KEDAH…. HERE I COME!!!
BACKGROUND
Hi everyone, now I want to
share a little bit about my country but I will focus to Kedah Darul Aman. So, what is the interesting places in Kedah??
Well,
we have a highlands it is Gunung Jerai, Alor
Setar as a city, we also have an islands
which is Langkawi and Pulau Payar,
historical sites at Lembah Bujang, a great rainforest
at Ulu Muda
Forest Reserve and the well-known lake, Pedu
Lake.
This is the "rice-bank" of Malaysia
and visitors are greeted with stretches of green 'padi'/rice plants gently
swaying with the breeze which turn to a golden brown when the paddy is ready
for harvesting. The gentle plains merge with undulating hills and valleys,
rising to the majestic limestone mountains in the north and east. The legendary
Langkawi Archipelago steeped in history
and myth, a haven for tourists, lies offshore. Let’s go guy follow me to know
more about Pedu Lake. The awesome lake
in Kedah.
JOURNEY & ARRIVAL
Travelling
all the way from KL, some 6 ½ hours northwards, didn't feel too mundane as the
highway took us past scenic limestone hills of Perak
and into the flat coastal plains of Kedah
where chessboard patterns of paddy fields filled the landscape. Dotted around
are odd-looking scarecrows, seemingly put together more to complete the picture
perfect rather than to frighten the crows! Turned off at the Gurun exit from the highway, taking us east
into the interior of Kedah and to the
lake so many of us have heard and read about but remains elusive. As the narrow
road snaked further into the heart of Kedah,
a sense of adventure began seeping back into our blood, raising our heartbeats,
pouring adrenaline down our throats. The landscape slowly changing - villages
lining the roads, melted away. Natural barricades of tall undergrowth and
lowland-forested trees, many flowering this time of the year greeted us with a
scent of freshness. Like the smell of the garden lawn after a refreshing
mid-afternoon downpour.
Having parked our car at the terminal beside
the entrance to the resort, you need took a ride into the main resort area.
Cars are not allowed in the main resort area for fear of parking congestion and
we'd like to believe that it is a resort that encourages their guests to walk a
bit and absorb the pristine environment in the 400 or so acres the resort sits
on.
After a few minutes of formalities, we
checked into the lake view chalets, which have an open view facing west. The
balcony sits on the water's edge and after the day's drive, the temptation
proved too much to resist we crumpled into our chairs for a magnificent sunset.
The roaring red sun sank lower as evening beckoned. Sunrays skimmed over ripples, spreading across the surface,
turning the lake a brilliant orange.
ACCOMMODATION
There are so many places to spend
your night but my suggestion is this resort. It’s known as Desa Utara
Pedu Lake Resort. Other than that, you
also can stay at Mutiara Pedu Lake Resort. These two resorts are near
to the Pedu Lake.
v
ROOM TYPE : 106 deluxe rooms and suites, rumah induk
- for group
bookings of 40 to
60 persons (2 double decker beds in
10 separate
rooms) \
v
ROOM DESCRIPTION : Deluxe rooms with air-cond, bathroom
Attached with hot water, TV with astro
satellite
programmes, video and cassette player, mini
bar, hair dryer,tea & coffee making facility,
IDD, room safe and balcony.
v FACILITIES : Melinja
Coffee House, Anjung bar lounge, water
sports
facilities,
meeting rooms.
v OPTIONAL : Fishing,
boat rental, trekking, camping, team building
facilities,
karaoke,swimming pool and jet skiing.
For more information you can get at
:
Desa Utara Pedu Lake Resort
K.B. No 2 Kuala Nerang, 06300 Kedah Darul Aman
MORE
ABOUT PEDU LAKE
- Tualang Trees and large honey bees!!
According to the cycle of the moon, honey can
only be gathered on moonless nights and although we came during the right
season which falls in February(or sometimes in March). So for those of you
interested in witnessing the rituals, call the Pedu
resorts for latest news on schedules. This honey-harvesting season is also
reliant on the rains, which affect the blooms of the wild flowers and that in
turn affect the honeybees. They are all connected one way or another and this
makes the rainforest all the more
fascinating and fragile!
To the Tualang
tree, the trek started off pretty easy. A well-marked trek took us closer to
our destination but the last twenty minutes drew a little more effort. The
incline was close to 45° and with more muscle power to drive each step we felt
our precious reserve body fluids and energy draining away. We were allowed to
stop for a final rest on a flat rock just round the corner from the tree. As we
turned the corner, we were greeted with the most spectacular tree. Having been
told too many times how tall the tree
is, I could not imagine its greatness. The white smooth trunk pushes the Tualang (Koompasia
excelsa) canopy some 150feet (50m)high
(roughly 15 storey’s high). It takes 4 grown men with outstretched arms to
circle the base of the tree. I don't know how many centuries this tree has
lived but it has to be one of the oldest around and a fine living specimen it is.
MORE ABOUT HONEYBEES
- Honeybees gatherers on a moonless night or when the
moon has gone down.
- The bees are more interested in the dying cinders.
- The bees are unable to fly in the dark.
- Each tree are to house on average 100 hives per
seasons.
- Every nest containing 30 000 of giant Asian honeybees.
- Honeybees built their beads of nest up on the branches
of tualang trees, about 100 feets from the forest floor.
- A ketchup botlle
filled with pure honey from these harvests can fetch RM40 to RM45 each.
- When visiting the trees during the ritual, make sure
that no one in the group light a cigarette or flicks on a torch.
Boat rides around the lake
Then, don’t miss to take a boat ride round
the lake. The lake itself has many islets that used to be peaks or mounts, and
now are the only areas still above the flood level. The ridge facing the resort
is really an island, there's more lake round the other side. Around the corner,
the resort's Sports and Recreation
manager and a former army commando pointed out to us a floating hut in a cove.
Below the surface of the lake, there is an entire forest of trees and loggers
have come to cut the submerged trees. A highly specialized
and dangerous job, the divers are paid to go deep into the sunken forest and
source for the right tree to cut down. Suited up in their heavy gear, with
breathing hose connected to the surface, these divers drop to a depth of 60' or
more. It's dark; it's still, and the meshes of branches make their descent
difficult. A snag could mean death. Some trees are very buoyant, shooting up to
the surface, sometimes even before the trunk is sawn
right through. Imagine being entangled in the branches of the tree when this
happens. Riding with the tree all the way to the surface as it rises above the
waters before splashing down, like a cork being released underwater. What an
experience! The Pedu lake golf resort
has boat trips into little canals around the lake where there is a greater
chance of spotting wildlife. The otters are often out in large family groups,
in search of food. The younger family members are seen frolicking and fooling
around in the shallower parts. Huge monitor lizards are also residents of the
lake but are usually shy of people and passing boats.
The waterfall
There is a beautiful waterfall not far from
the area - a walk on the main road and then a little trek into the jungle. This
place may be a little tricky to find on your own so try asking for some help from
the resort staff. For those who are keen to seek out some wildlife in the area,
the resort staff is well-versed with the 1 to 2 night trek up the ridge just to
the back of the resort. A rather difficult trek but not impossible. According
to the guides, they have seen evidence of large mammals such as the Sumatran
rhinoceros and tapirs in the area. At the top of the ridge, there is a majestic
view of the Pedu and Thailand. However, there are no
hides where visitors can hold up for the night in wait for any exciting wild
animals to trot by. Camping equipment should be brought along with you if you
should want to take on this challenge. Having 'conquered' the peak, there's
always the consolation of a relaxing bath and all the luxuries that come with
staying at Desa Utara and the Mutiara Pedu Lake & Golf Resort.
So, what are you waiting for??? Let's go and have some fun.. Enjoy
yourself friends. We will come back with a new awesome places.. :D
