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Hot springs in the forest
Location : Selangor, Malaysia
Ewe Paik Leong
Source :Travel Times, New Straits Times,9 June 2009
People go to Hulu Langat for all kinds of reasons -- from food and romance to a soak in the curative waters of the hot springs and a brisk hike to the waterfall, writes EWE PAIK LEONG
THE district of Ulu Langat in Selangor (also spelt as Hulu Langat) is well noted for its recreational forests, blessed with cascading waterfalls and hot springs.
As to the origins of its name, we have to go back in history. Originally inhabited by Orang Asli, the area saw a migration of Minangkabau people from Negeri Sembilan in the late 1900s. Many came by river and practised agriculture in the area which they named "Air Hangat" due to the presence of several hot springs.
Later, during the era of Kapitan Yap Ah Loy, Chinese traders arrived and mispronounced the name as "Air Langat". They returned to Kuala Lumpur carrying tales of trading opportunities in the area.
Still later, confusion arose among some merchants as two areas there had hot springs -- namely, one in the upper reaches of a river and another near the river mouth. The two areas were then referred to as Hulu Langat and Kuala Langat respectively.
Start, Stop And Go
For first-timers, travelling to Hulu Langat requires some directions. One way is from Jalan Ampang. First, get on to the MRR2 heading towards Cheras.
Exit the MRR2 at Pandan Indah (not Pandan Jaya) interchange and at the top of the flyover, turn left. An Esso station can be seen on your left. Go straight until a T-junction, and then turn right. At the next traffic light, turn left to Jalan Pandan Mewah. Turn left again at the traffic light beside Puteri Plaza, and proceed straight. After two traffic lights, turn right. Three kilometres further on, turn right when you see the signboard Menara Tinjau.
After that rather mind-boggling journey out of the city, you can stop over at Menara Tinjau for some refreshments. Popularly known as Hulu Langat Lookout Point, this spot attracts courting couples in the evening as well as shutterbugs who want to shoot panoramic views of the city.
Perched atop a hillock is a complex with three eateries -- namely, Gasoline Cafe, Lookout Point Western Food and Bread And Olives.
At Lookout Point Western Food, I sit at a table on the terrace built over the hill slope, and admire the magnificent view.
The menu is a clear folder file featuring 90 items of standard Western and local dishes like nasi paprik, fried noodles, German sausages and lamb chops. In the Barbecue Section are crabs, prawns, stingray, kembong, tilapia and cockles.
I try the house special chicken chop and seafood spaghetti. The seafood is fresh. The chicken is tender and comes with ham, mashed potato, coleslaw and a delicious sauce.
Don´t miss the two-level lookout tower which stands a short distance away from the car park. Made of timber and steel, it offers an excellent view of the city.
Also of interest is Cope Adventure, an outwardbound camp equipped with an obstacle course for team-building and paintball activities. The camp is next to the complex. An added attraction is a bird park that is still under construction. For those seeking a romantic ambience in the evenings, come early as parking bays are limited.
Village Hot Spring
For the next leg of your journey, drive another 13 kms to a T-junction. Take a right turn to Jalan Sg. Ketali that leads to Semenyih. The left turn leads to the Sungai Congkak Recreational Forest and the village of Pangsun. Go there if you have the time for a picnic and a swim in the river. Otherwise, move on.
The Semenyih Dam looms on your left after a few kilometres and you can see anglers on the banks of the lake. If you prefer to just buy your fish, stop at Langat Fish Farm, a commercial fishbreeding farm. You´ll see the signboard further ahead.
Whizzing further westward, you will arrive at Kampung Sungai Serai, with its hot spring. When I get there, no one´s around to collect the entrance fee.
Apart from a well gurgling with hot water, there´s also a natural pond. Plastic chairs are placed in the middle of the pond for those who want to soak their feet. The minerals in the water are said to be able to cure skin ailments.
Also in this area is Industri Batik: Creative Art Evolution Sdn Bhd, a cottage-industry factory that boasts of authentic hand-drawn batik pieces.
Fishing Fun
Another spot worth a visit is Tepian Rimba, a picturesque fishing camp located at Lot 3959, Lorong Serai 4, Kampung Sungai Serai. There are ponds filled with both prawns and big fish. Trees and umbrellas provide shade and a copious supply of snacks enhances the angling experience.
Food-wise, Kampung Sungai Serai has a few interesting roadside shacks selling nasi lemak kukus and seafood tomyam.
Forest Recreation
Our final destination is Sungai Tekala Recreational Forest. So proceed towards Semenyih. On the way, you will see another interesting angling spot -- Pusat Rekreasi Memancing Seri Bayu Tekala, which also sells delicious tom yam.
On the opposite right is the Sungai Tekala Recreational Forest. Covering 15 hectares, the park is drained by Sungai Tekala and its tributary, Sungai Hulu Tekala, and averages from 50 to 150 metres above sea level.
There are plots of Tongkat Ali, Tongkat Ali Hitam, Tapak Sulaiman, Kacip Fatimah, Ubi Larut, Tujuh Jarum and Haji Samat, all herbal plants believed to have curative or energy enhancing properties.
Macaques are a common sight there, and they come out of the forest for food thrown to them by picnickers.
Hawkers sell keropok lekor, goreng pisang and soft drinks, providing the necessary fuel for wouldbe trekkers wishing to hike through the park to see the waterfalls at the upper reaches of Sungai Hulu Tekala.
A map of the trail displayed on a board, reminds me of a racing circuit. The trek takes only 90 minutes, with five stops equipped with benches for trekkers to take a breather.
Entrance fee to Sungai Tekala Recreational Forest is RM1 for adults and 50 sen for children. It opens daily from 7am to 7pm.
■ Pictures by EWE PAIK LEONG |
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Post time 15-6-2010 11:09 AM
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