Trip To Nature Park, Kuala Selangor

Nature Park, Here We Come....!!!!

On January 23rd, me and my colleagues decided to go on a trip to Kuala Selangor's Nature Park for a field survey. The journey took about 1 - 2 hours drive from KL. It appears to me that the town celebrates this park as their landmark, since the park largely being advertised all over town. The vicinity is very quiet and peaceful, although located near town. Next to the Nature Park is the Freshwater Fish Display. The entrance ticket for the Nature Park is fairly cheap, which is just RM4.00 for adult.

Walk in the park...experience the surprises

There are 3 distinct habitat in Nature Park, which is secondary forest, man-made brackish water lake, and mangrove forest. In the secondary forest trail, you will be amazed by variety of tree formations as you walk in. But as a reminder, do bring mosquito repellent with or wear cloth that cover up the skin when you travel along this path because there is a lot of mosquitoes. That is why they called it secondary forest you know, with mosquitoes all over the area.

Dumb monitor lizard...why pick longer trail?

After the secondary forest is the trail leading to the brackish water lake, and you will notice that mosquitoes starts disappearing. The journey is much pleasant because now butterflies flying over you instead of mosquitoes, and you will also see beautiful birds singing songs of various tone back and forth among themselves.

Brackish water lake, one of bird-watching area...

The viewing tower

The view at the top of viewing tower...lake (right), mangrove (left)

Around the lake area, there are stops built such as hut and tower for the visitors. Not only these facilities serve as shelter for the visitors, but also can be used as wildlife watching spot, mainly birds. The lake is actually located adjacent to the mangrove forest and bordered by a road. There are two entrances along the road, which leads the visitors into the mangrove forest.

The pathway into the mangrove forest

Mangrove seedlings soon-ready-to-be-planted

A Long-Tailed-Macaque

Tree-Climbing Crab?

Mud skipper enjoying a mud bath

Entering the pathway into the mangrove forest, instantly we saw several species of crabs and mud skippers. Not to be forgotten is the long-tailed-macaque, which is very 'polite' with the visitors in a sense and seems to become primary residence of the mangrove forest. However we did not manage to find any silvered-leaf-monkey anywhere in the park area, which is rather disappointing. The park management regularly organize planting of mangrove trees for the public, which they provides the seedlings ready to be transplanted into the mangrove forest.

The entrance door for pathway that leads to the sea

one of mangrove species presence in the mangrove forest (Bruguiera sp.)

Young mangrove trees planted along the mangrove forest pathway

Along the U-shaped mangrove forest pathway, there is a junction for another pathway and this juncture leads to the sea. This is where the seedling-transplanting happens. at the very beginning of the pathway, we could see mangrove tree from the species Bruguiera sp., followed by other species such as Rhizophora sp. & Avicennia sp. as we travel further inside.

Viewing point at the end of the path

View of mangrove from the end of the pathway

At the very end of the pathway is a viewing point. It is an open area that overlooks the sea and showing where the starting point of mangrove forest is. It is also a good place for observing seabirds, as they feed during the early morning and late evening. This is the ending point of our survey in the Nature Park of Kuala Selangor.

A rope bridge connecting to trail leading back to the entrance...

The bridge can support 6 person at once...quite strong though

Remember: This trail is not for those with history of mosquito-related disease

The hitch-hike back from the mangrove forest to the park entrance is very exhausting, unlike the opposite scenario. Along the way back we arrived at a rope bridge, which also leads to a trail directing the park entrance. Unlike the trail we took in earlier part of the journey, this trail is different. This trail has more mosquitoes in it, as well as bends and mud puddles. After a long crossing and fights with the mosquitoes, we finally reach the entrance. Just for advice, do not use this trail if unnecessary.

The trip to Sungai Pulai, Johor

Friends in the field trip

The visit to Sungai Pulai is one of the best memory so far. It was the first time I went to a wildlife sanctuary, the first time I encountered with dolphins in the wild, and first time I ever got so close to Singapore. I have captured many memories using my camera, although I'm not in majority of the photos. Personally, I didn't really care much because I think it's a norm that the photographer (will) have least pictures in his photo album. Nonetheless, I enjoy taking photo very much and happy when people acknowledge my shoots.

Uncle Ng Sui Lin, owner of the trawl boat

We went to Sungai Pulai estuary by boarding on Uncle Lin's trawl boat. The boat consists of two groups 1) the trawl boat team - Uncle Lin and two workers and 2) us - researchers/visitors. The trawl boat team were very quiet-type of people and very focus with their work at the boat. The job description at the trawl boat is simple; the captain handles the boat; and the two workers handles the trawl net. Meanwhile our job is to collect some fish as samples to be analyse in lab. As the trawl boat team raised the fish from the water, we picked some of it for ourselves. The rest of the fish are either consumed, sold in fish market, or processed as fish food for nearby aquaculture facilities.

A Tripodfish (Pseudotriacanthus strigilifer)

One of common fish found in Sungai Pulai estuary is the Tripodfish (Malay: Ikan lembu). The fish is called with such name because it has three spines at the dorsal fin and pectoral fins. The spines can be folded and erected, and it is used to protect the fish from other fish such as predator fish. When I dissected the stomach, I found numerous pieces of starfish skeleton (not to mention bad smell). The fish feed on starfish and it is equipped with strong beak which it use to break up the skeleton of starfish. A friend of mine (last picture: The Masked Man) jokingly said the Tripodfish is a form of trinity; 1)its a fish, 2)the Malay name for it is cow, and 3)it taste like chicken.

Encounter with marine police

When I thought that day was like other day at field site, I was surprised when we were visited by the marine police. Well, the first thing in my mind was "Do we even look like Indonesian?". For your information, Straits of Malacca and Straits of Tebrau are major routes for illegal migrants from Indonesia to travel into Malaysia. However, there was not much issue after all. Apparently we were fishing within the forbidden area (too close to the shipping port-Port Tanjung Pelepas), although we have permit to do so. But luckily in the end, the misunderstanding was solved, we're given the thumbs up from them and the fishing continues...

The Masked Man

The Masked Man, the mastermind for the field trip. He looked so much like a pirate ready to hijack a shipping vessel through my eyes. For the incident with the marine police earlier, I blamed him for dressing up so suspiciously (haha...). But ultimately, he is a nice guy and had help me in many ways. Thanks to him and his family hospitality, we doesn't have to spend a cent in this trip for hotel accommodation. Thank you my friend...

Everyone loves...BABIES

Everybody loves… BABIES. This visually stunning new movie simultaneously follows four babies around the world - from first breath to first steps. From Mongolia to Namibia to San Francisco to Tokyo, babies joyfully capture on film the earliest stages of the journey of humanity that are at once unique and universal to us all.

Ponijao

Mari

Bayar

Hattie

I've seen the trailer and I can't wait to see the movie myself. The cinematic is stunning, and the babies are all very cute though. Watch how they're raise in 4 different environments in time span of a year. I personally think that this is a good film, an eye-opener to parents which they can use and learn more about the good and bad in raising a child. In theaters on 16th April 2010...ENJOY!!!

GENRE: Documentary

DIRECTOR: Thomas Balmes

CAST: Ponijao, Mari, Bayar & Hattie

The Cove

The Cove is a 2009 documentary film of the unveiling of annual killing about 2, 300 dolphins in a National Park at Taiji, Japan. The film highlights 23, 000 dolphins and porpoises which are killed in Japan every year, three times more than whales killed in Antartic each year. the migration dolphins are herded into a hidden cove where they are netted and killed by means of spears and knives over the side of small fishing boats.

Ric O'Barry

The movie follows former dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry quest to document the dolphin hunting operations in Taiji, Japan. In the 1960s, O'Barry captured and trained the five wild dolphins that would play the role of "Flipper" in the hit television series of the same name. It was when one of the dolphins committed a form of suicide in his arms, closing her blowhole voluntarily in order to suffocate, that O'Barry came to see it as a curse not a blessing. Since then O'Barry has worked tirelessly as an advocate on behalf of dolphins around the world.

"The Cove"

After meeting with O'Barry, Psihoyos and his crew travel to the small town of Taiji, a town that appears to be devoted to the wonder and mysteries of the dolphins and whales that swim off their coast. But in an isolated cove, surrounded by wire and "Keep Out" signs, some of the townspeople hide a stark reality. Also, among the challenges faced by the production team were the tight security and inaccessibility of the cove.

Filming is tough though especially in restricted area in Taiji

Ric's crew spying dolphin slaughtering activity in "The Cove"

Together with the Ocean Preservation Society, Psihoyos, O'Barry, and the crew utilizes special tactics and embark on a mission to get the truth on what is really going on in the cove and why it matters to everyone else in the world. To address some of these issues KernerFX, previously part of Industrial Light & Magic, contributed specialized camouflaged high-definition cameras that were designed to look like rocks. These hidden cameras helped capture footage for the film and were so well camouflaged that, according to Director Louie Psihoyos, the crew had a hard time finding them again.

The film received very positive reviews from critics. Roger Ebert gave the film four stars (out of four), calling the film "a certain Oscar nominee”. Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times called the film "an exceptionally well-made documentary that unfolds like a spy thriller," going on to describe it as "one of the most audacious and perilous operations in the history of the conservation movement." Other reviewers also played up the espionage angle of the film, including Time Magazine's Mary Pols who said that The Cove "puts Hollywood capers like Mission Impossible to shame". Film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 95% of critics had given the film positive reviews, based upon a sample of 27, summarizing the consensus as "Though decidedly one-sided, The Cove is an impeccably crafted, suspenseful expose of the covert slaughter of dolphins in Japan." At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the film has received an average score of 82, based on 26 reviews.

Trip To Kuala Gandah Elephant Orphanage Sanctuary & Deerland, Pahang

Riding one of the elephant...I just amazed by the size of that thing

Kuala Gandah Elephant Orphanage Sanctuary is located somewhere at Lanchang, Pahang. The journey takes about 2 1/2 hour drive from city of Kuala Lumpur. The sanctuary is one of famous and rare place in Malaysia, which provide the visitors opportunity to see the elephant up close. The center was established in 1989 by the Department of Wildlife & National Parks (PERHILITAN) that aim to prevent further decline of elephant population by relocating them somewhere in National Parks, away from human interference. The vicinity is rather good place for the elephants, and it seems they really enjoy themselves there. The visitors are free to interact with the elephants where they are allow to make close contact, feed, ride, and even take bath in the river with the elephants. There is also a gallery situated in the main building, where we can read a lot of informations about elephant management & conservation in Malaysia.

A hedgehog just rise from sleep...how cute

The python laying lazily on itself after lunch hour

After spending two hours or so at Kuala Gandah Elephant Center, we then travel to another sanctuary which is the Deerland. The Deerland is located only a few minutes away from the elephant center. Don't be fool by the name of the place, where the place actually like a mini zoo exhibiting a selection of wildlife such as birds, python, rabbits, ostrich, sun bear and deer as main attraction. There is also a section that allocated for cultivation of traditional herbal plants. We arrived at the park at about late afternoon and most of the animals are resting at that time, even the snake ignore us.

A dominant male pose himself for a postcard

Eat all you want...if you can stand on two legs of course

Luckily that the park management allow visitors to feed the deers, and they supply a small basket of food for that reason. It is interesting and fascinating during the deer-feeding session as you can touch the wild animals that have been tamed and trained to allow human to go near the deers and touch them. The deer even climb on you if you resist feeding them or hiding the food from them. If you are not lucky, the whole population swarm and jump at you. Be careful and not to get too close at the dominant male or you will be strike with the antler.

The sun bear...Malaysia's icon for endangered animal

The last animal we visited in Deerland is the Sun bear. It is still very young and needed care and pamper from the trainer. The sun bear is use to people or crowd, very friendly and gentle though. One of the sun bear, he like to play with water and the trainer usually feeds the bear with honey and cookies. The bear also did not bother us touching and taking photograph with him. In nature sun bear usually act in such way, and attack on humans only occur when the animal is frightened. Take an encyclopedia about sun bear and read it, they do not eat flesh but mainly honey, fruit and grubs. Think again...have a nice day

An Afternoon Walk At Kuching Waterfront

Just a few hours before my flight to KL my friends and I went to Kuching Waterfront for an afternoon walk. The scenery has changed to me, since the completion of the new DUN at opposite side of the river. There are major changes occurring in stages near Waterfront area primarily expansion of The Waterfront, construction of S-shaped suspended bridge connecting both sides of the riverbanks and maintenance of old & historic buildings which were built since colonial era.

DUN building (left) and Waterfront (right)

We visited a wall that were built during the old days. The wall was initially designed as border to separate between the Waterfront area and the wet market adjacent to it. The wall is decorated with art made of cement, and illustrates one of famous classical old folk's story "The Tale Of Sang Kancil and The Crocodiles". Basically, the story tells how the Sang Kancil use its wit to outsmart the crocodiles and get across the river. However, I don't agree to use such tale for the wall. This is because crocodile (Bujang Senang) is a symbol or mascot of Sarawak and therefore should not be used, rather brings humiliation to the people.

The Tale Of Sang Kancil & The Crocodiles

This is the recently-finished DUN building. The building is now become the heart of Kuching City, after the old DUN building. Perhaps it was built so that the legislators get closer with the people and see how they are doing from the other side of the riverbank. The design style of the building characterize ethnic unity of Kuching people, which comprises of many race and dominated by Dayak, Melayu, Melanau and Chinese. The DUN building is significantly striking especially at night, when the lights are on of course. It will be opened to the public soon.

Standing tall and beautiful

The Waterfront is about 1 km long which starts from the wet market and finishes at Riverbank Suites & Apartments. The Waterfront was used to be a trading place during early history of colonization in Kuching, using the river as important trading route. There is a fort (not shown) built at the Waterfront and still exist today, where in the past it was built with purpose to protect the people against invader and pirate attack. Now, upgrades and modernization have overshadow the old fort. The Waterfront is now a tourist site, a park, resting place, and most importantly a legacy that the people will continue to cherish, remember and appreciate.

My house, My neighbourhood

This is my house...well, actually the house next to it. I live at Taman Sri Perkasa with my parents and 3 siblings. previously, we live in a flat at Stampin for 9 years, and they brought me there since I was 5. My family moved to Matang about 6 years ago and we stay here since then. The reason why we move...much nearer to my mom's office, so easier for her to go to work.

Don't bother what the notice says...non-related to the issue

Well, the place is still quite new to me, even after 6 years and it hasn't change much. The area is very hot in the afternoon, and breezy in evening. I can see sunset almost everyday, where the sun just sink behind the mountain. There are people still coming in into the place, and the community is increasing and developing. Most of them are new family, young parents with their babies and kids. So, to make new friends of similar age is a problematic issue...

Afternoon hell...Sunset paradise...

There is an open area near to my house. The area is covered with grass, rocks and sometimes construction debris...but one cannot see it because the debris literally covered by grass. On typical morning, I can see storks coming there to feed and sometimes they stood on the electrical cable. That open area is also where most of the community spend their evening time. Every evening, there will be people flocks over the place...jogging, play soccer, cycling, you name it. It's like a recreation area for us, since there is no formal playground or park built by the developer. I wish that someday that trees are planted all over the open area, for the community to enjoy living and appreciate nature.

Soccer field...is a field suppose to be open land+grass?

Goal post, not standard...just kids' DIY. Congrats to them...

This is where the kids used to play soccer. I've tried to play there once but personally, to me that field just too harmful...Firstly, i'm more to basketball, and secondly the field filled with construction debris such as nail, glass, steel bar. Even so, the soil is not fertile enough for grass to grow, therefore it always look like barren land. It's rather pitiful that the kids put their effort to build the soccer field, but not supported by the adults.

For Taman Sri Perkasa residents, if you read this post I hope you will take into consideration to congregate and discuss this issue one day. I think we are living in large community now, and we deserve to have a proper recreation place or proper living environment. Home is a safe and enjoyable place to live, not to suffer. There can be many things we can achieve together for our community, especially to the kids. Only in a good environment they are able to learn, interact, and learn conducively. I believe that the childhood life is something to remember, and I also believe that if the kids have a memorable past they will come back to the community someday and return the favor to new generations to come.