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A Visit to Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Centre
A day after I returned back in KL from Siem Reap, I decided to pay a visit to 1 of the prime eco-tourism attractions in Malaysia, the Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre (officially spelled with British English). Located in "Lanchang", a small town in "Temerloh District" in the state of Pahang, the Elephant conservation center was established by the Malaysian Department of Wildlife and National Parks in year 1989 within the "Krau Wildlife Reserve" as a sanctuary for the endangered Elephants where they will be taken care and receive shelter after they were found and rescued by the Elephant Relocation Team from their gradually lost original habitat. This trip report is a continuation of my last trip report, A Christmas Holiday In Enchanting Siem Reap.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...740c860e75.jpg * * * December 28, 2019 in Siem Reap DAY 4 It was my last day in Siem Reap and I will be taking the early morning flight back to Kuala Lumpur. Mr Fari arrived in the hotel to pick me up for the airport at 6am. The journey from hotel to the airport was around 10 minutes. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f9e32a4378.jpg Arrived in the airport. I waved goodbye and thanks to Mr Fari for the last time. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...ec59412b54.jpg As I had done the online check-in and printed my boarding pass from Air Asia's website, I thought I should just proceed to the boarding gate in the airside. When I tried to scan my printed boarding pass to enter the airside, the airport staff on duty told me that the boarding pass was not valid and I should get the "real" one in the check-in counter. Air Asia has advised us that not all airports will accept the printed version of boarding pass (the 1 that we can print directly from the airlines' website). https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5e26afa7b3.jpg So, I had to walk to 1 of Air Asia's check-in counters and join the long queue. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6e6b929420.jpg Received my boarding pass and entered the airside with some duty-free shops available along the way. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c45a1fc570.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...549b5a0592.jpg Today, my flight will be departed from Gate 5. The gate turned from almost deserted to very crowded within only few minutes. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0fefd904ac.jpg I decided to seat in this area instead. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...db89dd3288.jpg More empty seats with more privacy for sure. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a46d2efb8a.jpg Soon, an announcement was made by the gate agent to inform passengers that Air Asia flight AK543 with destination Kuala Lumpur now ready for boarding. |
Airline: Air Asia
Flight: AK543 Aircraft: A320 Origin: Siem Reap Destination: Kuala Lumpur ETD: 08:30 AM ETA: 11:45 AM Boarding started at 7:50am and passengers were called to board the aircraft based on their respective row. Just like the outbound flight, the boarding process for this flight was done in an efficient and organized way. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6c0b7644f3.jpg Looking to the Siem Reap International Airport terminal for the last time. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f02bc6ea83.jpg Besides Air Asia, all other planes on the apron belonged to local Cambodian carriers. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...2733cdc5f8.jpg Cambodia Angkor Air. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...49e016a3c6.jpg JC International Airlines and at the most end is Lanmei Airlines. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7f9522cdb1.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...9010fee14d.jpg Many passengers took the opportunity to take photos infront of the plane. Some of them even asked the ramp agent to become their photographer! https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...22f1fd1715.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...23629de4be.jpg Our plane just came from Kuala Lumpur and will return back there within a short turnaround time. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c9a4f73521.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5c10fa5715.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...891533dcaa.jpg Onboard the plane. I stuck in 25E, which was a middle seat. It seemed like a very full flight with every seat in the cabin was taken. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...43734f8776.jpg Once the boarding was completed, the plane started to push back and the safety demo began. The instruction for the safety demo was done manually by the lead steward rather than the usual pre-recorded voice. Since there was no other planes that occupied the taxi/runway, our plane made a quick taxi before took off from the ground. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6b78c1c7d8.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...11f3376b8c.jpg Cabin service began about 10 minutes after take off. As I didnt purchase the inflight meals for this flight in advance, I had to wait until the crew finished distributing all the pre-ordered meals before I can buy something from the menu. I bought myself the "Nasi Lemak Goreng", a Mineral water and Vietnamese Iced-Coffee. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...cce9f42448.jpg The Nasi Lemak Goreng is basically the same "Pak Nasser Nasi Lemak", but it comes with Fried Rice instead of the usual White Rice. I preferred the regular Pak Nasser Nasi Lemak instead of the fried version though. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...80756f8eb2.jpg It was a smooth and uneventful flight. We landed in KLIA2 15 minutes ahead of our ETA. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...04ee73a996.jpg Spotted an Indigo plane. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3b7230d12e.jpg There was a huge crowd in the immigration arrival area. Must be a nightmare for the arriving passengers and officers on duty. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...fa6fbd9f62.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...ea8341a296.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b4e2748f32.jpg As a Malaysian passport holder, I was so lucky that I can avoid the crowd and hustle by using the autogate. There was no luggage for me to collect, so I went straight to the landside and went down to the KLIA2 bus station which located in lower ground floor. The bus ticket can be purchased in any of these counters. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a6bcdc0c1e.jpg Onboard the bus from KLIA2 to KL Sentral. The journey took about 30 minutes. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c2764577a9.jpg The view along the way. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a8095af903.jpg |
December 29, 2019.
The next day, I went to the Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Centre with my parents. It had been such a long time I wanted to visit this attraction, but due to a time constraint, I couldnt find a perfect timing to do so. Although the conservation center is located in the state of Pahang, it takes only 2 hours drive to reach this place from downtown Kuala Lumpur via the "East Coast Expressway". Tourists in KL can arrange a transport with their tour agency or hotel to visit this place. Alternatively you also can come here by riding a taxi, Grab or renting a car. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b1761d73eb.jpg It was a smooth ride on a Sunday morning. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...746bff344d.jpg From the main highway, get off at Exit 816 Lanchang/Raub/Kuala Lipis and then just follow the signboards for Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Centre which clearly marked in Brown color. You will go through a small road and pass some villages and jungle before reaching the conservation center. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...aac8444c2a.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...10af549f64.jpg Arrived in Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Centre. Ample parking space is available for visitors. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...28813cef8f.jpg When you have arrived in the conservation center, please proceed to the registration lobby where you will be given a form to fill up your details (and your companions) such as name, address, ID/passport number before you will be received the entrance pass and sticker. There is absolutely NO entrance fee to enter the conservation center but donations are encouraged and highly appreciated. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...40110ca4a1.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0e2775183b.jpg The entrance sticker. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...9c7032d06a.jpg After we registered and received the entrance pass, we entered into this room where a documentary about the Elephant relocation process from their original habitat to the conservation center was played on the projector screen. The documentary video will be played several times in a day and you may check its schedule with the staff on duty. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...95519e7902.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...cfcb13d57e.jpg After watching the video, we went to the Interpretive Center where several interesting info and objects relating to this tame, giant creature were on display. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...303425c37e.jpg Now, time to get close with the real Elephants in person! From the Interpretive Center, you just need to follow this well-built walkway to go to the area where all Elephants are located. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...9d695ab84c.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...98d3e589b1.jpg We reached into this area where some Elephants were kept inside a huge enclosure covered with roof. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d171af0470.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...316ee335d0.jpg In this area, visitors are allowed to touch and feed the Elephants with the specific foods provided by the conservation center. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e8a63fbb90.jpg The foods are available for purchase. Besides Peanuts, you can also purchase Sugar Canes and Bananas. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f41092340d.jpg Feeding Peanuts to the Elephants. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c6f406133b.jpg Visitors are reminded to do not playing around or acting silly while feeding the Elephants as this can affect their emotions. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...1eea24b1ab.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...49068709e6.jpg After feeding the Elephants in the enclosure, we moved to an open area where some Elephants were moving freely in a much wider space. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e0b23293b4.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3b35b858f4.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e710af593b.jpg Visitors able to touch and feeding the Elephants in this area too. So dont forget to keep some balance from the foods that you bought for them. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f40c5978e7.jpg They are so friendly and calm towards visitors. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...28a649dbf7.jpg There is a high stage for visitors to get a wider view of the conservation center where they will be greeted by the Elephants from below. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5dc8bfc3b1.jpg The Elephants that occupied Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Centre are from "Asian Elephant" species also known as "Elephas Maximus" which were found in their habitat critically injured and had extremely low chance to survive in the wild on their own. They will be kept in the conservation center until they fully recovered and strong enough to be released into the jungle again, mostly to "Taman Negara", Malaysia's national park. It is estimated that less than 2000 Asian Elephants still left in Malaysia. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...61999fd23f.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...9c103923a4.jpg Looks like they are smiling when greeting the visitors! https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...208ee4feec.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...4fe373fd3d.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...373fce0969.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e07673350f.jpg This 1 tried to touch everyone's feet. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3c2c4b49df.jpg |
Then, it was the Elephants bathing time. The Elephants will be guided by their "mahout" to the conservation center's river where they will be washed. The bathing session will take place 2 times in a day from Monday-Thursday and once a day from Friday-Sunday. Visitors can also register themselves if they would like to bathing with the cute Elephants.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7698b480e8.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...ebdb00ac56.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...400a2a5151.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...656c52698a.jpg Visitors watching the Elephants bathing session from the river banks. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...55c89c91fd.jpg The Elephants arrived in the river with their mahouts. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...97b3bbb8ac.jpg Then, the bathing session begins. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7add0b8ed5.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...84fab2bae9.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d0d5c293f3.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d7e6f21870.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7466dfde80.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e65f260f75.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3a382e1308.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3c52845a37.jpg After they have been cleaned up, the Elephants will leave the river with their mahouts and return back to the covered enclosure or the wide, open space area. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b47345a0a3.jpg Bye! https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b296536d32.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...04f22c588e.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...663dfe566b.jpg The schedule of all activities and programs in the conservation center can be found online or at the center's registration counter. Visitors can hire a guide (with some fee) or explore the place on their own according to their preference. As this is a wild animal conservation center, there will be no commercial activities involving the Elephants such as Elephant Ride, Circus, etc available for visitors. Before leaving, my parents and I went to the souvenirs shop to buy some gifts and merchandises. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a49108300c.jpg |
After we left the Deerland, we dropped by in this 1 small stall located at the left side of the road.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d25ce7bcb0.jpg I bought "Cendol" with Corn topping. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...dafb81099e.jpg We were back in the main highway and went up to Temerloh. The sole reason for us to come here was to have our lunch with the most famous dish in this municipality, "Gulai Patin Tempoyak". There are many stalls and restaurants in Temerloh that serve this dish. 1 of our relatives suggested us to try the Gulai Patin Tempoyak in "Kancil Raja Patin" restaurant which located in a secluded village and next to the "Pahang River". https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...49da962184.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d2d5f1c85f.jpg The restaurant is located just next to the Pahang River, the longest river in Peninsular Malaysia. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...63f8539306.jpg Fish and Prawns that caught from the river were kept in these cages. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...bb841b0e98.jpg The Gulai Patin Tempoyak is 1 of the iconic dishes for the state of Pahang and it is said that Temerloh is the place where you can get the most authentic version of it as the fish cooked in the dish were freshly caught from the river. The Patin fish (Silver Catfish) was cooked in the Tempoyak-based (a condiment made from fermented Durian flesh) broth which tasted sweet & spicy flavor. Besides Patin fish, you also can use Prawns, Crabs or Chickens to cook Gulai Tempoyak. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f9ff5c7f50.jpg We also had a "Pais", a dry version of Gulai Patin Tempoyak where the fish was covered with Tempoyak and then grilled on the kitchen. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a8ea3e210b.jpg Besides Gulai Patin Tempoyak, this restaurant also serves other typical Malay-kampung dishes such as these giant fresh water Prawns that cooked in Turmeric & Coconut Milk. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0139b1b800.jpg After luncheon, we left Temerloh and headed back to our home. Thank you for reading my short trip report of our visit to the state of Pahang. Feel free to read my other trip reports: To The Paradise With Malindo Air Discover Port Dickson-The Army Town of Malaysia Discover Penang-The Pearl of the Orient Discover Lumut-The Navy Town of Malaysia A Year-End Family Trip to Krabi with Air Asia 4 Days & 3 Nights in Jeju Island A Christmas Holiday In Enchanting Siem Reap |
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