Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Park

With Atiqah at the entrance of the Butterfly Park in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysian butterflies exhibited in the exhibition hall in the park.

Najidah and Atiqah gloating over a butterfly which chose Najidah's hand to perch on.

With Najidah and Atiqah in the tranquil Butterfly Park, KL.

It was a TV program from Astro channel (I forgot which one) that prompted my decision to go and see for myself our own butterfly park. I have heard of it but had no motivation to go. I don't like driving in KL especially going through the notorious traffic jams. However, the TV program looked so interesting which says KL Butterfly Park has one of the largest collection of different varieties of butterfly. So, I must see it and so must you!

On Saturday 21 February 2009, Najidah came to pick me up at my house in PJ. Later, Atiqah joined us at the park. KL Butterfly Park is quite amazing actually. I was surprised to see such a cool place right in the middle of concrete jungle of KL. Entrance fee is RM 8.00 and don't forget to buy fish food as you will see obese Japanese carps and huge ikan haruan there.

I managed to write only 25 different butterflies with different colours. I ran out words to describe the colours. Since we came at opening time, there were quite a lot of them flying around but in the afternoon, as it was hot, you don't see that many - maybe they were having a siesta! The Rajah Brooke variety and the Swallowtails (Black and yellow) are quite easy to see.

The Rajah Brooke - Malaysia's pride.

The Swallowtail, big, black and yellow.

















Te Swallowtail.

The park is so cozy with plenty of green plants and flowering shrubs which become heaven to the butterflies. On top of that, the management feeds them with red hibiscus flowers sprayed with honey, cut bananas and pineapples. I enjoyed watching them feeding - different colour butterflies feeding on different favourite food. Staying in the park is so relaxing and the hot weather doesn't seem to exist. Most visitors, I noticed, were foreigners.

Hibiscus, sprayed with honey.












A brown variety butterfly, feeding on cut banana.















Watching at close range one specie of butterfly sucking the juice from a pineapple.

It was sheer enjpyment to see so many fat Japanese carps. I have never seen such huge ikan haruan and the biggest one has 7 misai. Feed them and they will surface with their head and mouth up to feed but their bodies so long and lie low in the pond. The turtles ( I don't know what species) with different back pattern are also an attraction.

The colourful Japanese carps and the turtles in the park.

Pretty dragonflies found at the park.

The park is in the same vacinity as the Bird Park, Orchid and Hibiscus Garden in Tasik Perdana/Lake Garden. Do visit and you will have an interesting and unforgetable day.

All photographs above were taken by Najidah.

Johor Coastal Trip 7 (Pekan & Kuantan)

Map of peninsular Malaysia. The routes I have taken to travel around Malaysia so far (Dark line, red line and dotted green line)

The tranquil lake just outside Endau-Rompin State Park.

On leaving Endau-Rompin National Park, we stopped a while at the natural lakes just outside the park to take photos. We headed towards Rompin to stop at Somerset Villa Resort. I was curious to see the place. I read comments from visitors from its website in 2005 that the hotel was deserted like a ghost town. Because of that we decided not to stay there but I was really keen to find out. I bought Ika, my daughter, a piece of land there hoping the place would develop but until today there was no news and no improvement. I didn't even know whether the management of Somerset still exists. That was a bad investement! I hope the documents in my hand will prove useful in case the project fell through in future.



Anyway we stopped there and was amazed at the activities and the high occupancy of the resort. The hotel complex is so huge and I don't wonder, maybe some rooms were unoccupied. It is a very pretty place with old British architechture (?) and the buildings are built around existing trees and mangrove. I guess the report on the website was too old and maybe the manegement has upgraded the facilities. We were pleased and then took a walk to the beach. Part of the hotel was too near the beach and we could see the mark of the high tide almost touched the hotel steps. That was quite frightening. So, if you plan to stay there, just request for a room in the building which is not too near the beach. I hope the surrounding area will be developed soon.


Driving towards Pekan was a pleasure - beautiful beaches and quint little Malay villages. Pekan, the Royal Town, my first visit. I like the town - quiet and unassuming. The Rest House is old, built in 1929 and still known as the Chef's Rest House and very attractive. Unfortunately they don't have restaurant.

One of the most beautiful old buildings there was Istana Mangga Tunggal, an old istana which seemed unoccupied. What a pity, it's painted bright blue which looks so very fresh and pretty but left unattended. How nice if it could be turned into an activity house or a shelter managed by NGO.

It was Sunday. Muzeum Sultan Abu Bakar was under renovation and Galeri Pangangkutan Air, uniquely architectured, was closed - a pity we missed this but maybe we will come back again some day. We just drove around Pekan, stopped at the front gate of the istana to take photos and then headed to Kuantan to visit and stay a night at my friend, Sharipah's house there. After resting, we visited my nephew, Saiful and his family who live near Sharipah's house.

Visiting the silk weaving workshop in Pekan.

The next day, 28th Jan 2009, after breakfast with an old friend, Normah Alias, at Sharipah's house, Najidah and I concluded out fascinating journey by driving back to KL for overnight stay with our respective family members and returned home the next day - Najidah to Tg. Malim and I to Port Dickson, tired but fulfilled. Thank you Najidah for the lovely company and for an enjoyable trip in our own beautiful country, Malaysia.

Johor Coastal Trip 6 (Mersing & Endau-Rompin)

The new shophouses facing Mersing River.

Fishing boats at Mersing River.

We left Pengerang for Mersing in the morning after breakfast. I was looking forward to go there. I remember the peaceful Mersing some time in early 1980s when I visited my sister, Ani, while her husband, Rahman was working with MARA in Mersing. I remember the fresh fish and the white beaches. I looked forward to the visit with anticipation.

We took the coastal kampung road to Desaru and we were looking for petrol station. So remember if you go to Desaru, you have to fill in full tank of gas for there is only one petrol station (Petronas) along the main road near Bandar Penawar. With a full tank of petrol we were confident and later detoured to Tanjung Belungkor jetty to Singapore. The jetty, as in Tanjung Pengelih, provides easy access to Singapore and vice versa. Along the kampung route, we stopped at beaches which are highlighted in brown signages such as Tanjung Balau, Jason Bay (Teluk Mahkota), Kg. Sedili, Pantai Tanjung Leman and then we droved straight to Mersing.

In Mersing we decided against staying in town. We wanted to stay at a resort near the beach. It was quite a hassle looking for one because of the long holidays due to Chinese New Year on 26 and 27 January 2009. We wanted to be away from town and from Chinese areas for we knew there would be inconsiderate noise of firecrackers all night long even before the Day itself. We managed to find a room at Air Papan Beach Resort. All other resorts were full and the one we got was nothing to shout about. At RM120, we thought that was expensive but since it was high season we had no choice. Again, please book your accomodation beforehand or otherwise you would be like us, wasting precious time hunting for a place to stay. Like most beaches in Mersing, Air Papan beach was also a great disappointment - littered with rubbish!!! I think all the brown signages showing beaches as the attractions should be taken down. They are a shame to display.


We drove around Mersing and the surrounding area after we settled in our room and went to see Tanjung Leman, Tanjung Resang and Pantai Penyabung- nothing spectacular about them, with the same condition as other beaches. At Mersing we decided to move out of the resort the next day and stayed at Bitara Utama Hotel (Raja Villa) which was situated on a hill with a commanding view of Pulau Sepindan (according to the local) and the sea. It was quiet, cool and airy. On 25 Jan 09, we cheked out of Air Papan Villa and moved into Bitara Utama Hotel, settled in and drove around Mersing again.

At the creative entrance of Budi Utama Hotel, Mersing.

Najidah with highrise condominium perched on a hill in the hotel compound - frightening!

The most memorable time of the day was, we accidentally found a way to Kampung Teluk Sari. From the bridge at the main road we were admiring the sea and the islands nearby and wondered whether we could trek the islands. We explored around that area and finally found a dirt road through the village to the beach. Thank God, the beach was so clean and white and not many people were there. It was low tide. We trekked the beaches and the islands and without realising it, we were there for more than 3 hours. We didn't feel hungry at all - so intense enjoying the beaches and the islands during low tide.

Rose and daughter, Siti, collecting enough kerang for the whole family.

Najidah and I were thrilled learning the technique to find clams/kerang taught by the locals ladies there, Rose and her daughter Siti.

Yeah, yeah, I got a kerang!!!

We learned from 2 local gentlemen how to dig umpun-umpun for fish baits.

We learned from 11 year-old Arif how to rake kepah. It was so thrilling.

The small rocky island that's rich with rock oysters. We trekked there and found a live rock oyster to keep for souvenir.

What thrilled us more was, we were able to go right to the rocky end of the island and recorded our adventure in photos.

At the rocky end of Pelanduk Island, Mersing.

The outcrop of rocks at the tip of the island.

The stony beach of Pelanduk Island, Mersing.

The mangrove beach at the other side of the island.

When we reached our car, I was so disgusted to see some boxes and plastic bags were discarded on the beach by the picnikers. At almost 4 pm we drove back to our hotel and stopped to pick up beautiful smelly shells at Kg. Sri Lalang, Mersing. I refused to discard the shells and my car became stinky. We felt most comfortable at Bitara Hotel and I highly recommend you to stay there (if you are not particular about being by the beach). Call En. Mohd Nizam 017-8249180 for reservation. It was a relief for we didn't hear any firecrackers.

On 26 Jan 09 morning we left Mersing for Endau-Rompin. We didn't know what to expect or where to stay or whether we could stay at the Endau-Rompin National Park. We were taking chances again. We came across Tanjung Gemok jetty for ferry to Pulau Tioman in Endau but it was closed and we wondered why. The receptionist at Sri Malaysia Hotel next to it told us that the terminal was closed because of the Monsoon season and will be opened again in March 2009. Lucky we didn't plan to see Pulau Tioman. There is a small family-oriented Inn very near the Jetty - the Ikhwan Inn, tel no. 019-3750714.

In Rompin town we stopped at Puteri Inn by the road to book accomodation for the night at RM85.00 a day.The nice lady receptionist told us that we could stay in Endau-Rompin Park as there are chalets there and encouraged us try our luck as we were keen to go there. She said if we failed to get accomodation we could always turned back and stay at Puteri Inn. We managed to get a chalet to stay in the park.


The road leading to Endau-Rompin is long and quiet but along the way we found a number of cars leaving the area. As we were the only car driving towards Endau-Rompin NP, we were quite anxious wondering where the national park is. I was glad it was Najidah with me. The ornamental trees lining the road indicated that we were coming to the national park. True enough, we found the entrance finally but unattended and looked so run down. What a pity! This is Malaysian style - grand opening but poor maintenance.

The main entrance of Endau-Rompin State Park.

We were annoyed to hear a report that personnel from fire department, police, army etc have to rush to the park because they received report that there were 3 guys lost in the jungle. Those guys didn't report at the office. It seems one police car turned turtle on the road rushing to the rescue point. Finally they received news that those irresponsible three have returned to their homes. This is their repeat performance. I wonder what the law says. Those people should be charged to court, fined and jailed for trespassing in protected area especially if this was their repeat behaviour, for registering should be made mandatory. It was just sheer disregard of regulations. They endangered the lives of rescue personnel.



Endau-Rompin is a serene and an enchanting place. The river berckoned me to soak my tired body but since there were so many picnikers there, we decided to wait until everyone was gone before we ventured in the cool river. Ajak, the camp guide of Rompin Green World took us around and to our chalet. There were many activities offered here. Just contact Ajak at 012- 7630008/016-2064664 or email him at natureguide_ajak@yahoo.com for enquiries.

With Ajak at the river in Endau-Rompin State Park, Pahang.

Lying down in the cold river in the evening at Endau-Rompin.

The picnikers, as usual littered the place. Some useless mothers/fathers even left their soiled baby nappies on the steps to the river. So disgusting! Ajak and his friends were also furious at the irresponsible behaviour of some stupid Malaysians. Why doesn't the management of the park charge entry to those people who come to the park. Why must everything be free - people don't appreciate it. Malaysian governement has misplaced concept of attracting support from the people - this is encouraging taking things for granted and subsidy mentality. In foreign countries nothing is free. To go to these kind of places, you have to pay entry - at least helping to pay for maintenance.

It was so peaceful there, away from firecrakers and noises. I like to see some of the young workers there. Many of them come from cities like KL PJ and Shah Alam but they love being there. As one of them say, they can save money, enjoy the peace and the activities there. How nice if more Mat Rempit choose to think like they do.

The night at Endau-Rompin was really cold. You need jacket, socks and a thick blanket to keep you warm. The river was icy cold. For the first time, I soaked myself in the river for 35 minutes only, not one or two hours as usual. The next morning the river is becoming very clear because there was no rain that night. I believe Ajak when he said the river would be as clear as crystal once there is no rain. Ajak enticed us with river activities like kayaking, and cruising and camping but we had to leave for Kuantan. We promised to return and join the activities there one day. I know Indra and Sharipah have been talking about going there, they must do it. By the way, don't think of using your mobile - no line there.


The crytal clear water of the river.

After breakfast, we bade farewell to Endau-Rompin State Park and headed for Kuantan. It was a satisfying visit though short. I hope the Pahang government does something to upgrade the maintenance of the park for leaving it in shamble would be such a great shame.

Endau-Rompin National/State Park, you are just wonderful!!

Thank you to the staff there for entertaining, enlightening and sharing information with us.