Things To Do in Cape Rachado/Tanjung Tuan, Port Dickson (PD)

Did you know that Port Dickson's popular Rumah Api Tanjung Tuan or Cape Rachado Lighthouse ("Broken Cape" in Portuguese) is administered by the state of Melaka/Malacca and located in Negeri Sembilan. Strange, I know. 

I asked the guy at the entrance on 'why and how come' but he have no definite answer. My own conclusion is simple, the lighthouse is one of the oldest in Malaysia, dating as far back as 16th century or during the period when Portuguese rule Melaka. In fact it is named after the naval battle between the Dutch VOC and Portuguese fleets - Battle of Cape Rachado in 1606, during Melaka golden era. Hence...

As Farah of ThatSoFarah and I start walking around at the entrance to snap some photos, guess what we saw? An interesting signage or map, we were beyond surprise after reading it, our first thought was...

"How come I didn't know about this?"
"We need to check it out!"
"How do you know it is his foot print?"
"We must share this great information....!"

Curious to know what was this "brand new information"???

Check out item No 5 - Tapak Kaki Hang Tuah/Hang Tuah Foot Print. Wouldn't you be curious and eager to know? Well, we did! Since we were there at noon and there were barely any people, we told the guy that if were not back in 3 hours, send a rescue team (kiasu!). We even took his number, smart heh! 

Yeah, you need 2-3 hours to cover the Tanjung Tuan/Cape Rachado Geological Heritage site.

800 meters of slope walk.

After 10-15mins walk (read : uphill crawl), this site welcomes us. Finally.

Tanjung Tuan/Cape Rachado information.

The lighthouse was built in 1817 and the present lighthouse was constructed in 1863. It is believed that Parameswara, the first sultan of Melaka was buried at Tanjung Tuan. Legend says that he was buried beneath this lighthouse and that there was also a tunnel leading to the sea. This create more curiosity to Farah and I (Indian Jones sangat, hehehheeee...).

The view was beautiful and the water was clear. Surprisingly.

We decide to look for the Tapak Kaki Hang Tuah or Hang Tuah Foot Print. 'Foot print' as in where his first landed or start, not his actual foot print :)

Perigi Belanda or Dutch Well is the first site we passed by, it is a good 15-20mins walk from the lighthouse. This Perigi Belanda was used by the Dutch as their main water source for drinking.

This was the highlight of the walk before reaching Tapak Kaki Hang Tuah.

We managed to find the next site - Perigi Keramat or Mystical Well. I saw some prayer stick and stuff for rituals. Oh well....

3 different steps leading to 3 different area and we were not sure which one leading to Tapak Kaki Hang Tuah (the Hang Tuag Foot Print) from here. Hemm.... this is not good (as we were running short of time, our 3 hours were almost up). Then I decided to peep over the boulder and saw what looked like the picture in the signage we took earlier - the foot print. Yeay! Dah jumpa!

The hole (lekuk) is known to be the Tapak Kaki Hang Tuah /Hang Tuah Foot Print. Tuh aje, gigih dak!

Ending our quest (hike je actually) :)

 A long climb back.

Cape Rachado (Tanjung Tuan) Lighthouse

Entrance Fee : RM1.00

Address : Rumah Api, Tanjung Tuan, 78200 Alor Gajah

How to get there by public transport

1. Take KTM train from KL Sentral to Seremban (between 1.5 - 2 hours ride)

2. Take the bus from Seremban town to Port Dickson town (approximately 1 hour ride)

3. Take the bus from Port Dickson town to Tanjung Tuan (Stop at Jalan Pantai)

4. Walk from Jalan Pantai to Hutan Rekreasi Tanjung Tuan/Tanjung Tuan Recreational Park (45mins walk)

#VMY2014 Bucket List (Tagging game)

Farah from ThatSoFarah tagged me to #VMY2014 Bucket List where I need to share my list of places I wish to rediscover in Malaysia, and I figure why not right? Let's make this #VMY2014 Bucket List  go viral...

Here goes...
 

1. Gua Kelam, Perlis

My memories and knowledge of Perlis is Kuala Perlis jetty to Langkawi. Period.
I shall make it a mission of mine to rediscover my own country and Perlis shall be my super duper top most priority (tuh dia.... kiasu dak? Eh, tetibe loghat utara lak). And Gua Kelam Recreational Park is a must, I wan to experience 'cave walking' (ada pacat dak? ada dak?) whereby I can enter from one end and exit on the other side (then cam na nak ambek kereta? hemmm...).

Source from Visit Malaysia Year.

2. Sipadan, Sabah

Since I have taken my diving license last year, this have been my dream (not that I am any good a diver or anything, but still... hahhahaha). The fact is, I want be here, take beautiful photos and jump into the water, let it be snorkeling, diving or just kuis-kuis air di tepian. Janji pergi, gitewww...

Malaysia have one of the most beautiful islands and diving sites that should be shouted out loud internationally and it must start from us, Malaysia. Country Ambassador!

Source from Cuti.my

3. Pulau Tiga, Sabah

Survivor Island. Titik.
This is where they shot the survivor reality show and I am curious, curious to "bercanda" in volcano mud pool, see those big monitor lizards and enjoy the serene beach. Wouldn't you?

I think I need to do my research thoroughly though as I hardly see it being mention in friends' bucket list. Mana nak korek info nih...

Source from Impressions.com

4. Taman Negara, Pahang

Have been in my list since.... like forever. dreaming of the boat ride, canopy walk, cave exploration and whatever they have to offer. Who in Malaysia that doesn't have Taman Negara in their travel bucket list right? It is the oldest tropical rainforest in the world, its 130 million years old, older than the Amazon! Confirm seantero Malaysia sure semua nak pergi kan kan kan...?!

So, jom kengkawan!

Source from Wikimapia.com

5. Pesta Benak, Sarawak

Ahhh..... Curious right? What is Pesta Benak?
Pesta Benak celebrated in Sri Aman is one of Sarawak's iconic event - a tidal bore event. Tidal bore is a tidal phenomenon in which the leading edge of the incoming tide forms a waves of water that travels up a river. Activities during this festival include longboat paddling competition, tidal bore surfing, water sports, food and trade fair.

Source from Borneo Tourism

6. Kelong Stay, Selangor

I don't know why but yes, I want to stay here even for a night. To wake up in the morning in the middle of nowhere, to eat freshly caught fish, to see sunset and sunrise from every angle. It is a Kelong stay located in Sabak Bernam. Who even know this place exist?

Kelong Paradise Waterfront Resort (Sabak Bernam)

Suite 838, Level 8, Block A, Lobby B, Kelana Centre Point, No. 3, Jalan SS7/19, Kelana Jaya
Mobile : (+6) 017 264 5315 / (+6) 012 655 7280 / (+6) 013 271 9481

Siapa sudi teman I?

Source from Infonet2u

That's all for now. Let's start out #VMY2014 roadtrip!

And I am tagging #TravelholicAwesome group, click HERE to see the group's blog.

Kelantan's Lost Craft - Wau-maker (Kite-maker)

“Ewa ewa… Wau Bule (Bulan)

Wau Bule (Bulan) teraju tigo

Ooo..

Maaf la cik sedaro-daro ini male...

Hok saloh silap sedaro jge sipe taroh dale dado...”

That’s how famous the Kelantan Wau Bulan (Moon-kite) is, there’s even a song dedicated to it. It symbolizes Malaysia aside from Keris (the Malay dagger) and Bunga Raya (Hibiscus). Kelantan’s pride and joy (and it’s our Malaysia Airlines’ logo as well *smile*).

I did a weekend trip with Andrea Gail early this year where we stayed at Pasir Belanda (click HERE for more info) and Adam Eben promised to take us around Kota Bahru, being ignorant of Kota Bahru and having only 2 full days there; we decide to prioritize the activities specific to the must-visit-attractions (kononnya). We told Adam that he must find out how to get to a Wau-Maker place, Pak Shafie specifically. Hahhahaha… not easy apparently. Sorry Adam!

We start our day with a single mission, to look for the famous Kelantan Wau-Maker – Pak Shafie, we drove all the way to Pantai Cahaya Bulan not finding it (Ops! Sesat barat berbagai. Siap tangkap gambar tepi pantai, minum air kelapa , lepak-lepak lagi….). We stopped here and there, asked a few locals and finally found where Pak Shafie lives; a small looking home full of waus, big waus, many big waus.

Pak Shafie was awarded the Adiguru Aneka Kraf in 2006 for wau-making skill. At age 10, Pak Shafie paid a close interest in wau-making, observed from wau sifus (subject matter expert). He was able to make a small living with this special skill, later Pak Shafie participated in kite competition in Kelantan and that was the big turning point; he was noticed by foreign tourist in which kick-started his fame. He was interviewed by national medias as well as showcased his artwork in Australia, German, Maldives, Melbourne and Japan by collaborating with MAS (Malaysia Airlines).

Wau, often decorated in vivid floral patterns, shaped in crescent moon, bigger than the average kite, a wau will rule and roar beautifully up in the sky. The most famous wau known is Wau Bulan, but the truth is, there is few others that shared the same rank such as  Wau Merak (Peacock-kite), Wau Kucing (Cat-kite), Wau Puyuh (Quail-kite), Wau Jalabudi (“Budi” leaf-kite) among others. It is said that Wau Bulan originated from Sriwijaya Kingdom and was used by Prince Dewa Muda, it’s patterns represents the map of the area conquered by the Kingdom.

I also found information stating that there was a plan to build a Wau Museum unfortunately unable to find further information, meanwhile, for those kite enthusiast or interested to know more and at the same time wanted to experience the wau competition, head down to Kelantan this May 2014 (please recheck and reconfirm the details with Tourism Malaysia closer to the event date).

Direction

Venue    : Shafie Bin Jusoh Home (Pak Shafie, a Wau-maker)

Address : On the road leading to Pantai Cahaya Bulan, near the police station

GPS        : N 06' 10' 35.8", E 102' 15' 13.2"

Event

Date      : 28 - 31 May 2014

Venue   : Pantai Geting Tumpat, Kelantan.

Link        : Visit MalaysiaYear 2014

Others  : Base on 2013 participation, there would be approximately 47 participants from 18 countries (Indonesia, Sweden, China, Brunei, France, Germany, Cambodia, Italy, New Zealand, Philippines, Australia, Belgium, Thailand, Singapore, USA, Nepal, Japan and India) and 119 local entries.

Competition categories

1.National-level traditional kite-raising

2.National-level traditional kite art

3.National-level traditional kite construction and raising workshops (4 days)

4.National-level Kite Open

5.PBT & National Clubs Kite Open

6.Government/Private/Clubs & International Open

7.Kelantan state University level traditional kite

8.Kelantan state Secondary School level traditional kite

9.International level

Wau, wowed us!