Greeting from Malaysia

Kedah Padi Museum

2010-01-24T05:27:00.000-08:00

Kedah Padi Museum

Many seem unaware of the 24.7 mil Kedah Padi Museum located some 8km from Alor Setar, Kedah, which opened its door in the country's "rice bowl" state in October 2004.

It is the first padi museum in Malaysia, and the fourth to be opened in the world after Japan, Germany and the Philippines.

The Rice Museum consists of two main levels and a top portion accessible by a spiral staircase. As you tour it, you are given a thorough explanation of anything involved with rice. There are several galleries with panoramic murals. These are the result of painstaking work by 60 artists from North Korea.

The North Koreans was paid RM11 mil and they spend six month (in 1998) taking photographs and studying the area. They also spend additional time researching padi planting and completed the mural in 2000.

My favourite gallery is 59 steps above, accessible via a spiral staircase. What you find here is a massive circular mural measuring 103 metres in circumference, and 8 metres in height. You enter this gallery from the middle, and immediately the scene of the surrounding Gunung Keriang region unfolds around you.

Get comfly in your chair and just soak in the view as the platform revolves for some 30 minutes; it's almost as if you are staring at Kedah's most scenic horizon.

As you stand there admiring the mural, you are taken in by the sheer size of the murals. Indeed you cannot be sure where the ground is, and where the mural begins. Another thing, as you view the mural, you feel that the scenery was moving. Soon you realised that you are standing on a revolving platform, and by simply being still, you will have the scenery rotate around you. It was truly a mermerizing experience.

16th January 2010.

Tea Plantation in Cameron Highland, Pahang

2009-12-15T01:49:00.000-08:00

Cool climate in the heart of tropic

No trip to Cameron Highlands is complete without a trip to the tea plantations.

This is one of the main attraction that's got to be in your "must see" list.

You can visit the factories to learn about the tea making process and you can also sit down and enjoy a cup of tea at the cafe. The view overlooking the plantations is beautiful and perfect for the picture album.

The 3 most famous tea plantations are :

- Boh Tea Plantation

- Sungai Palas Tea Plantation

- Cameron Valley Tea Plantation

Boh Tea Plantations

BOH Plantations Sdn Bhd is the leading tea grower in Malaysia with four tea gardens – Boh, Sungei Palas and Fairlie situated in Cameron Highlands;

and Bukit Cheeding in Selangor – constituting a total land area of 1200 hectares. With a production capacity approaching 3000kgs per hectare,

the Company produces 4 million kgs of tea annually which translates to about 5.5 million cups per day.

This represents about 70% of all tea produced in Malaysia.

Boh Tea Plantation
The Story of Boh Tea

Sungai Palas Tea Estate

This is another tea plantation owned by Boh and it is located further up north from the mail plantation. A definite must on the list of things to do in Cameron Highlands is a visit to the new Sungei Palas Tea Centre. Recently opened by BOH Plantations at the Sungei Palas tea garden, it is just above Brinchang, in the very heart of the Cameron Highlands tea country.
Located on a hilltop, amidst rows of tea bushes and close to Gunung Brinchang, it offers the best possible introduction to Malaysian teas in a truly spectacular setting.

Sungai Palas Visitor Centre

Cameron Valley Tea Plantation

Located along the main road from Ringlet to Tanah Rata this is a good spot where you can stop and enjoy a scenic view of a tea plantation. There is ample parking here along the road and there is also a small tea shop where you can enjoy a cuppa.

This is also a great spot for taking photos.

Pasar Siti Khadijah, Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

2009-12-15T01:21:00.000-08:00

Pasar Siti Khadijah, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia

Very colourful dry and wet market in the city center.

"At the Siti Khadijah market one can buy just about anything from fresh produce, kain batik, batik wear, scarves, prayer mats, local delicacies and more".

Unique in every sense, Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah is the most photographed market in the country. This place is a visual delight and a favourite photography subject in Kota Bharu. Located in the heart of Kota Bharu, it used to be known as Pasar Buluh Kubu.

The Market is particularly unique because most traders at the market are women. This is a 'must visit' destination in this town and the three-storey building houses hundreds of stalls that sell all kinds of fresh produce, traditional local delights, spices, sweets, batik, silver and bronze items as well as many other types of household products

Most activities take place early in the morning at Siti Khadijah Market. The market, named after the wife of Prophet Muhammad, is open from 8am to 6pm with Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays being the busiest days.

It should be emphasized that the market was named after the Prophet's wife who was a businesswoman. Certainly the fact that most of the proprietors in this market are women and the market being named after a businesswoman cannot and must not be overlooked.

Beautiful, Tranquil and Solitude

2009-12-14T08:14:00.000-08:00

Tanjung Rhu Beach, Langkawi, Malaysia

Wide and empty beach at the north of the island. Home of the fancy Tanjung Rhu and Four Seasons resort and starting point of Mangrove River tours.Turn north at the round-about at the village of Padang Lalang. The Beach and various stalls selling souvenirs can be found at the end of the road. Also nearby is the jetty to start river tours through the Mangroves.

Whenever I had a chance to holidayed in Langkawi, one of the place i frequented was this beach. In my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful beach in the world. Calm, desolate and uninterrupted.

The Most Modern and Beautiful Public Hospital in the Northern State Of Malaysia (Kedah)

2009-12-12T06:57:00.000-08:00

Today i have the opportunity to visit my student who has just undergone surgery in Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital . This is my first visit to this public hospital since it is opened to the public not long time ago. It is looks beautiful, big , modern and luxurious. Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah is located in km 45, Langgar Road, Alor Setar, Kedah. 5.30 pm, 12th Disember 2009.