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GA Study Tour 2016

July - August 2016
A 17-day adventure by Joanne Read more
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  • Joanne MeredithGA Study Tour 2016
    Day 9

    The Saw Mill

    August 5, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    The drive from Taman Negara took us through a landscape of primary rainforest, areas which had been cleared and plantations - so it was enevitable that we would pass the Saw Mill - we had seen some lorries with logs on and the coach made an unplanned stop at a Saw Mill - here we observed the processes of preparing the wood for market - some was for export the rest local to be used in the construction and pallet making industry.Read more

  • Joanne MeredithGA Study Tour 2016
    Day 9

    Tekam - Oil Palm Plantation

    August 5, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Enroute to the Cameron Highlands we had an organised visit to a plantation - a large company with housing and facilities for their workers - mainly from Bangladesh and Indonesia. We took a walk to see the grounds - which had many fruit trees including Durian, Rambutan, Cocoa and Cinnamon. We also learned about the Oil Palm tree and how the fruit is harvested. And how rats and snakes were controlled using owls. Quite unsustainable in terms of wateruse.Read more

  • Joanne MeredithGA Study Tour 2016
    Day 10

    Cameron Highlands

    August 6, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Our arrival in the Cameron Highlands was a welcome relief from the heat and humidty we had experienced in previous days due to lying at more than 1000m above sea level. An area of hills which are now mainly white due to the polytunnels reminiscent of Almeria. This area was known as the Peninsula's hill station where Chinese vegetable farmers and wealthy landowner's in search of a weekend retreat established tea plantations and built mock-Tudor buildings. Incredibly touristy everywhere we visited was busy. Not only is tea produced but also flowers, vegetables and strawberries. On our way to the hotel we stopped for some tea looking over the plantations.
    The Heritage hotel was by far the best and most spacious that we had stayed in. Two queen sized beds and a large bathroom with both bath and separate shower.
    Breakfast had lots of choice although due to the weekend was very busy - and this was to permeate through most of the day.
    Around 9am we boarded two 4x4 ex-Austrian military vehicles to ascend to 2032m to Gunung Brinchang where we climbed a very rusty tower to get a view of the highlands. We then descended to the Mossy Forest where we were supposed to take the boardwalk through but deemed too busy by the guide we were taken "off track" through the forest - where all trees are covered in a spongy, soft cost of green - like a film set for the Hobbit.
    Our next stop was at the BOH tea plantation with a quick tour of the production process - most picking is now done mechanically. Very busy we bought tea and then enjoyed a cuppa with the hoards overlooking the tea bushes before walking through these to the buses. Our last stop in the 4X4's was to a strawberry farm where we could see the hydroponics and I sampled a rather blend cheesecake. Close to the farm was a market which we browsed and bought cooked sweetcorn for lunch.
    However a our previous experiences of mass tourism were lost when we had a private tour of the Sunlight flower farm - a family run enterprise growing Chrysanthamums for the export market. We saw the processes from cuttings taken from the mother plants which originated in the Netherlands to replanting and finally dyeing and packing. 50% of the flowers were destined for Japan. After picking and packing they are transported in a chilled lorry to KLIA at 11pm and would arrive in the destination at 6am the next day.
    Our task was to look at the sustainability of the farm.    Read more

  • Joanne MeredithGA Study Tour 2016
    Day 11

    Cameron Highlands to Ipoh

    August 7, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Our route took us along a road that has been constructed through the forest which has 600 bends. A few photo stops to see Orang Asli settlements, HEP station. Our first major stop at a small waterfall called Lata Iskander. Where there are stalls selling fruit and also wood and rattan wares lining the road next to the small cascade. Then driving through Tapah the lowest hill station where the Gukha troops camps are located we stopped off briefly at a bamboo basket weaving factory where they weave baskets for collecting vegetables in the Cameron Highlands - here the working conditions are poor and wages low.
    Next stop Lata Kinjang waterfall 800m located in a former tin mining area - where the left over pools are now used for reading ducks and fish. Predominately chinese. Near Tapah forest reserve.
    A short drive to lunch stop at Capati Corner...for you guessed it "Chapati" with Mutton curry plus a very sweet milky tea for 13 MYR (£2.50). Passing through Kinta Valley the former tin mining region. The next stop before Ipoh were the huge limestone caves of Gua Tempering - hot and humid and quite dry inside we were guided through these with a guide with limited English who pointed out forms made from the limestone like people and animals. The final stop was a view of Kellie's Castle - an unfinished mansion from the 1920's influences by Indian style he built an adjacent Hindu temple for his Tamil workers where they incorporated Kellie Smith as one of the deities in the facade.    Read more

  • Joanne MeredithGA Study Tour 2016
    Day 12

    Ipoh

    August 8, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    After breakfast we departed for a visit to an Orang Asli Semiar sub-group settlement via Tesco's to buy provisions like rice to give to the villages - here we were met by Harry a man who works for an NGO who work to improve the life of these people. The Tesco store is the 2nd largest of 57 stores in Malaysia of 7000 square feet with over 200000 lines.
    The village was located around 40 mins from Ipoh in Jantung Baru, in the rainforest area. Home to around 475 people, we were welcomed by the village chief who talked to us about the history of the Orang Asli people and the difficulties that they face today where they feel that they have no voice in the country when it comes to government decisions - although they have homes built for them they were not consulted on the planning esp regards to the shophouse which is not located where they wanted it, the school is too far away for many children who have no form of transport etc. We had a look around their village.
    Then we drove to a nearby mall for lunch - for most it was KFC.

    From there we drove to look in a geological museum with quite informative exhibits and details of mining in the region and the rest of Malaysia.

    Our next stop was to a Buddhist temple Kek Look Tong built inside a limestone cave. Very airy with lots of statues and Buddha's.
    Our final visit was to see the main buildings located in the old town which are a legacy of British Rule. The railway station, City Hall, Club and Padang, St.Michael's schook and Birch Memorial Clock tower.

    We walked back to the hotel and stumbled across the Mural Art Trail where many walls had been painted with murals.
    Dinner was at local cafe called Cakchibow.    Read more

  • Joanne MeredithGA Study Tour 2016
    Day 13

    Kuala Sepetang Mangrove forest

    August 9, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    The Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve is the Peninsula's largest surviving mangrove. The area has a thriving fishing industry notably cockles - our group took a speedboat along the estuary to view the area at close hand - teeming with wildlife we saw dolphins, Egrets and Sea Eagles anf had a close encounter with friendly Wild Boar at the small community of Kuala Sangga - built on stilts over the area of mangrove we visited the small primary school with a roll of 19 and their 10 teachers. We viewed their classes had a talk by the headteacher and teacher of English before the students sang for us. This area was affected by the 2004 Tsunami and there is much more interest now to protect and educate about their importance.
    From the boat trip we visited a "Sustainable" Charcoal factory - in the past much of the mangroves were cleared for development or charcoal production now an area is only cleared when trees are 30 years and that area is left to regrow and clearing takes place somewhere else - the very enthusiastic owner the 3rd generation of charcoal producers explained the process of producing charcoal and it's benefits. We then took a boardwalk through the reserve to see the ecosystem much clearer.
    Lunch was at a local fish restaurant.    Read more

  • Joanne MeredithGA Study Tour 2016
    Day 13

    Bukit Merah Orang Utan Island

    August 9, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    On arrival at the Lakeside resort of Bukit Merah, located a short drive from the town of Taiping, the group took a boat across to the Island. We were greeted by a guide who introduced the project but we're distracted by three young orang utans playing nearby. To view the animals we walked through a semi-circular steel frame tunnel cage like structure with the Orang utans roaming in the outside. A populated of 24. Most have been born there, some rescued from Borneo - none have been rehabilitated yet. A centre for research and also for conservation and education.Read more

  • Joanne MeredithGA Study Tour 2016
    Day 14

    Penang City Tour

    August 10, 2016 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    The day started with a funicular ride up a rather cloudy Bukit Bendera - Penang Hill to try and see the views across Georgetown. What awaited us at over 700m was a mixture of temples; gardens and colonial houses converted into quite tacky attractions like a toy musuem and cafes to attract the Asian clientele. The clouds cleared a little as we were about to descend do we could see some of the Vista. After we descended we boarded to bus to take us on a walking tour of the UNESCO listed centre of Georgetown. The first stop was Chew Jetty - a community of stilt houses built over the water built by Chinese immigrants - walking over the boardwalk it is now full of souvenir shops.Read more

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