National Elephant Conservation Centre at Kuala Gandah, Pahang

Pusat Konservasi Gajah Kebangsaan di Kuala Gandah, Pahang




We went to this Elephant Santuary on 2nd January 2011. It took two hours’ drive from Selangor to the centre. About 2km before reaching the centre, the “aroma” smell of animal dropping fills the air.

Kami melawat pusat gajah ini pada 2hb Januari 2011. Perjalanan dari Selangor ke pusat ini menakan masa 2 jam. 2km sebelum sampai ke pusat ini, bau “kewangian” najis binatang dapat dirasai.

We reach the centre around 9.10 am and manage to get 2 yellow stickers. They only allow two yellow stickers per family. The yellow sticker allows its visitor to enjoys elephant ride. We are not charged with entrance fee but they will hand us the donation once we wanted to register as visitors.

Kami sampai ke pusat ini lebih kurang pukul 9.10 pagi. Kami dapat 2 sticker kuning sahaja. Mereka hanya beri 2 sticker kuning kepada satu keluarga. Sticker kuning adalah pas untuk naik gajah. Tiada bayaran masuk tapi mereka akan minta derma bila anda daftar masuk sebagai pelawat.

The activities at the centre only start around 12.30 pm. We thought of going to Bentong town only to find out that it is too far away from the centre, so we decided to U-turn half way.

Aktiviti di pusat gajah ini akan bermula pukul 12.30 tengahari. Kami ingat nak pergi ke Bandar Bentong dulu tapi ianya terlalu jauh dari pusat gajah ini, jadi kami patah balik.

We visited the Deerland located not far away from the elephant sanctuary. It opens at 11 am. They charged RM6 per adult and RM3 per children. No charge for infant. We are allowed to feed the deer, ostrich and some birds. We can take photo with the snake and sun bear too.




Kami melawat Deerland yang terletak tidak jauh dari pusat gajah ini. Deerland buka pukul 11 pagi. Bayaran ialah RM6 untuk dewasa and RM3 untuk kanak-kanak. Tiada bayaran dikenakan untuk bayi. Kami dibenarkan untuk memberi makan kepada rusa, burung unta and setengah jenis burung. Kami juga boleh mengambil gambar dengan ular and beruang matahari.












We went back to the elephant centre at 12.30 pm. We view a documentary about elephant, join in the feeding elephant activities, watched the elephant show (including bathing of elephant) and I ride the elephant with my son. It is raining season and we are not allowed to join in the bathing elephant activities because the water in the river was very high and not safe for visitors.

Kami kembali ke pusat gajah pada pukul 12.30 tengahari. Kami menonton sebuah documentari mengenai gajah, memberi makan kepada gajah, menonton persembahan gajah (termasuk staff mandikan gajah) dan saya menunggah gajah bersama anak saya.Pelawat tidak dibenarkan untuk mandi gajah kerana masa itu adalah musim hujan and air sungai adalah tinggi dan dianggarkan tidak selamat untuk pelawat.















We leave the centre around 3.30 pm, buy some Honey Jackfruit (Nangka Madu) along the way and headed to Bentong town to enjoy homemade icecream at Kow Po Restaurant before going home.

Kami meninggalkan pusat gajah pada pukul 3.30 petang. Kami membeli sedikit Nangka Madu dalam perjalanan balik dan memakan icecream di Kow Po Restoran sebelum balik rumah.

Janda Baik, Pahang

Janda Baik is a very beautiful Malay village located not far away from Genting Highland. I simply love this village because it is so near to KL town but yet a very good place to relax our mind and keep us away from the noisy and hectic lifestyle of KL town.

In 2010, I have visited a few of the resorts in the Janda Baik Village and each one of it has its own unique “story and scenery” to be offer to each of its guest.



Tanarimba






Hawa Resort
This resort is suitable for team-building activities but lack of beautiful scenery






Cherengin Hills Convention & Spa Resort
The resort is new and beautiful but too commercial for those who look for “kampong” lifestyle like myself



Centella Asiatica
They offer chalets and camping facilities. A lot of people went there for fishing.









Al-Sakinah Eco Resort
They offer river lodges, suites and villa. I simply love the environment there – relaxing and full of beautiful scenery.















Wadi Samrah

They offer villa and banglo. There are also fruit trees surrounding this area and during fruit season, guest can enjoy the fruit here for free.

Lunch at Hung Kee Restaurant, Taman Shamelin

I tried out the Wantan Mee with Roasted Duck at Hung Kee restaurant last Saturday after my business appointment around Taman Shamelin.

I like to roasted duck meat as its taste almost the same as my favourite Sze Ngan Chye roasted duck in Petaling. The mee texture is just nice but I do not like the wantan and its soup as they put too much pepper in it.

All that cost me RM6.00 which I think the price is reasonable as roasted duck usually a bit costly.

The restaurant is located opposite Pudu Ulu Park with address as below:

18-20, Jalan 4/91,
Taman Shamelin Perkasa
56100 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur

Jungle Walking at Wawasan 5, Pusat Bandar Puchong

We found this trail after reading the following blog - jungletrekkinginpuchong.blogspot.com/

Direction:
If you are coming from Sunway toll or Kinrara or Bukit Jalil, you would notice IOI Mall on your right hand side. Keep to your left after IOI Mall. Look for signboard Taman Wawasan, when you saw Mobil petrol station on your left. Continue to keep left. You would notice EON Bank on your left after Mobil. When you see a big signboard Pusat Bandar Puchong, turn left after the signboard. You will see Bomba station on your left. Go straight till you reach the first traffic light. Then right after the traffic light. You are on the right way if you found a very big field on your left. Go straight till you notice Speedmart 99 on your left and then you must turn left. Yes, you have reached your destination as show in my picture as below.

The highest peak that we are allows to climb is 140m (We measure the height of our climb using Casio Watch Model 3173). Many trails have been blocked and I do not know why. We never able to reach the waterfall as mentioned in jungletrekkinginpuchong.blogspot.com. The trail to the waterfall has been blocked, perhaps!









Below photo shows two trail that you may take. We took the trail on the right.



The watch shows that we have climb 65m from the starting point (first photo).







The photo below shows the peak ie 140m from starting point. We have done it in about 40 to 45 minutes.



This one shows the trail that leads us down the hill.

















The trail can be very slippery after raining day, so it is advisable to bring along a walking stick if you are “new” in jungle trekking like myself.

Happy Walking! And let’s walk for better health!