As of Sunday, 14 August 2011, I've been to Manukan and Sapi.
: Boats depart from Jesselton Point ferry terminal starting from 8:00 AM till 4:00 PM on a more or less half hourly basis, or when there's enough people to fill up one boat.
: Return trips from the islands start at 10:00 AM and the last boat would be 5:00 PM at the very latest, but for many the last boat is either 4:00 PM or 4:30 PM.
: Fares are RM17 per island for the islands of Manukan, Sapi, and Mamutik. Gaya and Sulug would be classified under boat charter price, a different category due to the smaller numbers of people going there.
: You can choose from any of the boat operators, the fares are all the same standard price.
: There's a jetty terminal fee of RM7.20 to be paid at a different counter.
: There's also a park fee of RM3 to be paid upon arrival at the first island on your itinerary. You don't have to pay the RM3 again if you visit more than one island.
: Manukan's the largest and most developed island with the most facilities.
: Sapi has a large population of resident monitor lizards. They're not scared of people, they hang around the barbecue pit areas.
: Mamutik's a popular destination for team building excursions.
: TARP stands for Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. It covers the islands of Gaya, Manukan, Sapi, Mamutik, and Sulug.
: There are Filipino immigrant settlements on the eastern side of Gaya facing Kota Kinabalu city. To get there, ask the Filipino people at the Filipino Market, they'll know who to direct you to.
: It's possible to take a day trip to TARP from KL. Take the earliest AirAsia flight from LCCT at 6:50 AM, arrive at KKIA T2 at 9:20 AM. Get a taxi to Jesselton Point, and you're all set. Take any flight after 6:55 PM from KKIA back to KL and you might reach home before midnight.
Showing posts with label tour. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tour. Show all posts
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Random Thoughts about the Road to Kinabalu Park
As of Sunday, 14 August 2011, I've been to Cameron Highlands, Fraser's Hill, Genting Highlands, and Berjaya Hills. The road to Kinabalu Park differs in several aspects and has some unique points not found in the aforementioned locales.
: The ascent is much gentler and the climb isn't really obvious until you see the mountain up close.
: Not much primary forest along both sides of the road, mostly secondary growth, empty land filled with grass, or farmed patches.
: At times the road follows the top of a ridge where you can see faraway mountain ranges from both sides.
: Cool weather doesn't begin until a couple of villages before Kinabalu Park if you're coming from Kota Kinabalu. Kundasang's cool, but Ranau's warm.
: We were lucky to have gone on a sunny day. Usually by 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM clouds cover the summit of Mount Kinabalu, but that day the clouds only covered up the summit after 12:30 PM.
: Bring sunblock to protect your skin from the sun's rays.
: It's hot in the sun but cold in the shade. Yes, quite a big difference in temperature between exposed and shaded areas.
: Make sure you have enough petrol. Fill up in Tamparuli if you're coming from Kota Kinabalu and your petrol tank has less than two-thirds fuel remaining. Otherwise the next petrol station is the one and only Shell in Kundasang, and if that one's closed the nearest would be in Ranau.
: Kundasang's a cowboy town with a diamond shaped cluster of shophouses, dusty gravel roads, and scattered farmhouses on hill slopes.
: Ranau's a small town that serves as the district administrative centre. It has all the facilities expected of a district capital.
: You can drive around Kinabalu Park on the tar road all the way up to Timpohon Gate. Otherwise you'll end up walking and hanging around the entrance area where the information centre is. Not to worry you can see Mount Kinabalu towering above the entrance area.
: Allow yourself at least two (2) hours if driving from Kota Kinabalu. The distance isn't too far but the road becomes one lane each side after Tamparuli.
: The ascent is much gentler and the climb isn't really obvious until you see the mountain up close.
: Not much primary forest along both sides of the road, mostly secondary growth, empty land filled with grass, or farmed patches.
: At times the road follows the top of a ridge where you can see faraway mountain ranges from both sides.
: Cool weather doesn't begin until a couple of villages before Kinabalu Park if you're coming from Kota Kinabalu. Kundasang's cool, but Ranau's warm.
: We were lucky to have gone on a sunny day. Usually by 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM clouds cover the summit of Mount Kinabalu, but that day the clouds only covered up the summit after 12:30 PM.
: Bring sunblock to protect your skin from the sun's rays.
: It's hot in the sun but cold in the shade. Yes, quite a big difference in temperature between exposed and shaded areas.
: Make sure you have enough petrol. Fill up in Tamparuli if you're coming from Kota Kinabalu and your petrol tank has less than two-thirds fuel remaining. Otherwise the next petrol station is the one and only Shell in Kundasang, and if that one's closed the nearest would be in Ranau.
: Kundasang's a cowboy town with a diamond shaped cluster of shophouses, dusty gravel roads, and scattered farmhouses on hill slopes.
: Ranau's a small town that serves as the district administrative centre. It has all the facilities expected of a district capital.
: You can drive around Kinabalu Park on the tar road all the way up to Timpohon Gate. Otherwise you'll end up walking and hanging around the entrance area where the information centre is. Not to worry you can see Mount Kinabalu towering above the entrance area.
: Allow yourself at least two (2) hours if driving from Kota Kinabalu. The distance isn't too far but the road becomes one lane each side after Tamparuli.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Random Thoughts about Fraser's Hill
The one and only food court in town is uphill from the mosque. Take the 9 o'clock exit at the mini roundabout and you'll see a children's playground. Next to it stands the food court in a small valley.
In days gone by there were two Chinese restaurants. Kheng Yuen Lee 瓊源利 located near the entrance from The Gap along the same road with SM Stores, the post office and the police station was famous for laksa. Now it seems to be closed, so the only surviving Chinese restaurant is Hill View 山景 that used to be located in the town centre but now occupies a lot in the food court.
Most of the Fraser's Hill local Chinese speak Hainanese. They also know Cantonese and Mandarin.
As of mid-July 2011, the "new" road has been reopened so the old Gap road is now used for uphill trafic only while downhill traffic uses the new road.
The Gap is now a ghost town. The Gap Resthouse has been abandoned for years and the jungle is on the way to reclaim it. Hing Kee 興記 restaurant opposite the road has also been abandoned.
Lovely, cool temperatures ranging between 24 degrees Celsius in the day and 14 degrees Celsius at night when you're above the 1200 metre level.
No petrol station on Fraser's Hill. Nearest petrol stations in Kuala Kubu Baru on the Selangor side and Raub on the Pahang side. So make sure you have enough petrol remaining to reach either town from Fraser's Hill.
Old road uphill from The Gap is 8 km long and takes 15-20 minutes to cover. Maximum speed 30 km/h only due to the numerous bends. New road downhill is 9 km long, maximum speed 30 km/h only for the most part except a few areas towards the end. Takes 15 minutes to cover too.
Three primary schools: one Bahasa school, one Chinese school, one Tamil school. All are quite far from each other: the Bahasa school in the northwest, the Tamil school in the northeast, and the Chinese school in the south. No secondary school so the kids have to go to Raub or Kuala Kubu Baru.
You can see Genting Highlands from two places. One is the part of Mager Road near Kingswood Bungalow, another is the south part of Girdle Road on the way to No. 23 (Kamsiah Bungalow). Both are south-facing slopes. Genting Highlands should be 25-30 km away south-southeast as the crow flies, but the road distance is substantially further.
Water at Jeriau Waterfall seems clearer now. Must be because of the sand trap installed upriver near the entrance. Beyond the abandoned bridge is a deserted golf course and clubhouse.
The 4 km of Waterfall Road to Jeriau takes 12 minutes to traverse due to its numerous bends and bumpy condition.
From the Jeriau car park it's a 15-minute walk to the waterfall. The only public toilets are at the very end of the path near the lower pool of the waterfall. Near the entrance there's an Indian man selling snacks and a Malay man with barbecue grill. Everyone leaves the waterfall latest by 6:45 PM because by 7:15 PM it gets dark and there aren't any street lights.
A little playground near Ye Olde Smokehouse along Waterfall Road offers beautiful sunset views. Prepare your camera and note that colour changes last only for a minute or two before it's gone or transforms into something else.
Two Hindu temples: One near Allan's Water and another one along a bend in Waterfall Road.
In days gone by there were two Chinese restaurants. Kheng Yuen Lee 瓊源利 located near the entrance from The Gap along the same road with SM Stores, the post office and the police station was famous for laksa. Now it seems to be closed, so the only surviving Chinese restaurant is Hill View 山景 that used to be located in the town centre but now occupies a lot in the food court.
Most of the Fraser's Hill local Chinese speak Hainanese. They also know Cantonese and Mandarin.
As of mid-July 2011, the "new" road has been reopened so the old Gap road is now used for uphill trafic only while downhill traffic uses the new road.
The Gap is now a ghost town. The Gap Resthouse has been abandoned for years and the jungle is on the way to reclaim it. Hing Kee 興記 restaurant opposite the road has also been abandoned.
Lovely, cool temperatures ranging between 24 degrees Celsius in the day and 14 degrees Celsius at night when you're above the 1200 metre level.
No petrol station on Fraser's Hill. Nearest petrol stations in Kuala Kubu Baru on the Selangor side and Raub on the Pahang side. So make sure you have enough petrol remaining to reach either town from Fraser's Hill.
Old road uphill from The Gap is 8 km long and takes 15-20 minutes to cover. Maximum speed 30 km/h only due to the numerous bends. New road downhill is 9 km long, maximum speed 30 km/h only for the most part except a few areas towards the end. Takes 15 minutes to cover too.
Three primary schools: one Bahasa school, one Chinese school, one Tamil school. All are quite far from each other: the Bahasa school in the northwest, the Tamil school in the northeast, and the Chinese school in the south. No secondary school so the kids have to go to Raub or Kuala Kubu Baru.
You can see Genting Highlands from two places. One is the part of Mager Road near Kingswood Bungalow, another is the south part of Girdle Road on the way to No. 23 (Kamsiah Bungalow). Both are south-facing slopes. Genting Highlands should be 25-30 km away south-southeast as the crow flies, but the road distance is substantially further.
Water at Jeriau Waterfall seems clearer now. Must be because of the sand trap installed upriver near the entrance. Beyond the abandoned bridge is a deserted golf course and clubhouse.
The 4 km of Waterfall Road to Jeriau takes 12 minutes to traverse due to its numerous bends and bumpy condition.
From the Jeriau car park it's a 15-minute walk to the waterfall. The only public toilets are at the very end of the path near the lower pool of the waterfall. Near the entrance there's an Indian man selling snacks and a Malay man with barbecue grill. Everyone leaves the waterfall latest by 6:45 PM because by 7:15 PM it gets dark and there aren't any street lights.
A little playground near Ye Olde Smokehouse along Waterfall Road offers beautiful sunset views. Prepare your camera and note that colour changes last only for a minute or two before it's gone or transforms into something else.
Two Hindu temples: One near Allan's Water and another one along a bend in Waterfall Road.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Tourist in My City: Bukit Bintang
Last Saturday, 6 Feb 2010 I went to explore Bukit Bintang on my own in the morning. To avoid traffic jams I left home at 8 something and reached B.B. at 8:50 am, parked in Low Yat Plaza basement and walked around the still-closed shopping mall. Walked the backlane to Imbi Plaza, which I hadn't set foot in 13 years. Only a mamak and one or two computer service shops opened at 9 something.
Continued on foot to Sungai Wang Plaza around 9:30 am and overheard the security guards telling some lenglui tourists that the place opens at 10. Took snapshots of the lovely tiger decorations in the basement, taking care to use ISO HI in low light conditions. Continued to B.B. Plaza and crossed over to Hicks Street now known as Changkat Bukit Bintang.
A lot of restaurants have changed, old names of yesteryear are no longer there and new ones have taken their place. Saw a cute tortoiseshell cat with blue bell collar, patted her and made her my photographic model of the morning. Checked out the new Havana formerly known as Little Havana, looks nice with all new renovations. Said hello to the doggy at the Chinese temple nearby, her owner the aunty seems friendly. Saw the new Hotel YY38 along Tong Shin Heights just opposite Hotel Rae. Seems worth a stay.
Passed by Chua Brothers coffeeshop and the famous Meng Kee char siew place, both only open in the morning. Didn't eat because I already had breakfast. Ngau Kee beef noodle already opened for breakfast, they never sleep don't they?
It was getting hot as cloud cover dissipated so I walked past some travel agencies back to Alor Road. Near the place Aunty Linda worked before, I discovered a short row of small wooden houses from the 1950s or before. People still live there and doggies too. Quaint discovery a little off the beaten track :)
Soon I cut across some unnamed sidelanes to Federal Hotel and then back to Low Yat. Bought what I needed to buy there and left B.B. just as the jam picked up. By then it was ten minutes to noon. What a way to spend a Saturday morning :) Felt so happy. Must do more exploration some other weekend mornings.
Continued on foot to Sungai Wang Plaza around 9:30 am and overheard the security guards telling some lenglui tourists that the place opens at 10. Took snapshots of the lovely tiger decorations in the basement, taking care to use ISO HI in low light conditions. Continued to B.B. Plaza and crossed over to Hicks Street now known as Changkat Bukit Bintang.
A lot of restaurants have changed, old names of yesteryear are no longer there and new ones have taken their place. Saw a cute tortoiseshell cat with blue bell collar, patted her and made her my photographic model of the morning. Checked out the new Havana formerly known as Little Havana, looks nice with all new renovations. Said hello to the doggy at the Chinese temple nearby, her owner the aunty seems friendly. Saw the new Hotel YY38 along Tong Shin Heights just opposite Hotel Rae. Seems worth a stay.
Passed by Chua Brothers coffeeshop and the famous Meng Kee char siew place, both only open in the morning. Didn't eat because I already had breakfast. Ngau Kee beef noodle already opened for breakfast, they never sleep don't they?
It was getting hot as cloud cover dissipated so I walked past some travel agencies back to Alor Road. Near the place Aunty Linda worked before, I discovered a short row of small wooden houses from the 1950s or before. People still live there and doggies too. Quaint discovery a little off the beaten track :)
Soon I cut across some unnamed sidelanes to Federal Hotel and then back to Low Yat. Bought what I needed to buy there and left B.B. just as the jam picked up. By then it was ten minutes to noon. What a way to spend a Saturday morning :) Felt so happy. Must do more exploration some other weekend mornings.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)