Beaches of Southern Thailand...

"I didn’t get there by wishing for it or hoping for it, but by working for it..." - Estée Lauder

(Windmill farm in Nakhon Si Thammarat)

After attending my nephew's wedding in Kota Bharu we crossed the border with our 4x4 at Rantau Panjang/Sungai Golok and spent a few days visiting the beautiful beaches in southern part of Thailand.

(Our routing in Southern Thailand)

(Tha Bon fishing village with a nice beach)

(Colorful chalets of Teeny Beach)

(Vasana Resort at Ban Beng Beach Ranong)

(Phang Nga Bay view from Samet Nangshe, Phuket)

(A tranquil beach at Pak Bara, Satun)

My Overseas Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

A Nephew's Wedding, a new journey in life...

"Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead..." - Oscar Wilde

(Imran and Farrah)

Best wishes on this wonderful journey, 

as you build your new lives together,

May the years ahead be filled with lasting joy.

From: Pak Uda & Mak Uda

Kelantan: Tangga Bradley Kuala Krai...

“No matter how much suffering you went through, you never wanted to let go of those memories...” - Haruki Murakami

(Some memories are unforgettable)

Although I was born in Melaka, I spent most of my younger years in Kelantan. And every time I recalled those wonderful years it never fail to melt the hardest part of my heart! 

We planned to attend a nephew's wedding in Kubang Kerian on the 3rd day of Eidil Adha. On this trip we planned to visit some places of interests in Kelantan, one of which is Tangga Bradley located in Kuala Krai Town and another, the oldest Kampung Laut Mosque in Nilam Puri. 

(A new archway of Tangga Bradley)

(Some write-ups on the history)

Our journey from Kuala Lumpur via the Gua Musang route was uneventful. When we reached Kuala Krai, it was not difficult to locate Tangga Bradley. Somehow and sadly, it was very different from the picture I kept in my faded memory. Tangga Bradley is located by the Kelantan River, adjacent to Kuala Krai District Police Headquarters. It is a walking distance from Kuala Krai bus and taxi station. 

(A total of 81 steps to the river)

(The markers to mark the flood level)

The stairs looks new and well maintained, with a new vibrant coloured archway. The stairs was built around 1927 and named after the then Kuala Krai’s Chief Administrator, Sir Bradley. Tangga Bradley serves as a mini jetty for the villages around the embankment of the river which are not accessible by road. The farmers unload their agricultural produce here to be sold at the wet market in town. It is also a place to measure the water level of Sungai Kelantan during the monsoon season. The staircase has 81 steps. 

(Walking down memory lane)

(A place we used to play)

My late father used to stay on the raft by the river during Police operations during monsoon seasons. My siblings and I used to play on the rafts during our short visits. We love to run up and down the 81 steps or sometimes swim in the rough river under close supervision. When the weather got rough and the river began to bloat, to our disappointment, my father will pack our bags and sent us off to the bus station for our journey back to our Police Barrack in Kota Bharu. During our teenage days in Kota Bharu, the Big Five and the girl scout gang used to cycle or hitch-hike to Kuala Krai and earned our scout badges. Kuala Krai is about 75 km from Kota Bharu. I often wonder where did we get the energy to cycle or hike that far.

(A floating restaurant on Kelantan River)

Tangga Bradley’s name has changed to ‘Tangga Krai’ in 1994. I don’t know why they had to change the name but I will remember the place as Tangga Bradley as I still harboured fond memories which I will always cherished.

Kelantan: Masjid Kampung Laut Nilam Puri...

"There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know..." - Harry S Truman

(The oldest Mosque in Malaysia)

Masjid Kampung Laut is the oldest surviving mosque in Malaysia. It dates to around the early 18th century. It is located in Jalan Kuala Krai in Nilam Puri, Kelantan. Masjid Kampung Laut was built in the 15th century by a group of fishermen consisting of those from Pattani, Jawa and Brunei sea routers. Its style is largely typical of local traditional architecture, and climate-appropriate, similar to local houses in the area. The original mosque had a basic architectural styles and structure with four pillars and had palm fronds for the roof.

(A solat break at the oldest mosque)

By virtue of architectural resemblance, it is said that the mosque was the original Masjid Agung Demak that was built in 1401. The mosque was relocated from its original site to Kampung Laut, hence the name. During the reign of the Sultan of Kelantan between 1859 and 1900, the mosque became an important meeting point for the Sultans and religious leaders. The mosque was also used as a trading post. During this period, the mosque was expanded and upgraded with 20 pillars, a three-tiered roof, a Muezzin tower, an attic, and a water tank while the flooring was made of good quality timber.

(The history of relocation of the mosque)

The mosque has survived two big floods that occurred in Kelantan, the first is in 1926 when a flood known as Bah Air Merah and another in 1966. The second flood severely damaged the mosque when parts of the mosque close to the river was swept away by flood waters. However, the damages were able to be repaired and restored.

(Entering the town of Kota Bharu)

Negeri Sembilan - A family picnic in Lata Kijang...

"Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children..." - Charles R. Swindoll

(A day trip to Lata Kijang)

On Saturday, fifteen of the KKB gang and family convoyed in four cars and one bike to Taman Alam Liar Negeri at Lata Kijang in Negeri Sembilan and had a picnic by the stream. The kids enjoyed themselves in the cool stream while the ladies prepared Nasi Lemak and BBQ chicken for lunch. The men tried their luck in fishing, but only brought back a pair of tiny fishes.

(An outing with the KKB bikers gang)

(Hana and Amir crossing the stream)

(The camping area complete with facilities)

(Setting up camp for the grand kids)

Lata Kijang Recreational Forest is located in the Kenaboi Forest Reserve in Negeri Sembilan. It is about 80 km from Seremban and 45 km from Kuala Klawang. The main attractions of this forest area are the 80 meters high Lata Kijang waterfall, which is the highest waterfall in Negeri Sembilan, the Gunung Besar Hantu at 1,462 meters, the Semong and the Tiger Caves, as well as the Orang Asli settlements.

(The men ready to catch big fishes)

(Hana and Amir bathing in the stream)

(Ella watching the kids from far)

(Hana's creative rocks formation)

(Grandma wading in the cold stream)

(A BBQ of small fishes for Hana)

Lata Kijang's facilities include a large camping area situated next to the stream that can accommodate up to 300 people. There are toilets and a multi-purpose hall complete with dining area with tables and benches.

The Lata Kijang Waterfall is accessible only by a 4x4 vehicle because of its rough terrain. It takes about 3 hours of trekking from the Recreational Area. This jungle is ideal for nature lovers because of its rich flora and fauna.

Kelantan - A rendezvous at Min House Camp...

"A little foolishness, enough to enjoy life, and a little wisdom to avoid the errors, that will do..." - Osho

(Big 5 - Kid, Ubai, Ani, Bee and me)

After spending a few nights in Thailand, we entered Malaysia through Sungai Golok/Rantau Panjang border and stayed two nights in Kota Bharu.

Kota Bharu has changed a lot since I left after secondary school. I'd had a happy childhood here in spite of deprivation. As a kid, I hadn't even realized that my family was poor, that truth hadn't occurred to me until I went to college and was able to look back on my life in Kota Bharu from a distance. In this very town, I made lots of friends, and maybe a few enemies too.

(Big 5 - My best of friends)

For our two days stay in Kota Bharu, I will be meeting my childhood friends. The SMKB girls had arranged a small gathering of friends at Min House Camp to celebrate Ani's birthday. Lunch was Nasi Arab cooked by a guest from Syria. We have cakes and bread pudding for dessert. There was abundance of local fruits, a complementary from the owner of the camp. Regardless of their status, my friends are still the same, unbreakable by distance, unchangeable by time.

(Celebrating Ani's birthday)

(A lunch date with the girls)

After lunch we had the opportunity to wonder and pick herbs from the organic farm then later watch the extraction of honey from the Kelulut Bee farm.

(Extracting honey by the trainers)

Min Camp is situated in Kubang Kerian, approximately 20 minutes' drive from Kota Bharu town. Min House Camp offers a quiet and comfortable stay, offering garden and river views. Guests can go fishing, canoeing, biking and organizing hiking activities at an additional cost. There is a bee farm and an organic herbal garden to explore. One of the interesting highlights here is to go for firefly-watching at night.

(A small bamboo hut in the camp)

Pingat Jasa Pengakap: A feather in my cap

"Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently..." - Maya Angelou

(The Golden Girls: Wan Ubaidah, Noriah, Maimon and Adilah)

Circa 1969/1970 we made history when seven of us from Sekolah Menengah Kota Bharu, Kelantan joined the 42nd Boy Scouts Troop and became the first Girl Scouts in Malaysia.

We were young and innocent then and did not even know the impact and implication of our actions. We had done something important that had not been done before and would be recorded and remembered for a long time. Not long after, many schools in Kelantan and other states embraced the idea of setting up a mixed Scout Troop in their schools.

(The Golden Girls with Hajjah Normah and Kelantanese Team Leaders)

(Pingat Jasa Pengakap)

As the pioneers of the Girl Scout Movement, four out of the seven Golden Girls were honoured when we were awarded with Pingat Jasa Pengakap (P.J.P.) by Majlis Persekutuan Pengakap Malaysia. The medal presentation was graced by Tuan Hj Nasaruddin Hj Shamsuddin, PPM Deputy National Chief Scout Commissioner at the opening ceremony of the 2018 National Girl Scout Camp in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary of the Girl Scout Movement in Malaysia. About 400 Girl Scouts gathered in IPG Kampus Sultan Abdul Halim, Sungai Petani, Kedah on 8 - 11 August 2018 for the occasion.

(The Golden Girls - Knowledge Sharing Session)

Fifty years ago, at a budding young age, the Big Five may have done something right after all…

Pahang - A trip to the Screaming Waterfalls...

"The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which bridge to burn..." - David Russell

(Lata Meraung or the Screaming Waterfalls)

We had a great road trip to Lata Meraung, the Screaming Waterfalls, this weekend.

We started from our Bidara house early in the morning and drove on the Karak Highway towards Jerantut then took route 64. With the assistance of our Garmin we managed to locate the waterfall, 8 km from the junction of Jalan Lembah Kiol after passing an Orang Asli village and the old Golf Club. From the Golf Club, there is a hiking trail after a bridge, which leads to the fall. We chose to drive to the entrance to Taman Eco-Rimba Lata Meraung where there is ample parking space for visitors.

(The junction to Lembah Kiol)

(Another 8 km to Lata Meraung)

(Some stretch of road is narrow and graveled)

(An Orang Asli village)

(Crossing the bridge to the Golf Club)

(The old Golf Club)

(The Golf Course)

(Driving a distance away from the Golf Club)

From the ticket booth at the entrance, which is not in operation yet, we hiked about five minutes to the fall. There is a proper cemented path and steps with railings leading to the falls. The Lata Meraung is not that huge but absolutely a fantastic and scenic waterfall to visit.

(The entrance to the Taman Eco-Rimba)

(An unmanned Ticket booth)

(Safety warning, enter at your own risk)

(Trekking on the cemented path)

(A huge buttress root of the jungle tree)

(Climbing up the steep steps)

(And a climb down to the bottom of the falls)

The water flows down the rocks in several streams and the fall is about 40 meters high. There is a nice pool at the bottom. The pool is not so deep and perfect for swimming and bathing for both adults and children. The area around the falls is ideal for picnicking and camping.

(Yeay! We are there at last)

(A small but scenic waterfall)

(A clear cool water and surrounding rocks)

(A refreshing dip in the pool)

(A simple lunch of Nasi lemak bungkus)

While we were there, with the help of others, we collected rubbish around the area. There were families picnicking and having a BBQ by the stream. We had nasi lemak bought earlier this morning for lunch. The rest of the time there was spent swimming and relaxing by the waterfall, absorbing the serenity of the jungle.

(A picnic area by the river)

(Toilets and bathroom under construction)

(Variety species of butterflies and moths)

(And varieties of wild flowers)