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Visit
Perak
We are so used to hearing about sea turtles
in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang, but
most people might not know that there is
a turtle sanctuary in Perak. Located just a
couple of miles off the town of Lumut, the
Pasir Panjang Segari Turtle Sanctuary
gives visitors the opportunity to learn
about turtles in their natural habitat.
Managed by the Department of Fisheries,
this hatchery and research centre is on
a quiet stretch of beach and is the main
landing area for the Green Turtle, Olive
Ridley Turtle and Painted Terrapin. Due
to the decline in turtle landings over
the years, the sanctuary provides a safe
haven for baby turtles who struggle to
survive against their natural predators
and trawler nets. At the sanctuary, visitors
Adventure
Bordering Pahang, Perak, Terengganu,
Kelantan and Kedah, the
Royal Belum
Rainforest Reserve
is simply mag-
nificent. Bountiful with flora and fauna,
can watch the turtle eggs hatch and hold
the new-borns in their hands. The peak
nesting season is betweenMarch and June.
If you’re lucky, youmight just get to swim
with the sea turtles like I did.
Sarawak
Set in the mountain areas of Sarawak,
Bario is an hour’s flight or a 16-hour
4x4 drive away from Miri. It is famous
for its
Bario
Rice, but the view here is
also spectacular. To fully appreciate the
scenery, go for a morning hike up Prayer
Mountain or join the locals in the paddy
fields. My favourite activity was to sit on
the wooden patio of my homestay with a
hot cup of tea and watch the sea of clouds
move amidst themountains. It can get cold
here with temperatures ranging from12°C
to 20°C and most of the houses still uses
water from the well to shower.
Sungai Lembing
Just an hour’s 4x4 drive into the forest and
a 45-minute track off Sungai Lembing, and
youwill be right in paradise. The
Rainbow
Waterfall
is a tall waterfall with a large
pool at the bottom. During the monsoon
season, the pool is an awesome place to
swim after a good trek. However, the best
thing about this place is not the pool, but
the numerous rainbows that surrounds it.
It is truly a sight to behold. Remember to
start your journey as early as possible as
the rainbows will disappear by 10 in the
morning. If you want the utmost privacy,
a big tip would be to avoid coming during
the school holidays or weekends as it tends
to get crowded then.
jungle and raft down rivers. My advice
would be to get a certified local guide and
stay with the local orang asli to experience
how they go about their daily lives.
Cycle
To experience the beauty of Malaysia,
start your cycling journey from
Kampung
Penarik
in Terengganu and slowly ride
down to
Mersing
. Don’t forget to stop
by and try out the wonderful array of
local food such as
sata
and
akok
. The
spectacular view on its own will take
your breath away and don’t be afraid to
take a detour off the main road into small
village roads. This trip will definitely help
give you a new and different perspective
to Malaysia.
this rainforest that’s even older than the
Amazon forest is one of the few places in
Malaysia where you can see a Rafflesia
flower, hornbills, elephants and even
tigers. Here, you can trek into the deep