Interesting Place at Kedah: Titi Hayun Recreational Forest

Titi Hayun Recreational Forest is located on the western slope of Gunung Jerai, Kedah. It can be visited through Yan town. Titi Hayun is a lowland dipterocarp forest located at an elevation of between 200 to 300 meters above sea level.

The recreational forest got its name from the suspension bridge nearby which leads to the starting point of the steps to the peak of Gunung Jerai , known as Tangga Kenari Seribu Tahun (Appliances Kenari Year 1000) . 
The trails route was made of concrete stairs at a distance of  4793 metres to Gunung Jerai Resort with 1,334 total number of stairs:
               
                  ( 1st Level : 1162 stairs/ 2nd Level : 30 stairs/ 3rd Level: 142 stairs) 

It is the longest  and most stairs in the forest ever built  that is human in mutual, triggered by an idea of  the former Chief Minister of Kedah,Tan Sri Dato 'Sri Sanusi Junid in his aims to promote nature-based tourism industry on May 5, 1997.

Uniquely, the stairway was built without involving the cutting of trees along the route of the timber. Appliances Kenari is also often used as a training "Jungle Trekking" by secondary schools and training centers to encourage cultural motivation to climb hills fitness and recreation and to inculcate the spirit of  love for nature God.

As for visitors who like challenges,  Appliances Kenari Year 1000 is an interesting place to try. Trail that berliku-Prabowo and is in the path of reaching more than 45 degrees is very challenging and physical energy mental fatigue and difficulty this may not be felt because of the beauty of  flora and fauna along the trail is very fascinating.

The route to Titi Hayun Recreational Forest passes through fruit orchards and kampung houses. The name Titi Hayun means "swaying bridge". It got its name from a suspension bridge located near the place. Visitors to Titi Hayun can make a one-kilometer track in the jungle to visit the Puteri Mandi Waterfall.

Interesting Place at Kedah : Ulu Legong Hot Spring at Baling

Map to Ulu Legong Hot Spring

Visitors will be able to experience firsthand the relaxing and calming nature of a natural hot spring, surrounded by mountains. This centre also offers a challenging path for jungle trekking through Lata Gating and Lata Parit, and stunning scenery to boot, that will mentally and physically challenge any individual.
The centre is a 24 hour operation equipped with its own accommodation. This is in line with the tourism ministry’s objective to increase the tourist influx into Malaysia.

Whether a nice accommodation or challenging activity is desired, this recreational center caters to all needs.

Interesting Place at Kedah: Langkawi Island

Langkawi island is an archipelago of 104 islands lying in the north western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The exact location of these tropical islands is at the site where the Straits of Malacca meets the waters of the Andaman Seas.

The largest of these islands is called Langkawi Island and is bigger than the Penang Island.The other islands in this group are Island of Pregnant Maiden (Pulau Dayang Bunting), Lion Island (Pulau Singa Besar) and Beras Basah Island.The smallest of these islands are atolls roughly the size of an ordinary house!

Langkawi is coined from the Malay words Lang and Kawi. Lang is a brown eagle and Kawi is a local manganese stone.The ancient fishermen must have seen eagles flying clutching the manganese stones! A giant monument of a brown eagle clutching the manganese stone greets all visitors to Langkawi near the Kuah Jetty.

The main tourist attractions of Langkawi Island is its virgin white sandy beaches.The beaches have very gentle continental slope and the water is crystal clear.

This island is unique in the sense that it has so many legendsand myths associated with it.Langkawi Island is therefore also called Pulau Lagenda or Legendary Island.

The most talked about legend is that of Mahsuri who is said to have laid a curse on this island for seven generations.Luckily the period of this curse is over now and Langkawi Island is fast becoming an internationally recognised tourist destination.

The government of Malaysia has declared the entire Langkawi Island as a duty free zone. Hence this island is also termed Duty Free Island.All goods sold in this island are exempted from government tax.Therefore this Legendary Island is a haven for the shoppers.You only need to stay in Langkawi for a minimum of 48 hours to take back home a reasonable amount of tax free goods. 

For more info on Langkawi Island CLICK HERE 

Kedah Best Cuisine!

A very delicious LAKSA DELIGHT AT KEDAH :)

Laksa Ingredients

1 Large Chicken Breast (frozen)
1 440 Gram Can of Coconut Milk (or 14 Fl Oz)
1 1/2 Cups of Chicken Stock
1 Packet of Asian Home Gourmet Singapore Laksa Paste
Vegetable Oil
1 Packet of Thai Rice Noodles (or any noodles will do - see noodle variations below).
Serves - 2 people 

 

Step 1 - Prepare And Stir Fry Chicken

 

Allow chicken to thaw slightly then slice chicken into wafer thin bite size pieces with a sharp knife. By the time you are ready to stir fry, the chicken will be thawed. I recommend cutting it while semi frozen because it's easier to get that wafer thin effect.
Add a splash of oil to a hot wok and stir fry chicken until cooked. I stir fry the chicken in three separate lots so the chicken cooks quickly and does not get too much water in it.
Set aside chicken and turn heat off temporarily.

Step 2 - Boil Water For Noodles and Stir Fry The Laksa Paste

 

Fill your kettle with water and boil. (You will use this boiling water to soak the Rice Noodles).
Add 1 tablespoon of oil (vegetable) to the wok, and stir fry the paste for about 2 minutes. This releases all the flavours of the Laksa Paste. Leave your stove heat on low while you do this as you do not want the paste to burn.
Add the can of coconut milk to the wok, mixing in the paste, and bring it to the boil. As soon as it boils, add 1 1/2 cups of chicken stock and bring to boil again. As soon as it boils, turn down to a low heat and let it simmer for ten minutes.
Grab a large bowl, empty the contents of your Rice Noodles into it and pour kettle of boiling water over the noodles. Add more boiling water if you need to. The rice noodles will soften. You can also use a fork to separate them. When ten minutes is up, strain the noodles and set aside to serve.

 

Step 3 - Serve Your Laksa

 

A minute or two before the ten minutes simmering has expired on your Laksa soup, throw the chicken into the soup to warm it. Increase the temperature if you need to, to heat the chicken through.
Grab some bowls, half fill your bowl with rice noodles, and then spoon over as much Laksa and chicken over the noodles as you think you'll eat. I suggest serving in smaller quantities as soup can cool before you get to the end of a big bowl. You can always top up your serving if you need more.

 

Vegetable Additions To Laksa

 

I've added Bok Choi to Laksa and it's delicious. Just finely chop a bunch and throw it into the soup a minute or two before serving.
You can also add snow peas or any vegetable you enjoy.
Mostly I keep mine plain and simple as it's very tasty without vegetables.

HAVE A TRY :)

Interesting Place at Kedah : Pekan Rabu

INTRODUCTION

"Pekan Rabu" which literally means Wednesday Market which is located in the middle of Alor Setar is well known among the local population and tourists from outside Kedah. The business complex is not only the pride of Malay entreprenuers in Kedah but also the pride of all Malay's in Kedah. Moreover the fourth Malaysian Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir, once was a trader in Pekan Rabu. Most tourists visiting Alor Setar make it a point to shop around at the Pekan Rabu Complex.

The complex costing RM 3.2 millions and was built in 1975 and renovated in 1995 with cost RM 6.5 millions. Phase 2 complex was built in 1990 with cost RM 2 millions. Pekan Rabu complex has  347 stalls with a variety of business and it has become one of the important landmarks of Alor Setar.

This shopping Complex which is situated in Jalan Tunku Ibrahim was officially opened on 25th. February 1978. Prior to the construction of this complex, the traders did their business in on open building with no walls and trading stalls were not properly arranged and scattered.

HISTORY

Pekan Rabu has its own unique history regarding its role in encouraging the Malays to take an active role in commercial activities.

Commercial activity at Pekan Rabu began after world War I on the initiative of Tunku Yaakob, a prince from the royal household Kedah, Whose aim was to see that the Malays can continue in trade in Alor Setar. It started as a weekly market in Tanjung Chali, situated between Jalan Pekan Cina and Jalan Pengkalan Kapal.

Tanjung Chali was the training groung for Malays in business. Tunku Yaakob pioneered this market to be a weekly market on every Wednesday in the early 1920s. This weekly market soon evolved into a daily market when business started to prosper. The State Government then decided to shift the market to it's present location in 1932 when it was obvious that the site was getting congested.

During the Japanese Occupation, Tun Dr. Mahathir studies were interrupted and he switch to trading at Pekan Rabu which has now become a compulsory stop in his annual Ramadhan pilgrimage to Alor Setar. Many years has passed since then and the boy who used to sell fruits and handicraft at Pekan Rabu is now Malaysia’s biggest “salesman” on the international stages.

Pekan Rabu is now open not just on Wednesday, but every day. From is humble beginning weekly market operating from an attap roofed shack, it has since expanded into a multistory arcade selling a wide range of from traditional delicacies like dodol durian to mengkuang mats and apparel. 

TYPE OF BUSINESS

In principal Pekan Rabu is a trading place for Malay entrepreneurs. One has to become a member of the Pekan Rabu Cooperative in order to rent a stall in Pekan Rabu. The rental rates are between RM90 - RM300 monthly.

Various types of commercial activities are conducted in Pekan Rabu, ranging from local products to international commence. Opening hours are from 8.00 am to 9.00 pm daily and stalls remain open even on public holidays and festivals.

Click Here for Songkok Tun a big hit at Alor Star’s Pekan Rabu

 

 

 

Jelapang Padi State

The state of Kedah Darul Aman is a land of unique natural beauty, surrounded by the greenery of paddy fields, rolling hills  and clear blue skies.  Located 410 kilometers from Kuala Lumpur, in the northwest of the Peninsular, it shares a common border with Thailand.    

 

Kedah covers an area of 9,425 sq.km, and its highest peak is Gunung Gerai. The state capital of Kedah is Alor Setar which was officially declared as a city on 28th November 2003. The state has eleven main districts – Kota Setar, Baling, Kubang Pasu, Kuala Muda, Bandar Bharu, Kulim, Langkawi, Padang Terap, Sik, Yan and Pendang. The state’s population in 2003 was estimated to be 1.7 million people  

 Paddy Field

Kedah is the oldest state in Malaysia with a history that dates back to the 5^th century AD.  During ancient times, it was a famous trading centre for merchants from as far as China, Middle East and India.  Since 1958, Kedah has been ruled by the Sultan of Kedah, Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah whose royal lineage can be traced to Sultan Mudzafar Shah in 1136. Currently, under the state government, its Chief Minister is Dato’ Hj. Mahdzir bin Khalid.  

  Known as the ‘rice-bowl’ of Malaysia, Kedah produces one third of Malaysia’s rice production and is primarily an agricultural state.  However, efforts have been made to diversify its economy in terms of tourism (Langkawi, Pedu Lake etc) and industry (automotive, aerospace, Kulim Hi-Tech Park).  

Kedah has many interesting places for visitors to enjoy besides the tranquility and serenity of paddy fields stretching into the horizon. The most famous of these attractions is the legendary Langkawi Island which has been rated as one of the most beautiful islands in the world.  It is host to international events such as the Le Tour de Langkawi and Langkawi International Maritime Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA ).

Universiti Utara Malaysia is located in Sintok, which is about 50km north of Alor Setar.