning Unit
(UPEN); Selangor State Cultural Council (MKNS); and Gaya Travel Magazine. Read on to discover some of the best traditional handicraft heroes that you can
find in Selangor to show your support. Get ready to add items in your shopping cart!
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Tanjak (W: binmansor.com / Instagram page: @tanjak_official) Tanjak – also known as destar – is a headgear synonymous to the Malay identity. But do you know that unlike tengkolok, tanjak should only be worn by males? Many national historians believe that in the olden days, you could tell a lot about someone’s identity, social status, origin, or even character just by looking at his tanjak. But today, the rules are slightly lenient in the way how men can wear this form of headgear. Men, for example, can don any design of any colour whenever and wherever they like. However, after saying so, one should avoid donning the headgear in yellow or ivory during official ceremonies when royal families are in attendance. Each Malay Sultan in Malaysia has his own unique tanjak design, with ‘Balung Raja’ being the signature style for the Sultan of Selangor. There are now plenty of establishments where one can buy beautiful tanjak; once such place is Bin Mansor Legacy Enterprise, located in Kajang, Selangor. Established in
2017, the company specialises in designing traditional attires according to the Malay custom. The company is helmed by Mohd Herin Bin Mansor and Mohamad Hatta Bin Mansor who are both passionate in preserving this Malay sartorial artform. They offer various tanjak designs from as low as MYR80 each and up to thousands of Ringgit depending on the material used and the intricacy of the design requested by the customer. Pressed Flower Craft (Facebook page: Laman Kraf Tani) Originated from China and Japan, the art of pressed flowers has long been used to preserve the beauty of natural blooms. Petals or leaves are often dried and pressed before carefully arranged and glued onto a material according to one’s creativity to create a beautiful botanical collage. Traditionally, the flowers or leaves are left to dry under the sun. But do you know that nowadays, you can conveniently use the microwave to speed up the drying process? The sizes of this collage vary, from as small as a bookmark to as huge as a feature wall art.
All images below: Mr. Mohd Herin from Bin Mansor boutique demonstrating how the ‘Balung Raja’ tengkolok is folded.
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Clockwise from Left: One of the beautiful pressed flower crafts made by Puan Esiah in greater detail; Customers are spoilt for choice when trying to choose their favourite pressed flower craft; Mr. Mustafa showing one of his coconut bonsai plants, which typically has a lifespan of three years.
Puan Esiah binti Kaimun from Banting, Kuala Langat, is no stranger to the pressed flower craft. In fact, she is a multiple award-wining pressed-flower artisan whose stunning artworks have touched the hearts of fans from Malaysia and abroad. Interestingly, she also has another unique gift, which is to read a person’s personality just by studying the pressed-flower design made by the person during her sharing sessions held before the COVID-19 pandemic. Though she no longer conducts pressed-flower classes, public can still purchase her crafts by contacting her directly at +6 019 253 4620 or her Facebook page. The prices of her works start from as low as MYR5 per piece, depending on the size and the design requested by the customers. Coconut Bonsai Bonsai is an ancient art form that has been developed for centuries in Japan. Bonsai growers usually prefer to use cedar, Japanese maple, juniper, or pine due to their aesthetics. But today, do you know that there’s a tropical version of
this ornamental plant that secures a firm spot in many households in Southeast Asia? It is the coconut bonsai, which involves a mature germinating coconut being planted in a pot and then its new fronds pruned from time to time to slow down its growth. The entire process of completing one bonsai can be laborious and takes around seven to 10 months. Fortunately, those who do not have the patience needed in making a coconut bonsai can purchase it directly from Mr. Mustafa (+6 019 303 5004), whose workshop is in Sijangkang, Selangor. The prices for this type of bonsai range from MYR70 to MYR250 each. To grow this form of bonsai, he uses a mixture of black and red soil, including coconut husk, to ensure that sufficient moisture can be retained while allowing water to drain immediately from the pot. For special requests, Mr. Mustafa also makes coconut bonsai immersed in water inhabited by a beautiful Siamese fighting fish, known as betta, swimming around happily.
Above: The process of making wau kapal begins by making the frame first. Below: Wak Muskhan showing an almost complete wau kapal. 066
Wau Kapal Have you ever seen or flown Wau Kapal? Considered as Selangor’s official traditional kite, Wau Kapal has been played since 1940s. In the past, Wau Kapal was used as a beacon to guide fishermen at sea to the direction of the land. It gets its name from the design of its trailing edge that resembles a ship. The kite traditionally boasts a Spanish cherry flower motif on its wing. However, the modern version is simpler and decorated with patterns according to the maker’s whims. Those who are interested in buying Wau Kapal can do so from Wak Muskhan (+6 011 1557 6926) who currently resides in Kampung Sungai Buaya, Kuala Langat, Selangor. He has been making this traditional kite for over 40 years. He even knows how to make strong Wau Kapal suitable for kite competitions. He starts by making the frame using bamboo sticks, before pasting kite papers over this frame. These papers need to be folded beforehand to strengthen them and allow them to expand in hot weather. The type of bamboo used for making this kite is bambusa vulgaris due to its flexibility. Once completed, he then checks the kite’s lateral balance by adding mass at or near its head to ensure that the kite rises vertically when being flown. Wau Kapal by Wak Muskhan are sold for at least MYR30 each, and can go up to hundreds of Ringgit Malaysia, depending on requested size and motifs.
Selangor Batik Batik in Malaysia has always been synonymous with the ones found in Peninsular Malaysia East Coast, but do you know that the state of Selangor has its own unique motif ? According to Mr. Hamdan from Nadi Cantek, batik makers in Selangor tend to employ modern batik pattern by creating abstract designs through the combination of geometric and floral motifs, then accentuated using brighter palettes. He adds that such pattern is popular among the younger crowd, and suitable for daily wear. Mr. Hamdan develops his passion towards batik since high school. He then pursued his interest by working at Samasa Batik, one of the oldest batik factories in Malaysia, before launching his own boutique. Interestingly, he does not limit the art of batik painting to sarongs only. After years and years of experimenting with batik dyes, he is now a proud maker of no-wax batik wall artworks that incorporate beautiful colours of batik dyes. Those who are interested in purchasing batik products from Mr Hamdan can visit his workshop in Felda Gedangsa, Kuala Kubu Bharu, or contact him directly at +6 016 293 5476. Clockwise from Above: Selangor State Executive Councillor for Malay Culture and Heritage, Rural Development and Traditional Village Mr. Borhan Aman Shah trying his hands on batik-colouring; Close up on one of the beautiful batik artworks made by Mr. Hamdan; The artist himself painting batik.
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Clockwise from Left: Mak creates artworks ranging from wall decorations to decorative flowers; Persatuan Kebajikan Amal Insan Budi currently has 20 members who each receives commission from the products they sold; One of the cycads grown in Mr. Jaafar’s garden.
Recycle Craft Established since 2011, Persatuan Kebajikan Amal Insan Budi has been encouraging women to upskill via craftmaking. The founder, Madam Rohani, also affectionately known as ‘Mak’ by many, specialises in upcycling byproducts or waste materials into beautiful decorative pieces. Come to her workshop on Wednesdays as she organises small-scale, hands-on classes for those who want to channel their creativity through artmaking. Her classes are free, but willing contributions of any size are welcome. Mak often uses her own materials to make her products, but she’s open to work on the materials given by customers too should they have special requests. Interested parties can contact her at +6 014 236 2281. Cycads Though not exactly a handicraft, growing a cycad requires skill and patience, thus become an art form in its own right. Do you know that cycad is dubbed as ‘the living fossil’? It is an ancient plant species that can be traced as far back as the Triassic period. The plant has evolved in many ways since then. Today, it is usually found on the steep hard-to-reach hillsides, between 100- and 500-metre altitude, where the soil is dryer. This, in turn, makes the
plant expensive. In fact, a mature cycad can reach up to tens of thousands of Malaysian Ringgit! It is no surprise then why a cycad is often considered a highly prized addition to one’s garden. Mr. Jaafar from Kampung Sijangkang, Telok Panglima Garang, is one of the many horticulturists who have developed interest in cycads. He has been growing the species for the past 10 years and now sells them at competitive prices. Interested buyers need to contact him in advance at +6 011 1111 6000 as stocks are limited. Cycads require minimal care yet takes more than 10 years to mature. The plant is also dioecious, which means that male and female cones are born on separate plants, and hence making this species even harder to reproduce if the owner does not own both male and female cones. Gaya Travel Magazine team members express our heartfelt gratitude to Selangor’s Rural and Traditional Villages Development, Malay Customs, Culture and Heritage Committee; Selangor State State Economic Planning Unit (UPEN); and Selangor State Cultural Council (MKNS) for making ‘Kita Ke Kampung’ programme a success.
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RENTAK SELANGOR 5.0 : Combing the Threads of Selangor’s Musical Cultures Te x t b y S H A H I DA S A K E R I Images by MUHAMMAD HASIF MOHD JELANI
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“Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music.” - Sergei Rachmaninoff The ‘Rentak Selangor’ programme that began since 2016 aims to revitalise the intangible cultural heritage found in Selangor. And similar to previous years, the programme returns in 2021 with another set of flourishing musical cultures, from old traditions that survived the test of time, to the modern-style live performances enjoyed by youngsters, for instance busking, which on its own is set to become a new local heritage in the making.
According to the new Selangor State Executive Councillor (EXCO) for Rural and Traditional Villages Development, Malay Customs, Culture and Heritage, The Honorable Mr. Borhan bin Aman Shah, the programme rejoices the diverse ethnic and colourful backgrounds of those who call Selangor home. It is also one of the state government’s efforts in supporting the local artists and industry players, especially during this challenging time due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
The programme is organised by the Committee of Rural and Traditional Villages Development, Malay Customs, Culture and Heritage; the Selangor State Government State Economic Planning Unit (UPEN); and supported by the Majlis Kebudayaan Negeri Selangor (MKNS); Gaya Travel Magazine; and the Selangor media. Read on to find out the products that are featured in this year’s Rentak Selangor programme…
Soul-enriching Music: Cempuling Cempuling is a traditional music from Java that was brought to Malaya in 1928. Its songs carry lessons, wisdom and dakwah (spiritual teachings), often played during social gatherings. A performance typically starts with singing and then followed by music. The classic arrangement of cempuling involves six main instruments consisting of rebana ibu, gong, kempul, kempreng, enteng-enteng and rebana anak. But as time moves on, the music progresses – nowadays, a cempuling ensemble might even infuse modern instruments such as guitar, keyboard, and accordion. That being said, there are still many musicians in Malaysia, particularly among the Javanese community in Selangor, that stay true to the original instruments. One of them is the awardwinning Riadah group, consisting of members who are already its fourth generation. Another example is Tunas Sinar, a group comprising aspiring young players from SK Sungai Lang. The latter is taught by Mr. Ansar, who has dedicated his life to this art form since the 1980s. Due to its strong heritage value, the state government recognises cempuling as the official musical identity of Selangor. To support this, 14 sets of cempuling instruments were given out to the public schools in areas with high concentration of Javanese descendants to keep this art alive.
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Clockwise from above: Originating from West Java in Indonesia, the angklung found in Malaysia has only seven numbers in the notation system; Mandailing community in the olden days believed that the thunderous sounds of Gordang 9 can reach the spirit of their ancestors; Bahbola group participates in many festivals in Malaysia to create public awareness towards Semai culture.
Nature-inspired Music: Angklung Originating from West Java in Indonesia, angklung used to be a popular form of entertainment especially in the 1970s. The instrument is made from a set of bamboo tubes carefully carved and attached to a bamboo frame with rattan cords. Each tube can produce a single note or chord when shaken rapidly from side to side, but when three of the tubes or more are played in ensemble, beautiful complete melodies will be produced. Interestingly, the angklung found in Malaysia is different from the one found in Indonesia, whereby the former features only seven numbers in the notation system, while the latter has over 20 numbers. Today, many schools in Selangor offer angklung as an extracurricular activity, including Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Taman Sri Muda (Taman Sri Muda National Secondary School), Shah Alam. The club is taught by Mr. Sam Mat Kous, an ardent angklung instructor with over 16 years of experience. Indigenous Cultural Pride: Bahbola The Bahbola group is no stranger among avid cultural observers of Malaysian indigenous cultures because it frequents the stages of many festivals and introduces aboriginal beliefs and customs to the public through captivating re-enactments of traditional ceremonies. The group is led by Sali Bah Bola – affectionately known as Atok – who belongs to the Semai sub-ethnic group predominantly found in Pahang, Perak and Selangor. Despite being exposed to modernity, many members of the Semai community still uphold animism. The acts of singing and dancing, for example, are not merely forms of entertainment; among the Semai community, they are mediums used to communicate with the supernatural forces, be it for protection or to cure a sick tribe member. Be sure to witness the performance by Bahbola if you ever get the chance because it is both eye-opening and fascinating! Royal Legacy: Gordang 9 Originally from the Indonesian island of Sumatera, Gordang 9, as the name suggests, showcases nine drums representing the nine kings who each ruled nine kingdoms in Sumatera back in the 18th and 19th centuries. These drums were revered as a symbol of kingly strength, often played in the presence of royalty during weddings and funerals. The kings sometimes granted special permission for their people to use these drums for personal reasons, usually to call upon their ancestors’ spirits for help, in line with their animist beliefs back then. They believed the thunderous sounds from these drums sent signals to their ancestors. Of course, those practices have long disappeared yet the communities from Sumatera, especially the Mandailing, still play Gordang 9 during special occasions. From 1803 to 1838, the Padri War broke out in North Sumatera, forcing many Mandailing people to migrate to the neighbouring territories, including the Malay Peninsula (now Peninsular Malaysia). Small populations of Mandailing can be found in Selangor, especially Kajang, Ulu Langat and Gombak. Naturally, the culture and traditions such as Gordang 9 were also brought along to Malaysia. One of the Malays of Mandailing descent who strives to keep this legacy alive is Mr. Roslan bin Ahmad. He learned the skill in performing Gordang 9 from a master in Sumatera himself, and eventually founded his own troupe in 2013 to teach the younger generation about this art form. Already in its second generation, this troupe now performs at various festivities upon request.
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Top: Music asli integrates both traditional Malay and western musical instruments, with the violin playing the lead role. Below: ApepeRoger Buskers delighting spectators with musical covers of timeless hits, including the band’s original songs.
Aristocratic Art: Muzik Asli The word asli in the context of music refers to the old traditional or semi-traditional music style or performance that was popular back in the 1940s and during the aristocratic era. The musical arrangements integrate both traditional Malay and western musical instruments, with the violin playing a major part of the melody. Other accompanying instruments include the accordion or the harmonium, the gendang (two-headed drum), the knobbed gong, the rebana ubi (grand drum), the seruling (bamboo flute) and the bass guitar. On top of these, the asli music genre is accompanied by lyrics expressed in the form of pantun (rhyming poem) that touches on aspects of social life such as romance and wisdom. Unfortunately for us, many prominent figures in Muzik Asli have passed away, so if you miss listening to this genre live, the band Suara Otai under the management of Majlis Kebudayaan Negeri Selangor (Selangor State Cultural Council or MKNS) has been preserving and propagating this music for over 20 years. The band also accepts invitations to perform at events. For bookings, contact Mr. Awal from MKNS at +6 011 1234 3172. Environmental Conscious Art: Recycle Band Meet Pak Dik, the musical marvel who proves that with a dash of creativity, we can all create amazing things. He channels his love for music by making his own musical instruments, but interestingly, his creations revolve around upcycling old and used materials. Take his rhythm guitar for example, which is created from parts of a vintage television set and an old bed! According to Pak Dik, those instruments can be used to make a variety of musical arrangements, but with slightly subtle sounds. To solve this, an amplifier is added to create higher and more powerful volume whenever he plays those instruments with his band, including that one time when they performed at the famous Rainforest World Music Festival. Now, the band entertains wedding guests with sweet melodies for MYR1,500 for four hours. For bookings, contact Pak Dik directly at +6 011 2309 7331. Busking Beat: ApepeRoger Buskers Buskers make exploring towns and cities even more fun because they add flavour to the place and make live performances accessible to many. And fortunately, Selangor has plenty of spots where music lovers can enjoy this form of entertainment such as The Curve Damansara, Busk & Food Subang Jaya and Centro Mall. But if you happen to travel along the North–South Expressway, make a stop at the popular Overhead Bridge Restaurants (OBR), also known as Restoran Jejantas, which part of the Sungai Buloh rest area. The group, ApepeRoger Buskers (Facebook: @apeperoger), makes weekly appearance here from Friday to Sunday, 9:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m., delighting spectators with musical covers of timeless hits, including the band’s original songs. The group also accepts bookings for any kind of events for MYR2,500 for a six-hour performance.
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In 2021, Rentak Selangor programme also incorporates a digital recording broadcasted on various social media platforms. The recording session was held on 27 February 2021 at Warisan Hall Studio, Teluk Panglima Garang, in accordance with the guidelines and preventive measures issued by the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) and the National Security Council (MKN) to promote physical distancing at the onset of COVID-19 pandemic. The Rentak Selangor 2021 live show highlighted the cultural diversity of multiple ethnic groups in the state of Selangor, namely Malay, Chinese, Indian and indigenous communities. Some of the cultural performances featured in the recording are cempuling, pooja dance, gambus, kuda kepang, bahbola, joget Selangor, zapin Selangor, peacock dance and lion dance. The public can watch the recording of Rentak Selangor programme on the Rentak Selangor’s official Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/rentakselangormy), which garnered 62,000 views and counting since its premier at 8:30 p.m. on 28 February 2021. The video can also be viewed on Youtube through Warisan Records channel (www.youtube.com/c/WarisanRecords/ videos).
Top: Joget Selangor performance during the recording session of Rentak Selangor 2021. Bottom: During Rentak Selangor 2021 recording session, Mr. Borhan Aman Shah announced that the Selangor state government is creating more programmes similar to Rentak Selangor to preserve the state’s cultural heritage.
Destinations
Perlis: Small State, Big Experience X
#LepakMalaysiaLah Te x t b y FA R H A N A F UA D Images by MUHAMMAD HASIF MOHD JELANI
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Even though Perlis is the smallest state in Malaysia, it has many unique geological resources and attractions to offer. Located on the Malaysia-Thailand border, Perlis has a certain charm and unrivalled beauty that cannot be found anywhere else. From urban tourist attractions to amazing natural wonders, Perlis continues to offer exciting experiences for travellers. Read on to find out what this minute northern Peninsular Malaysia state has to offer. Tourism Malaysia recently collaborated with Gaya Travel Magazine in organising a media familiarisation trip to Perlis from the 19th until the 22nd of March 2021. Read on to find out about what we discovered during that trip, which you can use as a guide when exploring this charming northern Peninsular Malaysian state. See you in Perlis soon!
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Clockwise from Top Left: Mural Awang Batil Penglipur Lara at the Kangar Street Art 2.0; Street art and decorations are replete at Kampung Seberang Ramai; The naturally formed stalactites and stalagmites found inside Wang Burma Cave; Sunflower Garden at Perlis Snake & Reptile Farm.
WHAT TO SEE & DO IN PERLIS: Kangar Street Art 2.0 It would be such a waste not to stop by Kangar Street Art 2.0 when you find yourself at the centre of Kangar, the capital of Perlis. What used to be a backstreet has now become colorful and bright thanks to the initiative done by the Perlis state government, together with Perlis Artists Association to promote and beautify Kangar. With murals acting as the medium to attract visitors, Kangar Street Art 2.0 showcases 25 different mural paintings on the walls and street floor itself featuring both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) artworks that run along the theme of heritage and nostalgia. Among the murals displayed are Perlis’ iconic figures such as Awang Batil Penglipur Lara, Pak Samad Putu Mayang, Yus Raja Lawak and nostalgic paintings of Kangar town in the 1980s and 1990s. Wang Kelian View Point Located along the northwestern part of the ThailandMalaysia border at an altitude of 304 metres above sea level, Wang Kelian View Point is one of Perlis’ well-known attractions. As early as 6:30 a.m., visitors are able to see beautiful sunrise and the carpet cloud phenomenon while enjoying the cool breezy atmosphere. Travellers can walk up a small hill from Wang Kelian View Point signboard near the parking area towards the top. There are options to drive up the hill but where is the fun in that? Imagine walking up and being greeted by mists before finally seeing a whole sea of cloud spread out before you for free! Be sure to get some delicious breakfast at the top since there are a number of food stalls available serving a variety of food and drinks. Wang Burma Cave Tour Wang Burma Cave is among the 30 caves that exist within the Perlis State Park, which happens to be Malaysia’s first state park. Starting with a 700-metre jungle trek to reach towards the cave entrance together with a tour guide, travellers will then walk along two paths: the dry path (Gua Jantan) that starts off with a walking track and then onto soft soil; followed by the interestingly drenched path (Gua Basah), where visitors will walk and crawl along a narrow and wet path with water that comes around your ankles, so be prepared to get wet! Throughout the cave tour, visitors will discover an abundance of rock formations such as stalactites and stalagmites naturally formed in the cave, aside from bats, spiders, cave crickets and even hedgehogs, if you are lucky. Tour guide fee: MYR80 for a group of 10 people that include a tour guide from Perlis State Park
Perlis State Park also provides dorms, chalets and camping sites for travellers’ accommodation. For more information: Contact: +6 04 945 7898 Operation Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (daily) Admission Fee: MYR2 (adult); MYR1 (children aged 7 – 18 years old)
Tasik Melati Recreational Park Tasik Melati (Melati Lake) Recreational Park is a beautiful site that is suitable for travellers of all ages to enjoy. This peaceful and mesmerising park is definitely a place for travellers to destress. On top of that, the Chinese architectural features of the pavilions and floating footbridges around Melati Lake enhance the landscape. Travellers can choose to jog, exercise or just have a picnic with family and friends. Besides, this park requires no entrance fee and the parking space is free of charge too! Perlis Snake & Reptile Farm Known as the biggest snake farm in Malaysia, Perlis Snake & Reptile Farm in Kangar is home to over 150 venomous and non-venomous snakes from Malaysia and overseas. This farm does not only exhibit various species of snakes, but also serves as a learning centre and tourist attraction. Other than the petting zoo where visitors are able to get up close with tamed snakes, travellers can observe other animals like crocodile, deer, and ostrich too. There is even a sanctuary for domestic stray cats that are rescued and placed in their new home called Bustana Kucing (Cat Park) as an effort to keep them safe and nurse them back to health. Visitors can play with them and even adopt any of these cats. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to take pictures with the rows of beautiful sunflower plants planted near the farm as well! Entrance fee: Adults (13 years old & above): MYR6 Children (5-12 years old): MYR3 Children (below 4 years old): Free Kampung Seberang Ramai One of the latest tourist attractions in Perlis is the cheerful fisherman village called Seberang Ramai in Kuala Perlis that has been given a new lease of life as an initiative to make it an example and raise public awareness towards practising 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) to the local community. Other than mural artworks and decorations that grace the village’s nook and cranny, travellers can also admire several traditional Perlis houses, traditional food stalls and most importantly the iconic and colourful Tuanku Syed Putra Bridge. We love how the surroundings of the village are clean and well kept.
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Al Hussain Mosque (Floating Mosque) Known as one of the most beautiful mosques in Malaysia, Al Hussain Mosque will surely fascinate both Muslims and non-Muslims. The mosque structure extends and overlooks the Straits of Malacca, hence its nickname, with a 50-metre bridge connecting the main prayer hall from the entrance. What is unique about this mosque is that its walls are not painted but decorated using marble, pebble, quartz and granite. The mosque has twin hexagonal minarets. Al Hussain Mosque also offers the best spot for sunset viewing, so don’t forget to capture some beautiful shots when you are at this mosque! Ladang Harum Manis Kubang Gajah Facebook: Ladang Harum Manis Kubang Gajah Perlis Instagram: ladangharummaniskubanggajah Did you know that Harum Manis mangoes, known for its rich and sweet flavour, have slight differences in texture and taste compared to normal mangoes? Harum Manis mangoes have better aroma and fragrance – meaning it is much sweeter – than normal mangoes. At Kubang Gajah Harum Manis Farm, travellers are able to witness Harum Manis trees in abundance and even pluck the mangoes when in season. Harum Manis are usually harvested once a year, normally between the end of April and until the end of June. The Harum Manis mangoes are wrapped in paper bag for 65 days for best result. T: +6 013 500 4130
WHAT TO EAT IN PERLIS: Mee Zdin Starting out with only mi rebus (boiled noodle), fried noodle and pasembor (shrimp fritters and hard-boiled eggs with seasoned peanut sauce), Mee Zdin has now grown to selling over 70 menus after operating for seven years. The price of the dishes remained the same as when they first started (egg fried rice for MYR4 and drinks like tea and coffee for MYR1.50) and this might be the reason why this restaurant is always full. Mee Zdin Restaurant also provides event rooms for special occasions with the price of MYR35 per hour. Opens daily (7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.) except on Sunday Contact Number: 013 512 1240 Instagram & Facebook: Restoren Mee Zdin Chortiez & Co Café Chortiez & Co is popular in Kangar for its juicy steaks and grilled food, especially Chicken Chop (topped with black pepper honey and mushroom cheese gravy) and Lamb Chop dishes that make you crave for more because of their tender and thick meat. Chortiez & Co Café also serves up burgers, pastas, rice, noodles and other delicacies. There is also a live band playing great music to entertain you while dining!
Kak Su Laksa Malaysians know that almost every state in the country has its own version of laksa (spicy noodle soup). Laksa Perlis is quite similar to Laksa Kedah, but Laksa Perlis is usually eaten together with pulut udang (creamy glutinous rice filled with spicy prawn sambal, wrapped in banana leaves) and spera (a kind of puff filled with spicy coconut flakes). Try out Kak Su Laksa in Kuala Perlis for the best laksa in town, in which the specialty comes from its homemade rice noodles flooded by thick, grainy soup made from fresh fish grinded into small bits and accompanied by gratifying pulut udang and spera. Opens daily from 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. except Tuesday Kopitok If you are looking for a delicious breakfast to start off your morning right, head over to Kopitok in Kangar, a great little place with different dishes. Kopitok’s most popular dish is pandan nasi lemak with ayam goreng berempah (fried chicken cooked with Malay spice). The combination of the fragrance from the pandan-flavoured rice and aroma of the fried chicken makes a lovely meal. There are other choices of rice dishes too such as nasi kukus (steamed rice with a mixture of spicy gravy) that can be eaten together with fried chicken and toasts of different flavours such as peanut butter, chocolate nutella, butter and more. Travellers can enjoy other packed breakfast such as laksa and Malaysian traditional kuih muih to be found near the counter area. Operation hours: 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Daily except Sunday) Contact: +6 011 5663 9093 Online delivery in Kangar area at kopitok.com or Foodpanda Hannah Cookies With nice ambience and service, Hannah Cookies makes a good place to unwind and dine that offers dishes with large portion but reasonably priced. Apart from that, Hannah Cookies serve delicious savouries and cakes that are to die for. Diners can choose to eat either indoor or outdoor. Make sure to come early as the place is usually crowded especially during dinner time! Operation Hours: Tuesday – Friday (12 p.m. – 10.30 p.m.) Saturday & Sunday (4 p.m. – 10.30 p.m.) Closed on Monday WHERE TO STAY IN PERLIS: Tasoh Lake Resort Facebook: Tasoh Lake Resort by Tasoh TasikKu Tasoh Lake Resort serves as a good base to stay when exploring Perlis. The resort offers nature retreat and easy access to reach attractions such as Gua Kelam (Kelam Cave),
Wang Kelian View Point, Timah Tasoh Sanctuary, and Padang Besar. Enjoy a serene walk around the resort to take in the panoramic view of Timah Tasoh Lake, including breathtaking sunset and sunrise. Tasoh Lake Resort provides 34 Superior Rooms and three halls (Orchid, Lanai and Kelana) that can be used for a variety of events, meetings, team building and more. The resort has bicycle and electric motorbike rentals, train ride for children, flying fox, abseiling, camping, and barbeque. Contact: +6 019 470 8331 Gaya Travel Magazine team members extend our heartfelt gratitude to Tourism Malaysia for making our trip to Perlis a reality. Previous page: The breathtaking morning view from the top of Wang Kelian View Point. Below: Al-Hussain Floating Mosque Bottom: Mouth-watering pasembor (shrimp fritters and hard-boiled eggs with seasoned peanut sauce) served at Mee Zdin.
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TERENGGANU WO ODCARVINGS Te x t b y A Z M I A B D U LL A H
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Among the oldest professions practiced by the people of Terengganu are woodcarving and carpentry. Terengganu wood artisans are known for their skills not only in making beautiful wood carvings but also in the building of boats and traditional houses without using nails. In traditional homes, woodcarved ventilation panels are placed above doors and windows, adding aesthetic value. Such technology enables the interior of the homes to remain cool when it is hot outside and thermally comfortable during inclement tropical weather. From the entire house down to its beams, hallways, ornate doors, window shutters and furniture, the exquisite and brilliant wood craftsmanship can even be found on beds, jewelry boxes, mirror frames, and sofas. The wood carvers today draw inspirations from Islamic designs, plants and nature, and interpret their work by carving intricate flowery motifs, Quranic verses and Islamic geometrical designs, shunning depictions of animals or humans. However, some of these motifs have existed for hundreds of years, even before the pre-Islamic era and served as visual interpretations of legends and myths. Originally, each motif was derived from a legend or folklore, but with the advent of Islam, the interpretation of the motifs has been changed to suit the faith. An excellent destination for cultural enthusiasts to witness Terengganu woodcarving is Desa Ukiran Kayu (Woodcarving Village) in Kampung Raja, Besut (http://mdb.terengganu.gov.my/en/visitors/places-interest/desaukiran-kayu), which holds workshops and classes for budding woodcarvers, thus become a centre for vocational excellence. Not only are travellers able to see woodcarvers at work, they can appreciate the wooden structures found throughout the Village too, all built in traditional Terengganu Malay architecture. Today, there is an increasing awareness among the people, especially the elites, to preserve this heritage and adorn their homes, including corporate offices, government departments, universities, hotels and resorts, with traditional Malay woodcrafts as part of cultural revival.
Gaya Special Feature: Terengganu
The History of Woodcarving There are not many early historical records relating to woodcarving. But the archeological remains from the Neolithic age show evidence of carvings on potteries, bracelets, pitchers and crockeries. In the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Kedah, there are generations of carvers’ who are still influenced by Langkasuka motifs and designs that grace the mosques, gazebos, and palaces, especially in the Pattani region of Southern Thailand. The Malay traditional woodcarving is one of the oldest works of art. But because wood is a material with short lifespan, it is rare to find wood-based artefacts that last for thousands of years. There are however a few archaelogical remains of woodcarving that can be traced, for instance an old keris, antique crockery, ancient palaces, and mosques that withstood the test of time. The Philosophy The philosophy behind traditional woodcarving revolves around the motifs that possess priceless aesthetic value conveyed in intricate artforms. The design motifs created are not only meant to be appreciated as beautiful showpieces, but they resonate with symbolic meanings as well to connote the Malay community’s reverence towards virtues such as being gracious, cultured and upright. Traditional wood carving motifs are often associated with the carvers, their fine workmanship, the purpose of the carving, creativity and symbolic underpinnings. The merits of woodcarving go beyond the surface. Beneath the layers of purpose, workmanship, skills, creativity and symbols, lies the identity of the Malay carver. The motifs on a woodcarving signify the attributes of the Malay character
through tangible forms, normally based upon visual expressions, sosiocultural background and community’s beliefs. The meanings, when unravelled, uphold the philosophy behind the carvings. An example of the philosophy that refers to the qualities of the Malay character can be found in statements such as ‘A Sprouting Attribute’, ‘An Attribute Full Of Secrecy’, ‘Sharp Enough But Not Thrusting The Enemy’, and ‘The Circumference That Collaborates Friendship’. 1. An Expression of Devotion The philosophical meaning of ‘A Sprouting Attribute’ symbolises the Malay community’s devotion in accepting Islam as the way of life. Visually, the motifs on the carvings are sourced based on the carver’s own perception and expression, depicted by sprouting motifs like seedlings or flowers to mean that all humans are related and come from a single source created by Allah. Similarly, the philosophy ‘An Attribute Full of Secrecy’ refers to the fact that all motifs on the woodcarving starts from a hidden base point, implying that the might of Allah is always shrouded in secrecy from humans because their minds will never be able to fathom the greatness of the Creator. 2. An Expression of Peace The philosophical meaning of ‘Sharp Enough But Not Thrusting The Enemy’ relates to the Malays’ inclination towards peace. The sharp woodcarving motifs tend to avoid touching or colliding with each other, reflecting the Malays’ desire for peace and diplomacy, yet at the same time always have their weapons sharp and ready. 3. An Expression of Togetherness The philosophical meaning behind ‘The Circumference That Collaborates Friendship’ is the manifestation of togetherness. The woodcarving motifs are designed in a circumference and in stacks to reflect harmony and consensus. It reflects a way of life that is always collaborative and supportive towards each other, resulting in peace and togetherness, strengthening the bond within members of the
community. 4. An Expression of Loyalty The patrons to the woodcarvers in a traditional Malay community were usually monarchs and aristrocrats. In most cases, the woodcarvings found at the palaces were commissioned by royalty. The woodcarvers appointed by the royal palace generally hold higher status and demonstrated their loyalty, commitment, dedication and appreciation through their vocation, done to the best of their abilities. 5. An Expression of Tenderness The expression of tenderness of the Malay character is revealed through rhythmic motifs; the contortions and flows depicted in the curves of the leaves and motifs mean graciousness and endearment, considered part of the Malay character. 6. An Expression of Refinement Besides functionality, the best woodcarving products lie in their aesthetics. But achieving the highest aesthetic standards requires creativity, knowledge, skills and acumen. The woodcarver should be able to elegantly portray his emotions through every design and motif. Conclusion One can learn about the Malay character from the motifs of the traditional woodcarving, especially in terms of kinship, unity and togetherness, all expressed through the motifs. Carvers whose works contain philosophies representing the attributes of the Malay character through intricate motifs tend to produce woodcarvings that are high in aesthetic value and deep in meaning. Text is based from the book ‘The Expression of Malay Identity Behind Traditional Wood Carving’ (‘Ekspresi Keperibadian Melayu Di Sebalik Ukiran Kayu Tradisional’) by Izani bin Mat Il, Faculty of Art, Computing & Creative Industry, Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI).
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Destinations
Taiping, A Town With Everlasting Heritage Gems X
#LepakMalaysiaLah Text by FARHANA F UAD
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Images by MUHAMMAD HASIF MOHD JELANI
Culture and heritage are influential factors when travellers decide on where they would like to go because travellers are bound to learn something educational, eyeopening and inspiring at those destinations. That is particularly true when it comes to Malaysia because the country is blessed with diverse cultural heritage and natural resources. One such destination is Taiping in Perak. Taiping has always been a place of many ‘firsts’ ever since tin was discovered there back in the mid-1800s. The British imperial rule was so invested in Taiping due to the town’s lucrative tin trade that it introduced an impressive array of ‘firsts’ like the first railway line and the first telegraph office in Malaya. Taiping even served as the capital of the state of Perak from 1873 until 1937. A town filled with heritage, historic architecture, diverse culture and food, Taiping deserves to be put on a pedestal. As such, Tourism Malaysia, in collaboration with Gaya Travel Magazine, organised a media familiarisation trip to Taiping from the 23rd until the 25th of March 2021 to showcase what this atmospheric destination has to offer, which readers can discover in the following pages...
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WHAT TO SEE & DO IN TAIPING:
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Taiping Lake Garden www.taipinglakecruise.com Considered as the icon of Taiping, the land where the lush Taiping Lake Garden is currently thriving on was formerly plots of abandoned tin mines. Being the brainchild of the Acting Assistant British Resident of Perak Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Sandilands Frowd Walker, then pursued by Constance Sydney Holmes who was the wife of the British Resident of Perak Frank Swettenham with the help from mining inspector William R. Scott and developed by Charles Compton Reade, the disused mining site was successfully turned into a recreational park for the benefit of the public, drawing inspiration from the Lake District in the United Kingdom. Magnificent raintrees can be seen along this 60-hectare park with their big branches extending over the water, creating a peaceful and serene ambience. Be sure to partake on a paddleboat adventure along the lake with Taiping Lake Ride & Cruise to take in more of this magical site. Taiping Lake Ride & Cruise Visiting Hours: Monday – Thursday (10:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.) Friday – Sunday (9:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.) Contact: +6 05 808 2355 or +6 012 523 2204 Hajah Azizah Gold Thread (Tekat Emas) The art of gold thread embroidery is an elegant traditional handicraft that can be traced back to the 15th century. Though slowly fading away in these modern times, there still exists a handful of gold thread embroiders in Kuala Kangsar (40-minute drive away from Taiping), and one of them is Hajah Azizah Mohd Yusof, who received recognition as the National
Master Craftsman for Gold Thread Embroidery in 2018. Hajah Azizah has 35 years of experience in the embroidery industry, producing countless custom-made household furnishing that are mostly done manually. Hajah Azizah took the initiative to promote the art of gold thread embroidery by organising and leading gold thread embroidery workshops, besides exhibiting the products near her house in Kampung Padang Changkat, Bukit Chandan, Kuala Kangsar. Travellers who are interested to drop by or order gold thread embroidery are welcome to call Hajah Azizah at +6 012 513 6400. Taiping Heritage Trail Taiping Heritage Trail is a self-guided trail aimed at highlighting the heritage buildings and landmarks considered as the “firsts” in Taiping such as the House of Orang Besar Jajahan, the first modern railway station, St. George School, King Edward VII School, The Post Office, The Telegraph Office, Taiping Prison and more. Traversing along this 11.5-kilometre trail feels much like stepping back in time. Throughout the journey, travellers can find information boards explaining the history of each designated site, making it fun and knowledgeable at the same time. Matang Mangrove Eco-Educational Forest Centre www.perakforestry.gov.my Did you know that Malaysia has one of the best managed mangroves in the world? Matang Mangrove Eco-Educational Forest Centre – managed by the Perak State Forestry Department – provides recreational facilities, eco-tourism opportunities and improve public awareness towards the importance of managing our forests. While strolling along the boardwalk through the mangrove forest, travellers are immersed in the mangrove ecosystem, led by knowledgeable tour guide. Matang Mangrove also sets up facilities like interpretation centre,
accommodations (chalets, dorms, and a campsite), and multipurpose halls. Remember to take the guided boat tours for dolphin sight-seeing and birdwatching as well! Operating Hours: Daily (8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.) Contact: +6 05 858 1762 / +6 05 807 2762 Facebook: Pusat Eko Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve, Kuala Sepetang Kuala Sepetang Charcoal Factory Kuala Sepetang is best known for its excellent practices in managing the mangrove forests, which have the resources crucial for the local charcoal processing industry. To understand how the traditional ways of making charcoal is done, which is certified as sustainable, head to Kuala Sepetang Charcoal Factory. The process of making charcoal takes up to 30 days through five detailed steps: (1) inserting and neatly arranging the debarked mangrove logs into the charcoal kiln; (2) heating the charcoal kiln up to 85°C and letting the mangrove logs dry up with big fire method; (3) let the heat reach 350°C and logs will turn into charcoal within 10 days; (4) every kiln opening will be closed and fire will be put out before (5) charcoal is taken out of the kiln. Travellers can obtain detailed information on the charcoal-making process from the same Matang Mangrove tour guide. Fun fact: The water vapour, or also known as wood vinegar from the charcoal kiln, is good as fertiliser or insect repellent, besides being a remedy for treating skin problems.
Old Port Weld Scenic Bridge & Railway Station Port Weld is where the first railway station in Malaysia is located along the
track that used to link Kuala Sepetang to Taiping. Even though the railway has long gone, travellers who come here can still see the big old signage with the name ‘Port Weld’ written close to a fishing village. Don’t miss climbing up the Port Weld Bridge (but do be careful) to enjoy the scenic view of Sungai Reba and dozens of fishing boats below. Taiping Zoo & Night Safari Covering an area of 36 acres (14 hectares), Taiping Zoo is situated amidst natural setting consisting of lakes and abundant flora, making it unique. Did you know that Taiping Zoo is currently home to more than 1,300 animals from 140 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and fish, and it is the only zoo in the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia? Travellers can admire countless animals that include Malaysian tigers, lions, elephants and more. Be sure to also experience the unforgettable Night Safari and get up close with nocturnal animals either by walking along the designated path or riding on the tram together with a guide. Entrance Fee: Adult: MYR16 (Taiping Zoo); MYR20 (Night Safari) Children (aged 3 – 12): MYR8 (Taiping Zoo); MYR10 (Night Safari) Taiping Zoo: Opens every day including Sundays & Public Holidays from 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Night Safari: Opens every night including Sundays & Public Holidays from 8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.; Friday, Saturday nights & eve of Public Holidays from 8:00 p.m. – 12:00 midnight Clockwise from Previous Page, Top: Pedal boats can be rented from Taiping Lake Ride & Cruise; One of the workers at Kuala Sepetang Charcoal Factory carrying a debarked mangrove log to be inserted into the charcoal kiln; The old Port Weld railway station and Kuala Sepetang signage; Hajah Azizah demonstrating how a gold thread embroidery is made.
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Clockwise from Top Left: Participants taking turns in feeding a hippopotamus at Taiping Zoo Night Safari; Some of the dishes served at Mergastua Zoo Taiping Restaurant; Reserve The Cozytainer offers snug loft-style accommodations; Kacang Pool served alongside Roti Benggali at The Train Wings & Sandwich.
WHAT TO EAT IN TAIPING: Mergastua Taiping Zoo Restaurant Facebook: Mergastua Located near the entrance of Taiping Zoo, Mergastua Restaurant offers a variety of local, Western and SouthEast Asian fare. A great restaurant with simple yet tasteful décor, it is convenient for travellers who come to Taiping Zoo to have their meals here instead of venturing outside. Mergastua Restaurant caters for farewell dinners and corporate functions as well. Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday (9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.) Friday to Sunday & Public Holidays (8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.) Tok Janggut The Cafe Villa Facebook: Tok Janggut Homestay Taiping This café’s vintage touch is definitely its plus point, other than its diverse menu offerings. It is hard not to feel nostalgic when dining here because as soon as you step into the café, its stylish interior and brick walls are sure to bring nostalgia. This café has an equally impressive menu ranging from Western to rice dishes. Tok Janggut The Café Villa even offers a chalet and villa in case travellers are interested in staying overnight. Website: tokjangguthomestay.blogspot.com Instagram: thecafevillatokjanggut Warung Kari Sembilang & Udang Galah Menggelupoq This restaurant serves Malay dishes such as beef cooked in soy sauce, squid dishes, and mutton kurma, but
its specialty is the eel catfish and freshwater prawn curry that are so good it is actually worth coming from far just to eat here. Cooked to perfection, the fresh and thick curry teemed with mild spices makes the dish special. Eat together with a plate of steamy rice and ulam ulaman (salad), the dishes served here will not only make your stomach full but also fills up your heart. Doli Kuey Teow Goreng Locals in Taiping are familiar with this establishment, one of the best in town. The fried kuey teow comes with generous amounts of prawns, cockles, bean sprouts, eggs and spring onions, served with soy sauce and chopped chillies on the side. There is a special version of fried kuey teow as well, with bigger portion and larger prawns. Other dishes worth ordering are curry noodles, mi rebus (boiled noodles) and chicken rice. Operating Hours: Opens daily from 12:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. (except Fridays) The Train Wings & Sandwich Facebook: TheTrain. ColonialChickenWingsAndSandwich Located adjacent to the old Taiping train station, experience dining here whilst the train arrive and depart in the background. As the name suggests, the chicken wing dishes are indeed the star attraction. Serving up to six different types of chicken wing dishes (Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Malaysian and Colonial Buffalo Chicken), customers can choose the one that suits their taste buds best. Other types of dishes served here are
Western (chicken and lamb grill, fish and chips) and Malay (fried rice and kacang pool). Operating Hours: Opens daily from 5:30 p.m. – 12:00 midnight (except Mondays) WHERE TO STAY IN TAIPING: Reserve The Cozytainer Facebook: Reserve The Cozytainer Being five minutes away from Taiping town centre, this unique containershaped hotel is ideal for travellers seeking a unique Taiping staycation experience. Guests can choose between the three types of packages (double, triple, or quadruple) based on the number of persons. Each accommodation is affordably priced, equipped with air conditioning unit, en suite toilet, television and basic amenities. There is enough parking space available on-site and a shared common area with small pantry available for guests’ use. Another interesting fact about this hotel is that travellers can do self check-in after being in touch with the person in-charge through Whatsapp or phone call. Contact: +6 014 945 8023 (Lean) Instagram: Reserve The Cozytainer Gaya Travel Magazine team members extend our heartfelt gratitude to Tourism Malaysia for making our trip to Taiping a reality.
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Gaya Special Feature: Kelantan
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the extraordinar y K E L A N T A N
Kelantan is the perfect epitome for future-proof tourism as it is a time capsule that keeps its centuries-old heritage well-preserved. The Kelantanese emphasise on the durability of their local culture and nature, hence they welcome visitors from all over the globe to see for themselves the unique traditions available in the state. Now is the time for you to meet the local people and immerse in authentic culture by discovering the homestays, villages and communities in Kelantan.
Pulau Suri Floating Market Many are still unaware of the existence of floating markets in Malaysia. Travellers now do not need to go through the hassle and spend extra money and travel to neighbouring countries just to witness such markets. In 2016, Pulau Suri opened to the public and instantly recognised as the first floating market in the country. Located on a small island in Tumpat district, Pulau Suri can only be reached by canoes and boats operated by locals. The boat rides from Kuala Besar and Kok Majid jetties take around 15 minutes to 40 minutes to reach the island. Along the journey, you can sit back and relax while enjoying the river’s gentle breeze and picturesque sceneries of Kelantanese fishing villages. Once on the island, you will find yourself in an exuberant ambience that beckons you to start shopping for Kelantanese delicacies and handicrafts. The sellers here peddle a wide range of popular traditional food and beverages such as kerabu nipah, lokan bakar, ketupat sotong, traditional kuih, coconut jelly and nasi kerabu. While feasting on delectable meals with family and friends, you may also entertain yourself with traditional music or cultural performances performed by the locals such as dikir barat and kertok. Then, if you fancy more shopping, you should head to the handicraft vendors that sell baju kaftan, shawls, scarves, batik, keychains and paintings, including souvenirs for your comrades back at home. Later, imagine yourself living like one of Pulau Suri’s villagers by engaging in fun-filled activities such as coconut-picking monkeys, making charcoal from coconut shells, painting batik and building fishing boats. Min House Camp Min House Camp is a nature retreat situated along Pengkalan Datu river, a perfect spot for those who need to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Surrounded by tall trees and a small tidal estuary at its front, this homestay is free from air pollution and offers you pristine natural air that instantly gives you a sense of serenity. Every guest is promised a perfectly splendid time discovering different species of flora and fauna while getting busy with all sorts of adventurous activities like archery, kayaking, river-bathing, fishing and clam-digging. This back-to-nature retreat is a great way for you to unwind and rest your overactive minds.
As you walk around the homestay, you can find a bee and guppy farm, including a mini petting zoo filled with chicken, ducks and geese, all suitable for children who love to spend quality time feeding and bonding with these animals. The main highlight of Min House Camp is getting on a night boat ride or kayak to watch fireflies flickering by the riverside. Fireflies normally can be found near water and the darkness of the night allows them to produce bioluminescence that emit enchanting glimmer of lights. When staying at Min House Camp, you are encouraged to learn about how the residents of Kampung Pulau live by joining a village tour or a night walk guided by one of the homestay’s staff. The villagers here greet you with open arms because they are ecstatic when tourists come all the way to experience their culture. Feel free to ask any question as the villagers are all friendly and helpful. During the village tour, you will be brought to fruit orchards, vegetable gardens and, if you are lucky, catch a monkey that help to pluck coconuts for you to drink. After an exhilarating adventure exploring the beauty of Kampung Pulau, it is time for you to loosen up by having a body massage or even enjoy delicious Kelantanese cuisine at Anjung Selera. You can satisfy your taste buds and hunger by savouring roti canai, nasi ulam, patin tempoyak, ikan keli bakar, tilapia goreng, laksa and laksam. Other than that, you may learn to cook scrumptious traditional Kelantanese dishes, make your own handicrafts, play traditional games or watch cultural performances such as the wayang kulit too. The homestay’s management promises a highly personalised, supportive, and attentive service so that your stay will be meaningful. Singgora Homestay Singgora is vital in the construction of the roof of a Kelantan Malay traditional structure. Singgora roof tiles, made of clay, does not only protect the building but also symbolises racial identity. It is one of Kelantan’s well-preserved architectural elements that carries the state’s heritage in its design. The roof ’s cultural symbol and aesthetic value are the attributes that drive Encik Mohamed bin Salleh, a civil engineer, to start the Singgora homestay business. His burning passion in architecture and impeccable craftsmanship in building Kelantan traditional houses have successfully captured the attention of the locals, heritage lovers, photographers and travellers from outside the state. Located in Kampung Air Deras, Pasir Hor, you can feel what it is like
to live in a tranquil village within Kota Bharu city limit. Upon reaching the homestay’s wooden gate, you will definitely be awed by the intricate architectural beauty of its façade, which were all built using the combination of chengal, teak, and yellow wood that are over a century old. Singgora homestay offers three different types of rooms that are furnished with comfortable double beds and ceiling fans. Each room has en-suite bathroom although some guests may want to try bathing at the 100-year old well water. Those who intend to relish the nostalgia of kampung life would find this place ideal for you since it is surrounded by streams, forest trees, bamboos, honeybees, chicken and ducks. You are bound to bring home priceless memories when staying here. Perahu Kolek Back in the old days, the Malays used perahu kolek as their main transport to cross the calm waters and shallow rivers of Kelantan. Perahu kolek is a vibrantly-painted boat decorated with chengal wood carvings. This ornately-designed boat is painted in many colours and bears patterns symbolising power, beliefs or traditions. The heads of the boat are carved with motifs like stork, okok and caping that are derived from the influence of Ramayana and Mahabrata wayang kulit stories. Stork motif alludes to the efficient animal that is expert in catching fish and represents safety at sea. Technically, the stork-shaped head is placed in front of the boat as a guide for the boatmen when navigating. Okok is a short form for the word bongkok, which means hump in Kelantanese dialect. The word okok is taken from a character in wayang kulit that describes a hunchback from heaven. It is carved in a flat shape, two inches to two feet smaller than the stork carving. Perahu Kolek also has a piece of wood called caping that is tied to the boat’s perch carved in the shape of a tree or mountain, also frequently seen in wayang kulit. Kampung Pulau Gajah Pantai Sabak in Pengkalan Chepa is renowned for perahu kolek rides that are operated by the local community. The boats’ interiors are decorated with carpets and pillows to make travellers feel comfortable and cosy. During the four-kilometre ride on perahu kolek, you can alight at Pengkalan Datu floating market, then stop by at Ar-Rahman Mosque that is famous for its architecture, before returning to Kampung Pulau Gajah Pantai Sabak jetty. The whole two-way trip costs RM400 per boat, which can accommodate up to 10 persons at a time. For more information on tourism in Kelantan, visit http://tourism.kelantan.my/index.php/en/profail.
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T O P P L AC E S TO V I S I T I N JOHOR Te x t b y N U R S YA Z WA N I R O S L A N Images by JUHAN KAMARUDDIN & MOHAMAD NABIL FIKRY
Johor – the southern-most state on Peninsular Malaysia bordering Singapore – has always been the state that I would love to live besides Kuala Lumpur. It has many things to offer, from lush greenery, heritage buildings, modern city life, and many types of food that is bound to amaze foodies and gourmands alike. It is one of the more popular states in Malaysia that brims with fun-filled attractions that are suitable for travellers of all age groups, especially families with children.
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WHAT TO EXPERIENCE? JOHOR BAHRU’S ZERO-KILOMETRE MONUMENT
This landmark – located just in front of Johor Bahru post office – indicates the starting point when distances are measured in Johor. Don’t miss taking pictures here to gloat that you’ve been to the starting point of Johor Bharu, which surprisingly not many people knew.
SULTAN ISMAIL BUILDING
Sultan Ismail Building – located within Johor’s seat of administration called Kota Iskandar (www.kotaiskandar.com), around 18 kilometres away from Johor Bahru city centre – is the place where Johor State Legislative Assembly meets. This grand building, which sports Moorish-Andalusian and Johor-Malay architectural styles, is the place where the members of the public can learn how legislations for the state of Johor are debated and passed. As travellers enter the building, they are welcomed by a water feature flanked by two large curved staircases just like in Bollywood movies, which make for nice Instagram shots. Upstairs is the Johor State Legislative Assembly Hall, cleverly embellished with symbols denoting Johor’s economic wealth from the past such as motifs of black pepper and gambier.
Note: Check out the design of the building’s ceiling, which takes cues from the shape of the pineapple flower because Johor is one of the major pineapple exporters in Malaysia.
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Top: The impressive Johor State Legislative Assembly Hall inside Sultan Ismail Building in Kota Iskandar Bottom: The oversized replica of Sultan of Johor’s Crown at Laman Mahkota
Operating hours: Daily | 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. *except Mondays & Public Holidays
LAMAN MAHKOTA, ISTANA BUKIT SERENE
Since I am a person who simply loves taking in the cool tropical breeze at night and hang out with friends and family, I find that Laman Mahkota, situated close to the gates of Istana Bukit Serene (Serene Hill Palace), is perfect to spend quality time with them in Johor Bahru. Laman Mahkota is where travellers can find the oversized replica of the Sultan of Johor’s Crown – supported by four curved pillars that almost resemble arches – hovering above their heads, making it an interesting subject to photograph. At night, the place illuminates with a sense of grandeur. The park is also beautifully adorned with water fountains that lit up with coloured lights in the evening.
JOHOR CRAF T COMPLEX
(kraftangan.gov.my/en/craft-complex/johor-craft-complex) Do you ever feel like you need to get your hands on items like traditional musical instruments, paintings and handicrafts? Travellers can surely do so when they visit the Johor Craft Complex, where they can witness live demonstrations in the making of handicrafts and playing of traditional musical instruments like kompang, angklung and gamelan ensemble. The centre also organises art classes and activities such as batik- colouring, wau-making (traditional Malay kites), tie-dyeing, keychain-making and more. Operating hours: Daily | 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tip: Go there during weekends when the centre hosts car boot sale.
TAN SRI DATO’ HJ. HASSAN YUNOS STADIUM AT LARKIN
(johorsoutherntigers.com.my) The much-celebrated Johor Darul Ta’zim Football Club (simply known as JDT) is held by Johoreans in high esteem, owned by His Royal Highness Major General Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, The Crown Prince of Johor. The Tan Sri Dato’ Hj. Hassan Yunos Stadium, also known as Larkin Stadium, now painted in bright blue and red, is the newest addition to Johor’s attractions after being renovated and home to the club. Travellers can definitely feel the roaring spirit of Johor when entering the stadium. There is also a Johor-Japan football gallery that chronicles Japan’s success in qualifying the 1998 World Cup in France. Note: There are also JDT merchandise for sale like jerseys, key chains, lanyards and more.
DESARU FRUIT FARM
(desaruff.com) Desaru Fruit Farm is a 180-acre fruit farm that cultivates various tropical fruits such as durian, mango, mangosteen, guava, dragon fruit, rose apple, jackfruit, starfruit and passion fruit, among others. Though this is a non-self-plucking fruit farm, travellers can feast on fresh luscious fruits after completing their tour. Besides the informative guided fruit farm tour, there are also bee farm and petting zoo as well. Touring this farm is indeed educational and the guide explains expertly. When it is time for fruit-tasting, we were lavishly served with fresh and sweet fruits that were too good to pass up. Entrance ticket price Adult RM25 | Child RM20
OLD JOHOR FORT MUSEUM
(www.jmm.gov.my/ms/muzium/muzium-kota-johor-lama) First opened to the public in 2007, this museum – housed in a traditional wooden structure built in Malay vernacular using mortise and tenon method, devoid of any nail – exhibits information regarding Johor’s early beginnings before the founding of Tanjung Puteri, what we now called as Johor Bahru, in 1855. The museum is located within what is now a small village. Back in the 17th century, the site of the museum was where the fort of Old Johor was situated and served as one of the bases of the Old Johore Sultanate, which took up the Malay Sultanate mantle after the fall of Melaka Sultanate by the Portuguese. The lineage of the Melaka Sultanate was continued by the Old Johore Sultanate up until 1699, when Sultan Mahmud II died without an heir. Operating hours: Daily | 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Closed on First Day of Eid ul Fitr & Eid ul Adha Entrance is FREE
BELUKAR DURIAN WETLANDS, TANJUNG SEDILI
(facebook.com/KampungBelukarDurian/) Exploring the mangroves and learning about its ecosystem is educational. But that not all that travellers will get at Belukar Durian Wetlands; this place also offers fun-filled activities to be enjoyed with friends and family like rivercruising, kayaking, bicycling, camping, and fishing. There are also chalets for travellers to rent if they wish to stay overnight and catch fireflies that light up the mangrove trees.
Top: Tan Sri Dato’ Haji Hassan Yunos Stadium in Larkin, the home of Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) football club, also known as the Johor Southern Tigers Bottom: Idyllic surroundings of Kampung Belukar Durian in Sedili
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HORSESHOE CRAB LIVESTOCK AND HATCHERY Did you know that in Sedili Kecil, Johor, there is the only centre for horseshoe crab cultivation and hatchery in South East Asia? The centre accumulates horseshoe crab eggs, hatches them and rear the baby horsehoe crabs up to one year before releasing them back into the sea. This conservation effort helps to replenish the number of horseshoe crabs in the wild, particularly in the waters of Johor. Horseshoe crabs only reach sexual maturity when they are 14 years old. Due to overfishing, their number is dwindling fast and now each horseshoe crab retails up to RM15 due to high demand.
MENDANA STRAIT FLOATING CHALET
(facebook.com/kongkongchaletterapungpasirgudang) Johor is blessed with fresh seafood due to its proximity to the South China Sea. At at Chalet Terapung Selat Mendana (Mendana Strait Floating Chalet) in Kong Kong Laut, an hour and 15 minutes’ drive from Johor Bahru city centre., travellers are bound to have an interesting dining experience above water where they can feast upon freshly caught marine life that are then prepared in different ways such as spicy flower crab, ikan siakap tiga rasa (fried sea bass drenched in three-flavoured sauce), sotong celup tepung (deep fried squid), and udang galah kari kering (Lobster cooked in dry curry). This place also offers chalets above water so that travellers can focus on fishing activities during their stay. T: +6 013 480 6300 Note: To get to the place also involves a five-minute boat ride.
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Top: Getting up close and personal with a lobster at Mendana Strait Floating Chalet Bottom: The Observation Tower at Legoland Malaysia
LEGOLAND MALAYSIA RESORT
(legoland.com.my/) There seems to be no age limit for those who enjoy theme parks and what better way to spend quality time with your family than at LEGOLAND theme park in Johor, which is only one of the six LEGOLAND theme parks in the world! The LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort comprises a family-friendly hotel with themed rooms, LEGO theme park, LEGO waterpark and soon to open SeaLife Park. During our short visit, we simply had to try the world’s first LEGO Virtual Reality roller coaster, which offers a thrilling and adventurous ride, making us want to explore more of the park’s grounds that are replete with characters and miniature buildings made from LEGO bricks, including replicas of famous landmarks such as Taj Mahal, Petronas Twin Towers and more. Operating hours: Daily | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
JOHOR PREMIUM OU TLETS
(premiumoutlets.com.my/johor-premium-outlets) What better way to end the trip with a shopping trip to Johor Premium Outlets (JPO), which is one of the state’s ultimate shopping havens. This is the place where travellers can shop for renowned brands like Gucci, Guess, Coach, Adidas, to local ones like Vincci and Padini sold at discounted prices. There are also food and beverage outlets like Dome, Starbucks, Marrybrown and more for famished shoppers or those who prefer to sit down and dine rather than shop.
Tip: Since parts of the pedestrian areas of JPO are exposed to the elements, be sure to bring along caps and umbrellas just in case it rains or the sun scorches unbearably.
WHERE TO STAY? JEN JOHOR PU TERI HARBOUR
(www.shangri-la.com/en/hotels/jen/johor/puteriharbour) JEN Johor Puteri Harbour, which is part of the world-renowned hospitality group Shangri-La stable, is luxurious, plush and well thought out. The hotel is suitable for MICE guests too.
AMARI HOTEL
(amari.com/johor-bahru) Amari is a modern Thai hotel brand that is characterised by spaciousness, culture and philosophy. The décor of this hotel sports the colours and rhythms of modern Asia. It has 242 guestrooms and suites, meeting rooms, Breeze spa, and library. Guests are bound to enjoy the gastronomic offerings be it for breakfast, lunch and dinner at Amaya Food Gallery, where various Thai-influenced dishes are prepared by the chef using fresh ingredients. The presentation and flavours of the dishes harmonious fit with the modern Thai lifestyle.
SAND & SANDALS DESARU BEACH RESORT
(sandandsandals.com/) This accessible yet tranquil resort, located on Desaru Coast, invites guests to luxuriate and indulge on the white sandy beach or by the pool or at the spa, as well as having fun with the activities offered. Sands & Sandals Desaru Beach Resort is much recommended for couples who seek sweet getaway. Some of the highlights of the resort are the couple suites that come with big heart-shaped bathtubs.
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Kafe Kleptokrat: The Epitome of Resilience Te x t & I m a g e s b y S H A H I DA S A K E R I
As I take a spoonful of the warm, aromatic soup, a beautiful feeling of familiarity washes over me. “Ahh this reminds me of my childhood.” 104
It is a beautiful Friday morning, and I am sitting in an airy, well-lit courtyard café at one of the shop lots along Jalan Tun H S Lee. The place is bustling despite being on a weekday, perhaps diners are eagerly taking advantage of the Malaysian government’s recent decision to lift the Movement Control Order (MCO) in Klang Valley. But I can’t say that I am surprised by the crowd though; like most urbanites, dining out is one of the things that we terribly miss during the COVID-19 lockdown. Give us the green light, and off we go with our purses in tow. Kafe Kleptokrat, in particular, has been all over social media thanks to its Instagramworthy décor. A huge pool literally takes centre stage, giving this courtyard with its exposed brick walls a casual rustic feel, yet charming enough to hold a soirée. The colourful vintage windows, thriving potted and crawling wall plants, including white parasols, make for some much-appreciated touches too. But while I’m on this, let’s also acknowledge that Malaysia’s tropical climate might not be agreeable for open air dining all the time, so do plan your visit accordingly if you can’t stand humidity. Despite its unique design, I am more intrigued by the café’s backstory. You see, this popular café was originally a hostel targeted for visiting backpackers. Then, the global pandemic happened. And much like the hospitality industry around the world, the hostel was experiencing a period of low occupancy and uncertain future. The owner, Ng Sin Leong, then had a long chat with his team on how to save the business without having to let go of his staff. That’s when the idea of opening a cafe came about. Dormitories were transformed into dining spaces and the employees contribute their family recipes for the menu; in fact, when they started this venture, it was merely a small coffee kiosk and a little bakery, then later evolved into Kafe Kleptokrat.
Pair any of these delicious aforementioned fares with a glass of mocktail (MYR15), and a perfect lounge experience by the pool is yours. However, if you’re looking for a much sweeter ending, ask for the selections of cake available that day. They are all wonderful, made in-house in partnership with the equally fantastic Mingle Cafe. We finish by ordering a glass of iced latte each (MYR12), which has been concocted using a century old Australian blend by the renowned Cottle Coffee. Looking back, the pandemic might have brought a silver lining to Kafe Kleptokrat after all; the place so far hasn’t been short of Klang Valley locals who seek comfort in atmospheric places. The queues are long outside its door, but I have to give a special shout out to the cafe’s lovely front-of-house team for working the room with vigour and swiftness. They also do an amazing job in recommending the right menu to patrons. With such a passionate team, combined with the uncompromising flavours of the food and the fiery fighting spirit, Kafe Kleptokrat is already winning in so many ways… The menu here has great variety, yet not too overwhelming to the point that it takes too much time to select your order. It is a mix of classic Australian brunch and local comfort food. As a start, I order the avocado egg sandwich (MYR22) from their sourdough range to share with my company, and what comes to the table is a tower of soft homemade bread layered with fluffy scrambled eggs, creamy mashed avocado and juicy tomatoes, with tortilla chips on the side. Thank god we’ve ordered it for sharing, otherwise I might be too full for the next course. What comes later is a special dish, the seemingly humble soto ayam (MYR20), which happens to be Pak Alam’s (the Head Chef ) signature dish. I tend to get a little fussy when it comes to this particular recipe as soto ayam has always been one of my go-to comfort food since child; my grandma loved to make this whenever I visited her, thus the bar is set high. But, guess what? Pak Alam’s rendition comes as a close match. I am served with a huge bowl of glorious broth, so uplifting that you would want to have it during one of your low days. He also throws in lots and lots of shredded poached chicken with a big bergedil (minced meat potato cutlet) on top, just like what my grandma used to do. No doubt, this is a bowl of love, and Pak Alam, thank you for spoiling me with it. My companion, on the other hand, orders nasi lemak ayam goreng berempah (MYR25), also another win for this café. It is a vibrant meal served in the form of a generous portion of deepfried chicken and fragrant rice along with sambal, eggs and crispy anchovies on the side. You may skip the sambal if you want, because even on their own, the rice and chicken bring a wonderful multitude of flavours. Also, kudos to whomever decided to use the red clay dinnerware to serve the food here; on top of being aesthetically pleasing, the food stays warm a little longer too.
Facebook: @kafekleptokrat Opens every day: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (closes at 5:00 p.m. on Mondays & 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays till Thursdays)
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M U S T - D O I N
S E R E M B A N
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For a complete immersion of Seremban, the capital of Negeri Sembilan, the following are nine memorable activities that you should do when you are in the city... 1. EXPLORING BANDAR WARISAN SEREMBAN
With history spanning over 120 years, the city of Seremban has witnessed different phases of history, from the arrival of Minangkabau settlers, British colonisation and Japanese occupation to this day and age. With this in mind, Seremban City Council has developed a heritage trail named ‘Jejak Warisan Seremban’ (Seremban Heritage Trail), which invites travellers to trace Seremban’s charms and uniqueness through historical architecture, culture, and community. The trail begins from Seremban Train Station and ends at Pokok Getah Pertama Negeri Sembilan. Be sure to download the heritage map from https://www.mbs.gov.my/en/visitors/ serembans-charm/culture-and-heritage/jejakwarisan-seremban.
2. ‘SELFIE’ AT SEREMBAN STREET ART
For Instagram fanatics, Seremban Street Art is definitely a must-visit. The street art covers Jalan Dato Abd. Rahman, Jalan Tunku Hassan, Jalan Yam Tuan, and Jalan Dato’ Sheikh Ahmad. There are over 40 murals painstakingly painted by local artists from the state and across the country. The
themes of the street art include heritage, culture and prominent figures of Negeri Sembilan, besides ethnic groups, flora and fauna. Striking a pose alongside the street art is a must because the artworks are painted in 3D, resulting in unique effects on your photos!
3. WATER BIKE @ TAMAN TASIK SEREMBAN
Best suited for families, water bikes offer travellers the pleasant experience of exploring the Seremban Lake and relishing the surrounding garden’s tranquil atmosphere while pedalling on the water surface. The ticket price for the water bikes is reasonable too. Since riding on water bikes was also popular back in the 80s and 90s, the experience might just rekindle old, delightful memories.
4.VISIT NEGERI SEMBILAN’S FIRST RUBBER TREE
Do you know that Bandar Seremban is home to the oldest rubber tree in Negeri Sembilan? It is over 120 years old, the same age as the first rubber tree in Malaysia located in Kuala Kangsar, hence currently valued at MYR3.5 million! Travellers can locate this tree next to the Galeri DiRaja Seremban (Seremban Royal Gallery), which is easily accessible via a walkway.
5. ENJOY NEGERI SEMBILAN’S AU THENTIC FOOD
The unique culture of Negeri Sembilan creates 1001 flavours that excite all food lovers. Luckily, they do not have to search hard because Seremban itself has plenty of eateries that provide authentic culinary offerings that are served in various restaurants, stalls, or food street. Of course, one dish that every foodie must try is masak lemak cili api (dish cooked in spicy vibrant yellow curry) because no trip to Seremban - and even Negeri Sembilan for that matter - is complete without this specialty.
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6. CLIMBING MOUNTAINS OR HILLS IN SEREMBAN DISTRICT
8. LEARN ABOU T PERPATIH CUSTOM
For a long time, Seremban has been functioning as the heart of Perpatih custom, which is practised by the Minangkabau community who originated from West Sumatera, known for their tolerant, industrious, and consensual disposition. To learn more about Perpatih, you should head to Negeri Sembilan National Department for Culture and Arts (http:// www.jkkn.gov.my/en/national-departmentculture-and-arts-jkkn-negeri-sembilan) and any of the museums in Negeri Sembilan (https://lmns.ns.gov.my/my/), among others. Negeri Sembilan National Department for Culture and Arts holds Negeri Sembilan cultural performances too at certain times and venues.
Due to its geographical location, Seremban is surrounded by a portion of the Titiwangsa Mountain Range that make up the backbone of Malaysia. Travellers can experience the uniqueness of this mountain range by hiking up the hills and mountains found there, for instance Gunung Angsi, Gunung Berembun, Hutan Lipur Ulu Bendul, Bukit Kepayang and many more. No matter which peak travellers decide to conquer, these eco-tourism sites are sure to create unforgettable experience!
7. TAKE PICTURES AT MOSQUES IN SEREMBAN
There are several iconic mosques that you can visit in the city of Seremban. These mosques are open to the public and both Muslims and non-Muslims are welcome! These mosques offer trained guides who dispense information related to Islam and the mosques’ architecture. Some of the mosques have even existed for a few centuries and possess unique architectural styles such as archipelagic, Minangkabau, Indian, Turkish, Moroccan and Chinese. For a more contemporary take, you can visit Masjid Jamek Seremban, Masjid Hussain Seremban 2, Masjid Sri Sendayan and Masjid Negeri.
Seremban Street art
Discover Seremban
Seremban Heritage Trail
Seremban City Map
9. EXPLORE ‘EXTREME’ ACTIVIT Y
Extreme activities have become a craze among travellers nowadays to challenge their strength and courage. Extreme activities to be experienced in Seremban include all-terrain vehicles (ATV), go-kart, motocross, high rope, flying fox, archery and more.
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9 M U S T -V I S I T S EL A N G O R ’ S N EW TO U RI S M Attractions in 2021 Te x t b y
TOURISM SELANGOR
The State of Selangor is home to unique tourism attractions promising serenity of nature, elements of local cultures, urbane lifestyle and variety of food options ranging from stalls to lavish restaurants. As Selangor’s tourism industry begins to pick itself up after enduring the knock-on effects from the Covid-19 pandemic, the state is poised to maintain its leading position as one of Malaysia’s leading tourism destinations with a slew of new attractions, which are in the following:
1. “SIDEK BROTHERS” MONUMENT, BANTING
In the town of Banting, a new monument now stands tall; built to remember the contributions of the Sidek Brothers who made Malaysia proud in the arena of badminton; domestic and international. Sidek Brothers also used to be featured in animation and comic series which were the talk of the town back in the day. One fun fact; “Sidek Brothers” Monument is built within the grounds of the house of Tuan Haji Sidek, where the Sidek Brothers grew up in. Now, the house and the most recent; the Monument have become one of Selangor’s attractions with historic values in Banting town, Kuala Langat. Address: Jalan Sultan Alam Shah, Kampung Kanchong Darat, 42700 Banting, Kuala Langat, Selangor.
2. SUNGAI LEPOH WATERFALL, HULU LANGAT
Sungai Lepoh waterfall is one of the newest nature attractions in Hulu Langat. Also known as Sungai Lopo or Sungai Lepok, this serene waterfall area is also a perfect place for a picnic with family and friends. The place also attracts nature lovers and hikers, especially those residing in Klang Valley, during weekends and public holidays. Address: Lot 3461, KM22 Sungai Lepoh, Kampung Kuala 43100, 43100 Hulu Langat, Selangor.
3. ANJUNG SPOT TER, KLIA PLANE SPOT TING
Anjung Spotter is one of the latest additions to the country’s pride, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang. Now open to public, the place is perfect for photographers or simply anyone who love the airplanes. At Anjung Spotter, they are able to capture taking-off or landing airplanes from various interesting angles; the closest they may be too! The open concept gives an exceptional experience to the visitors, especially to children; creating one-of-a-kind memories. Address: Jalan Pekeliling , Kuala Lumpur International Airport, 64000 Sepang, Selangor.
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4. ARDENCE LABS @ ECO ARDENCE, SETIA ALAM
Amidst the avidity of Selangor’s housing and property developers in introducing new places with tourism appeal within the compounds of their development projects, some of these really turn out to be a success. For instance, Ardence Labs @ Eco Ardence is Setia Alam’s newest attraction where visitors get to enjoy the ambiance and take beautiful pictures every now and then, with bold and vibrant 2D, 3D and graffiti art backgrounds. Address: Eco Ardance Sales Gallery PT 8, Persiaran Setia Alam, 40170 Shah Alam, Selangor.
5. ELMINA CENTRAL PARK, SHAH ALAM
The greens within a modern concept; Elmina Central Park is a new recreational area with a jogging track which is also roller-blading and cycling-friendly. Meanwhile, the Elmina Iconic Bridge is a grand structure, perfect for pictures. With bright red colour that seems to light up when the sun sets, this bridge really is a stunner at night. 110
Address: Seksyen U16 City of Elmina, 40160, Selangor.
6. HL DRAGON FRUIT ECO FARM, SEPANG
HL Dragon Fruit Eco Farm is a huge dragon fruit farm in Sepang District which offers various activities to its visitors; not limited to only fresh dragon fruit plucking and tasting. Visitors also get to experience a guided tour around the farm, as well as get to plant their own dragon fruits and learn on the fruits’ pollination process during the visit. Address: Lot 7608, Jalan Besar, Baru Satu, 43900, Sepang, Selangor.
7. SUNGAI SERAI HOT SPRING, HULU LANGAT
Selangor is well-known as being the home to various hot spring attractions; which Sungai Serai Hot Spring, Hulu Langat has made its way into the list. Preferred by many lovers of nature regardless of age, this hot spring with high concentration of sulphur within its soils is a perfect destination after a trip to one of the many waterfalls located along the whole stretch of Hulu Langat District. Address: Lot 769, Jalan Sentosa 11/A, Taman Desa Sentosa, Hulu Langat, Daerah Hulu Langat, Selangor.
8. WOODHOUSE KKB IO HOME, TINGGIAN, KUALA KUBU BHARU
Woodhouse KKB IO Home offers a stay in unique tree houses, with emphasis on privacy. With mesmerising views of the peak of Kuala Kubu Bharu Hill, Woodhouse KKB IO Home is equipped with modern furniture and facilities for that luxurious stay. It has a private pool, two spacious bedrooms with en suites, outdoor kitchen equipped with appliances, balcony dining area, barbeque equipment, a washing machine and cable TV, studio tables, and more. Address: Jalan Harmonian 2, Off Jalan Padang Golf, Tinggian, 44000 Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor
9. CHENUANG HILL, HULU LANGAT
Chenuang Hill, Hulu Langat poses a high potential in becoming the preferred hiking destination after the widely-known Broga Hill as its track from the entrance of Sungai Chongkak Tropical Forest is well-marked with clear directions and signboards. There are also several rivers along the way, allowing hikers to have some breaks in between, before reaching the peak of Chenuang Hill, approximately in 2-3 hours, depending on their speed and skills. Address: Pejabat Hutan Daerah Selangor Tengah, Tingkat 1, Blok B, Platinum Cheras, 43200 Cheras, Selangor Selangor, is not exempted from having to face the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. While some tourism operators may have to shut their businesses down during these difficult times, some operators are opening their premises’ doors to visitors and tourists in 2021. Tourism Selangor has also been highlighting some of the State’s nature attractions. However, it is to be reminded, new-norm practices based on SOPs should be emphasized at all times. Worry-free; almost all of Selangor’s tourism attractions have been practicing Covid-19 precautionary measures. Tourists in Selangor should always register via “Selangkah:Langkah Masuk Dengan Selamat” mobile application, ensure social distancing, apply hand sanitizers regularly and wear face masks at all times, for the sake of many. For more information, log on to Tourism Selangor’s official website; Selangor.Travel.
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Gaya Snapshots
1. Event: Launch of Kampung Banggol Cempedak Square 10 April 2021 The Minister from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC), the Honourable Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri, officiating the Kampung Banggol Cempedak Square at Kampung Banggol Cempedak. This square is one of Terengganu’s new eco-tourism products to help boost the Malaysian tourism industry and economy.
2. Event: Minister’s Field Trip to Kenyir Lake 8 April 2021 The Honourable Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri experiencing an ecotourism trail starting from Gawi Point Jetty, which includes taking a speedboat across the lake to the Kelah (Mahseer) Sanctuary to interact with the kelah fish in abundance, inspecting Razna Houseboat and admiring the Herbal Garden. 2021 is declared as the ‘Visit Kenyir Year’ by KETENGAH with over 30 events planned throughout the year.
3. Event: The Launch of ‘Kembali ke Muzium’ Campaign 6 April 2021 The ‘Kembali ke Muzium’ (‘Return to the Museum’) campaign is an initiative by the Department of Museums Malaysia in promoting all museums throughout the country. Various interesting programs have been arranged to revive domestic tourism.
4. Event: Courtesy Visit to the Office of His Excellency Yang di-Pertua Negeri Melaka 22 March 2021 The Honourable Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri, accompanied by the Secretary-General of MOTAC Dato’ Dr Noor Zari Hamat, paid a courtesy visit to His Excellency Yang di-Pertua Negeri Melaka, Tun Seri Setia Dr. Haji Mohd Ali Bin Mohd Rustam. The visit aims at strengthening bond and increasing cooperation between MOTAC and the Melaka State Government to revitalise tourism, arts and cultural sectors affected by the knock-on effects of COVID-19 pandemic. 5. Event: D-8 Senior Officials Meeting on Tourism Cooperation Daily calendar outline 10 March 2021 YBhg. Dato’ Dr. Noor Zari bin Hamat chairs this tourism cooperation meeting to identify the challenges faced by the tourism industry within the D-8 member states amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and develop measures to move forward.
Gaya Special Feature
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AC T I V I T I E S TO D O FOR A FUN TRIP I N K E N Y I R Te x t b y SHAHIDA SAKERI, MUHAMMAD HASIF MOHD JELANI A N D FA R H A N A F UA D
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Kenyir Lake has been a hidden gem enjoyed by only those in the know, with its bountiful offerings in the form of outstanding wildlife refuge, sparkling waterfalls, and unique floating sojourns that promise undeniably fun time in the great outdoors. Come monsoon season; this man-made lake even becomes a fantastic fishing spot for avid anglers in the hunt for trophy fishes. However, this nature lovers’ favourite sanctuary won’t remain a secret for long. Terengganu state government, through the Central Terengganu Development Authority (Ketengah), has launched Visit Kenyir Year 2021 or TMK2021, which highlights the diverse ecosystems of Kenyir Lake and its surroundings. Plenty of exciting events are scheduled to be held every month and a spanking new 150-room hotel along with a bigger duty-free complex are set to open on Pulau Poh at the end of 2021. As such, the state government aims for this up-and-coming destination to draw one million tourists to the area this year.
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WHAT TO DO IN KENYIR LAKE? 1. STAYING ON A HOUSEBOAT
To ensure a wholesome and enriching experience while being in Kenyir, we recommend travellers to stay on a houseboat for at least a night. There are plenty houseboat operators offering their service at affordable rates and most of them include activities around the lake. Imagine waking up to a serene, wondrous view of oxygen-rich rainforests and calm waters… That alone is an experience that can last a lifetime!
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2. VISITING POKOK MELUNAK
Pokok Melunak or Melunak tree is a type from the pentace family. What’s so special with the one in Kenyir, you ask? Being 340 years old, it is said to be the biggest of its kind in Malaysia, with circumference equalling to more than 20 hugging adults combined!
3. EXPLORING BEWAH CAVE
Back in 2009, a prehistoric skeletal remains aged 16,000 years old was discovered in this cave, making Kenyir Lake featured in major headlines. The skeleton, called Bewah Man, was actually belonged to a teenage girl. There is a mini gallery near the entrance that guides travellers to learn more about the ground-breaking discovery before exploring it deeper.
4. PLAYING IN KENYIR KELAH SANCTUARY
Imagine making friends and frolicking in the water surrounded by hundreds of kelah (mahseer), deemed the king of river fish – sounds amazing, doesn’t it? Travellers can undergo such experience at this sanctuary, which also serves as a breeding and nursery ground for kelah.
5. ADMIRING LASIR WATERFALL
One of the most interesting waterfalls in Kenyir is this one, recognisable for its suspension bridge that allows travellers to enjoy a bird’s eye view of the 150-metre waterfall as they cross!
6. GET TING ADRENALINE FIX AT SAOK WATERFALL
Either simply relaxing on its flat, well-shaded ground or trying some extreme water sports near its steep rocks and boulders, this waterfall caters to all!
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7. LEARNING ABOU T HERBS AT HERBAL PARK
Spanning over 15 hectares, this herbal park located in Sah Kecil Island has as many as 240 herb species, and you can savour three of them for free: Tongkat Ali, Kacip Fatimah, and Mahkota Dewa, all known for their natural stimulating properties!
8. TAKING OOTD PICTURES AT ORCHID GARDEN
Flower admirers, get ready to enter a garden full of vibrant blooms! Spread out across Hulu Selimbar Island, Hilir Selimbar Island, and Belit Island, this garden showcases myriad of orchid species, be it local, international or hybrid! Among the species are brassia maculata, vanda miss joaquim and Terengganu’s very own rarelyfound orchid known as dendrobium roslii.
9. MAKING MOMENTS AT KENYIR ELEPHANT CONSERVATION VILLAGE
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Opened in 2014, this place seeks to maintain a healthy elephant population and reduce humanelephant conflict. It is now a sanctuary for 18 native elephants that were rescued and brought here for reasons such as being orphaned, lost from their herd or caught by local villagers after raiding the crops and villages. Travellers can get the chance to get up close and personal with these gentle giants through bathing and feeding activities.
10. PARTICIPATING IN EXCITING EVENTS
In conjunction with TMK2021, travellers should look forward to a long list of highly anticipated events happening every month! Among them are Festival Kenyir, Jetrace Challenge, Kenyir Bird & Nature Quest, and ASEAN Monsoon Casting Tournament Special Edition 20/21.
Gaya Special Feature
7 T H I N G S T O E X P E R I E N C E I N P U T R A JAYA Te x t b y H A N I A R A F E I Images by N U R U L S Y I FA A RA M LA N
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Speaking about Putrajaya, this may not be the first place that comes to mind when planning your holiday. But after saying that, it does not mean that Putrajaya has nothing interesting to offer. While Kuala Lumpur (KL) remains as the capital city of Malaysia, Putrajaya – which is also the third Federal Territory of Malaysia after KL and Labuan – has been functioning as Malaysia’s federal administrative centre since 1999. Surrounded by greenery, grand government buildings, scenic bridges and wide boulevards, Putrajaya seems to have been designed differently than the other cities in Malaysia. Read on to find out what you can experience whenever you are in Malaysia’s most well-planned city!
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Good to know: » Putrajaya was named after the first prime minister of Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra. » The first person who lived in Seri Perdana (the official residence for the Prime Minister of Malaysia) was Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad, the country’s fourth and seventh prime minister. » One of Putrajaya’s bridges was featured in a Korean drama entitled ‘On The Way To The Airport’ back in 2016 starring Lee Sang Yoon and Kim Ha Neul (if you haven’t watch this yet, feel free to do so! A few episodes of this interesting drama were filmed in Malaysia.)
BY BUS
Taking the bus to Putrajaya is time consuming because you need to make several transits. From KL Sentral, you need to walk to NU Sentral bus station and then wait for bus number 500, which will take you to Lebuh Pudu hub, where you need to wait for bus number 522 to get to Masjid Putrajaya/Putra Square. Do check the schedule and plan your journey by downloading the Moovit app or from the website https://www.myrapid. com.my/plan-my-journey.
WHAT TO DO IN PU TRAJAYA Note: Modest attire is required when visiting most of the places mentioned here. Certain places also prohibit round neck t-shirts, shorts, singlets, sandals or immodest attire.
TRAVEL BACK IN TIME AT THE JUSTICE MUSEUM (MUZIUM KEHAKIMAN)
(https://m.facebook.com/pages/Palace-of-JusticePutrajaya/493932090750782) Admired for its Taj Mahal-like architecture, the Palace of Justice houses the judiciary, courts and offices. It overlooks a spacious courtyard that is often used for large-scale events. However, few people are unaware about the existence of the Justice Museum located inside. Just because you don’t work in the legal field doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy spending time here. There are many things to learn since it compares the old legal system with the one currently in use. In this museum, you can learn how Malaysia’s legal system is developed, view a mock-up High Court trial, see wigs worn by the judges and other lawyerly paraphernalia.
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Travel Back In Time At The Justice Museum (Muzium Kehakiman)
GET TING TO PU TRAJAYA If you’re wondering how to get to Putrajaya, fret not, Gaya Travel team has your back! Since Putrajaya is located south of Kuala Lumpur, it is easy to reach Putrajaya from KL’s transport hubs. There are three modes you can choose to get to Putrajaya from KL.
BY CAR
If you prefer to drive, it should take you around 40 minutes from the Kuala Lumpur City Centre, provided the traffic is smooth.
Fun Fact: » When walking around the museum, you will get the chance to see an illustration of a court room proceeding conducted in the presence of jury back in the old days. However, the system was abolished in 1995. The last case that used this system was the Mona Fendi case. » The wig donned by judges was last used during the 1980s in Malaysia. It was discarded because the government opted for a more Malaysian look. » You can see a red robe called the Scarlet Robe in this museum, no more used today. Back in the 1970s, if a judge were to wear that robe when giving out his verdict, the sight was enough to put fear into the hearts of the most hardened criminals because it surely meant death penalty.
BY TRAIN
This is the fastest way. Hop on the KLIA Transit service from KL Sentral and disembark at Putrajaya/Cyberjaya station. The ticket costs MYR14 per adult (one way) and MYR6.30 for children between the ages 6 and 15 years. All university student who owns Bank Rakyat 1Malaysia student discount card, consider yourself lucky for reading this article because you will get 30% discount (at the price of RM9.50 per way) if you show this card together with your student ID card when purchasing the ticket at the counter! Good to know: Once you purchased the train ticket, you have only two minutes of grace period to enter the platform to catch the train to Putrajaya/Cyberjaya station via the automated gates where you need to scan your ticket to enter, therefore you need to be fast, otherwise you’ll have to purchase another ticket! Also, please don’t get confused between KLIA Transit and KLIA Express (this one will take you directly to KLIA/KLIA2).
Good to know: » You’ll get the chance to wear a ceremonial robe and take pictures for free, which I did! I was told that each robe costs between MYR18,000 and RM19,000. » You are allowed to take photos inside the museum but not in the courtrooms. » There is no admission fee (FOC). » Smart attire is required, no t-shirts, shorts or flip flops. » Before entering the museum, your bags will be scanned (same thing happen when you’re about to enter an airport departure hall) due to safety reasons. Operating hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday
GAIN KNOWLEDGE ABOU T ISLAM AT NASYRUL QURAN COMPLEX
Nasyrul Quran is a leading integrated Quranic printing centre in Southeast Asia. This complex was built for Malaysia to have a world-class and second largest Quranic production centre. Visitors will be stunned by the beautiful mosaic decoration inside the building. Valuable handwritten Quranic manuscripts decorated in gold that originated from each state of Malaysia are publicly exhibited at Nasyrul Quran Complex and people can freely take pictures. Visitors will be able to witness Quran manuscripts from other countries too.
Fun Fact: Nasyrul Quran is inspired from the Arabic word meaning ‘the spread of Quran’.
Good to know: » It is strongly recommended for you to fill up an online form on the website https://www.nasyrulquran.com before arriving so that the staff can receive you better. » Nasyrul Quran Complex lends out robes to visitors for free. » Although there are signs saying ‘No Photography Allowed’ hanging on the walls, visitors can still take pictures because the management wants more people to know about the place via social media. » You will be able to witness and step into the factory where contemporary Quran manuscripts are produced. » Do take note that if your group consists of less than 10 persons, the areas within the complex that you can visit will be limited. For a group of 10 or more, they are allowed to enter all areas within the complex during the tour.
Operating hours: Opens from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, and from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays (closed on Sundays). Admission is free.
GRAB A BITE AT LC RESTAURANT
This has got to be one of the best places to eat in Putrajaya! The restaurant’s signature food is kari kepala ikan (curry fish head), set ikan bawal padu (pomfret fish set) and mee goreng sotong (fried noodle with squid). Diners enjoy all three delicious dishes. The price range for seafood curry fish head ranges between MYR65 to MYR120 (depending on size), while pomfret fish set costs MYR11.90 and fried noodle MYR6.90. Fun Fact: LC stands for “Line Clear”
Good to know: The restaurant provides a VIP room for special occasions. If you plan to do hold celebration or function at the restaurant, you can simply make your reservation at via https://m.facebook.com/ lcrestaurantputrajaya/ or call +6 017 409 6129. Operating hours: Opens daily from 7:00 a.m. until 2:30 a.m., and 4:00 p.m. until dawn during Ramadhan.
Top: A Quran mushaf sporting the design elements inspired by Petronas Twin Towers, which was presented to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as a gift when he was the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia. Bottom: Kari kepala ikan (fish head curry), one of LC’s signature dishes.
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Operating hours: Alternatively, the complex is open for walk-in guests on Mondays until Thursdays, including Saturdays and Sundays, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Lunch break is between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. The complex is closed on Fridays and Public Holidays
SLEEP AND RECHARGE AT SHAF TSBURY STELLAR
Situated close to the shopping centre Alamanda Putrajaya, this hotel started its operation in late 2018. This 4-star property is fully equipped with facilities and ideal for fun and relaxation because it allows easy access to Putrajaya’s various attractions. While staying at this wonderful property, guests can enjoy free Wi-Fi in all rooms, 24-hour security, convenience store, daily housekeeping and transfer services.
PARTICIPATE IN THE ANNUAL PU TRAJAYA BIRD RACE
The Blue Room at Sri Perdana is the place where special high level guests such as Heads of State and important dignitaries are received.
VISIT SERI PERDANA COMPLEX
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One must include this place in their list when being in Putrajaya. Seri Perdana Complex is an official residence of Malaysia’s Prime Minister when welcoming the heads of state, heads of government, state dignitaries and the public. In line with the idea that Seri Perdana belongs to the people, certain sections in this place namely Protocol Block and Banquet Block can be visited by the public. Located on Persiaran Seri Perdana, Presint 10, the complex incorporates Malay, Islamic and European design elements. All groups of visitors will be escorted by a designated tour guide. I was totally amazed by the design of each room, which make you feel like entering the chambers of a European imperial palace.
Though Putrajaya might pass as too quiet on the surface, this city is actually abuzz with many events. For the first time in November 2019, Putrajaya held its inaugural Bird Race (https://www.facebook.com/ birdraceputrajaya2019/) at Putrajaya Wetlands Park in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2020 campaign. Due to the overwhelming response, Putrajaya Corporation (https://www.ppj.gov.my/) plans to hold this event annually. Bird race involves observing, photographing and recording/jotting down all bird species found in a particular area within the limited time given. Putrajaya Bird Race promotes the city as an ecotourism destination and an urban birding spot in Malaysia. Interestingly, primary schoolchildren can also participate in this race! Admission fee for the public is MYR10 per person, and the bird race participants are grouped in threes.
Good to know: » Alamanda Putrajaya is only around 10 minutes’ walk from this hotel. » The hotel is close to Starbucks and McDonalds, so if you’re feeling peckish at night, you can simply have your supper at these outlets!
Fun Fact: » The sky wallpaper in the Banquet Hall is the exact sky captured on camera back in 1999 and then printed out and turned into wallpaper for the hall. » In the Banquet Block, visitors get to see the first Malaysian flag with only 11 stripes before the inclusion of Sabah and Sarawak into the Federation of Malaysia.
Good to know: » You need to fill up an online form from the website at least 7 days before your intended visit. » Visitors are not allowed to take photos using their own gadgets. For a fee of RM25, you will be provided with an official photographer who will take 15 photos of you at the Banquet Hall, which are then downloaded into a USB flash drive for you to take home. » If you wish to walk-in for a tour, it is advisable that you first check on the website http://www.seriperdana.gov.my/v2/ to make sure that the complex is open when you arrive. » Please wear modest attire as a sign of respect. Traveller trying to spot birds at Taman Wetlands Putrajaya during the inaugural Putrajaya Bird Race
Gaya Special Feature
Sabah Tourism Board, together with Gaya Travel Magazine, organised an Instagram contest, starting from December 16th, 2020 until February 28th, 2021. The contest comprises two (2) categories such as ‘Best Photo’ and ‘Best Video’. For ‘Best Photo’ Category, the first prize winner brought home one unit (1) of iPhone 12 and a 3D2N holiday package for two at Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort, Semporna, Sabah, while the second prize winner received one unit (1) of Samsung A31 and a 3D2N stay for two at Sepilok Forest Edge Resort, Sandakan, Sabah. The third prize winner walked away with one unit (1) of Samsung A01 and a 3D2N stay for two at Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. 10 consolation winners were also selected and granted RM200 cash each. The winners of the ‘Best Video’ Category, on the other hand, won one unit (1) of iPhone 12 and a 3D2N stay for two at Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort, Semporna, Sabah (first prize), one unit (1) of Samsung A31 and a 3D2N stay for two at Sepilok Forest Edge Resort, Sandakan, Sabah (second prize), and one unit (1) of Samsung A01 and a 3D2N stay for two at Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (third prize) respectively. The contest proved effective in promoting the Land Below the Wind as the go-to tourism destination, showcasing the state’s beauty and attractions through the Instagram platform. For more information on Sabah, visit www.sabahtourism.com.
#RINDUSABAH
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First Prize: @samgowhere
WINNERS FOR #RINDUSABAH: Photo Category Second Prize: @azreenyunus10
Third Prize: @asrulxaliff_
@joanoutdoor @sesat_in_malaysia
@candzcanders
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@husnah__ah
@nazriphotoelements @yusufmadi_
@j.a.s.o.n_s.u.b.e.e
First Prize: @sesat_in_malaysia 128
WINNERS FOR #RINDUSABAH : Video Category Second Prize: @j.a.s.o.n_s.u.b.e.e
Third Prize: @khaichuin_sim
Hotels & Resorts
Sutera Sanctuary Lodges Kinabalu Park Te x t b y M U H A M M A D H A S I F M O H D J E L A N I Images by MUHAMMAD HASIF MOHD JELANI & ED JUNAIDI
For the uninitiated, Kinabalu Park is the home of the ever-majestic Mount Kinabalu, the tallest mountain in Malaysia. It is gazetted as a national park since 1964, among the first in the country. In December 2000, it was conferred as the nation’s first World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its ‘Outstanding Universal Values’, besides being one of the most important ecosystems in the world. The park is located 1,584 metres above sea level and a home to some of the earth’s most unique flora and fauna. Gaya Travel Magazine team members recently stayed at Sutera Sanctuary Lodges Kinabalu Park, which offers an incredible experience at Malaysia’s most celebrated national park!
Note: Before entering the park, travellers need to pay for entrance fees at MYR3 per Malaysian adult, MYR1 per Malaysian child, MYR15 per non-Malaysian adult and MYR10 per non-Malaysian child. This is not included in the room package when staying at Sutera Sanctuary Lodges Kinabalu Park.
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Historically, the lodge has already been around since the very beginning of the park. However, in 2002 Sutera Sanctuary Lodges Sdn Bhd began to manage it and have done many rounds of renovation into the property we come to know today. Sutera Sanctuary Lodges Kinabalu Park has around 40 lodges and chalets that can be categorised into 10 types namely Rajah Lodge, Kinabalu Lodge, Garden Lodge, Summit Lodge, Peak Lodge, Nepenthes Villa, Nepenthes Suite, Hill Lodge, Liwagu Suite and Rock Twin Share. Each type comes with its own perks according to travellers’ needs, budget and comfort. There is also Grace Hostel within the property’s grounds that contain 20 beds. Our team’s accommodation unit was the 312-foot squared English-styled Nepenthes Suite with a homely and cosy ambiance that we totally love. It comes with glass door panels that allow generous natural light to come in and brighten the room. We adore the fine wood finishing on the floor and balcony area to resonate a calm and peaceful mood considering the place is rightfully surrounded by pristine nature. Should travellers feel like appreciating the park by breathing in its fresh and misty air, the balcony is a great place to do so. Since staying at the park can be quite cold especially during the night, the room is equipped with heater, making the room thermally comfortable and restful to sleep in. Nepenthes Suite accommodates two guests who can sleep in either two separate single beds or a one king-sized bed. It has an en suite bathroom, lounge and pantry too. The suite’s normal rate also includes breakfast. There is a television inside the room as well should travellers feel to be entertained but we find it far more enriching to appreciate the property’s oxygen-rich surroundings, with all of its tropical highland glory most of the time. There are two food and beverage outlets available on this property: Balsam Café and Liwagu Restaurant, two heart-warming vestiges carried over from previous times. Balsam Café offers buffet meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, while Liwagu Restaurant serves Western and Asian cuisines, including steamboat, for all-day dining, including snack time. Among the recommended menu to try are wrapped chicken tortillas, spicy chicken quesadilla, Kundasang fried noodles and ayam penyet (smashed spicy chicken). The best part about Liwagu Restaurant is that it affords the view of Mount Kinabalu, so diners (us included) could not stop themselves from savouring the enchanting view while relishing their equally memorable dishes.
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There is no denying that Kinabalu Park is often visited by hikers and outdoor sports enthusiasts since it is the gateway to summit Mount Kinabalu. But rest assured, there are still plenty of options for those who are not fond of such activities, making it a big plus point in staying at Sutera Sanctuary Lodges Kinabalu Park. Among the more leisurely activities include visiting Mount Kinabalu Botanical Garden that has been opened since 1981. Originally developed for research and education purposes, the garden is now open for visitors to witness over 800 species of plants such as fern, orchid, balsam, begonia, and pitcher plant, on top of certain types of endemic wood, within its 1.4-hectare plot. Travellers can opt for jungle-trekking as well. Kinabalu Park has around 10 nature trails, but our team only managed to cover four of them: Silau-Silau, Bukit Tupai, Mempening and Bukit Burung. Thanks to our naturalist, Elryestca Ewanie, the experience was enlightening. We learned interesting facts and details about the ecosystem within Kinabalu Park and since it is a tropical montane rainforest, the journey was not that tiring, instead it was relaxing because we trekked at our own pace. 132
Note: Sutera Sanctuary Lodges Kinabalu can arrange for a naturalist to guide its guests for activities around the park. However, the entrance fees (such as Mount Kinabalu Botanical Garden) need to be borne by guests.
It is such a joy to wake up in the morning just to catch the view of Mount Kinabalu sunrise as it can be enjoyed from many parts within the property’s grounds. Unfortunately, during our team’s stay, the morning was cloudy; though disheartened, we optimistically take it as a sign that we need to return soon… In a nutshell, Sutera Sanctuary Kinabalu Park should delight travellers seeking relaxing and rejuvenating staycation. With plenty of activities and rooms to choose from, this property serves as the ideal base for adventure seekers, nature lovers, families, honeymooners or simply put, all types of travellers who want to be immersed in Kinabalu Park’s wondrous surroundings. For bookings and enquiries, feel free to contact Sutera Sanctuary Kinabalu Park at +6 017 833 2877 or info@ suterasanctuarylodges.com.my. To find out more about the property, log on to www.suterasanctuarylodges.com.my.
Mural Art, Ipoh Old Town
Ubudiah Mosque, Kuala Kangsar
Pulau Bangau, Teluk Intan
