Enjoy An Eco Tour In Malaysia – Agarwood Forest, Charcoal Factory, Mangrove Forest

As mentioned in the previous blog, Ipoh is one of a cultural and heritage cities of Malaysia. Actually there is a flora and fauna in Malaysia where I have just selected some destinations having been with my travel buddies for 2 days at Ipoh. Some eco destinations are highly recommended for visit near Ipoh where takes 1-2 hours by car.

1) Gaharu Tea Valley Gopeng  (務邊沉香園)

Gaharu, also named in Agarwood, Eaglewood, Oud or Jinko in different part of the world. But agarwood in Chinese culture actually plays a significant role in medical treatment. Because agarwood leaves can be used as Tea, and also the wood can be transformed as fragrance. They also can be used as cooking ingredients in chicken soup, herbal egg with their leaves. I also tried the soft serve in the agarwood flavor (RM3), which I cannot tell you the taste, as it is very unique and with a long after taste of the agarwood. It’s worth to try.

There are over 200,000 agarwood trees in the forest distributing in 5 mountains according to the local guide. Some of the areas are open for the tourists. Tourists are escorted by their private vans for transportation. This Gaharu Tea Valley in Gopeng is the only one open for public, share the trade secrets and increase the usage and the awareness of the Gaharu Tea. Gaharu Tea is rich in vitamins, calcium zinc, iron and manganese. Gaharu leaves contain high anti-oxidant functions. It reduces blood sugar levels and lowers the blood pressure etc. That’s why there is a business lead for gardening Gaharu Tea.  

Gaharu (Agarwood) Tea Valley, Gopeng

For information: http://www.hoga.my  ; http://www.gaharu.com.my

Opening from 9am to 6pm (Monday to Sunday and Public Holiday)

2)  Kuala Sepetang Charcoal Factory 

A total area of 40,711 hectares of forest area divided into three regions, namely Kuala Sepetang, Kuala Trong and Sungai Kerang which were managed under a “30 Year Work Plan” by the Perak State Forestry Department.

This charcoal factory locates at Kuala Sepetang.

It’s first time to visit a charcoal factory. But it gives me a natural feeling as I don’t want to visit a shopping mall with air-conditioning anymore. This factory is managed by a Chinese off-spring , the third generation since 1930. There are 3-4 kilns in the factory and the woods are from the mangrove nearby. Every year there is a limited time for harvest for resources protection. The 4th generation of the factory owner Mr Chuah briefed us the process of making charcoals and what products come to the end. The process is complicated such as bake the woods carefully with low degree of fire for at least a week. but usage of the charcoals is practical. It is good for anti-humidity and anti-smell. So this is a good household products for my shoes racks. There are some products you can grab at the end of the presentation at a reasonable price.

Charcoal Factory

The Kiln

For an appointment for a guided tour : +6012 5739563 

3)  Matang Mangrove Forest

After visiting the charcoal factory, we have taken a boat ride to the mangrove, and watched the eagles. This areas is famous for seafood and you can buy some dried fish products such as dried scrimps (RM18 / 250grams), which are highly recommended for the seasoning of soup.

There are many sihams, scrimps and fish in the pond, the residence are harvesting them for living.  There are some buildings designating for the homes of swallows, for producing swallows nest products at the end.

Mangrove and White-bellied Sea Eagles at the sunset of Matang, Malaysia

The Port Weld Eco – takes you a mangrove ride!

Activities and price list

The boat we travelled.

The manager of the fish pont showcases us the pufferfish.

Puffer fish is angry !!

For information: Port Weld Eco

Hope you enjoy and support the eco-tourism!

View another article 7-Ipoh Wall Art Murals by Zach

 

7-Ipoh Wall Art Murals by Zach

It’s first time to visit Malaysia, and I headed to Ipoh, a city with a lot of heritages and cultures.

Ipoh is a home town of Michelle Yeoh, the Hollywood superstar.

Ipoh, is a name in Malay meaning a kind of tree, but nowadays there is only one and the only one existing at Ipoh, locates in front of the train station.

When visiting Ipoh, one of the cultural visits is searching the 7 wall art murals, the latest collection of by Ernest Zacharevic (ZACH), who painted murals on walls along the streets of Penang’s Georgetown.

Ipoh is famous with their white coffee, so the artist features coffee on the painting. This one features the old man drinking a cup of white coffee.

Next to a car park, there is one featuring the hummingbird.

Opposite to the hummingbird, there is a huge mural with 5 iced coffee , they call as KOPI (coffee) in Malaysia , and the packaging for iced tea is using a plastic bag.  The painting is awesome as it illustrated like a real one with water drops on the plastic bags.

This one is unofficial without Zach and the government mentioned , but our tour guide said this one is also an artwork by Zach. The tour guide said it was painted in overnight. But I think this one is a test drawing by Zach before he painted the large one, do you agree?

This one named “Girl” is very active in motions, like she is catching the bird in the birdcage.

This one is near the Coffee and Old Man . It is an awesome artwork too.

This one is a Chinese painting style. But too many tourists there I cannot take a full picture.

I like this one so much, as it shows the man doing job for living and the shaw you can take photo with it.

The map of Art of Old Town, you can search the 7 mural artworks by visiting Ipoh, drink the white coffee, enjoy a day in Malaysia.

View another article enjoy an eco tourin Malaysia-agarwood forest, charcoal factory, mangrove forest

Joan Cornellà Makes Asian Premiere in Hong Kong

Based in Barcelona, Joan Cornellà is a cartoonist and illustrator famous for his unsettling,

surreal humor and black humorous comic strips as well as artwork.

With a global following, his works consist of mostly wordless 6 panel comics – the disturbing themes, extreme discomfort, often grotesque, all packaged neatly into brightly colored, beautifully rendered comic illustrations. In these times of extreme hypocrisy, Joan Cornellà sheds some light onto ourselves, unveiling who we really are, always in a humorous and disquieting manner.

Date: 17 – 26 June 2016

Event Venue: G/F, Fort Street 18-20, Wah Kin Mansion North Point, Hong Kong

•Tickets can be bought at the door, from 10am to 10pm  (BUT LONG QUEUE, WAIT MINIMUM 1-2 HOURS OUTDOOR)

$50 (a lucky draw to win a limited edition illustration+present)

Buy tickets in advance (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) at :

1. Zoo Records:

Shop 325, 3/F President Commercial Centre, 608 Nathan Road, Mongkok, , Hong Kong2

2. White Noise Record:

1/F, 720 Shanghai Street, Mong Kok, Hong Kong

3.The Globe:

The Globe, Garely Building, 45-53 Graham Street, Central District, Hong Kong

Event Facebook

Easy Recipe for Summer – Tofu Cheese Cake

Every one loves chilled dessert for summer time, as I do. In the summer, I will make the Japanese styled tofu cheese cake at home which delighting you after lunch or dinner.

It’s easy as you can find a fresh tofu at the supermarket or the market.

Ingredients (for 8 portions)

Creme Cheese 200g

Hard Beancurd (1 piece estimated 340 grams)

Lemon juice (1 tea spoon)

Sugar (2 tablespoons)

Yogurt (50 grams)

Gelatins (20 grams)

Cake Base:

Crackers (8 pieces)

Butter (30 grams)

Method:

Step 1: prepare the cake base with digestive crackers and melted butter. And chill the base into the fridge for minimum 3 hours.

Step 2: For tofu cheese cake fillings, melt the gelatin in water first and mix well all ingredients together.

Step 3: beat the tofu and cream cheese into fine mixtures

Step 4: Layer the cream cheese mixture on the top of the crackers base

Step 5: Chill for overnight before serving

Bon appetit!

 

Joyce Jonathan Asian Tour 2016 – Hong Kong Station

I was so excited in May when I knew that Joyce Jonathan will come to Hong Kong for her Asian Tour after the Taiwan Station. I immediately purchased concert tickets online and expect her live show in Hong Kong.

The show is also a part of Le French May – a program of Hong Kong promoting French culture, wine and dine, performances from May to early July and I usually spend a lot of time and money in this programme every year. 🙂

Joyce Jonathan – one of the popular French POP singers in France, is a French singer and songwriter. Her first album “Sur mes gardes” was certified platinum in 2011 and received the NRJ Music Awards of the Francophone Breakthrough of the year (2011). I listened her music via YouTube first and then I also purchased her first album. The song I like is “Je ne sais pas” – also version in Mandarin (But I don’t understand Mandarin).

The new album in 2016 “Une Place Pour Moi” and promoting songs such as “Le Bonheur” and “L’amour, l’amour, l’amour ” are my favorites. The rhythm and the music arrangement of songs are very French, young and with romantic lyrics.

For the promotion of the concert, well, there were not many promoting channels except I knew that from lepetitjournal.com and some post bills which having very low profile. That’s why the concert hall was not fully occupied, which I felt that concert was not well promoted to targeted audiences.

Anyway, there were two autograph sessions for VIP and regular fans respectively after the concert. It supposed to sign the new album only but she is so nice to sign for my previous album (die hard fans) although the organiser was not allowed me to do so. 🙂

Hope she will come often to Hong Kong and get more fans following her! 🙂

 

Beautiful Sunset – Hong Kong !

Living in Hong Kong, one of the cities with skyscrapers that people never see the sky. That’s why I love the blue sky of the Spain, although we are living on the same planet.

It’s sure that you can find some natures, fauna and flora in Hong Kong where you have to travel to new territories or outlying islands.

The photo here I took it actually taking place at the bus terminal in Lantau Island. It was sunset time, after a heavy raining in the afternoon, where many clouds were layered in the sky.