Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Caucasian Mountain-Tour, "Emerald Valley", second part

After the bee's farm we had to stay in our minibus about an hour or two else till we reached the last aul and had to change vehicle.

There are not roads there, so the locals use these military cars, off-roads, to cross their land. We have seen them near every house that were there. I think, every family earns money transporting tourists. Our guide said, there are incredible quantities of persons that want to make a bath in the cascades we had to visit that day.

It was not so far till the house where we had to eat and to rest a little, but ... to reach it we had an other "extreem". Nothing terrible, but it is not very normal, this bridge.

In the house where we had to rest there was an other presentation of local foods. This time they were mostly wines. The daughter of the owner told us about the wines her father makes and we could taste them all. After that "second breackfast" with "chebureki" (puff pastry with meat inside -mmmmm.....) and we were ready to continue. After that good wine and 4 hours of the car I did not want other as sleep, sincerely, ...





I have to say you with all sincerity: when I came home and looked at my arm and side, I was afraid to see all that parts of my body black from bruises. Thanks God I did not look at my butt...

Kukup Island - The Red Mangrove Island, Johor

The boat was waiting for us when we reach the Jetty.


The boat ride was in our package, we were requested the boat man to drop us at the Kukup Island Jetty. (Please remember to take the mobile phone number of the boatman, once you finish the walk at the island....give them a call, and they will pick you up and return to Kukup)

Along the way, the boatman became our Tour Guide! He was good in explaining about Kukup village and the history behind. He's also trying to sell some souvenirs, but you can reject it if you don't like it.

The new Kukup Jetty

Scenic view of Kukup

His name is 'Ah Long', he was the boatman and 'Tour Guide'.

It's just less than 10 minutes ride, we reached the Kukup Island Jetty.

Kukup Island is an island entirely covered by mangrove forest and surrounded by mudflats - the mudflats extend up to a few kilometres on the West and Northwest of the island. There is currently no human habitation or man made structures on the island.


In order to promote preservation of this unique mangrove habitat, Kukup Island is designated as a Ramsar site (or otherwise known as a Wetlands of International Importance) on 31 January 2003, it is also protected as a national park under the Johor State Park Corporation Enactment 1989 since 27 March 1997.....for more info, please click here.

The mangrove also become a rubbish trap during high tide. I think it will be much easier to clean at the mangrove area rather than the sea.

The Kukup Island Jetty (N1°19.663' E103°26.180')

The Counter - (Remove nothing from the park except rubbish)

The entrance fee :
Malaysian :
Adult : MYR5.00
Student : MYR3.00

Foreigner :
Adult : MYR10.00
Student : MYR5.00

Guide :
Adult : MYR3.00
Student : MYR1.00

Boat ride at Snake River :
Adult : MYR3.00
Student below 12 years : MYR2.00

Kayaking :
Adult : MYR6.00
Student : MYR5.00
Certificate : MYR3.00

After the counter, we start to explore the Island.


The first stop, the Suspension Bridge. It's about 10 - 15 meter height. (No fear!)

The washroom located at the ground level.



The stretch after the Suspension Bridge. I love the view over here...

For rent, but not the guy....

Snake River

The staff of Kukup Island National Park Corporation

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.

During the high tide, most of the Mangrove Crab escape from the water to the tree....



The Mangrove Tree around the area...

Old Logging Settlement

I noticed along the way, you will see many signage......but some of them, I can't understand....will you?



The way which lead us to the 'Observation Tower'.

It's about 5-10 minutes walk, you reach the Tower.

Too bad it's under maintenance! What a MISS! Look at the ribbon block the way to the top of the tower.



The Mudskipper around the area...

That's finish our trip to Kukup Island. We waited about 10 minutes at the jetty for the boat to bring us to the next stop - The Kelong.


They are total of 72 Kelong along the Kukup sea...
On the Kelong (N1°19.500' E103°26.367'), they are selling some dried foods, you will also experience touching the small Shark and other fish over there. We spent about 30 minutes on it, and going back to Kukup for our Seafood lunch....

High King Seafood Restaurant (N1°19.524' E103°26.500')

The dishes were delicious!! I forgot to snap the fish, because I'm too hungry! :)
Among all, the chili crab was the Best!

Our package :-
* Adult : MYR80.00 (Inclusive of 2 seafood lunch, 1 seafood dinner and a simple breakfast)
* Children : ?? ( Ops! I forgot)
If you come with more peoples, the package price will be more cheaper. Basically it's between MYR75.00 to MYR150.00.

If you are interested to goto Kukup, you can contact this guy : Mr Gay Kui Seng (Ah Seng) with his mobile phone number : +6-012-7657463

Some history of Kukup.....

The
District which is now known as PONTIAN, was called KUKUP or KUKUB with its administrative center located somewhere near the present harbour in Kukup Laut. In those ancient time, the West Coast of Johor, from Kukup to Benut was the stop and rest place of the sea pirates based in the Straits of Kukup. They stationed and based at the river mouths of the Perhentian Besar River, and the Perhentian Kechil River. (In Malay "Perhentian" means Stopping Place (Mooring Place), "Besar" means big, "Kechil" means small, and "Sungai" means river.) These two rivers were then called the Pontian Besar River (Sungai Pontian Besar) and Pontian Kechil River (Sungai Pontian Kechil). Thus it was obvious that the name PONTIAN, came from the Malay word Perhentian meaning the Stoping Place (mooring place)....for more, please click here.

About Kukup :-

This is an old fishing village with history of a century old. Its unique of a fishing village built entirely on stilts above the sea, linked by concrete jetty from house to house. As recent statistic shown, this old fishing village is occupied by some 1,000 residents wholly from the Chinese race. Out of a total of 172 houses, about 57 are used as Holiday Chalets. The village will be flooded with flow of tourists on Saturdays and Sundays. Tourists especially from Singapore like to tour and stay here in groups very frequently because of the economic and cheap expenditures, warm hospitality and many interesting places to be visited. Source from here....

To us, this place is a Good Breakaway from your stressful city life. I will definitely visit here more often if time allow.....

The only comment I have : The way they discharges everything direct to the sea!! It's really bad and polluted!

Related post :-

* Kukup Fishing Village Trip 15th & 16th November 2008
* Dinner at Kukup (Day 1)
* Kukup Trip - Day 2






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Saturday, November 22, 2008

Caucasian Mountain-Tour, "Emerald Valley", first part

As promised in my previous posts, I wanted to tell you about a mountain-tour with light extreme I participate when I was in Sochi.

For me, the greatest extreme in that tour were tight deep-lunged torques that continued every 50-100 meters all the 4-5 hours that we needed to reach the place and than -to turn back from there, after the visit. Imagine that we were only about 70-90 km from center of Sochi but we needed 4-5 hours for one way.

I remember when I came in Sochi for the first time, it was in 80-th. There was the same torques way from Adler (where there is airport) till Sochi. They built a new highway from Adler some years ago, and you need only about 40 minutes to come in the center now. But in this, opposite, side of the region, you can admire the original mountain-roads. As you see on my photo.

Somebody told me once that it was a simple method to build ways in the mountains: to follow the steps of an ass. Because the asses knew where and how to go.

We were in a minibus with guide Golubkova Elena and driver Ruslan. They went with us till the last point of the tour. And it was hard enough, you will see it in my next posts. Here I want to show you only some photos from the road to taste the first beauties of the mountains of Caucasus.

This first is a general look on a mountain river how it is near the sea. It is river Shakhe, I think.

This other photo -to show you the mountain-road. Do you see that line in the middle of the photo? With rocks over and rocks under? Nice, no? It's a canyon of the river Ashe.

The first stop on our way was in a bee's farm. The owners built this pavilion where they have an exhibition hall of all products they have to sell. As you see on the second photo, there are many different products and they are really superb while produced in this zone. The team told us many interesting things about honey and it's derivative, we could taste some different honeys. Than we could buy everything we saw there.

We were at the beginning of our way and bought only glasses of "medovukha" -honey-wine. Mmmm... Great!!!



Continue next time...

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Kukup Trip - Day 2

Day 2
It was raining in the morning.....I thought we have to cancel our trip to Kukup Island, luckily the rain stop around 11am.....

The first wooden house attracted me in the morning....I wonder what he is waiting for?

There were Nasi Lemak and Mee-siam including coffee & Milo for our simple breakfast (include in the packages).

This boy was patiently waiting for his breakfast....

Direction map on the wall - Garmin or Malsingmaps??


After the breakfast, we were continue our journey to Kukup Island and the boat ride. Along the way, I snapped some pictures.....

The tide getting higher in the morning...

Another foot, it will touch the chalet...

Dustbins are everywhere...the way they take care of the environment.

The Police Marine Office....quite run down...

Fisherman Boat

Chinese Temple

The busy junction. Located between Lorong A & Lorong B

The boy who said 'Good Morning' to me...

Then come to my favorite corner...:)

When we reached the town, water everywhere! Some cars parking beside the road become the victim.


We proceed to the Jetty for Kukup Island.....

Related post :-
* Kukup Fishing Village Trip 15th & 16th November 2008
* Dinner at Kukup (Day 1)
* Kukup Island - The Red Mangrove Island, Johor




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