Kuala Selangor - A fascinating diversity of landscape

In May last year, under the umbrella of JJCF we went for a photohunting trip to Kuala Selangor. Few car convoyed searching for photo opportunity along the coastal of Selangor. Kuala Selangor is an old royal capital of Selangor Darul Ehsan

Kuala Selangor Nature Park, our first stop

We start our journey from Shah Alam. Our first stop is the Kuala Selangor Nature Park, a mangrove reserve managed by MNS. The mangroves and mudflats area covers approximately 800 acres and is the home to various wildlife such as monkey, migratory birds and amphibian.

The photographer team heading into the park

Panorama view from watchtower

Kak qool, looking for photo opportunity

Monkey crossing the bridge

After spending few hours in the park, we went for a quick lunch at the town and head toward our second destination, the paddy field around Tanjong Karang. We choose this site as the paddyfield at Tanjong Karang area is nearer than the Sekinchan area.

The paddy .. to ripe soon...

Kids fishing

Abemie fishing

Villager netting fish

Some kid going home after evening class

Soon afterward, we went hunting for the sunset at Pantai Remis, also within the vicinity of Kuala Selangor. We initially hunting for a fishing jetty called Bagan Tengkorak (if not mistaken) but instead of Bagan Tengkorak, we found other jetty which is not favourable. So we went direct to Pantai Remis for the sunset.

Taken at a jetty near Bagan Tengkorak

Azli

The sunset

after a hectic day, we all went back to our meeting point at Shah Alam (the mosque) and went home afterward.

(will rewrite this entry with more detail afterward..)

In conclusion, Kuala Selangor offer a diversity of landscape. From mangrove area , to paddy field, fishing jetty and even the beach are available within single vicinity. I'm sure to return here to recapture the beauty of Kuala Selangor.

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From Semporna to Mabul - An unforgettable memory

The stilt water village at Mabul from google earth

Mabul is simply a photographer heaven for both landscape & street shooting. Located near Semporna, it is near the Sipadan Island, the diver's heaven. In fact Mabul is the the nearest accomodation available for diver that would like to go to Sipadan. 

In 2009, organized by my close photographer friend Azli under JJCF umbrella, a total of 12 people went to Mabul Island. In this trip i went with my beloved wife & son. Since this is our first time to Semporna & Mabul, everything is new for us. The scenery of Sabah seascape is simply breathtaking and wonderful. The kids of Mabul which happily entertain visitor is a unique and unforgettable experience. And these kids is very photographer friendly.

Our experienced were greatly enhanced by the hospitality of our homestay, Spherediver Homestay. Azhar, one of the spherediver partner has been a great host during our stay. He even poisoned us (maybe i only.. hahahah) with his underwater macro pictures which is superb and marvellous. His photo is inspirational and from that moment i'm determine to explore underwater photography one day (and i hope that day is soon enough). Since he (azhar) is a SDARIAN, he also know my eldest brother Azmi which is his junior.

Me & my wife arrive one day earlier as we would just like to browse around Semporna city for a while. We stay at Semporna Inn . This hotel fronting the jetty at Semporna. When we arrived its already late so we just relax at our hotel until the next day.

Day 2, early morning i went searching for a good spot for sunrise around the jetty. I'm a bit late as the here the sun rise an hour earlier compared to West Malaysia.
After that i walk around and found the fishing jetty behind our hotel. After taking few picture went back to the hotel for breakfast.

After having breakfast with family and while waiting for our fellow friend to arrive from Tawau airport, we take a walk around the market at Semporna near the Semporna Mosque. It is an interesting place for street shoot photographer. A lot of independent seller begging us to buy their item such as peanuts, salted fish (colourful salted fish!) and fish cracker. I didn't take much picture as the aggressiveness of these seller make my family a bit uncomfortable.

At noon, when the rest of the expedition team finally arrived, we went to Mabul Island. The view a long the way is very fascinating and beautiful. We immediately went for our first snorkeling trip after lunch.












At Mabul, there is two distinct village. One is the Bajau people stilt water village (where most of the homestay resort is located) and another is Bajau Laut (Pelauh) village fronting Sipadan Water Village. The Bajau people is very similar to Malay culture with Islam as their religion. The people of Bajau is much more educated and most of their kid will go to school located at the centre of the island.











Bajau Laut is an excellent sea farer tribe



Bajau laut kids in one of the bigger boat cum house

The Bajau Laut is actually sea gypsy people which roam the Southern Phililippines and island around Sabah. These bajau laut are sometime referred as people with no land as they normally dont have any identification and does not belong to any country. Traditionally they stay in their boat but over the years some of them have settle in the land (while still maintaing ocean as their source of living). In their transition from sea nomadic to sedentary village life, they also slowly integrate with the local people and some of them also start to understand the value of education as witness by us during our visit there.

Kids from both village is very photographer friendly and would do any pose that you request of them.

Now lets see some of the picture taken there during this trip.











Sunrise day 1 - thick cloud


Sunrise day 2 - better

Note: After our first trip there (Jun 2009), few of our photographer friend's group has visited this the Spherediver Homestay upon recommendation by us. While most of them is happy with Spherediver service, recently (June 2010) there is an instance where a photographer group of my friend report an unpleasant experience during their stay where the service extended to them is not what they had expected - eg no snorkeling trip, boat promised not arrived,etc (a very contrasting picture from another story of my friends which stay there in April 2010 - they report everything is good ). My friend noted that most probably the reason is because they paid a much lower fee through his friend's scuba company. For me, if its true it would be sad and look very unprofessional. Personally i believe my friends' bad experience is an isolated incident. But for whatever reason, the damage has been done and those disappointed people would probably spread their experience. For me, i would keep revisit this place if i ever go to Mabul again. Especially if i want to take my scuba license - hopefully soon by 2011. I prefer to learn scuba diving with someone i knew. :D . Recommending? Not sure. Perhap yes perhap not. Your client is your asset and their words is your free promotion.

Spherediver Contact Info Website http://www.spheredivers.com/ One of the partner FB - Azhar Adnan - http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1049689585&ref=ts siestanley@yahoo.com  Tel no: +6019-668-3731 azhar@spheredivers.com Tel no: +6012-285-7043

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Hidden Gem of Port Dickson, Marina Bay at Avillion Admiral Cove

The marina with fisheye effect



Between 25-27th June 2010, me & my family went to this place called Avillion Admiral Cove, Port Dickson for my faculty family day. It was love at first sight. The place is amazing. The hotel wing just recently opened in April. One of the main feature of this place is the boat marina bay. The hotel is located beside a human made bay which made the sea water as calm as millpond. You dont need ND400 to get the millpond effect. Just put your aperture at F22 will be enough (not at noon of course). This place is a hidden gem of Port Dickson and i'm sure this place will attract a lot of photographer in the future.

Admiral Cove Marina Bay from google earth

Just a quick note. At the lower deck, the guard seem not so friendly towards photographer. It will be fine if you want to take your memory picture (or your fren/spouse/son) together with the marina but they didnt allow you to take the marina alone (eg take the bay view only without you in the picture is not allowed). They explain they were just following orders. A weird one of course. Maybe they dont want paparazzi shooting VIP in the luxury boat maybe? hahaha. Dont know. But hey... as long they didnt bother us at other place it should be ok. Just pity i wont be able to capture lower angle or silhoutte of the boats in the marina during sunset. (Thats why i only has a high angle picture only of the marina during sunset).

If you want to go to this place, just follow the Port Dickson highway from seremban. Go until the end of the highway (until you find the round about - dont follow the earlier port dickson sign). At the round about, take 3 o'clock. After a while you will see Port Dickson Hospital at your right. Not far from the hospital (few hundred metres only) you will see the hotel sign at a junction to the left. Follow this road and you will reach the hotel.

Now picture from this place (All picture is taken either using Visible IR camera or Goldie IR camera as my normal camera is still under service at Canon Service Centre)








Afterglow sunset


Boat at the beach


The beach


Matahari ship


My son at the swimming pool


The kids swimming pool, facing the sea


Some view


Sunset


Sunset

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