Pangkor Laut
Jul 26th, 2006, 07:43 PM
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I live an hour's drive away from Pangkor. In the west coast, there isn't a clear cut rainy season. For the past weeks, the sky was hazy and the weather hot but this morning it rained cats and dogs. It has passed mid-noon but the sky is still gloomy. Don't worry too much about the rain.
By the way, do make your way to Penang too. It's "hungry ghost" festival (the local version of halloween) in Aug and the streets are dotted with Chinese opera shows.
By the way, do make your way to Penang too. It's "hungry ghost" festival (the local version of halloween) in Aug and the streets are dotted with Chinese opera shows.
Jul 27th, 2006, 12:01 AM
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MichaelBkk, to go from KL to Pangkor Laut Resort is an hour drive till Lumut (where you do your check in) and then take the boat,which takes about 45 minutes to get there. The Pangkor Laut can arrange the transfers for you. I was there last year and they arranged it for me. I paid 550 Ringits each way.
Jul 27th, 2006, 07:06 AM
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I just remembered you might be interested in seeing my page with photos and tips about the Pangkor Laut Resort . Here it is the url http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/456e4/1390cf/.
Teresa
Teresa
Jul 27th, 2006, 08:21 AM
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We've been to Pangkor Laut 3 times, there are several modes of transportation. Starting with the most $$$ to the least.
1. helicopter--this is the way Mr. Yeo, the owner arrives.
2. flight from Subang to Pangkor island, ferry from Pangkor to Pangkor Laut
3. pangkor laut car, usually a mercedes
4. taxi--1/2 the cost of Pangkor Laut's car.
5. VIP bus--stops about 2 minutes walk away from Pangkor Laut's office
1. helicopter--this is the way Mr. Yeo, the owner arrives.
2. flight from Subang to Pangkor island, ferry from Pangkor to Pangkor Laut
3. pangkor laut car, usually a mercedes
4. taxi--1/2 the cost of Pangkor Laut's car.
5. VIP bus--stops about 2 minutes walk away from Pangkor Laut's office
Jul 27th, 2006, 06:49 PM
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For those on low budget, take a "Transnasional" express bus from KL to Ipoh, about RM14.80 fee, from KL's Pudu Bus Station. The journey takes 2-3 hours. When you reach Ipoh, take a cab from Ipoh bus station to Medan Kidd bus station, maybe RM5-10, about 10 minutes away. You can also take a ride on the town's buses, cost less but much slower and rather uncomfortable. When in Medan Kidd, look for Perak Roadways bus depot. It's next to Shell fuel station. Hop on any bus that has a "LUMUT" signage. P.Roadways buses ply Ipoh-Lumut road every hour. The fee is only a few ringgit. The journey takes 1 hr and will pass quaint hamlets and beautiful paddy fields. When you reach Lumut, walkover to the new marina jetty. You can't miss it. There are 3 companies selling ferry tickets to Pangkor Island - lots of touts pestering one to buy from them. Ignore them. There's a tourist police kiosk there, so safety is not a problem. Pangkor Laut Resort's office is located behind Lumut bus station. If you've booked a room with them, you need to register there and they will take care of everything. There's another good hotel named Pangkor Island Beach Resort located in Teluk Dalam, cheaper and it
caters to expats living in KL. I go there with my familiy every year. Its private west facing beach is spectacular during sunset.
The DIY KL-Lumut trip I've suggested would total up to about RM60 one way. Tere spent RM555 one way, which I consider steep but OK. Because he/she would not have to go thru the hassle for walking around and chasing buses the whole day. If I go to some foreign land, I don't mind spending money to save time so that I can see more places and do more things. Time is valuable when you've spent thousands on flight and hotel. Anyway, I reckon those who can afford Pangkor Laut are well heeled.
For those who want more DIY details and map on getting to Pangkor Island, you can write to me at [email protected]. I'd email the jpeg file map to you.
p/s BTW, it's extremely hot and sunny today, unlike rainy yesterday.
caters to expats living in KL. I go there with my familiy every year. Its private west facing beach is spectacular during sunset.
The DIY KL-Lumut trip I've suggested would total up to about RM60 one way. Tere spent RM555 one way, which I consider steep but OK. Because he/she would not have to go thru the hassle for walking around and chasing buses the whole day. If I go to some foreign land, I don't mind spending money to save time so that I can see more places and do more things. Time is valuable when you've spent thousands on flight and hotel. Anyway, I reckon those who can afford Pangkor Laut are well heeled.
For those who want more DIY details and map on getting to Pangkor Island, you can write to me at [email protected]. I'd email the jpeg file map to you.
p/s BTW, it's extremely hot and sunny today, unlike rainy yesterday.
Jul 28th, 2006, 08:23 AM
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I'm not Traveltwiddle, but on our second trip to Pangkor Laut, we went by taxi from Lumut to Penang. It was quicker--2-2 1/2 hours and $30 in 2001. There is an express bus, but it goes to Butterworth. You would then have to take a bus, taxi, boat to Penang.
Jul 30th, 2006, 07:52 PM
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Naturaltan, Pangkor island is nearer to Penang island than KL. If you're coming from Penang, the trick is to find your way to mainland Butterworth. I suggest you hop on the ferry from Penang's Georgetown - the ferry station is located at Pengkalan Weld, very near to Swettenham Pier. The ferry ride takes about 30 mins. Once you reach Butterworth side, you can walk to the bus station and buy your bus ticket to Lumut.
By the way, for those of you who have time to spare, along the the B'worth - Lumut route, there are lovely hidden vistas you can stopover to soak in more of Msia. Among them are;
- Taiping, for its vibrant English colonial past. Must see, the Lake garden. Taiping is the first proper English developed town in Msia, not Penang or KL.
- Bukit Mertajam, there's a 188 years old church that celebrates its feast day with thousand of pilgrims annually.
- Matang mangrove forest, recognised as the biggest mangrove tract in Msia. The rainforest and the sea shakes hand here, so you can expect to see a very unique ecology.
- Nibong Tebal, take a river cruise safari at night to see thousands of fire-flies gather at berembang trees to mate. They look like lighted up Christmas trees at night.
- Kuala Gula, migrating birds from Russia, Siberia and China fly here to escape the winter in northen hemisphere every year. Good time to visit is Sept-Feb.
In Pangkor island, besides enjoying the sun, sea and sand, here are some things you should make an effort to see;
- Teluk Gedung, there's a 1670-built Dutch Fort. Pangkor used to be a Dutch secret hideout. Some people still believe there's gold under the fort.
- While you're in Teluk Gedung, ask for an old man named Pak Din - he should be 70 years old this year. Neighboring residents or taxi drivers will be glad to take you to his house. Everyone knows him. He is Pangkor's Snake King. Ask him to show you the King cobra. Don't worry, he knows what he is doing. In return, I usually pay him RM10-20 as token of appreciation and buy some ointment from his wife. The ointment is made from a special specie of sea cucumber. It's a permanent feature in my home's first aid kit for healing wounds. If Pak Din is not around, his wife or daughters will entertain you.
- Take a walk in Pangkor's main town for its local demeanour and eat seafood. You can hop back to Lumut from the jetty nearby. Lots of taxi around.
- Diving and snorkelling. Not many people know there's an excellent spot for corals in Pulau Jarak, near Pangkor.
It is good to remember that Pangkor Laut Resort is NOT located in Pangkor Island itself. The resort is built on a smaller island next to Pangkor Island. In the smaller island, there's beautiful place call Emerald Bay where I went camping in my younger days, until Pangkot Laut bought over the entire island. From mainland Lumut, Pangkor Laut's private boat will take you direct to their resort island, bypassing the main island. Same thing when you return to Lumut. But I believe the resort could arrange for excursion to the main island and Pulau Jarak.
Take the path less ordinary.
By the way, for those of you who have time to spare, along the the B'worth - Lumut route, there are lovely hidden vistas you can stopover to soak in more of Msia. Among them are;
- Taiping, for its vibrant English colonial past. Must see, the Lake garden. Taiping is the first proper English developed town in Msia, not Penang or KL.
- Bukit Mertajam, there's a 188 years old church that celebrates its feast day with thousand of pilgrims annually.
- Matang mangrove forest, recognised as the biggest mangrove tract in Msia. The rainforest and the sea shakes hand here, so you can expect to see a very unique ecology.
- Nibong Tebal, take a river cruise safari at night to see thousands of fire-flies gather at berembang trees to mate. They look like lighted up Christmas trees at night.
- Kuala Gula, migrating birds from Russia, Siberia and China fly here to escape the winter in northen hemisphere every year. Good time to visit is Sept-Feb.
In Pangkor island, besides enjoying the sun, sea and sand, here are some things you should make an effort to see;
- Teluk Gedung, there's a 1670-built Dutch Fort. Pangkor used to be a Dutch secret hideout. Some people still believe there's gold under the fort.
- While you're in Teluk Gedung, ask for an old man named Pak Din - he should be 70 years old this year. Neighboring residents or taxi drivers will be glad to take you to his house. Everyone knows him. He is Pangkor's Snake King. Ask him to show you the King cobra. Don't worry, he knows what he is doing. In return, I usually pay him RM10-20 as token of appreciation and buy some ointment from his wife. The ointment is made from a special specie of sea cucumber. It's a permanent feature in my home's first aid kit for healing wounds. If Pak Din is not around, his wife or daughters will entertain you.
- Take a walk in Pangkor's main town for its local demeanour and eat seafood. You can hop back to Lumut from the jetty nearby. Lots of taxi around.
- Diving and snorkelling. Not many people know there's an excellent spot for corals in Pulau Jarak, near Pangkor.
It is good to remember that Pangkor Laut Resort is NOT located in Pangkor Island itself. The resort is built on a smaller island next to Pangkor Island. In the smaller island, there's beautiful place call Emerald Bay where I went camping in my younger days, until Pangkot Laut bought over the entire island. From mainland Lumut, Pangkor Laut's private boat will take you direct to their resort island, bypassing the main island. Same thing when you return to Lumut. But I believe the resort could arrange for excursion to the main island and Pulau Jarak.
Take the path less ordinary.
Aug 2nd, 2006, 03:24 AM
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Thank twofortheroad and TravelTwiddle. I will have the use of my friend's car in Penang and plan to drive to Lumut. May just take in the Matang Mangrove forest as suggested. By the way, can I do day trips to Kuala Gula, Matang Mangrove or Nibang Tebal from Penang? I have 10 days in Penang and looking for things to do apart stuffing myself with the local food. I have been to Penang many many times and have done all the touristy things.
Aug 2nd, 2006, 05:47 PM
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Naturaltan, if you can drive real fast and have a good guide to get you straight into areas steeped in bio-divesity, I guess you could cover Matang-Kuala Gula-Nibong Tebal in one day. The problem with DIY tour in the Msian outskirt is the peril of getting lost. English is not spoken in these hamlets. I suggest dedicating 1 full day for Kuala Gula and Nibong Tebal and another full day in Matang. By the way, you can only see fire flies after sun down in Nibong Tebal.
Aug 3rd, 2006, 12:06 AM
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Thanks again TravelTwiddle. Malaysian Tourist Office in London is not very good with maps and direction, where can I get a good map and direction for these three places? Are these three places mentioned in any of the guide books? I have family and friends in Malaysia and haven't heard them mentioned any of these places, I guess they must be new tourist attractions.
Aug 4th, 2006, 07:02 PM
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Not gonna hog this Pangkor Laut thread with something that's out of the topic. Naturaltan, write to me [email protected]. I will forward you the directions, what, why, where, how ... etc.
Yeah, I am sometimes disappointed that so many beautiful places in Malaysia are sidelined and travellers are still misguided into places that are already too tired with mass tourism. Taman Negara for example. Money spent in commercialised touristy locales are only making those in ties and suits rich, not the villagers around them.
By the way, don't blame your Malaysian friends for not knowing places I've recommended. I know more about eco-destinations than the average local because my job has something to do with experiential outdoor learning.
Yeah, I am sometimes disappointed that so many beautiful places in Malaysia are sidelined and travellers are still misguided into places that are already too tired with mass tourism. Taman Negara for example. Money spent in commercialised touristy locales are only making those in ties and suits rich, not the villagers around them.
By the way, don't blame your Malaysian friends for not knowing places I've recommended. I know more about eco-destinations than the average local because my job has something to do with experiential outdoor learning.
