Northern Malaysia Peninsular trip: Part IV – The finale (Taiping, Perak)

Continue from the last part…

New year? The continuation of the journey I’m going to present to you righr now… Very sorry ah, take a long time to update my blog...

*This is almost similar to the previous blog post in 2016 (https://eduardowongjz.blogspot.my/2016/12/my-perak-trip-2016.html) as My family and I travelled back again to Taiping in Perak State.

On the 4^th day (20/12/2017), we had finally begun our trip in the tranquil town of Perak State – Taiping.

 

Perak State map...

Taiping

As I mentioned above, Taiping is a tranquil and peaceful town in Perak state. This is because the town is quite far from the hustling and bustling cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Penang… The town itself is located between two major cities in Peninsular Malaysia which are Penang and Ipoh. Therefore, many travelers and tourists will probably stop over here before they go to Penang, Ipoh or even back to Kuala Lumpur.

 

Taiping lake garden (1)

Taiping town is being famous for its Bukit Larut, Mangrove forest and fishing village at Kuala Sepetang (15 km from Taiping).

My family and I travelled to these places:

Bukit Larut

Bukit Larut (or being known as Maxwell Hill) is much like the Cameron Highlands style, except there are no vehicles allowed to go up the hill (because the route is very steep and only the jeeps of Municipal of Taiping are allow to go up hill). The hill is 1036m above the sea level. Maxwell Hill was named after William George Maxwell, who was the British Assistant Resident in Perak. Last but not least, bonus fact: Bukit Larut is also the wettest place in Malaysia where it has the highest volume of rainfall compared to other parts of Malaysia.

The peak of Bukit Larut

You also can opt to hike up to the top of hill, if you a lot of stamina to do so… The jeep or four wheel drive service is also available there for tourists to go up hill… The price is RM10 per person… 

Road to the peak...

Peak of Bukit Larut

Here’s the view on top of the hill…

Taiping lake garden

Taiping Lake Gardens (Taman Tasik Taiping in Malay) is the first public garden established during the British rule in Malaysia. The garden is located near Bukit Larut, and is equidistant to the town centre and the Taiping Zoo. Besides, here’s the brief history lah… The Taiping Lake Gardens was originally a mining ground before it was established as a public garden in 1880.

There are many locals there who jogs at the garden every morning, while the tourist come there to take some iconic pictures… (P/S: we just passed by here because later we go to Kuala Sepetang)

Kuala Sepetang

Kuala Sepetang (or being known as Port Weld) is the first port build in Malaysia. However, the role of the Port Weld was diminishing after the other ports such as Port Klang (Port Swetttenham) was build. Kuala Sepetang also has the Malaysia’s first railway that linked with Taiping town, but unfortunately it was being dismantled for a long time ago… The only thing left is the Port Weld railway signboard…

The view of the fishing village from the bridge that connecting two parts of the fishing village

Kuala Sepetang is now an ordinary chinese fishing village in Perak… Albeit of that, there are still many tourists (including us) flock into the village to visit certain places right here…

There are...

Kuala Sepetang Mangrove Forest Reserve Park

 It is also few hundreds meter away from the fishing village...

Charcoal Factory

Watching fireflies at night

*There are many fishermen make use this opportunity by taking tourist to watch fireflies at the mangrove forest at night to gain extra income.

Night view of the dock...

Last but not least, makan seafood there…

Porridge seafood @ Foo Man Lou (A restaurant at Jalan Kuala Sepetang - Taiping)...

 On the fifth day (19/12/2017) we had lunch in the Larut Matang food court before we go back to KL… What really I amazed was there were different races do business in a food court (really hard to find in KL).

Larut Matang Food Court...

The trip ended.

In conclusion, this Northern Peninsular trip was like an ecological trip, for me lah… This is because we had been went through lots of places from paddy fields to the mountain and to the fishing village…

Northern Malaysia Peninsular trip: Part III (Kedah)

Continue from the last part…

On the 3^rd day of our trip (17/12/2017), we finally reach the Kedah State of Northern Peninsular Malaysia!

Kedah State

Kedah, I believe many of you who lived in Malaysia or even foreigners certainly do know this state being famous of its paddy field and Pulau Langkawi (Langkawi Island).

Map of the Kedah State

Kedah state is bordered by Penang State at the south, Perak State at the southeast, Perlis state to the northwest and Thailand to the north. The rivers play an important role in making the state’s natural border. Sungai Muda (Muda river) is the natural border of Penang state and Kedah state, while Sungai Kerian  is the natural border of Perak State and Kedah State. The state’s capital is situated at Alor Setar (Which was also the place my family travelled to), meanwhile the royal capital of Kedah State, however, located at Anak Bukit (which is 10km north of Alor Setar).

On 17^th of December 2017, my family and I “check-out” from my aunty house to the North (Kedah). My father chose to use old trunk road to go to Alor Setar so that we could get to see more scenary of rural areas in Seberang Perai’s outskirt areas as well as the small towns long the road in Kedah. The actual trip shown on google maps used roughly 90 minutes to reach Alor Setar from Butterworth (IF you didn’t stop and rest at anywhere lah…). Here are the place we stopped and travelled.

Sungai Petani

            Sungai Petani is one of the industrialized areas in Kedah State. The town itself already has lots of amenities such as Rapid Penang bus service from Penang State and Shopping Malls. 

Furthermore, just like Kulim town, Sungai Petani is also very near to the Penang State centre (31 km away from Butterworth and 59km from Alor Setar, Kedah). Therefore, this helps the town to develop rapidly to be on par with the major town of Penang’s Seberang Perai. Lastly, I forgot to mention that this town is connected with KTM train service from KL sentral to the Thai Border station of Padang Besar… (IF you backpackers are willing to visit this place lah…)

Landmark of Sungai Petani

Landmark of Sungai Petani part 2

Gurun

            Gurun is only the small town located between the road from Sungai Petani to Alor Setar and has KTM train station. Nothing much to talk about, expect the Gunung Jerai (Mount Jerai) nearby there.

            After passing by Gurun town, there is a magnificent view of paddy field along the way from Gurun outskirt to Alor Setar outskirt. There also has the Malaysia’s longest paddy irrigating system and canal from Alor Setar to Gurun, namely Wan Mat Saman Aqueduct. 

Magnificent view of paddy field

Alor Setar

Alor Setar, capital state of Kedah, We arrived at Alor Setar at noon. Under the hot scorching sun, we find a typical chinese restaurant to settle our lunch before we go on our one day trip in Alor Setar.

There are few places to go in Kedah such as Alor Setar Tower, Pekan Cina (Chinatown), Tun Mahathir Mohamad’s birthplace house, Pekan Rabu (Wednesday market), Wat Nikrodharam and Paddy Musuem. Due to lack of time (rushing to Taiping in the evening), we only go for few places from these destinations.

Alor Setar Tower is the communication tower for the Kedah State,,,

Even though the tower is not as tall as KL tower in Kuala Lumpur, but it does give you a great view of the city…

Brief history of Alor Setar Tower

Pekan Cina is the Chinatown of Alor Setar. It is located at the riverbank of Kedah River and besides of Pekan Melayu (where the Pekan Rabu located at). Albeit of that, the Chinatown is still comparatively quite than the Chinatown in other states…

Tanjung Chali, Alor Setar

The youtube video shows food trip of Alor Setar...

Then, we said goodbye to Kedah state and travel to Taiping, Perak. It is possible to have one day trip in Kedah state, IF you began your journey in Penang State…

Coming out next, Taiping, Perak.

Merry belated Chirstmas, everyone…

Northern Malaysia Peninsular trip: Part II (Pulau Pinang)

Northern Malaysia Peninsular trip: Part II (Pulau Pinang)

Continue from the lastpart…

In the next morning (16/12/2017), we travel to the island of Penang state…

Penang Island

Penang Island is well known for its historical herritage and tourist attractions compared to the mainland… Therefore, more tourist from other states in Malaysia or the foreign countries travel to there. The island is also held the only “Bandaraya” status of city – George town in the Penang. The island is divided into two districts namely Northeast district and Southwest district.

Highlighted area of the map is North East district of Penang island

Map of Penang state

There are 3 methods to reach to the destination (Penang island). The first one is through Penang Bridges (one in Perai, Seberang Perai Tengah and another one in Batu Kawan, Seberang Perai Selatan). The second one is through ferry ride from Butterworth straight away to the town centre of George town. The last one is through airplane ride to Bayan Lepas International Airport in Penang island. The former one is quite practical way for the tourist from other parts of Peninsular Malaysia to travel there.

 

Ferry service

Bayan Lepas International Airport

I only focus on George town and Balik Pulau because my family travel to these 2 places…

Balik Pulau

            Similar to the Nibong Tebal in the last blog post, Balik Pulau is quite laid back compared to the other parts of the island. This is because the town itself is located far from the city centre of  the island (George town), 29 km from George town and yet the roads access to the town are also the hilly and curvy road… This town is the capital of the South West district. The main road to the town is Jalan Tun Sardon whcih begins at Paya Terubong in Northeast district and end at Balik Pulau. The road is slightly steep and curvy.

              If you go to the outskirts of the town, you will likely to get to taste the Durians… However, like most of part of Penang, this town also being famous for its Hokkien Mee… (Basically every parts of Penang, you will get to eat Hokkien Mee). Hokkien Mee which I mentioned in the previous blog post, the soup is made from the prawn essence while the noodle is in yellow colour. In conclusion, the prawns are basically the important item in this dish…

Hokkien Mee Penang

Old man mural art in Balik Pulau...

Old shop houses...

George town

George town is obviously the capital of the Penang State… The administrative building of Penang state (Komtar) is located in this capital city… The city is also considered as the UNESCO World Herritage Site together with Malacca State. I briefly talk about this city only lah, as this city is being too popular in the country and overseas.

Certainly, the city has lots of places to go… such as the mural arts in the city centre (Armenian Street), Khoo Kongsi (nearby the mural arts), Chew Jetty (A jetty used to settled by the Chew surname chinese and transformed into a tourist site) and Gurney drive (where you can enjoy the view of the seaside). We traveled these places only under thee hot scorching sun, even though the are more places to go in the city centre and nearby towns such as Tanjung Tokong and Tanjung Bungah.

Typical street art in the street...

Khoo Kongsi

Chew Jetty

Inside the city, you can also rent a bicycle to travel around the city centre.

After travel finished the city centre, we went back to Butterworth (my aunty house) via ferry service.

Note: You are need to pay for the ferry ticket, if you travel from the mainland to the island. However, if you travel from the island to the mainland, the fee is exempted.

Inside the ferry

Next state to go - Kedah…