SWIFT LOVING - Nanyang Technological University

16 LIFESTYLE
THE NANYANG
CHRONICLE
VOL.
NO.
17
08
VOL.
NO.
17
08
THE NANYANG
CHRONICLE
LIFESTYLE 17
NEIGHBOURLY RETREATS
Tired and weary from the semester’s workload Three NTU students tell Vivienne Chang about
lesser-known places in Malaysia for short trips.
Destination #1:
Kuala Kubu Bharu
THIS is a hidden gem for the outdoorsy types. On a trip there last semester with NTU’s Outdoors
Activity Club (ODAC), Pang Jin Hao was swept away by its breathtaking scenery. The secondyear
Mechanical Engineering student explains why the ODAC’s Kuala Kubu Bharu trip, in its
second year running, is always snapped up.
(ABOVE) ALL ABOARD: Beginner rafters were thrilled by the river’s dips and sharp turns .
(BELOW) RIVER CROSSING: The cool waters were a perfect remedy for sore feet.
MUST-DO
Getting to Chilling Waterfalls, named after
its cool temperatures, requires hiking and river
crossing so you need to take a guide at all times.
But it’s worth it for a refreshing dip, especially after
a long hike in the tropics.
You can also go white water rafting at a nearby
river. On a scale of 1 (mild) to 5 (extreme), the
gushing waters here are a 3 – a thrilling experience
suitable for any novice.
WHERE TO STAY
Camping is the one thing you cannot miss.
Some might be uncomfortable with sleeping
outdoors, since there are monkeys that could steal
your food. However they are easily frightened off
PHOTO | COURTESY OF PANG JIN HAO by groups of people. If you book a tour with a local
agency, a ranger is also assigned to the enclosed campsite in case of an emergency.
There is only one campsite, and the cost is included in most packages that you book. For
those who prefer sleeping indoors, there is a clean, affordable hotel in the town itself, which
you will need to book in advance.
“A trip like this will really bonded people together. Simply cooking outdoors, eating and
chatting among friends, there is a lot of interaction. That was what I truly enjoy.” said the
Year 2 student.
WHAT TO EAT
A buffet place near the water rafting area serves richly flavoured nasi lemak and the local
guide recommended Chow Zhou Hawker, which cooks local specialities which may sound
familiar but have a slightly local twist.
HOW TO GET THERE
Take a bus from Singapore to Johor Bahru, followed by a train to Kuala Kubu Bharu Station
which costs RM20 ($8). The journey takes about half a day.
PREPARATION
Book a package tour with the local river raft vendor, which includes a trekking guide.
Apart from clothes and first-aid supplies, food and fuel is also necessary for outdoor cooking
and you need not limit yourselves to instant food.
RECOMMENDED FOR
The outdoor adventure junkie, and those travelling in big groups as it is perfect for camping
and other bonding activities.
Destination #2:
Desaru
FOR about the same price of booking a chalet in Singapore, Desaru offers more activities
and less crowded facilities. With wholesome places to explore and good food to indulge
in, Mavis Ang, a third-year student, reckons it is a great way to have fun with the family.
MUST-DO
The Teluk Ramunia Ostrich Farm houses more than a hundred of the world’s largest birds,
and a handful of them roam free, pecking at the hats and shirts of unsuspecting tourists.
Buy a bowl of dried corn and see if you’re game enough to feed them with your bare hands.
These comical birds are not aggressive, and are surprisingly photogenic.
Take an educational tour of the Desaru Fruit Farm and see how some tropical fruits are
grown and protected for harvesting. See the plants of fruits which are often already cut and
chilled, like passion fruit, jackfruit, dragon fruit and custard apple.
Another eye-opening activity would be the Fireflies cruise. In near total darkness, the
sight of many glowing dots on the trees and mangroves is pretty romantic.
WHERE TO STAY
Lotus Desaru Beach Resort occupies a huge area in front of the beach. It feels more like
a chalet though, with many families holding telematches by the restaurant and children
splashing about in the resort’s play pool, which doubles up as a mini water park for all ages.
WHAT TO EAT
The fresh ostrich egg omelette served at the ostrich farm is light and fluffy, and goes
very well with their home-made chilli. Ostrich satay is also served there. “After patting and
feeding those birds, I couldn’t bring myself to eat them. But my Dad said they were tasty,”
the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information student said.
Desaru Fruit Farm’s lunch and dinner buffets are both as satiating. Besides having 40
types of fruits, the meal also has staple
Chinese, Malay and Western dishes.
HOW TO GET THERE
Desaru is a 30-minute ferry from
Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal.
PREPARATION
Book a tour with Desaru Fruit
Farm Tour & Travel. A 2-day tour with
accommodation and many extravagant
meals provided costs around $200.
RECOMMENDED FOR
A weekend together with your
parents. Desaru is also a good place to
wind down with the extended family as
the tour caters to individuals of all ages.
POSE READY: It is easy to get a good shot of these comical birds.
TROPICAL FRUIT PARADISE: Desaru Fruit Farm offers a multitude of fruits for their lunch and dinner buffets.
PHOTOS | SUSAN CHOW
A SHEER RISE: The dramatic Stong Waterfall, which rises around 300 metres.
Destination #3:
Gunung Stong
PHOTOS | COURTESY OF TAN JUNJIE
SITUATED in north Malaysia, near the Thai border, Kunung Stong is a popular getaway
destination for tourists and locals. Its Thai-influenced food and outdoor activities have kept
Year 1 Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering student Tan Junjie going back regularly.
MUST-DO
The waterfall slide is the best feature of Gunung Stong. An hour’s trek from the main
campsite, the slide is two-storey high and ends in a waterfall pool.
The guides recommend beginners slide down in a sitting position to prevent abrasion.
But they will not hesitate to challenge the daring ones to slide down in a surfing position,
balancing on your feet.
There is also a cave complex nearby with majestic stalagmites and stalactites. It is a lot
cleaner than Kuala Lumpur’s Batu Caves, with their pungent smell of bat droppings, as the
caves here are water-based and house limestone structures rather than bats.
WHERE TO STAY
The campsite included in the package was a winner. “What I enjoyed most was the majestic
sunrise we can observe from our campsite, you can get nothing close to that in Singapore,”
Junjie said.
WHAT TO EAT
The local Kelantanese cuisine is an interesting fusion, which stems from influence by
Thai and Indian styles.
Tom yum soup is easily found all around the village of Stong. You can choose between
thick or clear broth. The brother carries a fiery aftertaste, due to the mixture of spices used
from the two cuisines and is a definite must-try.
There is also a collection of food stalls along Dabong train station, but it is the outdoor
cooking that one will really enjoy at Stong.
HOW TO GET THERE
Take the 12-hour train from Johor Bahru station to Dabong station. A night train is ideal as
you can sleep through the long journey on the train’s comfy beds, and arrive fresh in the morning.
PREPARATION
Do book a tour with local tour agency and ensure that the package includes access to the
camp site, a trekking guide, cave tours and guides for the waterfall slides.
For trekking on those slippery waterfall rocks, get a pair of “Kampong Adidas” from the
local stores. These rubber shoes are highly durable, dry fast, have a very good grip and cost
RM$6 (S$2.60) a pair. “My own pair saved my life when I nearly slipped on a rock while
trekking,” he said.
RECOMMENDED FOR
Beginners who want to experience basic trekking and camping. The terrain is relatively
manageable for first-timers, and is perfect for groups of five to 15.
Shoestring
Adventures
Having travelled to the furthest corners of the earth, NBS
lecturer Mr Tan Wee Cheng shares with Ong Yong Roy some
travel tips and tales.
A REMINDER OF HISTORY: Remnants of Somalia’s civil war are visible on the
former battlefield in Northern Somalia.
ACCUSED of being an illegal immigrant in Bulgaria, Nanyang Business
School lecturer Mr Tan Wee Cheng had the nerve to bargain with the
immigration officers on the bribe amount.
“It was my first solo trip. When I was crossing the Bulgarian border,
the immigration was corrupted and claimed that I faked the stamps of the
passport. I was very shaken then but I realised you can actually bargain
when someone is asking for bribes,” he said.
Having travelled to 196 countries and holding the record of “Most
Countries Travelled by a Single Person” by the Singapore Book of Records,
that encounter is just one of the many tales he has to share.
Mr Tan thrives on the thrill of unpredictable situations that travelling
offers. To date, he has scuffled with gangsters in Cyprus, been detained in
Russia and survived riots in Burkina Faso.
His traveling journey all began with a two-month graduation trip
to Europe with his NTU schoolmates. “I fell in love with travelling then.
Subsequently, all my annual leaves and academic breaks have been for used
up for travelling,” Mr Tan said.
He is always careful with his budget when travelling. “My cheapest hotel
in India was $4. Of course it was a terrible hotel. But if you are willing to
sacrifice on luxury, travelling can be cheap,” he said.
Mr Tan’s love of travelling and telling stories has
led him to immortalise his adventures in print. He
has written three travel novels titled “The
Greenland Seal Hunter”, “Hot Spots
and Dodgy Places” and “Exotic Places
and Dodgy Places”. The travel guru is
also a founder of www.sgtravelcafe.
com, a travel social networking site
that connects fellow travel enthusiasts
of all ages.
SAFETY FIRST: As it is common for civilians to
carry firarms in yemen, Mr. Tan got himself an AK
47 to blend in.
tips for bUDGET TravELLERS
1. Look out for budget airline promotions.
These promotions usually occur for
a limited time on Fridays and public
holidays.
2. South East Asia is good for budget trips.
While it might be perceived as a common
destination, there are hidden spots in the
Eastern part of Malaysia and unspoiled
tribes in Java.
3. Find out new areas of travel possibilities
by joining travel social networking sites
like www.sgtravelcafe.com, which holds
monthly gatherings where foreigners give
presentations on their country and fellow
travelers can share travel tips.
4. Planning is essential in budgeting. Read
up in advance on the places of interest,
and find out what the cheaper modes of
transport are. Emergencies should also be
addressed in budget-planning.
5. On budget trips to less developed
countries, it is sometimes uncertain the
problems you will meet due to corruption
and ambiguous immigration and travel
laws. It is important to have some cash
with you at all times for any potential
bribes.
6. A photocopy of your passport is another
item you should always have on hand.
7. Being “touristy” does not always mean
that the area is expensive. These places
often offer similar services in the same
area, like budget hostels and private villas.
Conversely, travelling is sometimes more
expensive in less developed countries
without a proper tourism infrastructure.
Additional customisation in terms of
transport and accommodation has to be
made, but it will cost you more.