Malacca Butterfly And Reptile Sanctuary (Part 1)

The Malacca (Melaka) Butterfly and Reptile Sanctuary (N2 17.993 E102 18.692) is located at the right just after the Ayer Keroh Toll Plaza from North South Expressway. They open everyday from 8.30am to 5.30pm. The entrance fee is MYR5.00 for adult and MYR3.00 for children and MYR10.00 (adult) & MYR5.00 (children) for foreign visitor. If you bring your camera, you gonna pay additional MYR3.00.

There were not many visitors on the day when visited this sanctuary. It's quite free to move around...

Once you enter the main entrance, you will see a big cage with Full of Colourful Parrots!


Follow by the souvenir shop...in front of the souvenir shop, there were many reptile...I believe they are belong to the Lizard family...

The entrance to the Butterfly area...

The butterfly park is rather small, and limited butterfly around...I managed to capture some of them...

Colourful butterflies at the Sanctuary

Passed by the butterfly park, we entering a cave called "Insect Area." It was dark, and I didn't manage to snap a good photo beside this one below...The Group of Scorpions.

Exiting the cave, there was a garden with nice landscape...wooden bridge and others...
I like this area...

Exit of the cave...

I can't figure out what so special about this tortoise, because they situated between this garden...maybe you can tell about it?

Visitors enjoying the green environment...

"This Crystal Rock was only discovered on 14th May 2006 at this part of the aviary - approximately 16 years after the park's officially open. Though at it's very beginning of the Crystal life, many believe that the discovery of crystal formation will bring good luck, which we sincerely hope it will spill over to all visitors that come to see it." - from the signage beside the rock.

There are few American Alligators at the right of the Crystal Rock.

American Alligators

We had a rest over here, and I noticed there are many trees have this kind of fruits (below) surround it...


I took many photos of the sanctuary, so I break it and will continue in Part 2...the next stop will be the 'Koi Garden'...

Related post :-
* Malacca Butterfly And Reptile Sanctuary (Part 2)

Location map of Malacca Butterfly & Reptile Sanctuary

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MY TRIPS - Home

1st January, 2010

Today's weather;

The first day of the new decade starts out nicely with a blue sky which is laced with clouds and a current temp at 7am of 24.2C.

As always in Thailand during one of the 3 New Years celebrations; Western, Chinese (14 February) and Thai (13-15 April), there's road carnage, this years death toll was 91 after just two days out of the 7 days that will be monitored and almost 37.5% was caused by drunk driving. Be careful out there and drive safely.

An update from last night as reported in the Nation; 77 killed in road accidents on New Year Eve, raising New Year road toll to 168. Really sad and I wonder what the carnage was like on Samui.

Yesterday saw a nice and sunny day to wave goodbye to the first decade of the 21st century. Max temp reached 29.1C.

Camille

Happy New Year 2010

Happy New Year and welcome to 2010

This is the New years best wishing card that His Majesty the King Bhumibol issued for 2010.

All the best wishes from me on Koh Samui and that 2010 may bring you love, peace and understanding.

Camille

The year 2009, looking back from a Samui info point of view

The year 2009, looking back from a Samui info point of view

Symbolicaly with a sun set picture near Big Buddha (with thanks to Richard ten Brinke) it's time to say goodbye to 2009 and the first decade of the 21st Century.

It was a productive blogging year and I posted plenty of new Samui restaurant reviews and from various places that I visited this year, amongst others Koh Tao, Phuket, Kao Lak, Surat Thani, Pattaya and Bangkok.

There were also posts about new things to do and one of the nicest ones I discovered and visited at last is the Magic Garden in the Lamai mountains and here are some posts on a culinary tour and a things to do trip around the island.

The most visited post was when the airplane crash occurred on Samui in early August with over 1.000 hits per day which in turn resulted in a PR 5 ranking for a while. Thanks to all you rubberneckers, which includes my self with some hot on the spot immediate reporting!

On a personal level there where some ups and downs including my Dad being hospitalized and being evacuated back to the Netherlands with a severe cancer form. We may go see and visit and him next year, he's struggling right now.
My son was also hospitalized for a short while with a suspected Dengue fever but luckily enough turned out to be a false alarm.
The upside was the visit of my sister and my old school friend and his family, both in August.

My professional life and hobby, diving, is well captured in the year's review on my dive blog, well worth visiting and checking out once in a while or even better, regularly.

Plenty of reviews went up on my respective Samui and Thailand hotel recommendations blogs, very helpful with hands on and personal experience tips about why I like or recommend certain hotels and resorts.

Keep visiting this and my other blogs and a Happy and Prosperous New year to all of my friends and readers and hope to see you on Koh Samui in 2010.

Camille

31st December, 2009

Today's weather;

A blue sky is shaping up on this last day of the year 2009 with a current temp of 24.7C and a forecast of a lovely first week of 2010.
A Happy New Year to all my readers, see you next year!

Yesterday saw a partly cloudy sky all day long with a max temp of 29.3C.

Camille

Goodbye to December 2009

Goodbye to December 2009

It's that time of  the month again, with just one more day to go this month and this year!

To start with the weather, it has been fantastic during this years December, very unlike how December can be but in sync with December 2007 and 2008. There was hardly any rain and lots of sunshine all Mont long with an average Dy time max temp of around 30C. Not bad at all.

It has been a fairly quiet blogging month due to my work during the December IDC and associated dive courses but I managed to get a few restaurant reviews in, Bravo Pizzeria and Pasta Station in Bang Rak, the Blue Star Mountain restaurant in the mountains of Samui, near the Magic Garden, the Bangkok restaurant in Bophud and the El Gringo 1 Mexican restaurant on Koh Tao.
Some of my favorite restaurants on Samui were also visited this months, amongst others the Picnic Basket, Sabeing Lae, Angela's Bakery, Il Mulino and had my share of monthly Indian take away from Haveli as well!

There was also a short one day trip to Phuket, where I visited in order to participate in the 2010 PADI Course Director update. In Phuket I stayed at the Case E Mare hotel in Kata beach, which is a very nice place to stay at.

I wrote reviews of Sandy Resort, a great low budget resort in Bophud and Le Murraya hotel in Chaweng on my Samui hotel recommendation blog, places and a blog to check out.

The 26th December also saw the 5th anniversary of the Indian Ocean earthquake that caused the 2004 Tsunami.

All in all a good month and I hope you enjoy reading my various blogs and thanks for stopping by and taking the time for reading my entries.

Camille

Anak Nyonya Restaurant at Jonker Street, Malacca

We love to try all the famous Nyonya food at Malacca. This time it's the turn of Anak Nyonya (Little Nyonya) Restaurant (N02 11.874 E102 14.716) located at Jonker Street, Malacca.

If I'm not mistaken, this restaurant was open after the Famous Singapore Drama Series - "Little Nyonya". (Correct me if I'm wrong). What a good marketing strategy! :)

The restaurant was rather small cause it's only can cater 5 big table and others small table and the back 'Lane'.

We found our table at the back which gave us a different dining experience! :)

Small lane behind the main hall

According to the boss, the famous drink here is the Pineapple juice. We had it double, and taste good!

Pineapple juice of Anak Nyonya Restaurant

Our order :-
1) Assam Prawn
2) Cincaluk Omelette
3) Nyonya Chap-Chai (Mixed vege)
4) Chicken Pongteh

Assam Prawn

Cincaluk Omelette

Nyonya Chap-Chai (Mixed vege)

Chicken Pongteh

Overall the food was acceptable and I love the Cincaluk Omelette! But the Assam Prawn was not fresh!! The mixed vege and the chicken were average to us...

The damage was MYR55.00 for 2 adults and 1 child. Quite expensive compare with other Nyonya Restaurant at Malacca. Maybe because it's situated at Jonker Street...

I rated : 3/5

Anak Nyonya Restaurant
88, Jalan Tokong,
75200 Malaka. (Jonker Street)
Tel/Fax : +606-2882626
Business hour 10.30am - 9.30pm (close on Wednesday)

Location map of Anak Nyonya Restaurant

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Related post :-
* Nyonya Suan Restaurant at Malacca
* Ole Sayang Nyonya Food Restaurant, Malacca (Melaka)

MY TRIPS - Home

Bangkok Restaurant, Bophud

Bangkok Restaurant, Bophud

Last night I visited the Bangkok Restaurant in Bophud with Thai friends of mine. Just in the nick of time before the current year is over.

The Bangkok restaurant is opposite Bandon Hospital, on the ring road, near Big C and is owned by Paul, a very smart entrepeneur on Samui who is also the owner of the Irish Times, an Irish pub catering to local expats, adjacent to the Bangkok restaurant and on top of that he also owns and runs Tropical Murphy's, an Irish pub in Chaweng, that together with the Islander pub must be about the most popular pubs in town since they're full on almost any day of the week. Two pubs I frequent every once in a while and still haven't made it on to my blog, since they both serve good pub grub.

Yesterday saw a very busy day in the restaurant, way above average due to the fact that the restaurant was used by various companies to celebrate their company new years party with their employees.
My Thai friends who choose the place for last nights dinner occasion like it because the food is good and they have a good live band, two things that seem to prerequisites for a night of sanuk.
(สนุก or "SANUK" means "to have fun". An important thing in everyday life is "SANUK".
Thai people love to have fun together. "SANUK" can represent many things : eat together, to be with friends and chat, to go out with friends. For Thai people "SANUK" happens with several persons. When coming back from business, Thai people often ask "was it funny ?" (สนุกไหม) before "was it successful ?", with thanks to Thaiworld view)

The band was steaming indeed and produced a couple of very popular songs, Instinct was one of the faves.

The food was also good, this dish here shows Pla Muek pad khai khem or squid with a salty egg sauce. A very nice and rich sauce indeed! Yummy.

This Pla Thot or deep fried fish also made it on to our table with a lovely sweet and sour sauce with cashew nuts.

A good night was had by all and definitely a place to go back to.

Camille

30th December, 2009

Today's weather;

A hazy sky rules over Samui this morning with plenty of blue spots. Current temp at 7am is 27.4C.

Yesterday saw a sunny day all day long with a max temp of 30C.

Camille

Mudskipper at Tanjung Piai - Johor.

We spotted about three type of different Mudskipper around the Tanjung Piai National Park.
Sometime I like to monitor the movement and the activities of the Mudskipper, but it's just too hot under the sun...:)
I don't know the type of the three mudskippers I captured below...will be appreciate if you can provide me the name of it. Thanks.



"Mudskippers are members of the subfamily Oxudercinae (tribe Periophthalmini), within the family Gobiidae (Gobies). They are completely amphibious fish, fish that can use its pectoral fins to "walk" on land.Being amphibious, they are uniquely adapted to intertidal habitats, unlike most fish in such habitats which survive the retreat of the tide by hiding under wet seaweed or in tidal pools. Mudskippers are quite active when out of water, feeding and interacting with one another, for example to defend their territories.

They are found in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions, including the Indo-Pacific and the Atlantic coast of Africa." More info at Wikipedia.

Related post :
* The Southern Most Tip of Mainland Asia - Tanjung Piai of Johor (Part 1)
* Fiddler Crab at Tanjung Piai (Cape) - Johor
* The Jetty of Tanjung Piai (Cape) - Johor (Part 2)
* Bluespotted Stingray at Tanjung Piai - Johor
* The Thrid Trail of Piai Cape (Tanjung) - Johor (Part 3)
* Bebaru Trail of Piai Cape (Tanjung) - Johor (Part 4)

MY TRIPS - Home

Old Phuket Local Life Street Festival

On Sunday evening there was another of these little-promoted local festivals in Phuket Town - although this one had been mentioned in the local news websites and judging by the number of foreigners I saw, the word had got out. In fact there are meant to be live music events regularly in the old town.

This event is organised by the Phuket Old Town Foundation, who I think do a great job of keeping the old town safe from development and making sure that Phuket keeps a sense of history despite the tourist invasion and huge developments in infrastructure are real estate in the last 15 years. Some parts of Phuket Town really do retain an old world feel, which has been helped in recent months by work to remove all overhead cables along Thalang Road. The work has now been completed and Thalang Road, along with the very quaint Soi Romanee, is looking great. I think the area looked even better at night with many small bars and restaurants and all the street stalls and entertainment for this 1 night only festival.

Part of Thalang road was closed to traffic for the night, and Soi Romanee was also made a walking street. I parked just north of Soi Romanee and headed down there first.





There was live music at the Glastnost bar - see photo above, with many people sitting outside enjoying a cold drink. I have meant to visit this bar for ages, they often play Jazz music here and my parents (who used to go to Jazz clubs back in the 60's) made friends with the owner when they visited Phuket last time.

On Thalang Road, lot of stalls selling local foods....



 

If you want to sample some local dishes, a street festival or a market such as the weekend market is a good place to find a huge variety of things to eat without having to spend more than 20 or 30 Baht for a dish. Hint - there is another fair starting this week - the Red Cross fair at Sapan Hin, in the south of Phuket Town is running until 9th January.

There was street entertainment along Thalang Road and plenty of happy faces. Festivals and markets are great for people watching and for photos - I was happy with the night photos here - taken with my EOS 20D and a 10-22mm wide angle lens with ISO set to 1600 or 3200 so no flash was needed.









At the end of the street at stage was set up with a large screen - during the time I was there, a play was being staged with actors playing roles depicting the history of Phuket (and yes there is a lot of history here). I believe later there was also some music and dancing on stage. There were VIP tables in front of the stage for Phuket's great and good.



• More photos of this festival on Facebook

The aim of this blog has always tended to show the "other side" of Phuket - not the crowded beaches or bars but the local life, the quiet spots, the places that I like to go with the family. Hope this can continue in 2010 - things get busy during high season, so sometimes I have nothing to blog except maybe adding a hotel recommendation - would be nice to have more time, but that's not possible right now. Hope to do a few things after New Year that will be of interest to everyone... or at least someone.

In the meantime, Happy New Year from Phuket!

Yearly sports event at Plai Laem

Yearly sports event at Plai Laem

The yearly New years sports event in Plai Laem is in full swing. Since early morning various sport events have been held in front of Plai Laem temple. This years event is a few days early in contrast to last years event which was held on the 31st December.

The announcement that this years event is to have the yearly sporting events, share food and have fun together.

One of the sports on the menu today is takraw aka sepak takraw.

The football and run track in front of the temple. There was only the takraw game on since it's just before 2pm local time, about the warmest part of the day and everybody is looking for shelter in the shade!

A good event and fun to watch.

Camille