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Tree of life: Lake Pucung, Perak, is the primary nesting
ground for herons and other migratory birds. The hundreds of white dots are
actually herons!
KINTA Nature Park is less than an
hour’s drive from Ipoh. After the turn from the main Batu Gajah-Tanjung Tualang
artery, the bund road that leads to the
park is riddled with potholes. The bund road bleeds into a dirt road that goes
on for five more bone-jarring kilometres.
Despite the difficulties, the surrounding
scenery is striking, even before one enter the park proper. On
the right, the Kinta River flows yellow and muddy next to a silted bank that’s
barren except for some bushes. In stark contrast, the left side is fertile and
green, with lotus ponds and small groves of small trees.
One final turn to the left, one will
see an Eden-like sight: giant trees and shrubbery dotting the grassy compound,
while a shimmering pond lies beyond the covered footpath. Take a short walk to
the viewing pavilion, stop from time to time to gawp at towering rain-trees
that soar heavenward, forming a green lacy canopy.
However, Lake Pucung is where all the
action takes place. Directly opposite the pavilion, a single islet floating on
the pond, covered with raintrees, looking like a giant dark green mushroom
speckled with thousands of white dots.
The Sri Damai Chalet at Clearwater Sanctuary Golf Resort.
These “dots” are really the over
2,000 fabled migratory birds that have flown from as far away as Mongolia to
build their homes on the branches.
A graceful eagle swooping down for a
prey in a perfect line. A snowy white egret making a reflection on the water as
it flies low. Male herons flaunting their plumes in attempts to woo the
females. On the ground, in the air and among the branches, the heronry bustles
with activity and echoes with the calls of numerous birds.
Just stand there in mesmerised silence and savour the National
Geographic moment. Armed with a DSLR camera, one can get a better aerial view of
the area.
With luck, one may find a fallen bird
nest that looks like a lumpy pouch encased in a wig-like net that resembles a
giant testicle. Amazing how the bird can make this with its beak!
The park has huge potential to be a
prime attraction, but something would have to be done about the road coming in.
Then, there’s the woefully inadequate facilities. No café to speak of; a
peeling signboard that looks tragic; and the absence of a toilet.
In spite of the odds, the park is
quietly pulling a crowd of loyal admirers. It has drawn bird watchers from as
far as Britain, Hong Kong and the United States. In
fact, a group of students from Singapore camped overnight at this site. And
they found out from word of mouth.
During dry weather, visitors can
hike, cycle or drive around the park, using the many mining roads
criss-crossing the site. What we’ve seen is only a fraction of the park.
Lake Pucung alone is already sensory
overload. It’s easy to get immersed and forget that there are at least a dozen
other mining pools scattered over the 900ha territory that makes up Kinta
Nature Park, the majority of them teeming with dense vegetation.
For this, we have to thank the
collapse of the tin mine. After the mining lands were left idle, nature began
to reclaim them, and thus began its new lease of life. The result is the rich
secondary forest we see now. To the birds, this means food – lots of it – which
is why and how the area became a magnet for water birds and other wildlife.
The TT5, the last remaining tin dredge in the country.
TT5 – the Metal Monster
Next stop: TT5, the steam-powered tin
dredge that operated for 44 years until 1982, when a drop in tin price made it
economically unviable.
Sitting in a body of water, the
dredge looks like a giant battleship with a system of chutes resembling a host
of menacing jagged swords piercing the sky at one end, and a chain of giant
buckets at the other which could dig to a depth of 15m and then carry 280 litres of tin-bearing
soil upwards into an oscillating drum.
The tin is extracted through a system
of jigs and screens, while the excess material is disposed of via the chute
system.
Jodie Foster enjoyed quite a view when she put up at
Anna’s Suite during the shooting of Anna And The King.
Panoramic paradise
The last stop is Clearwater Sanctuary
Golf Resort which is famous for being one of the locations for Anna & The King. It’s Sri Damai has a cluster of 30
chalets, idyllically overlooking breathtaking lakes fringed with lush foliage.
Tthe last chalet in the row dubbed
Anna’s Suite, was custom-built in a record six months when it was learnt that
Jodie Foster would be putting up at Clearwater. The huge living room head straight
to the bedroom, and the balcony. The
scenery around the lotus-fringed lake is
simply awesome.
Well, folks, we have a treasure right
at our doorstep, come over and appreciate it!
(Adapted from an article written by Alexandra Wong)
For customised tours to Batu Gajah, contact Mr Raja (k.raja8876@gmail.com / tel: +6012 524 2357).
CLEARWATER SANCTUARY GOLF RESORT
Lot 6019, Jalan Changkat Larang
31000 Batu Gajah
Tel: 605 366 7433
