On June 1, 2007, Langkawi Island was given a World Geopark status by UNESCO. Three of its main conservation areas in Langkawi Geopark are Machincang Cambrian Geoforest Park, Kilim Karst Geoforest Park and Dayang Bunting Marble Geoforest park (Island of the Pregnant Maiden Lake). These three parks are the most popular tourism area within Langkawi Geopark.
The Kilim Karst Geoforest Park (The Kilim River)
This area actually consists of three river estuaries that stretch from the Kisap village approximately 10 km to Tanjung Rhu and they are all interconnected. They are rich in wildlife and tourists may see hairy nosed sea otters, brown winged kingfishers, monitor lizards and swimming macaque monkeys. Limestone, inherently porous, forms caves and there are several in the mangroves. One of Langkawi's natural beauty spots is the Pirate Lagoon just outside the river. Technically this is a collapsed cave (hong) consisting of a cave entrance from the sea emerging into a hidden lagoon with towering, limestone escarpments and smaller caves.
Extracted from Wikipedia.
I was given a chance to recce Kilim Geoforest Park earlier this year, the idea was to make sure it was safe and fit for my Asia Pacific delegates as most of them are CxO from their respective organization. Personally I was never excited or even keen to pay a visit here and I don't even know why (yeah, sounded cocky huh!).
This place was highly recommended by one of the senior management level in Lembaga Pembangunan Langkawi (LADA), reason being I was 'bragging' and 'show-offing' my Santorini pics and shared 'feedback' on the poor maintenance of Langkawi Cable Car. The pathway from the cable car peak station to the sky bridge to be specific.
He noted on my 'feedback' and told me he will look into this matter. Hemm..... we shall see.
Anyway, dutifully I went to visit Kilim Geoforest Park with the lowest most expectation, can't blame me right... I don't want to be dissapointed mah...
The boats docked in orderly manner and life jackets was given, brownie points for the operator. I have to admit, the view is pretty impressive and not what I expected, in fact; it reminded me of Milford Sound in New Zealand. Smaller scale Milford Sound that is, hehhehehee..... (Hey! I am fair ok, despite that I can be blunt and a tad too honest sometimes. Fair nonetheless).
The boat then stop at a 'fishing village/restaurant' where they would take you around and educate on some of the more 'exotic' animals (To the urbanites, exotic ler kan kan kan. Hehhehee...).
First lesson for moi was Horseshoe Crab or Belangkas in Malay (local language).
Few interesting things on Horseshoe Crab (from Wikipedia).
1. Unlike mammals, horseshoe crabs do not have hemoglobin in their blood, but instead use hemocyanin to carry oxygen. Because of the copper present in hemocyanin, their blood is blue.
2. The female can lay between 60,000–120,000 eggs in batches of a few thousand at a time. Many shore birds eat the eggs before they hatch.
3. The earliest horseshoe crab fossils are found in strata from the late Ordovician period, roughly 450 million years ago.
4. Horseshoe crabs normally swim upside down, inclined at about 30° to the horizontal and moving at about 10-15 cm/s.
Interesting huh.....
YES! The most popular spot for tourist and local alike. Eagle feeding area where it is populated by the Brahminy Kite Eagle and White Belly Sea Eagle. How do they attract the eagles? You have to go lar kan..... heheheh.... am not telling and spoil the fun. Curious cat now?
And as I thought that was it, I was brought to Gua Kelawar or a.k.a....... THE BAT CAVE. SERIOUSLY!!!!
The Kilim Karst Geoforest Park (The Kilim River)
This area actually consists of three river estuaries that stretch from the Kisap village approximately 10 km to Tanjung Rhu and they are all interconnected. They are rich in wildlife and tourists may see hairy nosed sea otters, brown winged kingfishers, monitor lizards and swimming macaque monkeys. Limestone, inherently porous, forms caves and there are several in the mangroves. One of Langkawi's natural beauty spots is the Pirate Lagoon just outside the river. Technically this is a collapsed cave (hong) consisting of a cave entrance from the sea emerging into a hidden lagoon with towering, limestone escarpments and smaller caves.
Extracted from Wikipedia.
I was given a chance to recce Kilim Geoforest Park earlier this year, the idea was to make sure it was safe and fit for my Asia Pacific delegates as most of them are CxO from their respective organization. Personally I was never excited or even keen to pay a visit here and I don't even know why (yeah, sounded cocky huh!).
This place was highly recommended by one of the senior management level in Lembaga Pembangunan Langkawi (LADA), reason being I was 'bragging' and 'show-offing' my Santorini pics and shared 'feedback' on the poor maintenance of Langkawi Cable Car. The pathway from the cable car peak station to the sky bridge to be specific.
He noted on my 'feedback' and told me he will look into this matter. Hemm..... we shall see.
Anyway, dutifully I went to visit Kilim Geoforest Park with the lowest most expectation, can't blame me right... I don't want to be dissapointed mah...
First lesson for moi was Horseshoe Crab or Belangkas in Malay (local language).
Few interesting things on Horseshoe Crab (from Wikipedia).
1. Unlike mammals, horseshoe crabs do not have hemoglobin in their blood, but instead use hemocyanin to carry oxygen. Because of the copper present in hemocyanin, their blood is blue.
2. The female can lay between 60,000–120,000 eggs in batches of a few thousand at a time. Many shore birds eat the eggs before they hatch.
3. The earliest horseshoe crab fossils are found in strata from the late Ordovician period, roughly 450 million years ago.
4. Horseshoe crabs normally swim upside down, inclined at about 30° to the horizontal and moving at about 10-15 cm/s.
Interesting huh.....
Always wanted to ride on a catamaran.... Jom!!!
The rides will also take you beneath a cave... neh! Not scary at all.
This is how the swamp looks like.... am sure you guys know about this heh.
Jeng jeng jeng...... I thought this picture was nice lar.... if you don't think so, too bad. Hahhahhaa.... The water is actually blue (Betul, tak tipu!!!), a welcoming sight since the swamp water was....errr.... swampy!?!? ie Teh Tarik in colour.
BAT BAT BAT BAT BAT... I told yah.
It's very small, so worry not... tak geli pun, jalan jek... tau tau sampai.
The rest of the pics are very educational on the trees and stones (?!).
So, should you visit Kilim Geoforest Park?
YES.... GO!
Oh yah! I told the LADA guy that I agree Kilim Geoforest Park is certainly very impressive and a worthwhile place to visit.
LR, kalau kita bermula dari Pangkalan Tg Rhu suasananya lebih menarik berbanding dari Kg Kilim...
ReplyDeleteiya ke? ler... i tak tau...ok, next time tukar arah heheheh..
ReplyDeletei visit this place in nov. 2015 , the Price now 250 for 1 h , but it's really great !!!!!!
ReplyDelete