Pangkor island in 4 hours.

When was the last time you visited Pulau Pangkor? Last weekend I took a half-day trip to the Pangkor Island and manage to snap some touristsy scenes with my Kodak digital camera.

I would say that Pulau Pangkor hasn't changed much since my last visit some 6 years ago.

The ferry ride from Lumut town to Pangkor island takes approximately 35 minutes, and it cost RM10.00 for a return trip.

We didn't have to wait long for the ferry ride to Pangkor. But for the return trip, we had to queue (as in stand in line) for more than 1 hour because the returning crowd (on a Sunday afternoon) swelled to almost 400 people (in my estimation). We only manage to get onto the 4th ferry that came by.

How do you get by in Pangkor island? We took a taxi for a round-island tour (2 hours) which includes sightseeing the historical places, and also a stopover at the local seafood retail outlet.

Let the pictures tell the story of our trip to Pangkor.

One of the many ferries that reliably transports you to and from Pangkor island and Lumut town.



One of the many fishing boats that's anchored along the island



Taxi Fare Charges on Pangkor island



The remains of the Dutch Fort, rebuilt in 1970's



The mini great wall of China, or so it seems



Donald inviting you to visit the Chinese temple (Goddess of Mercy) at teluk Nipah



calm sea, view from Teluk Nipah.

For more indepth write up of Pangkor, visit MalaysiaVacationGuide. This travel site provides the latest information on the various attractions and tourist spots in Malaysia. It aims to help visitors plan their travel itinerary before setting out to explore the wonders of Malaysia.


Also found this site about anything Pangkor

Malaysia International Fireworks Competition

If you do not have any plans for the upcoming Merdeka long break (that's August 30th to September 2, 2007, for non Malaysians) do go over to Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) at Precinct 5 Putrajaya, and watch an international-level musical fireworks competition. Nations from Australia, Japan, Italy and Malaysia will be competing for the Merdeka trophy.

Competition nights :
Aug 18 - Malaysia
Aug 22 - Australia
Aug 25 - Italy
Aug 30 - Japan
Sep 2 - Grand Finale

Fireworks display nights :
Aug 19, 24, 31 and Sep 1.


The fireworks can be seen across the lake overlooking the grand Seri Gemilang bridge. The fireworks performances and competition started on Aug 18 and is leading up to Merdeka Day, August 31,2007, Malaysia's 50th year of Independence. Be dazzled by the choreographed displays of fireworks, for at least 10 - 30 minutes per night, starting from 10 pm.

The competition is free for the public but people wanting to watch from inside the PICC will have to pay RM38.50 a person and RM148.50 for a buffet dinner.

Be early to get good viewing spot. There will be performances by artistes to entertain you while you wait for the fireworks to dazzle you.

To make your trip worthwhile, there is also a Floral exhibition (indoor and outdoor) at Precinct 2, Putrajaya, which starts on Aug 25, and ending on Sep 2, 2007. Free Entrance.

Directions to Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC)? Click here

Drive, Take the bus (Rapid, from KL Sentral), or take the Express Rail Link (ERL).

To read about the more about fireworks, read NST's Splendour in the sky and The Star's Lighting up the Putrajaya sky .

Did you know that the musical fireworks display of this magnitude was discussed far back in 1998, and only became a reality in 2007? One thing that might mar this event, will the impending lawsuits from the "idea originator". Read more on "Firm sues minister over fireworks show"

Another broadway musical - The King and I

The King and I , Broadway musical , Visit Malaysia year ,

Another broadway musical, The King and I will be staged in Malaysia, come July 13 to 26, 2007. It will be held at Istana Budaya in KL. The leading actor and actress of the musical are Paul Nakauchi and Brianna Borger. To read about the casts, go to the official website for the musical of The King and I . In addition to the international casts, 10 talented Malaysian children are to appear in the musicals.

This musical presentation is part of the Visit Malaysia 2007 attractions in an effort to build up Malaysia's reputation as an arts hub for both local and international tourists.

The story is about Anna Leonowens, a young English widow who arrived in Siam (now Thailand) to tutor the King's (many) children. A clash of cultures and personalities ensues, as she slowly earns the King's respect and comes to understand and appreciate the country in which she lives. Since the story almost always potrays a side of the Thai king that is not favourable in the eyes of the Thai ciizesns, they are mostly banned in Thailand.

The story has been retold in many mediums - broadway musicals, film productions, and also TV productions.

Yul Brynner was one of the many actors who have played the part of the King - in all three mediums - the musicals, motion picture and also TV productions.

Another must see when the musical opens in Malaysia on July 13.

Tickets cost between Rm103 to Rm383, can be bought from Ticket Axcess Tel 03-7711 5000 or any of the Axcess tickets counters in 1-Utama shopping centre, the Actors Studio in Bangsar, Tower Records in Suria KLCC and many more.

Note :
The writer is not in any way connected to any parties in the staging of the musical. The writer wants to get the information immortalised in cyberspace - so that the information can be retrieved again when required.

MY fair lady - Review

My fair Lady

Entertaining. That's how I would describe the musical My fair Lady. The casts sang with enthusiasm and sang their hearts out. And the sound system is superb. I sat at the last row of the plenary and though I couldn't see the facial expression of the casts, I could hear every word and every song lyrics.

The casts have been performing to the live audience in Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) Plenary hall since May 15, 2007. And to date they have performed at least 6 shows in KL before the one that I attended last night. Yet there was no slow down in their performance.

The only problem I had was understanding the dialogue in the beginning (the strong accent) but after getting used to the British spoke English, I was able to follow the dialogue. I felt the dialogue portion a bit too draggy for certain scenes, and I almost fell asleep several times, being awoken when the cast started to sing.

The audience were dressed to the nines. Unfortunately I went in jeans and T-shirt, and felt a bit out of place, dressing-wise!

Rave Reviews
- from the star reporter : Enduring Charm
from the NST reporter : The Lady is a winner

What the casts said in interviews with the local press
1. "Eliza Doolittle" Poppy Tierney
2. "Colonel Pickering" Gerard Murphy finds it too warm in Malaysia

My Fair Lady the musical

My Fair Lady musical , Visit Malaysia year 2007


Catch the musical, My fair Lady, which will be performed in Malaysia in May 2007.

Date : May 15- 20, 2007. (Tuesday - Sunday)
Venue : KL Convention centre (KLCC)
Show Time :
Tuesday - Sunday Evenings 8 pm
Extra Matinee Shows : Sat and Sun : 3 pm

Tickets range from Rm100.00 to Rm350.00. To book your tickets online, visit www.yvents.com. You may also call 603-2241 9999

RHB bank customers get to enjoy discounts of between 15% to 30%. (Hint, Hint. Either open an account with RHB, or get to know a friend who banks with RHB).

Get transported to the 60's era with classic songs like 'The Rain in Spain' and "I could have danced all night'. This is a story about the challenge made by Professor Higgins that he can train any woman to speak English so properly. Thus he sets about transforming Eliza Doolittle from a flower girl with a strong Cockney accent, into a polished lady with impeccable upper class English accent and manners.

This new production comes to Malaysia with a leading cast from the London musical stage in a glamorous new staging, and will be accompanied by live orchestral arrangements. I will be there!

Read more about the musical:

My fair Lady, (source Wikipedia)

" A Delight to Behold" (source : organiser of the event in Malaysia)

Review of the 1958 musical of My fair Lady, with Julie Andrews as Eliza Doolittle

Traffic situation in KL - real time reports

Found this cool website that gives real time reports of traffic situation Klang Valley.

Clear way to go by City Hall Kuala Lumpur.

Thanks to my friend for seeking it out!

Raptor Watch 2007

Nothing to do this weekend? Head over to Tanjung Tuan along the Port Dickson route, and watch the raptors ("birds of prey") stop-over to take a rest after flying from Indonesia en route to the Northern hemisphere. The area around Tanjung Tuan is slowly being developed, and soon the birds may not have a resting place to go to. (Similar fate to the turtles in the Malaysian East Coast)

Oh, don't forget to bring your binoculars.

Source : http://www.raptorwatch.org/
How to get to Raptor Watch?

Highway from North (Ipoh / Kuala Lumpur) / South (Singapore / Melaka)
Take the North-South Highway (PLUS Highway) heading towards Seremban.
Exit at the Seremban / Port Dickson exit and turn right at the traffic lights after the toll.
From here you will pass thru several traffic lights before entering the Port Dickson highway.
After the final toll you will come to a T-Junction with traffic lights where you are to go straight till you come to a roundabout with a very tall apartment/hotel block (PD World Marina Resort) behind it.
At this roundabout, take the 9 o’clock turn and head down the trunk road. You will pass a Chinese temple on your left and the entrance of PD World Marina Resorts on your right.
Keep driving on this trunk road until you see the Gouman Resort entrance and a golf course on your right and a sign for Hutan Simpanan Tanjung Tuan (Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve) sign on your left.
· Go slowly (it is the 2nd right turn from Guoman Resort) until you see the sign to Rachardo Army Camp and several hotel signboards on the corner. It is a small road lined with trees.
Take the right turn into this smaller road and head straight to the end, past the Federal bungalows and Casa Rachardo. At the end of the road you will come to PNB Ilham Resort and the entrance to the Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve.
The event is on the Resort’s field.

Date: March 10-11
venue : Tanjung Tuan, Melaka

Le Tour de Langkawi

Le Tour de Langkawi, Genting Highlands, Cycling

Le Tour de Langkawi - Feb 2- 11, 2007
An international-level cycling event held (annually) in Malaysia that should not to be missed by cyclists, and non-cyclists.

This year's Le Tour de Langkawi started from Langkawi island on Feb 2 and traverse through 8 states in the Malaysian peninsula, and will end at a grand affair at 3pm on Sunday Feb 11, 2007 at Dataran Merdeka. This is a big ticket event, with prize money USD 300,000 (a cool 1 million Malaysian ringgit)

I happened to be at the right time and right spot to get a first hand view of the cyclists as they cycled their way up the steep slopes of Genting Highlands on the morning of Feb 9 (circa 12 noon) for stage 8 of the race. There are altogether 10 stages in the race.

Although this event has been held in Malaysia since 11 years ago in 1986, this is the first time I witnessed the event 'live'. Here are some photo shots that I managed to capture.

To find out more about the event, do visit the official website http://www.ltdl.com.my/

This is the route that the cyclists took for the week-long cycling event (Source : official website for the Le Tour de Langkawi)



I am no cyclist, but I can imagine the Genting Highlands route must be one of the most challenging route because :
1. the final destination - First World Hotel at Genting Highlands is situated at altitude 2000 metres above sea level
2. roads leading up to the Highlands are steep and winding. Car drivers are advised to us a lower gear to go up the highlands.
3. cool temperature ranges from 16-23 degrees (Feb 9 : 18 degrees). The air gets relatively thinner as you go up.

Despite the conditions, the cyclists persevered. Kudos to all the cyclists.

Visit Malaysia Year 2007

Visit Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia


This logo will be seen in a lot of brochures originating from Malaysia throughout the year 2007. Malaysia is celebrating 50 years of independence this year.


In conjunction with celebrating 50 golden years of independence, Malaysia has declared the year 2007 as Visit Malaysia Year and is expecting 20.1 million tourists to visit her country.

Tourists who visit Malaysia will be spoilt for choice of events. There is a year-round calendar of world class and unique local events to mark the special year - events like nature-based adventures, cultural experiences and fabulous shopping sprees.

The 50 national events are summarised by Tourism Malaysia in their official website. I will be featuring in detail some of the events, clsssified under categories / month.