Escapy - June 2016 - Digital Issue

Escapy
Escape Into A World Of
Travel & Adventure
Historical
Town
Kuala Kubu
Bharu
Relaxing
In Little
Scotland
Fraser’s Hill:
Cool, Beautiful,
Relaxing
Flower
Fest
Royal Floria
Putrajaya
Garden Fest
The
Sticks
Glamping In
Nature
Soaring
To The
Skies
Paragliding In
Kuala Kubu
Bharu
Lots More
Inside
1

Dear friends,
Welcome to another issue of Escapy, your free travel
“pockezine.” In this issue we explore Hulu / Ulu Selangor
going off the beaten track to places like Sungai Dusun
(Dusun River) Wildlife Conservation Centre, Serigala Village where we learn
how to cook indigenous style, etc.
I am sure not many of you know that Malaysia is quite a nice place for paragliding.
There are even international competitions held here. Paragliding... in
Malaysia. To learn more we went to Kuala Kubu Bharu.
Another new trend is “glamping.” If you are wondering what the heck “glamping”
is, worry not. Checkout the article about The Sticks. There are a lot more
inside.
Happy reading and more importantly, travel more. Travelling frees the mind
and feeds the soul.
Cheers,
Phil Foo
Editor In Chief

3
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Email: ann@stone-mashe.com

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5
Contents Click To Go Directly To Article
Relaxing In Little
Scotland, Fraser’s
Hill
Page: 6
Swimming With
Fishes, Chiling
River
Page: 56
Sri Berkat Resthouse
(Bungalow)
Page: 96
Eat, Travel, Doodle
Kuala Lumpur;
Launching
Page: 128
Byblos Cafe &
Lounge, Kuala
Lumpur
Page: 172
Historical Kuala
Kubu Bharu
Page: 28
Paragliding
Kuala Kubu Bharu
Page: 64
Traditional Indigenous
Style Cooking
Page: 110
Royal FLORIA Putrajaya
2016 Flower
and Garden Fest
Page: 154
Eat & Repeat Shah
Alam
Page: 184
Tapir Conservation
Page: 46
Glamping In Nature
The Sticks
Page: 74
The Bengkulu Tart
Of Gedangsa
Page: 120
Fantasy Rainforest
Live Performance
Page: 164
To return to this page from the articles, click on this tab
Contents Page
located at end page of all articles.

Travel Guide
Philemon Foo
Relaxing In Little
Scotland
Fraser’s Hill

7
T he hills have been a retreat to city slickers and
holidaymakers other than paradise beaches, etc.
There are a few hill resorts in Malaysia and one
of them is Fraser’s Hill, Malaysia’s little Scotland.
You won’t be hearing things like “Fits yer name and
far yi fae?” although that would certainly add to the
experience.
*Used to be called little England.

Location
Fraser’s Hill is located on the hills of Pahang and Selangor,
one of those places that allows you to boast
that you’ve walked from one state to another. Fraser’s
Hills has seven peaks with an altitude between
1,220 and 1,524 meters above sea level. Temperature
ranges between 17°C-25°C (63°F-77°F) making
it a nice respite from the heat of the city.
>From Left: Laura (in Selangor), Eka, & Emily (in Pahang)

A Wee Bit Of history
Fraser’s Hill got its name from a Scottish fellow
called Louis James Fraser who setup a tin-ore
trading post back in the 1890s. He explored the
hills and found rich tin deposits and he recruited
Chinese workers to mine the tin. Unfortunately,
he went missing without a trace.
>The clock tower in the middle of the town’s square.
9

In 1917, C. J. Ferguson-Davie, Bishop of Singapore
went looking for him without success but reported
that the place was perfect as a hill retreat from the
heat. Two years later work started and an access
road to the hill station was completed in 1922. That
hill station was then given the name Fraser’s Hill.
>The Puncak Inn has seen lots of changes from shops
to now, a hotel.

11
What’s There To Do?
My favourite activity here is to sit back and relax
but that would murder this article, wouldn’t
it? There are quite a few things that one can do
like jungle trekking, golfing, bird watching, or just
hanging out with nature.

Jungle Trekking
There are 8 trails in Fraser’s Hill with the highest
and most challenging one being the Pine Tree
trail (1505m), of which is recommended to experience
trekkers and those who are fit. Other trails are
Bishop trail, Rompin trail, and Mager trail; three of
which are 1500 metres.
>Entrance to Maxwell Trail.

13
The rest are Kinderley trail and Maxwell trail of
which are 750m. The rest are Abu Suraidi trail
(500m) and Hemmant trail (1000m). Hemmant
trail is the easiest to do and is recommended for
beginners while Bishops trail and Pine Tree trails
are for the more experienced.
>Flora that one will see on the trails.

Bird Watching
Fraser’s Hill is a haven for bird watchers. It is cool
and has approximately 260 species of birds including
the 2 endemic species that are globally threatened;
the Malaysian Whistling Thrush and the
Mountain Peacock Pheasant.
>A sign that tells one that the area is an important bird
area... also means, a place for bird watchers.

A good place for bird watching along Girdle Road,
Mager Road, and Jaldy Maxwell road. Birds can
also be seen on trails and about the Jeriau waterfall
area of which is about 4km from the main
town centre. But if one is really up to it, one can
begin at the Gap and make his or her way up to
the top, looking for birds along the way. It will be
an 8km walk.
>The Gap Resthouse, now a ruin.
15

Relaxing At The Falls
The Jeriau Waterfalls is a natural waterfall that
many who visit Fraser’s Hill flock to. The trail from
the entrance to the falls is paved and is quite an
easy walk for the reasonably fit. The reason why I
wrote “for the reasonably fit” is because the falls
maybe easy to get to but there is a lot of climbing
(steps) to do on the way back.

Following the trail all the way to the bottom, one will
arrive at a manmade pool and a waterfall (Jeriau
Falls) that falls into a shallow pool that is dammed
by a concrete wall. There are gazebos and benches
around the pool where one can sit under and have
a picnic.
The Jeriau Waterfalls area also has campsites
where one can do some camping. The place comes
equipped with barbeque pits and toilets. All in all,
the place is a lovely place to spend a few hours relaxing
and / or picnicking.
>An ant walking on one of the branches on the trail.
17

Golf In The HIlls
Golfers will be happy to know that there is a place to
tee off in Fraser’s Hill. The Royal Fraser’s Hill Golf
Club is one of the oldest golf courses in Malaysia.
It is a 9 hole course with some rather unique sort of
challenges that you would normally not experience
at normal courses. Hint, bring along a note pad,
pen, and something to cleanup.

19
Strawberry Farm
Should you be in a mood for strawberries and
plants you could pay the Fraser’s Hill Garden
Centre a visit. There is a greenhouse there where
flowers and plants call home while an assortment
of vegetables grow around the compound. You
can buy vegetable there too should you crave
fresh greens.

Other Places
There are other places of interests such as Allan’s
Water where one can go boating. FH Allan
was the architect who built the reservoir of which
is now a boating area. There is also place called
the paddock where one can do some horse riding
and should one fancy; shoot some arrows. One can
also o some shopping at the town centre.

21
For Photogs
Fraser’s Hill is a photographer’s haven. With lots
of things to shoot from flowers, to insects, to birds,
to ruins, to architectures, and loads more. I was
having a blast going macro, shooting flowers, insects,
and many other subjects. My recommendation
is to pack your gears according to your
preferred style, and do bring a tripod.

Places To Stay At
There are a few places that one can stay at up in
the hills. There are colonial bungalows, hotels, and
apartments that offer visitors accommodation. On
my trip we stayed at the Rumah Sri Berkat Guesthouse
of which is a colonial bungalow. It is a big
double storey bungalow with a dainty English garden.

23
Other Bungalows
Rompin House, The Cottage (Bentong Bungalow),
Puncak Inn Bungalow, Hollebeke (Cini Bungalow),
TM Resort Sri Intan, Cicely (Kuantan
Bungalow), Brinchang Bungalow, Ye Olde Smoke
House, Clifford Bungalow, Pekan Parr Bungalow,
Singapore House, etc.
Note: Some of these bungalows may be undergoing
renovations from time to time.

Hotels And Apartments
There are hotels and apartments as well for those
who prefer not to stay at the old colonial bungalows
and some of them are Puncak Inn, The Pine’s
Resort, TM Resort Sri Peninjau, Silver Park Resort
Apartments, Shahzan Inn, etc.

25
Contact Numbers (Bungalows)
Sri Berkat Guesthouse (Bungalow):
Tel: +603-5513 2000,
Website:
http://sriberkat.weebly.com/contact-us.html
Ye Olde Smoke House:
Tel: +609-362 2226,
Website: http://www.thesmokehouse.my/
Hollebeke (Cini Bungalow), Cicely (Kuantan Bungalow),
The Cottage (Bentong Bungalow), & Puncak
Inn Bungalow (Tioman Bungalow).
Tel: +609 517 1623 / +609-362 2201 / +609-362
2248
Highlands Resthouse Holdings Sdn. Bhd.
Kindersley (Raub Bungalow), Staff House (Jerantut
Bungalow), Clifford (Jelai Bungalow), Pekan
Parr Bungalow.
Tel: +603-6207 9199 (Fax +603-6207 9366)
EMAIL : info@hrhbungalows.com

Contact Numbers (Bungalows)
Rompin House
Tel: +603-4251 8466,
Email: alunalunresortholidays@gmail.com.
Singapore House & Richmond Bungalow:
Singapore number -
Tel: (65) 6581 9033
Fraser’s Hill
Tel: +602-09-3622235,
Email: aloha@aloharesorts.com.sg

Contents Page 27
Contact Numbers
Hotels & Apartments
Puncak Inn:
Tel: +609-362 2007
The Pine’s Resort:
Tel: +603-7804 3422
Email: thepines@tm.net.my
TM Resort Sri Peninjau:
Tel: +609-362 2400 / +609-362 2500.
Silver Park Resorts & Apartments:
Tel: +609-362 2888
Shahzan Inn:
Tel: +609-362 2300

Travel Guide
Philemon Foo
Historical
KualaKubu
Bharu

The “sleepy town” of Kuala Kubu Bharu in Hulu Selangor
is a town many locals drive by on their way to
Fraser’s Hill. Not many stop as it is not known to be an
attraction. What many do not know is that Kuala Kubu
Bharu is rich in history.
29

Before Kuala Kubu Bharu there was Kuala Kubu.
Kuala Kubu, back in the day was a mining town a
fort for Raja Mahadi and Syed Mashor as they battled
Tengku Kudin’s army during the Selangor civil
war from 1867 to 1874. It was then the second largest
town in Selangor.
Kubu = Fort
>The Hulu Selangor District Office (head quarters).

31
Tragedy
Shortly later Kuala Kubu was placed under the administration
of Sir Frank Athelstane Swettenham,
followed by JP Rodger, and Edward Maxwell. In
1883, heavy rains caused the Kuala Kubu Dam to
burst, a tragedy that destroyed 38 homes, killing 33
of the town’s folks including District Officer, Sir Cecil
Ranking.
Sir Cecil Ranking was blamed for the tragedy as he
had supposedly shot a white crocodile (regarded
as the guardian of the river) despite being told not
to do so. All that was left of Ranking was his hand of
which rests in a grave till this day in a grave at the
old Kuala Kubu Rest House.
>A colonial building that houses the Post Office.

Birth Of A New
Town
It was after this tragedy that a new town was built
and that town is Kuala Kubu Bharu of which means
“New Kuala Kubu.” Kuala Kubu Bharu is near the
old Kuala Kubu and is not a rebuild of the old town.
Kuala Kubu Bharu has been the administrative centre
of Hulu Selangor since 1931.

33
What’s There
To Do?
Kuala Kubu Bharu town is a good place for photographers
interested in photographing old buildings
and sites such as the monument of Kuala Kubu’s
Tragedy, old fire station, etc. Bird watching is another
activity that has been pulling in some crowd
thanks to an event called Wings Of KKB that takes
place every year since 2012.
>Murals are part of the attraction.

Some birds that bird watchers come to see are the
Oriental Pied Hornbill, the Little Cuckoo Dove, Black
Crested Bulbul, and lots more. The Wings Of KKB
program also involves schools with the objective of
teaching children the importance of caring for nature
through bird watching.
>K.S. Sanadure more popularly known as Durai the birdman,
giving a short briefing on the Wings Of KKB event.

35
Paragliding
Many may not know but one can go paragliding
in Kuala Kubu Bharu with the Inspiration Aviation
Club. One will be brought to the summit of Bukit
Pacat (Pacat Hill) and from there leap off into the
skies with one of the paragliding experts (pilots).

Rivers And
Waterfalls
One can opt to visit Chiling River of which is also
a fish century managed by the fisheries department
where one gets to swim with the fishes in cool
mountain river waters. The other option is to relax
at Semangkuk Waterfalls which is near Kuala Kubu
Bharu.
>Chiling River Fish Sanctuary, a nice place to cool off.

Getting To Kuala
Kubu Bharu
One can get to Kuala Kubu Bharu by the KTM Komuter
train from Kuala Lumpur (KL Sentral Station).
Take the train north bound to Rawang Station. At
Rawang Station switch trains to the one that goes
to Kuala Kubu Bharu Station.
>A monument to commemorate the coronation of King
George VI & Queen Elizabeth.
37

By Car
Should one decide to go by car, go on the PLUS Expressway
(E1), exit at Tanjung Malim Exit and you
will be traveling along the old trunk road to get to
Kuala Kubu Bharu. Lookout for signages that say
Kuala Kubu Bharu.
GPS Coordinates: 3.5609° N, 101.6585° E
>Another mural depicting firemen at work or teamwork.

Old shop lots at the town make for good photos.
39

Looks like the doors to an old unused police station.

Side windows of the old fire station.
41

Clothes drying out in the sun as in days of old.

Old charm; back alleyway. How things used to be.
43

Rooftops with chimneys; don’t get them anymore.

A mural depicting a family during the earlier days of Kuala
Kubu Bharu... wait a minute. This could be a mural of
current day Kuala Kubu Bharu.
Contents Page 45

Travel Guide
Escapy
Tapir
Conservation
Sungai Dusun Wildlife
Conservation Centre

Tapirs are cute black and white animals with noses
that look like a sewn off shotgun. They are cute,
really cute but unfortunately, tapirs especially the
larger Malayan tapirs are endangered. Malayan tapirs
are the largest amongst the five species of tapirs.
Being an animal lover I was elated to find out
that one of the places
47

The Sungai Dusun Wildlife Conservation Centre in Hulu
Selangor was established in 1964 under the Selangor
state govertment with 4330 hectares of land and is now
home to a few tapirs that were saved.
>A sign that says Welcome To The Sungai Dusun Wildlife
Conservation Centre.

Sad But True...
49
Some of them are orphans found in the wild without
their parents for reasons such as illegal poaching, as
well as accidents where their parents could have been
knocked down by vehicles. The wildlife department
cares for them here providing shelter, safety, and food.
>These two tapirs were orphans saved by the rangers.

Breeding Program
As the numbers of tapirs in the wild are dwindling, the
wildlife department chose to breed them in captivity and
when they reach a certain age, introduce them into the
nearby forest. To date there are about 12 tapirs born
here at the Sungai Dusun Wildlife Conservation Centre
since 2005.
>Juvenile tapirs born in captivity. They are about 6 months
old at time of writing.

51
Malayan Gharial
Another animal that calls the Sungai Dusun Wildlife
Conservation Centre home is the Malayan Gharial or
false gharial. The Malayan Gharial is listed as vulberable
by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation
of Nature).
>Two Malayan Gharials relaxing in a pond.

These freshwater crocodilian has thin snout unlike crocodiles
and they live in a manmade pond here at Sungai
Dusun Wildlife Conservation Centre. Whilst observing
them in the pond we didn’t realize one relaxing under
a palm tree behind us until one of the rangers pointed
it out to us. We were actually in no danger as the Malayan
gharial is not as aggressive as the deadly crocs.

53
Dusty More Information
And Dry
Address
Pusat Konservasi Hidupan Liar Sungai Dusun,
44010, Kuala Kubu Baru, Selangor, Sungai Dusun,
45500 Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor

One can easily get lost in the labyrinth of tunnels and
thus going with a guide is essential. Some of these tunnels
are really narrow with opening just big enough to
allow one person through. Those who are claustrophobic
do take note.
>An adorable juvenile tapir. Only a few months old.

Two adult tapirs. They can get really aggresive.
Contents Page 55

Travel Guide
Escapy
S
WIMM IN G
With
Fishes
Chiling River

Sungai Chiling Fish Sanctuary
Nothing feels better than to immerse oneself into a
cool mountain stream during a hot day. One of the places
to do so is at the Chiling River (Sungai Chiling) Fish
Sanctuary. Sungai Chiling Fish Sanctuary is a sanctuary
for the Malaysian Mahseer also known as the red Mahseer
or kelah as it is locally known; a fish whose numbers
are low.
>Entrance at the main road.
57

The Malaysian Mahseer is not native to the Chiling
River. They were brought over from rivers in
Hulu Bernam of which is not far from here. The cool
waters and the rocky sandy conditions of the river
makes Chiling River an ideal home for the Malaysian
Mahseer.

59
Swim With Fishes
With an entrance fee of RM1 (USD0.25), one can relax
and swim with the fishes here whilst one cool off in the
cool water. One can opt to go on a jungle trek to the
waterfall where larger specimens of these fishes call
home. Do note that the trek is not an easy one. It will
involve some climbing and some river crossing.
Camping can be done here with a refundable deposit
of RM200 per group. Camping fee is RM4 (USD1) per
tent. The deposit is to ensure that those who use the
campsite keep site clean before leaving. The deposit
will be returned after a brief inspection by the rangers.

Facilities
There are a few basic facilities available there such
as changing rooms, toilets, a prayer room, tables
and chairs, and a gazebos. These facilities are being
managed by the Fisheries Department that are
looking into the welfare of the fishes in Chiling River.
>Fisheries Department Officer explaining the area.

Things To Note
Fishing is not allowed at the river. Fish feeding too is
not allowed and this is done to protect the fish. The
Fisheries Department that oversees the river and the
fishes have very strict rules with cleanliness.
Should you decide to bring plastic bottles and containers,
a deposit will be charged too. You will have to bring
those containers out with you to refund you deposit.
Littering is strictly prohibited.
61

Getting There
The best way to get there is by car. I recommend
using the North-South Espress Way from Kuala
Lumpur, exiting at the Kuala Kubu Bharu exit. From
Kuala Kubu Bharu head towards Fraser’s HIll. . After
passing the Selangor Dam lookout for signages
taht says Sungai Chiling and a bridge. Just after this
bridge is a carpark. Park there and walk towards the
arch that says Sungai Chiling.

Contents Page 63
More Information
Should you have any need for more information and
should you need to clarify anything, do get in contact:
Address
MAJLIS DAERAH HULU SELANGOR,
JALAN BUKIT KERAJAAN,
44000 KUALA KUBU BHARU,
SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN.
Contact: +603 - 6064 1331
+603-6064 1214
email: hqhelp@dof.gov.my

Travel Guide
Philemon Foo
Kuala Kubu Bharu
Paragliding

Seldom would one think of paragliding when one visits
Kuala Kubu Bharu, Hulu Selangor, Malaysia. In fact
one would probably not think of paragliding when one
visits Malaysia. What many do not know is that paragliding
in Kuala Kubu Bharu is quite a big deal amongst
paraglidders around South East Asia. Three major
competitions were held here in 2015 and they are the
Malaysia Accuracy Open, Paragliding Accuracy World
Cup, and the Malaysia Open Cross-Country.
65

Inspiration Aviation Club
The Inspiration Aviation Club is based in Kuala Kubu
Bharu. They offer paragliding lessons as well as
paragliding experience flights by experienced paragliders
and professional (competition) paragliders
for those who would like to try paragliding. In fact
one of its members recently won a paragliding competition
in Thailand.

Batu Pahat Hill
Paragliders will ascend Bukit Batu Pahat or Batu
Pahat Hill on a 4WD (4 wheel drive) to the Summit
of which will take about 20 minutes. From the summit
they will soar to about 4000ft and glide with the
help of thermals that will help them gain altitude in
a controlled manner. This allows them to glide to
many a place at speeds of 100 to 120 km/h. But for
those who are here just for the experience, they will
glide around the area and land at the Millennium
Park, Kuala Kubu Bharu.
>View from the summit of Batu Pahat Hill.
67

Needless to say, if the weather is bad be it rain, cold
winds, or no winds; all paragliding trips are canceled
as it will be too dangerous to go on. An example of
the dangers is the cold winds that come just before
the rain. Paragliders could be sucked right up to very
dangerous altitudes where they may not be able to
control the ascend. Being at an attitude that is too
high will present other issues including altitude sickness,
loss of consciousness, and even death due to
lack of oxygen.
>Waiting for a change of winds.

Types Of Flight
The Inspiration Aviation Club offers tandem flights
(RM250 or USD63) oh which means flying two to a
glider (pilot and passenger). Flying tandem will have
the passenger secured safely in front of the pilot. All
the passenger will have to do is to seat back, relax (or
try to relax), and take in the view. One other thing is to
listen to the directions of the pilot. The pilot is in charge
of the flight and will do whatever it takes to ensure a
safe flight.
>Cleared for take off.
69

More Information
Should you be interested in paragliding trips, learning
to paraglide, or is an experienced paraglider and
is looking for people to enjoy your hobby with, do
contact the Inspiration Aviation Club.
Contact: +6013-620 4705
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/inspirationaviationclub/

Professional pilot doing stunts in the skies.
71

A paraglider soaring over 4000 feet above sea level.

Smooth and safe landing.
Contents Page 73

Where to Stay
Philemon Foo
GLAMPING IN
A T
U
R
TH E STICKS

If you’re thinking of spending time outdoors but do
not want to go through the hardships and discomforts
associated with camping, why not try “glamping?”
Yes, it is quite a new word to me too. “Glamping”
is simply a more glamorous form of camping.
75

Out Of My
Comfort Zone
Recently I visited The Sticks together with some
friends and this trip took me out of my comfort zone
a little. I used to do a lot of camping at a younger
age and these days I prefer the comforts of a nice
hotel room. The Sticks is camping with some creature
comforts found in hotel rooms. I’ve gone glamping.

77
Off The Grid
The Sticks is a resort that offers huge tents (safari
style), huts, etc. for those who want to experience
holidaying “off the grid” but without giving up on simple
comforts such as electricity, water, and comfortable
beds. These tents and huts are build within a
jungle area in Kuala Kubu Bharu, Hulu Selangor.

The Sticks’ water source is a jungle stream (Meranti
River) and electricity is available with the use of
generators and solar panels. While water is not an
issue, electricity is limited and will have to be used
in a smart way. No wasting of electricity on unnecessary
luxuries; thus a small fan is used in the tents
and huts instead of air-conditioning.

79
The Long Walk
The walk from the parking area to the resort is quite
a long one. We carried only the basics (while our
luggage got to sit in a pickup truck) and made the
walk down some steps, across a river via a hanging
bridge (or one can choose to walk the river), and up
a slope to the dining area where we had our welcome
drink.

The reception and where we had our welcome drink.

81
Glamour Camping
I shared a tent (Serengeti Tent) with three other
guys. The tent had a queen bed, a single bed, and
a mattress on the floor. I chose the single bed as it
is nearest to an electricity source of which I need to
run a machine that helps me sleep. The tent is huge.

Our tent comes with a huge toilet and bathroom (built
using wood and cement) at the back and is separated
from the sleeping area by a thick tent wall. Two zippers
opens and closes a huge flap of which is the door to
the toilet and bathroom .

Huge insect netting prevents insect from coming in
for a feast while we sleep. This netting not only stops
insects from coming in, it also allows some cool wind
into the tent as the temperature drops. The tent has
two sheets in front of which are more sturdy doors
but closing them will make the atmosphere in the
tent stuffy and hot and thus they are left open.
83

Just outside the tent is a veranda with chairs and a table
to sit back and chill with friends. There is a fan there
too to keep the place cool. A wooden clothes stand is
placed there by the management of the place to allow
guests to hang their clothes.

A cool place to hangout and chat.
85

Spending Time
In Nature
The Sticks is a good place to just sit back and relax.
With that in mind I decided to chill out at the Chiling
River of which is a few minutes’ walk from our tent.
The cool waters of Chiling River provides for a nice
relaxing dip. Closing one’s eyes and just listening to
the river is a good way to clear one’s mind.

As the day turns to night the orchestra of insects
begin playing their music. The buzzing of cicadas
accompanied by the chirping of crickets; the music
of the jungle mesmerizes for a couple of hours until
one goes to sleep. In the morning birds sing as we
arise to meet the day. Wonderful indeed this place
is.
87

Filling Our Tummies
Meals are provided for in the package and the food is
quite good. For dinner we had fried rice with Chicken
Kapitan (a type of curry chicken), calamari, ladies fingers
cooked in chilli, with fruit dessert. For breakfast
we had a hearty American breakfast with sausages,
toast, etc. and a choice of coffee or tea.
*When possible fruits are taken from their orchard

The restaurant is an outdoors styled restaurants
where tables are built using discarded cable rollers
and wood. The tables are DIY tables made by the
owners. The place is well decorated following the
resort’s theme. A few things that stick out are the
kayaks placed at the ceiling as part of the decor.
89

Saying Goodbye
While “glamping” is out of my comfort zone, I did
enjoy myself. Hanging out with friends in the midst
of nature is a lot of fun. Just relaxing in a jungle river
is the much needed stress relief for the urban soul.
Feeling recharged, it is time to leave The Sticks and
return to civilization again. I certainly had fun.

91
Room Types
Tendok: Sleeps 3
RM130 (USD31) - RM180 (USD45)
Bamboo Chalet (ensuite): Sleeps 2
RM200 (USD49) - RM250 (USD61)
Riverside Tendok (Ensuite): Sleeps 3
RM260 (USD64) - RM310 (USD76)
Serengeti Tent (Ensuite): Sleeps 4
RM420 (USD103) - RM520 (USD128)
Opera House (Ensuite): Sleeps 6
RM480 (USD118) - RM580 (USD142)
*Off Peak - Peak

Things To Bring
Other than the usual, I recommend that you bring the
following items:
Insect repellent
Torchlight (get really dark at night)
Wet clothing
Waterproof casing (mobile devices)
Rubber sandals or shoes

93
For Photogs
This is a good place for nature photography. There
are insects and plants that will make good subjects
for macro photography. Should one want to play about
with long exposures, the river will be nice playing field.
I was hoping to shoot star trails but the skies were too
hazy and I saw no stars.

Getting There
The best way to get to The Sticks is by car. I recommend
using the North-South Espress Way from Kuala
Lumpur, exiting at the Kuala Kubu Bharu exit. Follow
the signboards to Bukit Fraser (Fraser’s Hill) from the
Kuala Kubu Bharu Town. Once you’ve passed the town,
lookout for Chiling River (Sungai Chiling) signboard.
Right after the Chiling River parking area lookout for a
parking area with a hut on the left. That is the parking
area of The Sticks.
For More information: bookings.thesticks@gmail.com

Contents Page 95
Other Information
The bathroom and toilets are made of wood and may
have gaps in between. Should you be worried of peeping
toms my suggestion is to cover them with tissue
(what some in our group did). If you have got to stay
in touch only Digi & Celcom has mobile connectivity
within the area.

Where to Stay
Escapy
Sri Berkat
Resthouse
Fraser’s Hill

Looking for a place to stay in Fraser’s Hill? Why
not pamper yourself like an aristocrat and rent one
of the colonial bungalows? There are a number of
colonial bungalows that one can stay at and one of
them is the Sri Berkat Rest House, a double storey
colonial bungalow owned by the Selangor Tourism
Department. You can either rent the whole bungalow
or just a room.
>Caretaker’s house.
97

The Sri Berkat Rest House is a huge bungalow with
big rooms, a kitchen, a large hall, and lots of space
to run about and just go silly. The large rooms are
quite comfortable. The ceilings are high giving the
room an airy comfortable feel. The rooms come in
different configurations.

99
Room Types
There are three room types to choose from. The room
types are Deluxe that accommodates 2 persons, Executive
that accommodates 6 persons, and Suite that
accommodates 6 persons but with added luxuries.
>The Deluxe room has two single beds but it is huge.

English Garden
Dining at the dining table in the kitchen is something
rather normal. Why not do something different and
dine outdoors at a beautiful Scottish garden? The
cool fresh mountain air together with the relaxing
laid back view of the lovely country side certainly
makes for an exceptional dining experience.

101
‘
Nature S Wonders
Fraser’s Hill is famed for its beautiful nature. There
are lots of trees and plants with beautiful flowers.
There are also all sorts of birds that one can see
making it a haven for bird watchers. There are lots
of insects such as butterflies, colourful beetles, as
well as huge jungle type beetles and creepy crawlies
that will intrigue some and evoke fear in others.

Taking a stroll with an observant eye can be really
rewarding. I like taking a stroll with my camera in
hand as there are so many things to shoot at. I like
taking macro shots of flowers and insects, and I am
starting to have an interest in photographing birds.

103
Places To Eat
One can order a meal from the caretaker of the bungalow
but should you decide to have a meal at a
restaurant, the bungalow is quite close to the town
centre. An estimated 5 minutes drive and you are
at the town centre. Walking will certainly take a lot
longer.
>A restaurant at the sports centre.

There are a few restaurants and cafes around the
town centre that one can go to. Some serve up local
dishes such as fried rice, noodles, roti, etc. There
are restaurants and cafes that serve up western
dishes too such as steaks, fish & chips, etc.
>A restaurant at Puncak Inn.

105
My Take
The Rumah Sri Berkat Rest House (bungalow) is
certainly a grand colonial building with lots of space
of which is a great place to go to especially with a
big family. Prices are reasonable started at about
RM100.00 (USD25.00) per night.
>The back area of the bungalow.

Location
Upon entering into Fraser’s Hill there is a turning on
the right with a bunch of signboards. Turn right and
follow the road all the way till you see a signage that
says Toursim Selangor, Rumah Sri Berkat. It will be
on the right.
GPS Coordinate: N 3 42.448, E 101 44.285

Contact
Office:
TOURISM SELANGOR PROMOSI SDN. BHD.
LOT P7, JALAN INDAH 14/12,
SEKSYEN 14, 40000 SHAH ALAM,
SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN.
Phone Numbers: +603 5513 2000 / +6016 207 6978
107

One of the windows of the bungalow.

Another lovely window of the bungalow.
Contents Page 109

Specials
Escapy
Traditional Indigenous
Style Cooking
We have long been cooking using pots and pans
but many years ago pots and pans were not available
to the Indigenous people who lived in the jungle.
So how did they do their cooking? To find out we
visited a village called Kampung Orang Asli Serigala
or Serigala Indigenous Village in Hulu Selangor.
>Traditional aboriginal performance.

111
Traditional
Dance
Upon arrival at the Serigala Indigenous Village, we
were warmly greeted with leafy crowns and a traditional
dance. The village chief then proceeded with
a welcome speech before showing how they used to
cook traditionally withouy the use of pots and pans.
Great stuff for those that frequent jungle trips.

Cooking With
Bamboo
Chicken, fish, and rice are what’s on the menu. Note
that this is one of the most basic styles of cooking.
Even the ingredients are few and simple using
things such as onions, lime, leaf from a lime tree,
and a little water.
>Inserting fish meat into the bamboo.

Larger Bamboo
Larger bamboo is chosen as it can hold more and
can withstand the heat from the fire. The bamboo
is chopped with one end open (hole) and the other
closed. The meat (chicken and fish) is first marinated
with lime juice, onions, and chilli. After marinating
for some time the meat is placed into the bamboo
together with some of the marinate.
113

The whole thing is then brought to the fire and
placed beside it or over the amber, and allowed to
cook for about 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, the
dish is ready to be served.
>Inserting chicken meat into the bamboo.

What About Rice?
The rice is first washed and cleaned. It is then
wrapped in some leaves called “lerek” leaves. I
do not know what these leaves are called in English.
The wrapped rice is then stuffed into the bamboo.
Water is then poured into yhe bamboo almost
drowning all that is inside before bringing it to the
fire to be cooked.
115

Inserting rice wrapped in lerek leaves into the bamboo.

117
Time To Serve
To serve, whatever water in the bamboo is poured
away before removing the “lerek” leaf wrapped rice.
Cut through the leaf and rice to serve.

Bamboo is still burning as they pour the meat out.

Contents Page 119
Try It Some Day
There you go, the traditional way of cooking in the
jungle. Another jungle survival technique perhaps or
just camping fun; do give it a try.

Local Favourites
Escapy
Photos courtesy of Akugraphy
The Bengkulu Tart Of
Gedangsa
One thing I enjoy most about being a travel journalist
is having the opportunities to go off the beaten
track and experience new things that even the locals
do not know about. Such is the case of the Bengkulu
tart. I have not eaten it before and have got no idea
of its story until now.
>Benkulu tart, a tasty desert.

Recently together with a group of travel writers from
Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei, and Indonesia we
toured Hulu Selangor, under the Eat, Travel, Write
Selangor International Culinary Adventure 3.0, a
project organized by Gaya Travel on behalf of Selangor
State. It was on this trip that I learnt of the
Bengkulu tart’s story.
121

Origins Of The
Bengkulu Tart
To learn about the Bengkulu tart we visited a village
called Felda Gedangsa, where the majority of
its residence came from a place in Indonesia that is
called Bangkahulu in Sumatera, of which was later
changed to Bengkulu. With them they brought traditional
recipes and the Bengkulu tart is one of them.
One particularly famous maker of this tart is Puan
Maslamat Ishak (Madam Maslamat Ishak).
>Madam Maslamat Ishak.

123
How It Is Done?
We visited Puan Maslamat Ishak’s home at Felda
Gedangsa to learn how the Bengkulu tart is done.
With a warm welcome we were invited to witness
the expert in action at a small kitchen placed at the
back of her house.

There Puan Maslamat went to work mixing ingredients
such as flour, sugar, salt, eggs, etc. to make
the dough. Coconut and Malacca sugar (a type of
fragrant brown sugar) of which is mixed together becomes
the filling of the tart.

She then put the filling into the dough and expertly
shaped the dough into the well know Bengkulu tart
shape before putting it into a charcoal oven to bake.
After a few minutes the tarts emerged out of the
oven and we finally got a taste of it.
125

It is simply delicious. It is a tart that seems so balanced.
Not too dry and crumbly and not too moist. It
is also not overly sweet and has a good balance of
saltiness and sweetness.

Contents Page 127
Do Give Them A
Try
Should you visit Malaysia and decide to try some of
the local delicacies here, keep the Bengkulu tart in
mind. For fellow Malaysians who have yet to taste
the Bengkulu tart, do give it a try.

Travel News
Philemon Foo
Eat Travel Doodle
Kuala Lumpur
Eat Travel Doodle Kuala Lumpur is a program organised
by MOTAC (Ministry Of Tourism And Culture,
Tourism Malaysia, and Gaya Travel to promote
Kuala Lumpur to travellers the world over. Eat Travel
Doodle saw the coming together of media folks,
bloggers, and doodlers from Malaysia, Philippines,
Indonesia, and Brunei.
>Eka from Indonesia and his doodle.

129
Doodle
Doodling has been a growing trend and a new way
to promote by pictures or rather drawings. Brands
such as Starbucks have been using doodles in their
marketing for some time now. Personally I have seen
doodles at quite a few cafes and restaurants and
they are quite an eye catcher. It is good that MO-
TAC and Tourism Malaysia add doodles and doodlers
into their marketing projects.

Tour Of Kuala Lumpur
The Eat Travel Doodle Kuala Lumpur brought us
to various attractions that are amongst some of the
bests historical and cultural sites as well as modern
sites of Kuala Lumpur.
>The clock tower of the historical Sultan Abdul Samad
building in Kuala Lumpur.

The iconic Petronas Twin Towers.
131

The dome of the historical Kuala Lumpur train station.

The Start
The Eat Travel Doodle program started at the iconic
KL Tower and from there we visited the Kuala Lumpur
Eco Park at Bukit Nanas (Nanas Hill). Imagine
jungle trekking in the heart of Kuala Lumpur city observing
various fauna going about doing their thing,
and beautiful flora of which provides the much needed
greenery that a city needs.
>The KL ECO Park suspension bridges.
133

KL Tower
After a good morning workout we headed to KL Tower
for the opening ceremony of the Eat Travel Doodle
Kuala Lumpur program with a speech by Encik
Iskandar Mirza M Yusof of Tourism Malaysia who is
the Director of Domestic Promotions Division about
the program and how doodlers can help promote
Kuala Lumpur.
>The iconic KL Tower.

Encik Iskandar Mirza M Yusof giving a speech during
the launch.
135

Sky Deck
After the opening ceremony and refreshments we
headed to KL tower’s Sky Deck for a view of Kuala
Lumpur’s skyline. From above, the view of Kuala
Lumpur is magnificant. The pinnacles of the iconic
Petronas Twin Towers can be clearly seen from here
with the help of binoculars or in my case, a telephoto
lens.
>The Sky Deck offers a fantastic view of Kuala Lumput
City’s skyline. building in Kuala Lumpur.

The pinnacles of the iconic Petronas Twin Towers shot
from the KL Tower’s Sky Deck.
137

From the Sky Deck we went into the Sky Box of
which is a glass box that is placed off the side of the
Sky Deck. This allows visitors an all round view of
the area including the ground if which is a long way
down. Those afraid of heights may not take well to
the Sky Box though. Note that only 6 persons are allowed
to be in the Sky Box at any one time.
>A view all around.

Not for those with a fear of heights.
139

Lunch At The Top
Lunch was wonderful. We had lunch at Atmosphere
360, a revolving restaurant at the KL Tower with a
view of Kuala Lumpur Skyline. The restaurant spins
360 degrees giving one a 360 view of Kuala Lumpur
city. It is also quite disorienting as where we sit and
dine turns while the buffet, restrooms, etc. does not.
Food is quite good too.

Dining with a lovely view of Kuala Lumpur City.
141

Royal Floria Putrajaya
The Royal Floria Putrajaya Flower And Garden Festival
2016 showcases flowers, lots of flowers. The
highlights seems to be chrysanthemums and it was
here I learnt that over 140 varieties of chrysanthemums
have to date gained the Royal Horticultural
Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
>A festival of flowers and gardens.

143
The festival was launched by Dato’ Seri Mohamed
Nazri followed by a presentation of floral floats; 14
of them, each representing a state in Malaysia. The
launch ended with fireworks lighting up the night sky.
>A float that represents the state of Johor. building in Kuala
Lumpur.

Fireworks marking the end of the launch.

Orchids on display at the festival.
145

Fantasy Rainforest Live
Performance
Also at Putrajaya is the Fantasy Rainforest Live Performance,
a stage performance performed by local
and foreign dancers and acrobats. The performance
depicts a village’s relationship with the hornbills; an
interesting and funny musical performance.

Acrobatic dances giving an awesome performance.
147

Independence Square
One of the places that we stopped is the Independence
Square or Dataran Merdeka as it is called
here in Malaysia. Here in stands the largest flag
and the tallest flagpole in Malaysia and maybe even
Southeast Asia.
>Maaysia’s tallest flag pole.

Around the Square are various museums that one
can visit such as the Malaysian Music Museum and
the National Textile Museum. Another place to visit
is the Kuala Lumpur City Gallery where one can
learn about the past of Kuala Lumpur, the present,
and future plans of Kuala Lumpur.
149

MUD The Musical
A few minutes walk away across the historical Sultan
Abdul Samad Building is the Bandaraya Theatre
where stage plays are performed. Currently, the longest
running show is MUD The Musical, an entertaining
and enjoyable musical about the writer’s depiction
of Kuala Lumpur’s story.

Hop On Hop Off
Bus
The last of our itinerary is the Kuala Lumpur Hop On
Hop Off Bus also called the HOHO bus that follows
a fixed route bringing visitors to slightly over 20 attractions
around Kuala Lumpur City. One can opt to
sit upstairs in the open (roofless are) of the double
decker bus; a good way to take photos ofnthe sites.
But one will have to put up with the heat and humidity
of Malaysia’s weather. The other option is to sit
in the air-conditioned section.
151

Good Event
The Eat, Travel, Doodle Kuala Lumpur was a success
and I must say that the Ministry Of Tourism And
Culture, Tourism Malaysia, and Gaya Travel put a lot
of effort into it. Marketing a product is never easy let
alone a country.
>Historic Central Market, a place to shop for souvenirs.

Night shot of the Petronas Twin Towers from my hotel
room.
Contents Page 153

Travel News
Philemon Foo
Royal FLORIA Putrajaya
2016 Flower and Garden
Festival
Love flowers? You’ll go flower crazy at Royal FLO-
RIA Putrajaya Flower and Garden Festival. This year
Putrajaya held the 9th Royal Floria Putrajaya Flower
and Garden Festival from 27th May to 4th June
2016, with the theme being the Magical World Of
Floria.

The flower chosen for this year’s theme is the chrysanthemum.
Did you know that over 140 varieties of
chrysanthemums gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s
Award of Garden Merit? In total over 400,000
species of flowers and plants took up some 11.7
hectares of space at Anjung Floria.
155

Going High Tech
The organizers of the festival brought in high tech
equipment from Europe to excite all five senses of
visitors being sight, smell, taste, sounds, and feel at
the Mystical Forest, Candy Court, Mermaid’s World,
Chrysanthemum Garden, etc.
>Musical gardens with mist.

157
Other Activities
Other activities held there are the Magic of Bonsai
& Suiseki Exhibition, International Orchid Competition,
a cat show, Garden Bazaar, Floria Arts & Crafts,
flower arrangements, photography contest, gardening
workshops, and many more.

Floats On The Water
During the launching the ground of Anjung Floria
was packed with visitors. As night falls, the crowd
moved towards the lake where the Minister of Tourism
& Culture Malaysia, Dato Seri Mohamed Nazri
bin Abdul Aziz launched the event followed by floats
representing all 14 states of Malaysia.
>A float representing the state of Kelantan.

A float representing the state of Johor
159

A float representing the state of Sabah.

A float representing the state of Kedah
161

What A Blast
The launch ended with fireworks lighting up the night
skies, drawing beautiful designs. This year’s Royal
FLORIA Putrajaya Flower and Garden Festival is
the biggest to date, and I cannot wait to see what
transpires in the next Floria Fest that will be held
next year.
>Beautiful fireworks that lit up the night sky.

Contents Page 163

HAPPENINGS
Philemon Foo
If live performances are your thing, the Fantasy
Rainforest Live Performance at Putrajaya International
Convention Centre in Putrajaya is a show you
will want to watch should you decide to visit Putrajaya.

165
Music, Dance, And
Acrobatic Stunts
It is a show filled with dancing, acrobatic acts, comedy,
and a little bit of magic. In an enchanting tale
of humans and nature living in peace, harmony, and
in co-existence until a hunter came about disrupting
the peace.

What goes on after that are a series of wildly funny
events and exciting dances by skilled choreographers
and acrobats that will drive emotions from
laughter to mild fear to excitement and onto happiness;
as the percussion and music feeds the soul.

167
For All Ages
The Fantasy Rainforest Live Performance will be
available till 2019 and is a show suitable for people
of all ages (except perhaps babies).

Ticket Prices
Adult: RM120 (USD30)
Children (5 to 12 years): RM60 (USD15)
VIP: RM200 (USD50)
Show Time: 2pm & 6pm

169
More Information
Address:
Putrajaya International Convention Centre
Dataran Gemilang, Precinct 5,
62000 Putrajaya.
Tel: 03-88876000 ext: 6189
Email: admin@fantasyrainforest.com
Website: http://fantasyrainforest.com/web/

The hunter and clown of the show.

Contents Page 171
Buka Puasa
Ramadan
Buffet
Putrajaya International Convention Centre is also
doing a Ramadan Buffet from the 8th of June to the
3rd of July, from 6.30pm to 10.30pm daily.
Prices are at RM98.00 per adult & RM49.00 for children.
For bookings call +603 8887 6000 or visit
www.ticketonline.my/picc.

For Foodies
Philemon Foo
Byblos Cafe & Lounge
Good food, good view, and good ambience; that
is what Byblos Cafe and Lounge is about. Byblos
is the oldest most ancient city in Lebanon (7000 to
8000BC) and is steeped in history. It is from history
and culture that the food in Byblos is based on. Byblos
serves up authentic Mediterranean and Lebanese
cuisine but with a new spin.

173
Comfortable With A
Good View
The interior is well decorated with a comfortable and
lovely Lebanese feel. It has pictures of the actual
city of Byblos on its walls. One can opt to sit outdoors
with a lovely view of the Royal Selangor Golf
Club. The view is simply splendid.

175
Good Food Great Taste
With over two decades of cooking the food served
here taste great. I especially like the tabbouleh
of which is a Lebanese vegetarian dish made of
chopped tomatoes, parsley, onions, mint leaves,
etc. and seasoned with olive oils, lemon juice, etc.
Note that I am not a big fan of vegetables but I love
this dish.

There are lovely dips and perhaps spreads to enjoy
with pita bread an they are the smooth and tasty
hummus of which is made from cooked chickpeas
blended with tahini, olive oil, etc. and moutabal, a
roasted eggplant dip. They taste simply lovely.

177
Favourite Amongst Them
My personal favourite amongst the food served is
the mixed grill (I love meat), a mixture of beef tenderloin
cubes, marinated chicken breast, and minced
lamb served with hummus, very tasty garlic sauce,
tomatoes, pickles, etc. I especially loved the minced
lamb.

Wrapping the minced lamb in pita bread together
with the hummus dip and tabbouleh creates an explosion
of flavours in the mouth. It is simply delicious.
Writing about it now makes my mouth water.

179
Sweet Deserts
If you love sweet deserts you will love the deserts
served here. The layali loubnan, chocolate custard,
and mouhalabieh are tasty sweet deserts. They
make a good ending to a lovely dining experience.
>A sweet almond cake.

Do Visit Byblos Cafe
And Lounge
Should you want to give Mediterranean and Lebanese
cuisine a try, do visit Byblos. There are a lot more on their
menu to choose from and I will certainly be back for more
tasty meals.
Operation Hours:-Sunday – Thursday: 11am – 3am
Friday & Saturday: 11am – 5am

181

Address
The Hive, TREC, Jalan Tun Razak, 54000 Kuala Lumpur.
For reservations, call +60.12.902.2240
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bybloscafeandlounge
Instagram: @bybloscafeandlounge
>View of the Royal Selangor Golf Club.

The bar and counter.
Contents Page 183

For Foodies
Philemon Foo
Eat And Repeat Shah Alam
Malaysia is certainly a food haven. With a diverse
mix of cultures comes a mixture of cooking styles
and yummy dishes. To taste them all one will have to
spend many days eating and one of the side effects
will be the need to buy new clothes perhaps a size
bigger.

185
Well, worry not. Eat And Repeat Cafe offers small
portions of various dishes so that one can taste them
all without the side effects. Amongst all the lovely
dishes offered the ones I really like are nasi lemak,
minced chicken rice, and mango with glutinous rice
and coconut milk.
>Tasty fried chicken.

Nasi Lemak Fragrant
Rice
Nasi lemak is a dish where the rice is cooked with
coconut milk and pandan leaves, served with sambal
(chilli paste), anchovies, eggs, and cucumber
slices. That’s the basic serving, the kind I used to
eat in school. The nasi lemak here reminds me of
the one’s I used to eat at school. I love it.

187
Minced Chicken Rice
This dish is simply minced chicken meat cooked with
sweet sambal (sweet chilli paste), served with white
rice, and egg. The chicken together with the sweet
chilli paste is really tasty. The eggs sort of neutralizes
the saltiness of the dish.

Mango Glutinous Rice
With Coconut Milk
This sweet desert originates from Thailand. The
mango glutinous rice with coconut milk is a sweet
and sticky desert served fragrant mango. Fusing
sweet, salty, milky, and fragrant (mango) makes this
desert a super yummy one especially for those with
a sweet tooth.

189
Other Yummies
There are a few other yummy dishes such as fried
chicken wings that are really yummy, various soupy
and curry noodle dishes, and deserts. Dishes here
are priced at RM1.90 (USD $0.45) per serving.

Contents Page 191
Location
YG24, Y7/Y, Jalan Plumbum Y 7/Y, Pusat Komersial
Seksyen 7, 40000 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
Contact: +6011 3176 2280

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