Once we checked out from Golden Palm Tree Resort , our day itinerary continued with a tour to Bukit Malawati, a quick stop at the famous Cendol Bakar, a seafood dinner at Riverside Restaurant at Pasir Penambang and a boat trip around Kelip-Kelip Kg Kuantan. Let’s join me for the adventure.
Cendol Bakar Kg Assam Jawa
The only drive-thru cendol shop in Malaysia. Yes, I have heard a lot about this but never had the time to go. Cendol Bakar was not in the itinerary at first, but hey, why not. Why not. Seats were reserved for our entourage from Tourism Selangor. Great, we don’t have to stand waiting for available seats. Mind you, the seats are fully occupied most of the time. Now, that calls for the need to have a drive-thru. This and the fact that there are very limited parking space around this shop.
What makes Cendol Bakar special is that the palm sugar was grilled before it is liquidize as a sweetener for the dessert. Also, it was named Cendol Bakar because of this process and the coincidence of the grandfather of the founder’s name, Bakar.
At first, Cendol Bakar had 2 menus that are Cendol VIP and Cendol VVP. After a popular demand, En. Mohd Arif Ismail (the founder) added another four menus of cendol. They are Cendol Tapai, Cendol Pulut Tapai, Cendol Durian, Cendol Pulut Durian.
The existing branches for Cendol Bakar are Jalan Sg Buloh Jeram,Batu 7 Jalan Ijok, Simpang Kg Chengkau Ulu, Rembau, Stesyen KTMB Kluang, Jalan Tg Karang and the owner is determined to open up few other branches soon.
I ordered Cendol Durian, which tasted very nice! If not for the rush to Bukit Malawati, I would ask for another one.
Jemput Makan:-
Bukit Malawati
Bukit Malawati is the focal point for history in Kuala Selangor where historic remnants are still on the site until today. Although we arrived quite late at Bukit Malawati, it was all jolly experience going up Bukit Malawati. Not on foot, but with the tram provided. It relishes the childhood memory of being on a tram touring a zoo. This time, it is to the top of the hill with excellent view of Selangor coastline.
While basking with evening warm, we were welcomed by the naughty silver-leafed monkeys whose babies are golden in colour. At this time, I had to be extra careful with my belongings for the monkeys were in the habit of snatching belongings especially when they suspect you carry edible.
There’s a lighthouse in the compound where the tram stopped. But it was close for public viewing. Too bad, the museum was close too. But we managed to take some photos at the museum compound.
There was an incident I rarely see in real life that tear my heart into bits. While walking further up to the monkeys area (clinging to other participants because I’m afraid of the monkeys), we saw one monkey lying motionless on the road. En Safri tried to shake the monkey to check if it was really dead. True, he was dead. Out of nowhere, another monkey came screaming (crying if I can decipher monkey’s behaviour correctly) and threatened those who touched the dead monkey. The dead monkey was then carried to the other side of the road by presumingly its mother. It was in deed a heart wrenching moment to look how intense the love is even for animals. The dead monkey must have fallen to its death from the tree.
It was not the first sad story on animals I had that day though. I just read about the death of pygmy elephants in Borneo. How sad.
Riverside Restaurant
Before magical experience of Kg Kuantan Fireflies, the participants were taken to an early dinner at Riverside Restaurant.
River View Seafood Restaurant
No. 1 Jalan Pasir Penambang
45000 Kuala Selangor
Tel: +60 3 3289 2238
http://www.rsrv.biz.ly
Well, I have been here for my first #tsdayout outing with Tourism Selangor. Therefore, I can vouch for the good seafood with awesome sunset viewing from the eating deck.
Kelip-Kelip Kampung Kuantan
Fireflies or kelip-kelip dwell along the river bank of Kampung Kuantan and feed on the berembang trees that grow well 8km upstream and 18km downstream to Kuala Selangor.
When we arrived at Kampung Kuantan, there are not many tourists. So we did not have to queue for a boat. Each boat holds 4 passengers at the price of RM40. Our boatman is a wonderful local who shared many information with us.
First, he told us kelip-kelip and kunang-kunang are not the same. Though coming from the same genus, they belong to different species namely Pteroptyx tener for kelip-kelip and Photuris for kunang-kunang. Science apart, for you to distinguish kelip-kelip and kunang-kunang, there are two ways. First, There are hundreds of kelip-kelip in one group while kunang-kunang group is smaller in size; 5 or more in a group. Kelip-kelip emits unison light while kunang-kunang emits spontaneous light.
The boatman told us the later one come to see fireflies, the fewer it would be. Because the fireflies go out at dusk to feed on the berembang tree sap and as the night fall, they go back to their nest. Also, not many fireflies can be seen during full moon.
It is very hard though to capture fireflies picture in the dark since flash is not allowed to be used.
A very good video I found on youtube by Dainius Vitkevičius :
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oe8RFHp_MlE