GOING UP THE HISTORICAL BUKIT MALAWATI IN KUALA SELANGOR

4th MAY 2024 ~ After attending the wedding reception at Kuala Selangor town [READ HERE], we decided to explore a bit. The most prominent landmark would be the historical Bukit Malawati.

What are the attractions of Bukit Malawati?

[1] The Tram Ride: The ticket for the tram ride to the top of the hill cost RM5.00, unless you want to walk up the ascending ground. This should be something exciting especially to small children. We felt like real tourists, enjoying the ride uphill. We were lucky as there tram was only occupied by two other families and us.

[2] The view from the top of the hill should be something for visitors to enjoy. The hill was once used as a fort during the era of Melaka/Malacca Sultanate. There were some real cannons scattered in a few spots.

[3] The observation tower on the hill was used for moonsighting activities to determine the first day of Ramadhan [fasting month for Muslim] and the first day of Eid as well. I don't think people were allowed to go up the tower.

[4] The Light House should be the most important landmark that needs to be in the photos of every visitor. I don't think the lighthouse is still in operation at present. I have found a beautiful aerial view od the lighthouse on Youtube.

[5] There were two museums on the hill: the Historical Museum [READ HERE] and the Traditional Games Museum [READ HERE].

[6] The Silver Leaf Monkeys - they were just everywhere. You just have to be more cautious as the monkeys were interested to snatch the food or items they thought were food in your hands.

[7] Raja Lumu Mosque was located at the foot of Malawati Hill. A place for Muslims to stop by to perform their prayers. And anyone could just go and visit the holy building to admire its architecture. [READ HERE]

There were actually other spots that we did not visit or see because of time constraint. Bukit Malawati should definitely be the place you must visit when you are in Kuala Selangor and make sure you will allocate more time to spend there.

THE LIGHTHOUSE OF LENGKUAS ISLAND

26th OCTOBER 2019 ~ When I was young, I read a lot of Enid Blyton's adventure stories. Other than castles with hidden tunnel, a lighthouse would always provide excitement and thrill the characters had to experience. To be able to get very close to a lighthouse was indeed a rare opportunity for me as visitors were allowed to get into the lighthouse complex to use the bathrooms and the praying room as well.

Here are some interesting facts about the lighthouse on Lengkuas Island:

• The tower was erected by the Dutch Colony Government in 1882 and the it is still functioning as a guide to vessels on its waters.
• The structure is 50 metres tall.
• The lighthouse has 18 floors and there is a window on each floor so climbers could rest and enjoy different view from different levels. HOWEVER, visitors are not allowed to climb up anymore but it was possible two years ago. [I found out from the Internet you can actually go up the lighthouse if you are granted permission with a small sum of money]
• The only people living on the island are the three lighthouse operators.

The lighthouse from the back side

If I were to come back to Lengkuas Island again, I would make sure to climb up the lighthouse to observe the heavenly panoramic view. May God grant me good health and strong feet for many more years to come.

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THE PICTURESQUE LENGKUAS ISLAND PART 2

26th OCTOBER 2019 ~ Why do you have to go to Lengkuas Island? You go there just to enjoy the sea, the sand and the sun and wish time would pass very slowly.

There were many instagrammable spots on the island and this is definitely a place for Instafamous wannabes who are expecting a thousand likes after a photo is posted online. I saw drones were used to capture the special moment at this place by big tour groups and I bet the photos would turn uot awesome. I wondered if one day I would carry a drone around when I travel.

As all good things must come to an end, we had to bid Lengkuas Island our "good byes". There was another island that we had to hop to right after.

At one point after leaving the place, the boat stopped in the middle of the ocean. It was the feed-the-fish session. We had to throw the bread bought at Tanjung Kelayang earlier into the water and the big school of fish came swarming to get the food. There were just too many fish I had a feeling I could get them on the boat if I scooped them out of the water.

There was this small island which looked like huge rocks were protruding out of the ocean with a bit of white sand. However, we did not stop as there was no space for the boat to get near it and at the same time, there was already a crowd there. So we just moved on to our next destination - Kelayang Island.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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