We had a 3-day 2-night vacation to Fraser’s Hill recently.
With a “temperate” climate and an average temperature of 20 °C (68 °F) during the day, the hill resort perched at 1,534 meters (5,033 feet) above sea level on the Titiwangsa Range is a mere two-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tin was the reason people flocked to the hill in the late 1890s. The hill was tucked in lush tropical jungle. It was named after accountant-turned-prospector James Louis Fraser who used to buy tin from Chinese prospectors and transported the ore to Kuala Kubu by mule train. After acquiring a small fortune from his trade, Fraser vanished after last seen trudging on a jungle path, hauling a team of mules laden with crude tin ore. His disappearance remains a mystery to this day.
This hill resort has been described as an engineering marvel of the British when they started the idyllic township in the clouds that had been likened to ‘mini’ England. It is a quiet town, you can walk on the street.
These are my heart - eating ice cream in a cold weather!
“Our Can-Am Spyder roadster is the next dimension in open-road riding. A true paradigm shift, the Spyder roadster offers a balance of performance and peace of mind with features like the Vehicle Stability System (VSS), engineered in conjunction with Bosch, which includes anti-lock brakes, traction control and stability control systems,” said José Boisjoli, president and CEO, BRP. Probably he is correct in some sense, but I think everyone should look at the “original” three wheeled vehicles available in Asia.
Doing a similar job to the taxi, the three wheeled vehicles are “Autos” in Delhi, “Bajaj” in Indonesia, “Baby Taxi” in Dhaka and larger vehicles like “Jeepneys” in Manila, “Tempos” in Indian cities, and “Bemo” in Surabaya are locally manufactured. Even though these vehicles do not meet safety or environmental standards, yet they meet the mobility needs of the urban residents which have not been met by the formal public transport system.
Known as “Tuk-Tuk” in Thailand, it was named because of the sound of their engine; these are motorized rickshaws and are popular amongst tourists for their novelty value. They are occasionally faster than taxis in heavy traffic as weaving in and out is easier, but generally about the same or slower. Without any luggage, 3 people can fit into one fairly comfortably - it’s possible to fit more in but it gets a bit cramped.
Fares always have to be bargained for, and it is sometimes possible to bargain tuk-tuk drivers down to less than the taxi flag fall of 35 Thai Baht (USD 1.01 / EUR 0.75) when they make good value. Most times, they offer no savings over a taxi except perhaps if you’re good at bargaining and can speak good Thai. The initial price they quote is likely to be well over the going rate, but it’s easy to bargain it down to a more reasonable one if you know roughly the equivalent taxi fare.
It’s essential to bargain the price with tuk-tuks before getting in. If you only ask after the ride, it’s likely to end in a request for a ridiculous fare which can obviously lead to an unpleasant situation.
Just like taxi drivers, the tuk-tuk drivers mostly come from the rural northeast of Thailand and don’t have to undergo any training (some will not even have passed a driving test), so don’t be surprised if they sometimes have no idea where your destination is. A subtle point to remember when in one is not to rest your feet on the rail near the drivers head, as doing so is extremely disrespectful towards the driver.
As tuk-tuks are open-ended, they expose passengers to the high pollution levels in the middle of Bangkok’s roads and offer almost no protection in case of an accident. There is theoretically a ban on new tuk-tuks as they are so noisy and polluting, but it doesn’t really seem to be being enforced at present. Nevertheless, many of the local residents are not too enamored with tuk-tuks nowadays and, were it not for their popularity with tourists, the days of the tuk-tuk on the streets of Bangkok would surely be numbered.
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Preah Vihear is a 900-year-old temple that has raised fears of a military clash between Thailand and Cambodia, the Southeast Asian neighbors. Soldiers were deployed along the border area sides and a standoff continued for nearly six weeks.
The two sides have blamed each other for violating each other’s territory where the Preah Vihear temple is located.
The ancient Hindu temple sits on a jungle-clad escarpment that forms the natural boundary between the two countries. The International Court of Justice awarded the ruins to Cambodia in a 1962 ruling that has rankled many Thais ever since.
Tensions flared in July after the ancient temple became a UNESCO world heritage site, irking nationalists in Thailand who still claim ownership of the site.
With a deft lift of the foot, a flag pole ‘flies’ high into the air and lands neatly on the forehead of a waiting member of the troupe, who tilts his head back and stretches his arms out for balance. Moving back and forth, he keeps the pole standing erect for several minutes while the crowd cheers. All eyes are on the pole: a sturdy contraption made from joining several bamboo sticks. Tied to this is a large triangular flag made from a soft, gauze fabric that flutters in the breeze. The flag is that of the state of Penang, Malaysia and the spectacle in question is Chingay, a unique street performance that has been an integral part of the island state’s cultural identity for generations – the Penang Chingay Association celebrates its 109th anniversary this year.
A must during Chinese New Year, Chingay can also be viewed during other Chinese festivals, special occasions and state functions. A typical performance involves 15 members – of all ages and cultural backgrounds – who use two poles to entertain the crowds. The poles measure between 7.6 meters and 9.8 meters, and when attached with the flag and balanced in the air, could weigh up to 27kgs each! Yet, watching the troupe toss them around with effortless dexterity, one would think that they are mere featherweights, especially when a member as young as 10 appears to make light work of it. But if you take a close look at the faces of the players, you realize how much effort goes into even the simplest action.
With the colorful flags and outfits, acrobatic displays and accompanying traditional Chinese music, every Chingay procession is inevitably a feast for the eyes and ears. No matter how many times one watches the troupes perform, their balancing acts never fail to impress.
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