This is a continuation of my earlier post on our visit to Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Center last weekend.  Right after we have visited the elephants, we stopped by the Deerland Park which is about 2 km away.

The entrance fee is RM7 per adult and RM4 for children 12 years and below.  The park is privately owned and it’s like a mini zoo.  Lots of animals to see in there such as deer (of course) where we can feed them, prairie dogs, rabbits, bengal cats, birds, chicken and plenty of reptiles like the blue-tongue skink, snapping turtle, iguanas, pythons and more.

We enjoyed visiting this place as there are many fascinating animals to see.

Feeding time

Cute Prairie dog

The bearded dragon.  I took this photo while standing far away.

Then we came upon this – The Python keeper and the Burmese Python.  Eeeeeeeeeeeee. I wonder if he’s going to sit here all day with the python, waiting for visitors?  Ain’t it a boring job?

And missy is not afraid and put the python around her neck.  Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee.  Again, I stood far away when taking this photo.  Far away from the moving head of the python…..

The Deerland Park is a nice place to visit especially if you have children.   It’s like a mini petting zoo and not as smelly as I thought it would be.

Since it was missy’s one-week school break, we made a trip to the Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Center situated in Lanchang, Pahang last Saturday.  It is about 1.45 minutes away from Kuala Lumpur.  This place is easily located on Waze.   According to the Star newspaper, the center has been locating, subduing and then translocating elephants whose habitats have been encroached by development.    For over 30 years,  more than 700 wild elephants have been successfully relocated to more suitable venues such as Taman Negara. Many orphaned elephants are also raised and given shelter here.

Our friend and her 3 kids joined us and we left KL at about 8 am.  Before we exit to the highway, we had an early breakfast at McDonalds.  I love their coffee so much that I can drink them every day.

The kids were very excited about the visit.  We have to register everyone at the counter before entering.   Entrance is free for just touring around the place, feeding the elephants and watching the elephant shows.  Visitors can make donation to support and maintain the sanctuary.  The kids were looking forward to bathing the elephants in the river but due to the high water level in the river, this event was cancelled.   Here are some photos of the nature trip we took.

There is a stall nearby which sells sugar cane strips and bananas for feeding the elephants.  Each bundle of sugar cane cost RM3 and the banana is RM2 if I am not mistaken.

Hello there!  These gentle giants are so beautiful and majestic.

Have a sugar cane.

This is the baby elephant at an enclosure further away.

Having a banana

Managed to capture this one splashing earth onto its body.  To get rid of flies?

We went up to a shed which used to be the place for people to climb onto the elephant’s back for a ride.  The riding of elephants is no longer available, which is a good thing.

We were quite disappointed that day because part of the sanctuary is closed for renovation.  Missy was here a few weeks ago as part of her school camping trip and there were more things to see.  We left after an hour or so.   Next stop is the Deerland Park which is about 2 km away from the Elephant Conservation Center.  Stay tuned!

A few days ago, we made a trip to Taiping with our friends.  Before we arrived, my friend has made bookings to a few places of interests for all of us to visit during our 3 days 2 nights stay in Taiping.

The first visit is the Kuala Sepetang Charcoal Factory.  It is such an eye-opener.  We learned that the charcoals in Kuala Sepetang are from the mangrove trees (pokok bakau) that are grown in this area.  Only trees that are 30 years old can be used to turn into charcoals and a reforestation programme of the mangrove forest is in place.

The boat ferrying the logs back from the mangrove forest

Our guide, Ms. Tia, explained to us that the barks from the mangrove trees were used as dye by the fishermen in the olden days.  The dye would make their shirts wind-proof so that they would be warm when they were at the sea.   We also tried our hands in dyeing by using different objects to make some patterns.

Our guide explaining to us the usage of the tree barks

The red dye and the knick-knacks we used for our project.

Our crafts out in the sun.  Pretty right?

Missy trying her hands at removing the barks from the log.  It is not easy for us.  We were told that the workers are paid 20 cents per log.  So little eh?

We were then given the tour of the charcoal factory by KY, the 3rd generation owner of the charcoal factory.  He explained to us the process of making charcoals and etc.  There were lots of Maths and Science questions thrown by him to us  *chuckle*  Remember to do some revision before you go for the tour.

This is one of the huge kilns for baking the mangrove tree logs.

The charcoals made in this factory have a glossy effect.  This means that the charcoals are very good quality.  About 70% are exported to Japan.  KY even baked some sweet potatoes for us and they were so flavourful. It was such a delightful tour and after this trip, we all appreciate charcoals more.

Next was a visit to the Joss stick factory which is also in Sepetang.  This factory is famous for its mega huge joss sticks which they supply to Chinese temples.

Big joss sticks are being dried before they can be spray-painted with colours.

The worker crafting a design which looks like a Chinese deity.

The handcrafted figurines for the jossticks

Next time we want to try the Matang Mangrove Forest Tour as it has scenic views and abundant native wildlife.  If you are interested on a tour to the above places that I have visited, you may contact Ms. Tia, our eco-guide at mobile no. +6012 3055450.

Read more of our trip here and here.