A Special House in Kampong Morten, Malacca

When I visited Malacca recently, I saw a nice house in Kampong Morten. It can be seen from the Malacca River. It is a traditional house, wooden house with brick staircases. I was told this house is more than 200 years old and is being kept from generation to generation by its family members.

The typical Malay house. It is beautifully decorated with spot lights that made it looks elegant at night.

Other side of the house.

The guest area.

The bed that is displayed  near the dining area. To the left is leading to the kitchen (ground floor)

Smiling Mr. Ibrahim, the present caretaker.

This house is well decorated with colourful curtains; it has a living area, dining area, the kitchen and toilet at the ground floor; and the core area was converted into a wedding display.

This house is occupied by Mr.Ibrahim and his family. Mr.Ibrahim allows tourist visit his house during the day only. He keeps Visitors Books for years. I was the last visitor of the evening that day and he entertained my curiosity and suggestions. It is like a small living museum. If you wish to visit, Mr Ibrahim will certainly welcome you and he will tell you many stories pertaining to the house and Kampong Morten since 1920's. Happy travelling.

The biggest curry bun : You should try it

For the first time, I get the opportunity to eat a very big bun. What is special about the bun is that it is baked with the chicken curry inside it. It has several sizes. The smallest size is the size of a coconut. The smallest bun can be eaten by two persons.

The bun is cut at the top into several petals. The curry is exposed for you to eat.

The delicious curry...

 You can find this bun only at this restaurant. It is named as Restoren Malaysia Kitchen and it is located at Jalan SBC4, Batu Caves, near CBatu Caves Industrial Area.

The entrance to the restaurant.

Happy travelling.

   

Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia: A Nice Museum Not to be Missed

Islamic Arts Museum is located next to the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur. The building is white in colour and looks elegant with the green surrounding. It is open daily from 10am to 6 pm.
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A wall signboard.

This museum has 12 galleries to go round in different floors. it is very informative and interesting too. The galleries include architecture, quran, India, China, Malay World, jewelry, textile, Arms and Armour, metal work ,ceramic and wood craft. You need more time here to digest all information.

It also has library, museum shop, restaurant and caters for dining, workshop and seminars. The library has many unique collections of books pertaining to islamic arts; the shop sells books, artefacts from around the world, and others; the restaurant offers food from Arabs and Persians which are good and tasty especially when they are served in the good and cosy environment. I found the galleries, the shop and the restaurant are appealing.

If you want to visit this museum, go to the National Mosque and you will see this museum next to it. For further information click at www.iamm.org.my or phone 603 2274 2020. Happy travelling.

Ho Chi Minh City at Night

Ho Chi Minh City is a big city in Vietnam. With its bustling population, it has attracted many businesses to be located there. It was once the capital of South Vietnam, the city now is modern with tall buildings in the making. However, old historic buildings were preserved.

I am going to show you this city at night. It has people walking around, eating at night stalls, driving motorbikes and licking ice creams...

Municipal Hall

Street with decorative lights

Driving motorcycles.

Colourful lights at road median.

Eating ice cream at night at ice cream shop.

If you wish to experience this, walk along Le Loi Avenue until you reach Ba Trung Street. Happy travelling.

Pulau Warisan, Kuala Terengganu

Pulau Warisan (Heritage Island) at the mouth of the Terengganu River is a man-made island. Located close to Kedai Payang Market and Kampong China, it is now a new tourism icon for Kuala Terengganu There is a road linking the Market to this area until it reaches Seri Malaysia Hotel on the other end. 

The island is supposed to have many stalls selling handicrafts as well as the recreation areas. This a new recreation area for Kuala Terengganu folks.  

The road, walkway, the canal  run parallel to each other. The island is on the right.

The canal that leads to themain river. On the left is Hotel Seri Malaysia while the tall building behind is Felda Residence hotel.

The bridge pillar.

Another bridge.

The gates at the bridge.

The bridge pillars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This area is very strategic in terms of view as you can see clearly Pulau Duyong's Ri Yaz Hotel and the venue of  the annual Monsoon Cup competition.

If you are interested to visit this area, you can start  walking either from Kedai Payang Market or Hotel Seri Malaysia, follow the back road of Jalan kampong China. Happy travelling.

Restoran Nasi Ulam Kampong Kraftangan: Not to be missed while in Kota Bharu, Malaysia

There is a restaurant which serves rice with ulam (raw vegetables) and other fish like patin and fried keli. Located right in the town centre near the Central Mosque, this restaurant has its uniqueness. Housed in the traditional Malay house environment, the restaurant has lots of visitor. It is open during lunch time. 

Footpath that leads to the restaurant on the left.

Ulam, fruit, vegetable, budu (fish essence) were served.

Fried and grilled fish were also served to the guests.

The signboard of the restaurant being put at the gate of the Handicraft Village.

If you want to taste the food, go to the Central Mosque area (Masjid Muhammadi), right in front of the Royal Guest House Hotel, you will find this Handicraft Village. Just enter, you will see the restaurant. Happy travelling.

KL Tower: A tower with a revolving restaurant

This tower is situated at Bukit Nanas in Kuala Lumpur (which is 94 metres above sea level). The height is 421 metres. It is the tallest communication tower in Kuala Lumpur. On top of it, there is a revolving restaurant where you can see Kuala Lumpur panorama. The area surrounding the tower is all green with tall and shady trees.

KL Tower seen from a different angle.

The tower reminds me of the Seoul N Tower in the city of Seoul, South Korea. Seoul N Tower has a commanding view of Seoul while KL Tower too has KL panorama. The revolving restaurant offers many cuisine of various countries. You need to book the seat and the price for dinner per pax is around RM100.00. You will enjoy being on the tower. There is a fast elevator to bring you to the top. There is ample parking spaces for buses and cars at the base of the tower.

If you are interested to visit this tower, you can take a monorail from KL Sentral to Bukit Nanas and walk to the tower. Or you may take a taxi from any LRT station (nearest Dang Wangi Putra Line). Happy travelling.

A Mosque with Chinese Architecture in Rantau Panjang, Kelantan

I came across with a mosque which has distinct Chinese architecture being built in Rantau Panjang in Kelantan. It is on the way to the town of Rantau Panjang, near the Thai border. To me this is the first mosque in Malaysia that has a Chinese architecture.

The roof is like a chinese pagoda or temple.

Close up of the front of the mosque.

This mosque is open to the public. If you are interested to visit, go to Rantau Panjang, two kilometres before you reach the town, you will see this mosque on your right. Happy travelling.

Ben Tanh Market Saigon: A Must Visit

There are several markets in Saigon where you can go and shop around. One of them is Ben Tanh Market. Located in the busy town centre close to bus terminal and near Saigon river, Ben Tanh market offers many products for the shoppers. It has a wet market where the flowers, fruits, rice, bread, coffee, vegetables, fish and meats are sold and the dry market items where clothes, shirts, and souvenirs are abundant.

Ben Tanh Market, view from the round about.

Inside the Market.

Souvenirs being sold at the market.

The market has four gates: east, west, north and south. The north gate is the entrance from Le Tanh Ton Street. The exterior architecture of the market looks a bit colonial with a clock tower. This market is a single storey market and is packed with small stalls inside. It has segments such as clothes section, souvenirs section, food stall section etc. You will be fascinated by the way they call you to their stall. Be alert on the pick pocket. When you buy clothes or tee shirt, be careful, the opening price may be high and you need to bargain.

Happy travelling.

Kelam Cave: A Tourism Asset in Perlis, Malaysia

One of the tourism assets in Perlis is Gua Kelam. Nestled in a 5000-hectare of Wang Mu and Mata Ayer Forest Reserves, Kelam Cave lies in the limestone hills of Nakawan Range which has features of steep slope and underground river. It was once used as a tin mining areas.

 The entrace to the Complex

There are two caves open for  the public. The cave-1, you can see and observe the stalactites on the ceiling and the underground river. You can walk  along the 381 metre wooden bridge to cross the underground river and appreciate the cave environment. There is ample lights to guide your walk.

The entrance to Cave-2

 The trains

The cave-2, you have to climb staircases and take a train ride for 400 metres into the cave. The cave-2 is quite high from the cave-1. Here, you can see the remnants of the tin-mining areas. It has poles, cut wall etc indicating the activity of mining. You also can hear the sound of water. All dangerous holes or caves are covered with safety net.

The cave-1

The train has seven coaches. Each coach can take only four persons. The coach glides on the parallel poles. After 400 metres, you have to get out of the coach and take a walk. The trail is quite dark and has lights at intervals. You can see stalactites, hear the sound of trickling water and see the ex-mining areas. The floors of the mining areas keep on lowering as evidence in the rising ceiling height of the cave. It is quite a hectic climb and walk. You need stamina to survive this exploration. Those unfit, it is advisable not to go into cave-2. You will end your trails in cave-1 and exit from cave-1.

The cave with lighting inside.

Kelam cave now is being managed by the Forestry Department since 2009. The complex has other facility and attraction too. It has gallery, souvenir shop, toilet, bathing area (rivers), camping site which can accommodate 200 persons and parking areas.

It is open from 8.00am to 6.00pm and with admission fee of RM5.00 adult and RM3.00 children. You need at least 2 hours to explore the caves. If you are interested to visit this cave, take a drive  from Kangar to Padang Besar. When you reach Timah Tasor, turn left towards Kaki Bukit. Afer 6km, you will reach a junction, then take left until you reach the foothills.  Happy travelling.

KLCC Park: A Most Beautiful City Green Surrounded by Tall Buildings

I found KLCC park is well planned, well managed and well utilised by its visitors. You can not see this park from the road side. It is located at the back of Petronas Twin Towers and Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

It has beautiful jogging track, waterfalls (small one), lakes with fountains, trees, gazebos etc. It is one of the most visited parks in Kuala Lumpur. It also becomes weekend picnic area by city folks.

The green park with tall buildings surrounding it. A view from Petronas Twin towers.

If you are in Kuala Lumpur, do visit this park. You can take LRT Putra Line where the KLCC station is just underneath the Twin Towers. Once you reached the KLCC station, go to Suria KLCC. Go to the first floor on your left, you will see this park. If you are not sure, ask around. Happy travelling.

Rose Garden, Kundasang, Sabah

I had the opportunity to visit this garden recently. It is located in Kundasang, just a few metres from the War Memorial Museum. Going to the place, you have in enter a secondary road.

This garden belongs to the private company and you have to pay RM3.00 for the entrance. It is full of roses and cactuses. This garden supplies some of its flowers to the city. Although it is named as rose garden, it has other flowers too.

The red rose, very strong in scent.

This not roses; its flowers are used as medicine for curing insect bites.

Dark red rose

Different colours, it looks like a hybrid.

Pink rose.

Five roses 

White rose

Bell flower

Behind the rose garden is a large agricultural area and a village.

If you happen to visit the rich agricultural areas of Kundasang, you can visit this place. It also has a simple eating place for you to quench your thirst and has a light meal. Happy travelling.

Tamparuli, Sabah Malaysia

There is a small town in Tuaran, Sabah by the name of Tamparuli. It is famous for its bridge and had a special song for it. It is situated along the main road to Kundasang. Whoever goes to Kundasang, they must pass through this little town.

A panaromic view of Tamparuli. It is rural area with highland in the background.

The hanging bridge and lower down is another concrete bridge passable to all traffic. It is a main road to Sandakan.Tamparuli town with bazaar and shops is at the end of these bridges.

The river that flows in Tamparuli.

If you pass this town, do stop and appreciate the beauty of her landscape.

Kinabalu Park, Sabah, Malaysia

Kinabalu Park (under the jurisdiction of Sabah Park) is located in Kundasang. It is about 2 hr drive from Kota Kinabalu. It houses the highest mountain in South-east Asia, Mount Kinabalu. For those who enjoy mountain climbing, perhaps this the area could be the best practise area before they climb other taller mountains. The climbing starts at Timpohon and must be guided by an authorised guide. 

When you enter this park, you need to pay RM3.00 per person and you can park your vehicles at the parking bays provided. 

The office and the galleries are located at the entrance. While the restaurant and the audio-visual room are located away from the entrance. Those who like botany and geology can explore this park to the maximum.

View from the administrative block

View from the main road.

Viewing platform, overlooking the main road. A good place for photography.

Internal road leading to the gallery.

Signboard telling who won the climbing competition in 2009.

The auditorium

The big ferns....

Chalets are available for rent.

Flowering tree at the park.

Another example of flowering tree in the park.

For those who are interested to visit this park, start early in the morning as it takes two hours to reach this park from Kota Kinabalu. The road leading to this area is quite narrow and winding. Since it is a main road to Tuaran and Sandakan, you may find big lorries that can slow you down and overtaking only are allowed at certain stretches.

Once you are at the park, you need at least three hours to view all galleries, botanical garden, walking along trails and had some snacks.The air is cooler here. If you cannot stand cooling air, bring a jumper or shawl. If you decide to climb the Kinabalu mountain, you have to stay overnight here and have to register with the park authority. Bring the necessary gadgets for climbing. Happy climbing and travelling.