Kembara Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia - TAMAN REKREASI Gunung Lang

To encourage Malaysian citizens and residents to travel domestically and learn more about the country’s own tourism offerings, Gaya Travel Magazine, in collaboration with Tourism Malaysia, kicked off the programme called Kembara Cuti-cuti 1Malaysia (KCC1M) with the trip to Perak, from the 14th until the 17th of October 2011 and followed by Pahang, which was from the 11th to the 14th of November 2011.

The KCC1M Programme is participated by representatives from Malaysia- and selected Singapore-based media organisations in specially developed travel and tour programmes to uncover selected Malaysian destinations and attractions. Considered as one of the most effective promotional methods in disseminating information on destinations and attractions, The KCC1M Programme brings benefit to the tourism industry players by boosting the public’s awareness towards the players’ respective offerings.

ADVERTISEMENTS

The KCC1M Programme is seen as an effective venture to help boost Malaysia’s domestic tourism. Malaysia boasts a large variety of tourism products that are yet to be discovered by Malaysians themselves, including those that fall within the lucrative marketing, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) segment. With its friendly tagline ‘Yours to Discover’, Perak has so much to offer, from memorable natural attractions and heritage to delicious food.

Homestay Kampung Beng

Kampung Beng is one of the traditional villages in Durian Pipit region that still preserves most of its cultural heritage and way of life – the village residents are polite and well-mannered, warmly welcoming all those who take the trouble travelling to their place. Located not far from Lake Chenderoh, Kampung Beng is surrounded by the Piah Reserved Forest, which is a part of the Titiwangsa Range, also known the spine of Peninsular Malaysia.

There are a lot of activities to be had in the village such as fishing, jungle-trekking, swimming in the river and waterfalls or even learning how to prepare traditional dishes. The participants of KCC1M were blessed to live with foster families who are the real residents of Kampung Beng due to their sincere warmth and caring attitude. Kampung Beng is indeed a great place to enjoy the authentic kampung life.

Lenggong Archeology Museum

This is one of the museums in Perak that is specially built to collect all specimens that have been found in Perak that are closely related to the discovery of the skeleton of the Perak man. This museum was built on a land covering 8.16 acres that was formerly a palm oil plantation. Due to the discovery of the specimens that proven to be Kota Tampan, which was among the places that the people of Paleolithic Age lived, the land is now owned by the state.

The museum consists of a few parts: research laboratory, an exhibition hall, administration office, audio visual room and meeting room. Among the items that are exhibited here are the Paleolithic Age tools, the skeleton of Perak men, drawings of the Paleolithic people and many more. The visitors are first given a talk about the items displayed before they enter the exhibition hall because the talk enlightens visitors about what they will be looking at as soon as they step into the exhibition hall.

Restoran Tasik Raban

Located by Raban Lake, Restoran Tasik Raban promises visitors wonderful experience enjoying traditional dishes prepared from fresh produce, especially fish, while enjoying the view of the lake. Some of the dishes that should be missed are tilapia, cat fish and snake head fish, including lobster, snails and many more. The dishes, especially the fish, are normally grilled or fried, eaten together with rice, which offers wonderful gastronomic experience while eating by the lake.

TAIPING

Taiping, Town of Everlasting Peace

Taiping was established in the year 1874, originally being one of the towns in the West region of Perak in the district of Matang Larut.

It was also the first town to receive the English administrative system when the British were in charge of Peninsular Malaysia. After 137 years, many changes took place within the country but Taiping remains peaceful and calm as always.

One of the most interesting landmarks in Taiping is Maxwell Hill, now known as Bukit Larut, which receives the most rainfall in the country, situated at the altitude of 1,250 metres above sea level. It possesses wonderful landscape that surrounds the colonial buildings that used to be vacation bungalows for British officers. The majestic view from the top of the hill is something that no one wants to miss when they come to Taiping. Bukit Larut also offers the charming view of sunset with mangroves by the beach and Kuala Sepetang. There are many types of indigenous plants that grow wildly here such as begonia and jungle orchid, with interesting wildlife to match such as monkeys, reptiles and even tigers.

At the foot of Bukit Larut, visitors will be able to find the Biodiversity Centre, supervised by the National Landscape Department. It functions as an educational centre for conserving and preserving the balance of Bukit Larut’s natural surroundings.

Zoo Taiping and Night Safari

Zoo Taiping is indeed the icon of Taiping because it is the first zoo in Malaysia that implemented the Night Safari. Covering the area of 34 acres, Zoo Taiping was actually a jogging track and animal keep for the enjoyment of the British officers during the colonial era. The zoo’s landscape has been kept lush since then, hence the presence of so many big trees in Zoo Taiping. There are almost 200 species of animals that can be seen here – some of them are active during the day, while the rest are nocturnal, thus making the Night Safari feasible. Among the animals that can be seen in the zoo are wallabies, marmosets, slow loris, owls, Arapaima Gigas (the biggest fish in the world), crocodiles and many more. This zoo is divided into two: the West Slope and East Slope, whereby both slopes share the clinic and kitchen facilities for the animals.

Taiping Golf Resort

Spread throughout the 236-acre land, Taiping Golf Resort is an 18-hole golf course developed by MK Land Property. This lovely golf course is definitely charming with the majestic view of the Titiwangsa Mount Range that stands proudly as its background. Out of the 18 holes scattered throughout the golf course, four of them are signature holes that will definitely enthral golfers, especially hole number six that was inspired from one of the holes in Saint Andrew Golf Course in Scotland.

Apart from the golf course, this property also offers 50 bungalows with the wonderful view of the golf course. This sprawling property also has its own orchard that allows golfers to pluck the fruits like rambutan, durian and many more. There is also a driving range that allows 15 players to play at a time.

The First Galleria

As Taiping is one of the most historical towns in Perak, we did a quick heritage trail and firstly we headed to Taiping’s newly opened The First Galleria Taiping. This gallery, located at Jalan Stesen, showcases all events transpired and artefacts found in Taiping. The concept of this gallery is very much like a living museum, where visitors will be able to gain information interactively from the curator of the gallery and video clips played to further enlighten visitors about the displayed artefacts in the gallery.

All of the artefacts and displayed items are either the personal collection of the manager of the gallery himself, Mr. Anuar, or contributions from his close friends and individuals that care about the importance of preserving artefacts and sharing information about Taiping’s history for future generations.

The KCC1M Perak participants were then taken around Taiping to witness some of the historical landmarks in the area such as the All Saints Church, the first church in Taiping that was built in year 1887 that still maintains its original structure, with its stained glass window and pipe organ still in use during special occasions. It was then followed by the first English school for girls, the Treacher Methodist Girls’ School, built two years after the All Saints Church was completed. Though the school has upgraded its structures, there are some parts of the school’s building that still maintains its original structures. It is also considered as one of the best schools in Taiping under the supervision of its current principal, Puan Noriza Bt. Dato’ Sulaiman.

KUALA KANGSAR

GALERI Sultan Azlan Shah

Galeri Sultan Azlan Shah is the reincarnation of a renovated former palace called Istana Ulu (Ulu Palace), situated in Sayong district, about 1.5 km from the town of Kuala Kangsar. Ulu Palace or Kota Palace is situated just a stone’s throw from the Ubudiah Mosque, within the area of Bukit Chandan, Kuala Kangsar. This palace was originally the place where the 28th Sultan of Perak, Sultan Idris Mursyidul ‘Adzam Shah, who reigned from 1887 until 1916, resided during his rule.

The pride of this building lies in its fine and timeless architecture. It signifies the enduring glory of the state’s monarchy that has been in existence for over four hundred years. The renovation work done on this grand edifice has now turned the palace into Galeri Sultan Azlan Shah, a royal gallery that houses artefacts and important royal objects and historical information on the Perak royal family, especially with regard to His Royal Highness Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-lah, the 34th Sultan of Perak.

The setup of this gallery is the best approach in trying to capture the glorious path of His Royal Highness’s life so that it can be shared with the people and serve as an inspiration. This gallery is definitely one of the best ways of getting to learn about the current Sultan who remains close to people’s hearts.

This gallery was officiated by His Royal Highness Sultan Azlan Shah on the 9th of December 2002 and it received the Tourism Malaysia 2005-2006 Award for Best Attraction.

Labu Sayung

The participants of KCC1M Perak had the opportunity to visit the place that produces the well-known traditional product of Perak called Labu Sayong in Kampung Sayong. Labu is a water container that is made out of clay in the shape of a gourd – clay is known for its nutrients that are good for the body. In this village, there are many individuals that produce this product and turn it into a profitable business by turning Labu Sayong as souvenirs, gifts or decorative items.

The fine art of making this product can be seen through the process of moulding the Labu Sayong using the traditional method, involving certain mandatory steps to ensure the quality of the pottery. Normally, Labu Sayong is used to store water, while maintaining its coolness. This is truly an authentic product of Perak that all visitors are recommended to at least buy one when they visit Kuala Kangsar.

TAPAH

1981 Tapah Rest House

1981 Tapah Rest House comes highly recommended as a place for those who prefer simple and cosy stay surrounded by nature since this rest house is located amidst lush greenery. Situated 15 minutes drive away from Tapah toll gate, this rest house provides comfortable and relaxing accommodation, yet conveniently located only 10 minutes away from town. Tapah Rest House sits on a hill that protects it from the bustling road and in close proximity with attractions like Lata Kinjang, Kuala Woh Recreations Forest and Trolak Hot Spring.

IPOH

The Lost World of Tambun

The Lost World Tambun is the place popular among Malaysian families normally visit for quality time. However, the KCC1M participants were more interested in the natural hot spring spa that is thought to contain healing properties to cure numerous ailments. The hot water was channelled to the pool located in this theme park to make it easier for visitors to access this nature’s gift.

Apart from the hot spring, there are numerous attractions that visitors can enjoy, for example the petting zoo that houses more than 55 species of animals like raccoons, birds, parrots, pythons, king cobras and many more. There is also Tiger Valley, where visitors can find three tigers wandering freely in their compound. The latest attraction to be added in The Lost World of Tambun is the Tin Valley, which displays the history about the beginning of the tin-mining activities in Perak and how it helped to turn the state into what it is today.

The Lost World of Tambun is wholly managed by the Sunway Group and due to high demand, Sunway has now opened The Lost World of Tambun Hotel that offers 174 rooms divided into five categories: exotic, classic, suite, family suite and premium suite. There are also function rooms that can accommodate between 10 and 300 persons at any one time. With the completion of the hotel, it will be more convenient for visitors to entirely enjoy what The Lost World of Tambun offers.

Restoran Simpang Tiga

This restaurant is a popular well-known restaurants serving authentic Indonesian cuisines inspired from a restaurant in Medan with the same name. The existence of this restaurant is the outcome of the collaboration between the Mayor of Ipoh and the Mayor of Medan in bringing over the brand to Ipoh because the Mayor of Ipoh himself is fond of Indonesian cuisines. There are more than 24 dishes served here, ranging from chicken and beef to fish and vegetables. This restaurant is also listed as one of the must-visit places in the Ipoh food trail. Apart from catering to walk-in customers, the Simpang Tiga Restaurant also caters to special events and functions and arrangement can be made for any special request. To ensure that the authentic taste of the dishes is maintained, the owner of the restaurant, Mr. Yahya Abd. Rahman, flew five chefs from Medan to cook in this restaurant and some of the spices are also imported from Medan because Mr. Yahya believes that the taste of the dishes will be different if the spices are changed.

Among the special menu that has topped the list are Ayam Bumbu, Nasi Padang, Kikil Yellow Curry and tapioca shoots, which always sell fast especially during lunch hour and weekends.

Kacang Putih DNS Sdn Bhd

Kacang Putih DNS Sdn. Bhd. is one of the biggest manufacturers for traditional Indian snacks, particularly maruku, including others like potato chips and coated nuts, for almost 50 years. This family cottage business is passed down from generation to generation and it was started in an area called Gunung Cerun. It has now moved to its current location, Kampung Kacang Puteh.

This company supplies its products to many retailers such as Tesco and Giant, as well as exporting to other countries especially Australia and the United Kingdom. There are more than 36 types of snacks produced here and marketed nationwide.

TAMAN REKREASI Gunung Lang

Tasik Gunung Lang is one of the recreational places that is famous among Perakians as the place for them to spend quality time with family or friends. This man-made lake is 80 feet deep and covers an area of 175 acres, also home to various reptiles and mammals, including wild plants. So far, there are nine caves found on the islands within the lake but not all have been explored. Visitors are advised not to enter the caves due to safety issues.

Instead, visitors can still enjoy the wonderful scenery of the man-made waterfall here, feed the fish, cruise around the lake and even picnic here. The beautiful landscape of the limestones surrounding this lake makes this attraction one of the things that visitors should not miss.

Tambun Pomelo Farm

Tambun is one of the areas in Perak that brims with pomelo cultivation. Here, there are several pomelo farms that not only sold pomelos locally but also exported internationally. One of the largest pomelo cultivators, Mr. Chin, even exports his pomelo to Hong Kong, Singapore, United States of America and Australia, among others. The special thing about pomelo cultivation in Tambun is that it is not seasonal, hence the production of pomelo is consistent throughout the year due to Tambun’s hilly soil that is rich with natural fertiliser like calcium. Pomelo is well-known for its sweet and refreshing taste, as well as being used for traditional medicine.

At Mr. Chin’s farm, visitors are welcomed to savour the fresh pomelo and other fruits such as rambutan, passion fruit, jackfruit, star fruit, guava, sapodilla and many more.

Restoran Ikan Sungai Perak

The name of this restaurant loosely translates as Perak River Fish Restaurant, referring to the restaurant’s dishes that mainly comprise fish caught in Perak River. The owner, Mrs. Nurla Abd. Manan claimed that the restaurant only serves fish that are freshly caught fish. Apart from serving fresh water fish dishes like snake head, cat fish, iridescent shark and red tilapia, this restaurant also serves salt water fish like grouper, stingray and many more. Most of the restaurant’s customers prefer their fish to be grilled but quite a number of them also prefer their fish to be cooked in sweet sour or yellow curry. Other than fish, this restaurant is also known for its special coconut tom yam, which is less spicy compared to the usual tom yam dishes.

KCC1M Perak  Inaugural Dinner

The highlight of The Kembara Cuti-cuti 1Malaysia (KCC1M) Programme in Perak was the inaugural dinner held at Impiana Hotel Ipoh, hosted by Tourism Perak and officiated by Y.B. Dato’ Hamidah Osman, the Executive Councillor for Industry, Investment, Development, Entrepreneurship, Tourism, Welfare and Women Affairs of Perak. The event was emceed by Dato’ Mahadzir Lokman, Malaysia’s emcee extraordinaire.

The KCC1M dinner was attended by all KCC1M Perak participants, including local state media. The inaugural dinner was to welcome the participants of KCC1M Perak, as well as to publicly announce the Visit Perak Year 2012 and its tagline, ‘Yours to Discover’ – KCC1M Perak was the prelude to that campaign. Dato’ Hamidah took time to meet all media representatives and travel agents who attended the dinner. Tourism Perak’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ahmad Fathil Abd Ghani, stated that the dinner is the manifestation of Tourism Perak’s support towards the KCC1M Programme in promoting Perak destinations and attractions.