Tuesday 9 July 2013

Day Trip to Paddy Field, Fishing Village and Pantai Redang at Sekinchan, Selangor


 

Day Trip To Paddy Field, Fishing Village & Pantai Redang at Sekinchan.

 
 
 

    General Information

  • Sekinchan is located about 100km from Kuala Lumpur and can be reached via Lebuhraya KL-Kuala Selangor in about 1 1/2 hour to 2 hours drive depending on the traffic.
  • Sekinchan is famous for its vast green paddy fields, seafood since it also has a fishing village called Bagan Fishing Village and beautiful sunset view at its nearby beach called Pantai Redang.
  • Highly recommended for those who love photography and those who want to get a short getaway trip to the rural side of Selangor.
  • Be prepared for a fun packed day whereby you get to enjoy beautiful greenery views, savor delicious seafood, take a peek at the fishing activities and relax by the beach, all just within a stone's throw distance.
 
 

    Main Attractions

     1.  Paddy Fields

  • Imagine 4,300 acres of paddy fields stretching beyond your view.  What a sight!  The vast green paddy fields are on the right side of the main road leading to Sekinchan.
     
  • The rice transplanting season is in March and September each year and the harvesting season is in June and December each year.  Therefore, you get to see different colors of the paddy fields depending on which month you go. 
     
  • Here, you can get really up close to the paddy fields by driving right beside them.  There are roads built systematically in grid form to connect different parts of the fields.  They have tar and untar road.  Most vehicles use tar road.  So you can bring your own bicycles and ride alongside the paddy fields using the untar road.  My kids really enjoyed their bicycle rides during our last trip there.  Bicycles are available for rent too (Sekinchan Bicycle Team contact no: +6017-676 1119).
  • The traffic on the roads are not very busy.  So you can stop by anytime to take photographs or take a closer look at the paddy.
  • Along the way, you will see small canals, aqueducts, little bridges, fruits trees planted along the aqueducts, birds, swiftlet houses, farmers working in their fields and different types of tractors used by the farmers.  All these together with the clear blue sky make up the beautiful colors that every photographer would yearn for.
  • There are also paddy process factories which allow free visit.  One of them is PLS Marketing (M) Sdn Bhd.  Here, visitors will be given a brief and a video presentation on paddy plantation process and types of paddy planted at Sekinchan.  Visitors can also buy the famous Sekinchan Pearl Rice from this factory.  Address of PLS Marketing S/B is Lot No. 9990, Jalan Tali Air 5, Ban 2, 45400 Sekinchan, Selangor.  Contact no. +603-32436558.
  • Another exciting activity  is eel-fishing which is very popular during the harvesting season in June and December.  Those who are interesting in eel-fishing can contact Mr Yap at +6012-250 2156.
  • Useful Tips/Suggestions :  It can be really hot in the afternoon.  So please bring along caps, sunglasses, sunblock and plenty of water to drink.
  • Below are paddy planting schedule according to Sekinchan official website:

Time
Paddy Plantation Activities
Colour Of Paddy Fied
Jan-Feb
Clean Up & Rest Time
NIL
Beginning of March
Transplanting
Green
Middle of March-Middle of May
Grow Up
Whole Green
Middle Of May
Mature
Golden Yellow
June
Harvesting & Reaping
Yellow
July-August
Clean Up & Rest Time
Nil
Beginning Of September
Transplanting
Green
Middle of Sep -Middle of Nov
Grow Up
Whole Green
Middle Of November
Mature
Golden Yellow
December
Harvesting & Reaping
Yellow

Above schedule just for your reference, the paddy plantation activities will have two weeks of variance.

 

     2.  Fishing Village & Seafood

  •  Bagan Fishing Village is on the left side of the main road leading to Sekinchan.  After seeing paddy field on your right, drive further north along the main road until you come to a traffic light. There is a small sign showing turn left to Bagan Fishing Village at the traffic light.  After turning left, go straight until you come to a T-junction. Turn right and you will see a row of shophouses  on your right.  There are a lot of seafood restaurants along both sides of this road, you will be spoilt for choice.  People come here for fresh seafood at affordable price.
  • On the left side of the road is the jetty where you can see many fishing boats parking along the river.  Most of the fishing boats will go out to sea around 4am or 5am and return home around 5pm.  So in the evening you will be able to see fishermen busy unloading their catch from the boat and later categorizing their catch according to types and sizes.
  • Useful Tips/Suggestions:  Most of the seafood restaurants opened from 8am until 3pm only.  Only a handful open at night.  It can get really crowded during weekend and public holidays.  So advanced booking at these restaurants is highly recommended during peak season.
  • Here, you will also find stalls selling local snacks like prawn/fish crackers.
 

     3.  Pantai Redang

 
  • After the jetty, go further up the same road until you see a sign showing turning left to Pantai Redang.  Turn left and the road will lead you to the beach.
  • Once you reach the beach, you will see the sign of 'I love Sekinchan' in Mandarin, a popular spot for taking photo.  Next to the sign, there is a giant anchor and a fishing boat display.
  • There are a few tree houses along the beach built cleverly by the locals from reusable items such as fishing nets, fishing ropes and wood from old fishing boats.  Kids really get thrilled playing in the tree houses and swinging under the trees in self-made swings from old chairs and fishing ropes.   Enjoying cooling sea breeze and beautiful sunset while lying in the tree house fishing net is a simple yet unforgettable pleasure.  Recommended time for sunset viewing is around 7pm.
  • The windy beach is a great place to fly kite.  There are stalls selling kites at the beach. 
  • There is an untar road along the right side of the coast which is suitable for bicycles rides and leisure stroll.
  • The beach is also a great spot for bird watching and a good hunting ground for hermit crabs.
  • Useful tips/suggestions:  For those who want to avoid crowd, it is better to plan the day trip during weekday or non peak season.
  • Here, you can find stalls selling drinks, local snacks, fruits, ice cream and fresh oyster!

 

     4. Others

 
  • Sekinchan is one of the popular spot for migratory bird watching especially in April and October.
  • There are many Chinese temples in Sekinchan where the villagers pray for good harvest and good weather for fishing.  One of them is Nan Tian Temple situated in the middle of the paddy fields.
  • There are around 100 bird houses/swiftlet houses scattered among the paddy fields.  Those who wish to visit bird house, bird nest processing line or buy bird nest can contact
    Tindakan Iklas Marketing Sdn Bhd (天堂鸟燕窝有限公司)
    11, Jalan Ria SBS Sekinchan, 45400 Sekinchan, Selangor, Malaysia. Tel: +603- 3241 8888.
  •  Sekinchan is also famous for its mangoes.  Don't forget to buy some from fruits stalls along the main road leading to Sekinchan.

 
The paddy field was green during our early May visit to Sekinchan.

 

Enjoyable rides alongside the paddy fields.


Beautiful canals.

Aqueducts.



Vast green paddy fields in Sekinchan.



Different tones of color.

Clear blue sky during our second visit to Sekinchan, perfect for photographing.


Tractor clearing off stems left in harvested paddy fields.


Color changed to golden yellow during our second visit in early June.

Combined harvesters working in the fields.

Transferring harvested crop into a lorry.



Birds flying around the harvester.

Amazed by the beautiful colors!

Isn't this a heaven for photographer?

Rice, our staple food.

Fishing boats at Sekinchan Bagan Fishing Village jetty.

 

Relaxing up on a tree house.

 

Pretty sunset view from the tree house.

Breathtaking sunset view at Pantai Redang.

Pantai Redang beach, Sekinchan.

Overall, day trip from Kuala Lumpur to Sekinchan is a fun family outing where you can experience and enjoy different beauties of our countryside all in a day.  Another great short getaway from Kuala Lumpur for some fresh air and green views.

 
 
 
 

Sekinchan Tourist Map

 

Tuesday 25 June 2013

Belum Rainforest Resort, Pulau Banding, Gerik, Perak

2D1N Stay at Belum Rainforest Resort, Pulau Banding, Gerik.






     General Information

  • Belum Rainforest Resort  is one of Malaysia's premier ecotourism resort set in the midst of a tropical paradise, Pulau Banding. 
  • It is located about 373km from Kuala Lumpur and can be reached via North-South Highway in 4 1/2 to 5 hours drive.
  • Situated right next to Temenggor Lake, the largest man-made lake in Perak, it is a great gateway to nature with the Belum-Temenggor Rainforest literally at its doorstep and a perfect getaway destination for nature-lovers.  Visitors get to enjoy stunning view of the lake with lush green tropical rainforest as background.
  • Belum-Temenggor Rainforest  which is over 130 million years old and with the size of 300,000 hectares is home to a vast number of species of animals and plants, including 3 species of the largest flower in the world, the Rafflesia.
  • Rooms are designed with contemporary, nature-inspired décor and equipped with modern facilities to make your stay a comfortable one.
  • Other facilities  provided by the resort include lounge area, meeting/conference room, restaurant and a prayer room for Muslim (surau).
  • Different packages are available for those who just want to stay and relax in the resort or those who want to explore deeper into the rainforest for wildlife/bird watching, Rafflesia spotting, jungle trekking, camping, visit to Orang Asli settlement, fishing or taking a dip in nearby waterfalls.  Those who are lucky might spot 2 of the rarest species of Hornbill in Malaysia, the Plain-Pouched Hornbill and the Great Hornbill around Belum.
  • Other activities to choose from are kayaking, round island cruise which costs RM80 per person and requires minimum 5 persons, walk around a small local herb garden in the resort and a walk through Banding Forest Trail which ends up in an Orang Asli village model by the lakeside.
  • Board games and traditional games like "congkak" are available upon request.
 

     Useful Tips/Suggestions

  • Prepare comfortable clothing and shoes for a walk through the trail.
  • Bring along mosquito or insect repellent.
  • The best time for deeper jungle trekking in Peninsula Malaysia is during the dry season from March to October.
 
 
 
 

The pretty wooden building is the main lobby and restaurant area.
The staircase leads to the banding forest trail.

 
 
Open areas with picnic tables and benches.

 


Hotel rooms.

 

Well maintained banding forest trail by the lakeside.
 
 

 

 
 

Enjoy lush greenery scenery along the trail.

 
 

Take a peek into the beauty and tranquility of our rainforest.



It so peaceful here! Listen to the birds chirping happily.



 
 



The jetty for kayaking or canoeing.




Our very own mirror lake!



The stunning view is at the end of banding forest trail at the orang asli village model.



East-West Coast Highway at the background.



Here you get to touch the cold water of Temenggor Lake.


Hidden gem at the end of the trail waiting for us to explore.










Catch a glimpse of a pretty butterfly.



Arrived at orang asli village model.






Sit back and enjoy the view.


 
 
 

Overall Belum Rainforest Resort is a relaxing stay for exhausting body and soul of city folks.

A great short getaway from Kuala Lumpur and a perfect stop for those travelling either from West to East or from North to South or vice versa.

 
 
 
Belum Rainforest Resort
Pulau Banding,
33200 Gerik,
Perak.
Tel:  +605 7916800
Fax:  +605 7917600
 
 
GPS Coordinate
N 5 32.595
E 101 20.454
 

 From Kuala Lumpur, take the North-South Highway and heads north towards Ipoh.
Take the Kuala Kangsar Exit and heads towards Gerik, bypassing the town of Lenggong.
This highway will take you straight to Pulau Banding.