Pulau Pangkor, tropical holiday paradise in Malaysia

Present situation at Teluk Rubiah

pangkor — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:27:09 +0000

Teluk Rubiah has died. In 2011 the exterminators came and destroyed the once beautiful valley. I went on January 18 to have a look. Despite I was prepared for a shock, I was still shocked. Tears in my eyes from what I saw. Every promise of CM Zambry of Perak and Vale Industries have been broken.

Teluk Rubiah Beach

The promise the beach and the hills plus the greenery would not be destroyed has proven faulty. Well, you can’t trust a politician and Zambry is no better than the rest. In the words of Vale, Teluk Rubiah remains green…

Article of Malaysiatoday in which Zambry makes his claim

The truth is very different.

Teluk Rubiah destroyed

One can wonder how much colourblind Zambry and Vale are. This once Malay Reserved Land is now for good destroyed. A good example that “Malay reserved” doesn’t mean much. Laws can be changed, policitians move with their full pockets to a new location.

But this is only the beginning of the industrialisation of Seri Manjung and Sitiawan, and ultimately of Pangkor.

In the area around Seri Manjung massive building projects have started… in 2 years time we got a Giant, Tesco and Jusco (open in April, as I heard). Lots and lots of new houses and apartments are being build as we speak. The building materials are found in the hills of Teluk Batik.

Destruction of the Teluk Batik hills

We can expect the hills, maybe all, maybe only a part will be destroyed too for houses and infrastructure. To come to that point, the present Lumut Powerplant will have to be increased too, I heard a 50% increase.

It’s a bad situation. The environment is seriously attacked, more ships to Teluk Rubiah will bring more garbage on the beaches, will reduce the fish and make the waters dirtier. Pangkor with its industry of fishermen and tourism will eventually disappear.

Construction at Marina Island

The new man made Marina Island will suffer. Who, after all would want to live under the smoke of an iron ore and dirty waters? But the pockets of a few are filled. And isn’t that all that matters? It is a sad thing those in charge didn’t understand Teluk Rubiah could have been such a cool Royal Golf Court IF PROPER managed and promoted. But it’s plain stupidity to expect tourists will keep coming to Teluk Batik and Pangkor island knowing what sort of industry is here available. Vale Industries, CM Zambry, PM Najib and the Sultan of Perak have simply killed Teluk Rubiah and it will have huge consequences for Seri Manjung, Sitiawan, Lumut and Pangkor Island

Diving at Pangkor, actually Pulau Sembilan

pangkor — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:58:10 +0000

After several years without a diving operator, it is finally possible to dive again here at Pangkor. Pangkor itself is not suitable for diving although you can get one of the local boats for snorkeling at for example Pulau Giam, just opposite of Teluk Nipah.

The more serious divers want to explore Pulau Sembilan. There are several dive spots with an amazing range of underwater wildlife. What to see? Well, in my 60 or so dives here I saw amongst others barracudas, leopard sharks, turtles, nudibranches , triggerfish and seahorses. Visibility is generally good with exceptional days and lesser days, as always.

Diving at Pulau Sembilan

Diving at Pangkor and Pulau Sembilan

Jungle trekking Teluk Segadas to Pasir Bogak

pangkor — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 09:18:21 +0000

Teluk Segadas is a small beach at the south side of Pangkor island, it’s a beautiful little known and hard to find beach too. You have to make a little trekking through the tropical rainforest to reach the beach. From here you can make a 4 hours trekking to Pasir Bogak. Last Tuesday I set myself on this trekking, I made it all the way up to the peak at 905ft, 300 meters altitude and shortly after that I lost the trail. Result, I got lost in the dense tropical rainforest with plenty of trees with big thorns. It took me 2.5 hours to get out of the jungle. Here is the full story:

Jungle trekking Teluk Segadas to Pasir Bogak

Teluk Segadas

jungle rekking Teluk Segadas

Teluk Intan (Beautiful Bay)

pangkor — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 13:25:17 +0000

Teluk Intan is located in the south west corner of Perak. It’s the gateway to Perak in the north and Selangor in the south. Pangkor, for example, is 72 km north from Teluk Intan, while Ipoh is 90 km north east and Klang and Kuala Lumpur 145 km south.

The city has a long history, known at least around 600 years. The old name Teluk Mak Intan in hour of a trader. The British renamed it Teluk Anson and in 1982 it finally got it’s present name: Teluk Intan

I was visiting a few days ago, for the 4th or 5th time. This time I spend more time exploring the sights of the city, still the 3rd in size in Perak. Apart of the famous Leaning Tower, there’s more including the Raja Muda palace ruins, the Hock Soon Keong (Hock Soon Temple) and many Chinese shophouses. Around the city you can find more trails of the glorious past in the form of old bungalows.

I would say, Teluk Intan is worth the time spending…

Teluk Intan (Beautiful Bay)

Teluk Intan

Lumut Heritage

pangkor — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 00:22:11 +0000

It’s maybe a big word for something quite small, especially in a small town like Lumut but there is some heritage left. Yesterday I went there on request to find out. And to my surprise I found more than I could ask for.

There were some old Anglo/Malay office buildings almost overtaken by the jungle. And there were some old office buildings at the sea side. I was amazed by it. Despite coming regularly in Lumut for 8 years, I had never seen some.

Lumut heritage

The development of Teluk Senangin

pangkor — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 03:47:50 +0000

After many years finally Teluk Senangin is picked up in the stream some call progress in Malaysia. For years Teluk Senangin was a beach and a village for the most ignored except by a few locals.

With Teluk Batik getting busier and busier, locals started looking at another place to enjoy their free time in the weekends. Teluk Senangin, slightly further away from Seri Manjung and Sitiawan became their target. And with the increase of daytrippers, the salesmen followed.

With the coming of Mr. Zambry in charge in Perak, Teluk Senangin got a facelift. An entry port was build, several new hotels came, chalets were upgraded and parking space created.

The village was never big but it’s now almost completely in the service of local tourists. Still, during the week days you can enjoy the tranquility that Teluk Senangin made such a beautiful place. I love to go there during the week, have a swim with only the company of birds and an occasional monitor lizard.

Teluk Senangin

The development of Teluk Senangin More about Teluk Senangin

The Future of the Pangkor mainland area

pangkor — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 05:05:40 +0000

Pangkor and the mainland at Perak in the vicinity are changing rapidly. I live already more then 6 years in this area and I have seen the changes going faster and faster. The question of course is if this is a good thing and if it is done in a sustainable way. The following article talks about that

The Future of the Pangkor mainland area

Lumut Wasteland

Cycling from Hong Kong to Yangshuo, China

pangkor — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 07:33:06 +0000

It should have been a much longer journey but as it turned out it was shorter due to too much bad luck. Nothing to loose though. I had a good time on the way from Hong Kong to Yangshuo via Wuzhou

Cycling from Hong Kong to Yangshuo

Chinese Taiping

Wildlife at Pangkor Island

pangkor — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 01:10:22 +0000

Nature lovers can have their fun at Pangkor Island. Not only offers the sea some good snorkeling facilities (especially around Pulau Giam) but there is also the jungle. Wildlife is here especially interesting in the form of the vegatation, some incredible orchids can be found here.

Animal life is very varied too. The most common animals you will find are hornbills and monkeys but there is more:

Wildlife at Pangkor Island

Hornbills at Pangkor

Pangkor Sandy Beach Resort

pangkor — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 05:29:50 +0000

It’s a new resort at Pasir Bogak at Pangkor Island. The Pangkor Sandy Beach Resort is located at the beach itself but has a pool too. It’s a small resort but it’s tastefully done. For those seeking seclusion, get a chalet facing the sea, others may want to have a room facing the pool. I think it’s an excellent deal!

Pangkor Sandy Beach Resort

Pangkor Sandy Beach resort