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Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email One from Penang while another is the chariot procession in KL.
Posts Tagged ‘Tourism’
Thaipusam videos from Youtube
January 31st, 2010 | Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email
Thaipusam 2010 at Batu Caves
January 30th, 2010 | Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email  |
| From Thaipusam 2010 |
Its Thaipusam, the religious festival to celebrate Lord Muruga!
Like most of the previous year, we planned to visit Batu Caves. We left home at 6.10am and arrived at Bat Caves at around 6.40am. Parking took another few minutes and there traffic jam was after taking the roundabout from Jalan Kuching.
While driving past the entrance (on MRR2), we can see that the crowd was more than last year, since we usually go to Batu Caves early morning around the same time. In fact the stairs were packed with people.
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| From Thaipusam 2010 |
An ugly sight greeted me as I was looking for parking. Few youths and adults were chatting with beer bottles in the hands while waiting near their car.
Parked car on the flyover. The slip road leading to Petronas after Batu Caves was closed.
The stalls were located below the new dedicated ramp which crosses the river and railway track. The ramp was closed to vehicles to allow the kavadi and kudam bearers walk through. If not, the devotees have to take a risky (but shorter) route crossing the railway track.
The venue where Brahma Kumaris and Nestle stalls were usually located was replaced with the cancelled state government’s Fiesta Deepavali banners. Brahma Kumaris stall is now located beneath the ramp.
Did the mudi kanikai at one of the stall below the new ramp, and proceeded to walk back to the temple compound.
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| From Thaipusam 2010 |
Lots of nursing colleges set up booths, providing eye candy for the youths. I saw Winfield, Nirwana (with Putera MIC), MAHSA and MAsterskill (if I’m not mistaken).
We started walking into the temple compound at 7.35am. Compared to last year, there were not ropes to demarcate the lines. So, it was a bit of free flow.
Lots of rubbish around and its not even 8am! All rubbish bins were overloaded.
Police moved in groups of 2,3 and 4. But I don’t think there were 1000 policemen there. There were also RELA and FRU, apart from the St John members and temple volunteers.
Took us 40 minutes from compound entrance till the top of the stairs. The middle lane was allocated for kavadis, while the left lane for people going up. However, since the top was crowded, many people were coming down using left lane, thus making the journey more difficult.
The signboards for Paal Kudam, Archanai, and Kavadi were only found at about 50 metres in the cave. And the paal kudam queue was long! It would have been better if the notices were put up earlier along the cave or even from the compound itself so that the crowd could be segregated earlier.
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| From Thaipusam 2010 |
We prayed for around 30 minutes or so and made our way down. The trip down was slow since the crowd was huge and lots of kavadis were going down the stairs after fulfilling their penance.
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| From Thaipusam 2010 |
Something else that’s make a comeback this time is beggars. I saw a family that looked like foreigners sitting near the cave entrance.
Read the bottom of the stairs at around 9.15am. We spent another 15 minutes taking some shots and watching the kavadis. It was getting hot, and as usual, we didn’t waste time milling around the stalls.
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| From Thaipusam 2010 |
Left Batu caves around 10am, using MRR2 towards Sentul/Gombak. The other side of the highway was jammed. There’s the new DUKE highway along MRR2 that gives you access to Jalan Duta, Jalan Kuching etc (Toll is RM2). Reached Puchong within 40 minutes.
BTW, the management office looks new (and expensive). I wonder if its really necessary. Maybe the money could have been put to better use, like giant LCD display screens, proper signages and more dustbins.
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| From Thaipusam 2010 |
And quite a few banners mentioning Nadarajah’s name in a weird way. It kind of separates him (as the chairman) from the committee. Looks like exercise in self-promotion.
News coverage on Tv2 (Tamil news) and Tv3 (Buletin) showed the visitors quite happy with the improvements done this year. Those interviewed said that it was easier to fulfill their vows.
Read about last year’s Thaipusam article here: 2009.
Holiday at Cameron Highlands
January 21st, 2010 | Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email We hatched a quite last minute plan to visit Cameron Highlands during the year end holidays. Booked an apartment from a friend’s friend. This time, Saro, Bavani, Ashok and their baby Ashvani joined us.
Day one started slow as we left home around 10am with Saro. Managed to catch up with Bavani, Ashok and Ashvani at Tapah R&R around 12pm. Spent some time at Baskin Robbins (it was 31st Dec!) and then continued on our trip. Exited the toll at Tapah and took the road towards Cameron Highlands.
We stopped at Lata Iskandar waterfalls to take some pics.
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| From Cameron Highlands Selected Pictures |
About 15 minutes before reaching our destination, we stopped at Bharat Tea Shop. I ordered the brownie with ice cream topping, but I feel the dish tasted better last time.
Finally reached our apartment in Tanah Rata around 4pm.
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| From Cameron Highlands Selected Pictures |
After freshening up, we went out to Brinchang town. The area was quite crowded and some of the roads have been converted into one-way streets to accommodate the traffic. Brinchang is know for its night market (pasar malam), which is nothing out of the normal for us Malaysian. During public holidays and school term holidays, the night market occurs daily and starts in the afternoon itself. You should try the sweet corns, ayam percik (kind of charcoal roasted chicken), fried mushrooms (make sure its fresh from the wok), and some strawberry based food stuff. Other than that, nothing much to do here.
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| From Cameron Highlands Selected Pictures |
We then took our dinner at Restoran Sri Brinchang (Indian restaurant). Food was OK. AS it started to get cold, we returned to the apartment around 9pm, just in time to watch Varanam Ayiram on TV. So, new year eve was spent watching TV, playing with Ashvani and chit-chatting.
Day 2 (the first day of 2010) began with a visit to the nearby Murugan temple at around 9.30am. Then we had breakfast at cafe located in Equatorial Hotel compound before heading towards Kea Farm. Spent some time walking around the stall, and then we went to one of Then’s favorite places – Raju Hill Strawberry Farm, which is just across the Equatorial Hotel. Had the customary strawberry milkshake and bought some strawberries.
Next stop was Butterfly farm in Brinchang, which is on the way to Simpang Pulai, about few kilometres from Equatorial Hotel. There are two farms next to each other, and we visited the one on our right. It had a collective of insects and small animals as well. Took some shots of the friendly butterflies.
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| From Cameron Highlands Selected Pictures |
It was quite tiring day, so we returned to apartment around late afternoon, after having late lunch in Tanah Rata. The roads were quite jammed between Brinchang and Tana Rata, so if you are not well prepared, can expect up to 5km of slow moving traffic! It was raining, so we didn’t venture out till night for a quick dinner at Restoran Sri Brinchang (again). We were among the last customers and the shops close up around 10pm.
Day 3 – We checked out from the apartment early, had breakfast at Restoran No 14 (I think). We made our way to Sg Palas Boh Tea Centre, but somewhere along the way, Ashok and Bavani missed a turn, and they ended up at the Bharat Tea Shop which is about 8km after Brinchang. So, Saro, Then and I made our way to the top of the hill. The car park was packed to the brim. The centre too was packed. We managed to get a good seat near the windows. Had some delicious cakes and tea.
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| From Cameron Highlands Selected Pictures |
Shopped for some tea bags and mixtures for souvenir, and left the place, heading towards Tringkap. We met up with Bavani and Ashok over there. Did some shopping (veges and plants). Then it was back to Brinchang for lunch. The restaurant is across the road from KFC (YES, Cameron Highlands got KFC now!) and food is cheaper than the other Indian restaurant located in the same row.
It was already 4.30pm. Ashok and Bavani decided to head back home while the three of us made one more stop at Big Red Strawberry Park (aka Taman Agro Tourism). The place has grown bigger since our last visit. Its expanding like nobody’s business. I just hope the hill doesn’t collapse! Anyway, spent nearly one hour there enjoying the flowers and plants.
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| From Cameron Highlands Selected Pictures |
Finally, we also started our journey back down to Tapah at about 6pm. Caught up with Ashok and Bavani at the Tapah rest area. Chatted for a while before returning home to KL.
It was an enjoyable 3 days with Saro, Bavani, Ashok and little Ashvani! Till the next trip….
Read about previous trips to Cameron Highlands (1, 2, 3, 4)
Good tidings..
November 17th, 2009 | Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email “Fully employed country” sounds great indeed! It seems economists defined a nation as having achieved full employment when the unemployment rate was below 4%. Since according to Statistics Department our unemployment rate was 3.6% in the second quarter of 2009 (down from 4% in the first quarter of 2009), the country has achieved “full employment”, says Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Maznah Mazlan.
Wondering about the fate of the 3.6% unemployed? Never fear, funds are here! Err..or “were” here. TheRM7 billion allocated under Working Capital Guarantee Scheme has been all used up and disbursed to 5,329 small and medium entrepreneurs. The scheme is given to those with working capital of less than RM20mil. The funds was increased from initial RM5 billion and was expected to last till END OF NEXT year, but alas, our deprived or overly-enthusiastic entrepreneurs couldn’t wait that long. International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said 5,329 entreprenuers, 24% of them were bumiputras. The top borrowers are from the retail, wholesale and restaurant sectors (securing 36% of the funds), followed by 25% in the construction sector and 24% in the manufacturing sector. The independent MP Ibrahim Ali had to play his part and ask why only 24% bumiputra. According to the minister, many of them had been affected by the slow economy and did not expand their business. Or maybe competition is tough. Or maybe just too many loans available for them. Or maybe they are rich already (no more entrepreneurs). Or maybe only given to cronies. Or whatever.
Not only locals are fully occupied, even foreigners are flocking into the country as tourism industry picks up momentum. Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen must be very proud when she mentioned the below:
Foreign tourists arrival have increased by 14.3% in October A total of 2,078,485 tourists visited Malaysia in October compared with 1,818,304 tourists for the same month last year. From January till October, foreign tourist arrival increased 7.2% to 19.45mil compared to 18.14mil for the same period last year. The 10 countries with the most number of tourists visiting Malaysia are : Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, China, India, Australia, United Kingdom, Philippines and Japan. Of the countries, Australia tourists increased by 23.6%, followed byUnited Kingdom 19.5% and Singapore 16.6%. Revenue for the period January to June recorded an increase of 0.03% from RM24.46bil to RM24.47bil.
So, there you go folks! Good news as the year comes to an end in about 44 days. So go ask for bonus from your boss! 🙂
India Trip Day 6
September 24th, 2009 | Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email Read the caveats here before proceeding.
The following are events that took place on 9th July 2009 and covers Kumbakonam-Tirunageswaram-Uppiliyappan-Tirukarugavur-Darasuram-Swamimalai-Thanjavur route. Read about the previous day here.
Photo of the day:
Checked out from Hotel Green Park, Kumbakonam, early in the morning and went to Tirunageswaram at about 7.30am. Tirunageswaram houses another important nava graham deity – Lord Rahu.
Left the temple and went to Uppiliappan temple which is just 0.5km from Tirunageswaram. Spent about half an hour at this Perumal temple.
