Railway Tourism in Peninsular Malaysia

Almost every state in Peninsular Malaysia are connected with railway which operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB). In the West Coast its started from Padang Besar, Perlis in the Northern Border with Thailand and ended in Johor Bahru, Johor in South border with Singapore. The railway line continue until Woodlands Station in Singapore, previously until Tanjung Pagar Station. For East Coast, railway line started from Gemas, Negeri Sembilan until Tumpat, Kelantan.

Places of interest in Kedah.

Railway line in Peninsular Malaysia running through city, rural area, deep forest and plantation area including oil palm trees, rubber estate and paddy field.There are several places of interest can be reach using the train. For some other places, another public transport which can be found near railway station can be used.

A scenic view of paddy field as the train running through.

There are two categories of train, which are passenger train and freight train. Passenger train running from Southern boundary with Singapore to both West Coast and East Coast line, including daily international express train from Butterworh to Bangkok. Freight train is a famous cargo transportation from/to port in Peninsular Malaysia such as Port Klang in Selangor and Butterworth Port in Penang.

Freight train, among popular cargo transportation.

Most of the railway in Malaysia today still using single track which is used for both up and down train except railway line from Ipoh to Seremban which was upgraded to electrified double track. For single track, key token is used for train to enter the block section between two station. This means only one train can occupy the line between two station to avoid trains coming from both direction.

Token handing over- present system for train block section.

Malaysian government are now in the progress to upgrade the existing single track to double track electrified railway line in Peninsular Malaysia. Railway line between Ipoh to Padang Besar and from Seremban to Gemas are now in the progress of the upgrading which involved multi billion ringgit cost.

Electrified double track project in progress.

Lion - Singa

King of the beast.

Common name: Lion, Singa.

Scientific name: Panthera leo.

Lion is second largest cat after the Tiger. Some males can exceed 250kg in weight, lions are among the living predator in Africa and Asia. Today, they are also categorized as an endangered species.

Most of the males have mane that can make them look bigger and protect their throat from the claws and teeth of other males.

Male lion can spends 22 hours from their day for resting and sleeping!

Kuala Lumpur Tower - Menara Kuala Lumpur

Menara Kuala Lumpur - KL Tower - View from the ground.

Kuala Lumpur Tower is the tallest telecommunication and broadcasting tower in Malaysia, seventh in the world. Located in Bukit Nanas, Kuala Lumpur, total height for this tower is 421m. This tower was officially open in 1996. Construction works started in 1991 and completed in 1994.

It is surrounded by the oldest rain forest in Kuala Lumpur which special cares was taken during construction of this tower to avoid harming the forest including a 100-year old Jelutong tree (Dyera costulata) which can be found near the parking area.

Kuala Lumpur Tower is a famous destination for local and foreign tourist, which consist a 360 degrees panorama view at the observation platform which located at 276m height and a revolving restaturant. Other than that, there are fun activities at the ground level including pony ride, mini zoo, 3D theater room and Malaysian traditional house exhibition.

Menara Berkembar Petronas.
Petronas Twin Tower - Kuala Lumpur City Center - View from KL Tower observation platform.

Masjid Negara, Menara Dayabumi dan ibu pejabat Pos Malaysia.
National Mosque, Dayabumi Tower and Pos Malaysia headquarter - View from KL Tower observation platform.

Menara Maybank - Maybank Tower - View from KL Tower observation platform.

Skycrappers in Kuala Lumpur - View from KL Tower observation platform.

Malayan Tiger - Harimau Belang

Malayan Tiger - Harimau Belang (Panthera tigris jacksoni)

Malayan Tiger is the largest and most powerful cat. A tiger is 10 times stronger than a man. This mammals can be found in peninsular Malaysia. There is no clear different between the Malayan and Indochinese Tiger.

Tigers love water. During hot and sunny days, swimming will cool down their body.

What we should know about tigers:

1. Eyes- forward facing eyes, for binocular vision to judge distance. Can see 6 times better than human in the dark.

2. Ears- excellent hearing. Can rotate nearly 180 degrees.

3. Nose- excellent sense of smell to detect prey.

4. Whiskers- sensitive to touch. Detect obstacles and access the prey's body position.

5. Teeth- can deliver fatal bites to the prey's throat.

6. Stripes- camouflages the tiger and allows it to get very close to the prey while hunting.

7. Tail- half as long as its body. Used for balancing and to communicate.

9. Tigers are endangered species. Stop buying tiger products to stop killing this animal.

Source: National Zoo, Kuala Lumpur.

Ikan Ubi - Ikan Ketutu

Ikan Ubi - Marbled Sleeper

Ikan Ubi, juga dikenali sebagai ikan ketutu, ikan hantu, haruan bodoh, belantuk atau soonhock oleh masyarakat cina. Dalam bahasa inggeris disebut sebagai marbled sleeper atau marbled gudgeon, mungkin sebab ikan ini yang seperti tidur hampir setiap masa.

Ikan ubi hidup di dalam air tawar, biasanya di dalam sungai, tali air ataupun tasik. Merupakan ikan yang pasif dan jarang bergerak walaupun untuk mencari makan. Disebalik wajahnya yang hodoh, rasa isinya sangat sedap dan digemari ramai terutama masyarakat cina. Ini menjadikan ikan yang susah untuk ditemui ini berharga tinggi sehingga mencecah RM100 sekilogram. Penternakan ikan ubi secara komersil telah lama dimulakan untuk memenuhi permintaan ikan ubi yang tinggi walaupun ikan ini agak lambat untuk membesar kerana malas untuk mencari makan.

Ikan Ubi, Ikan Ketutu (Oxyeleotris marmorata)

Yellow Flame Tree - Pokok Batai Laut (Peltophorum pterocarpum)

Yellow Flame Tree - Pokok Batai Laut

Yellow flame flower

Yellow flame tree

Yellow Flame Tree - Pokok Batai Laut (Peltophorum pterocarpum)

Family: Fabaceae

Genus: Peltophorum

Common name: Batai Laut, Jemerlang, Yellow Flame.

Serkap Ikan

Serkap Ikan. Conical Fish Trap.

Conical Fish trap or serkap ikan is a traditional gear to catch fish during dry season, especially when the farmers plowing their fields before paddy seedlings. During that time, fish can be seen in the water and a fast action should be done to catch the fish.

The trap is made from bamboo and rattan, which was shaped and cut into required size before its fix together to become a hard, beautiful and long lasting product. Its not everybody got the skills to make this product. Only talented people can produce good fish trap, usually inherited from their older generation.

Concentration is among the factor to produce a good fish trap.