Kenyir Kelah Sanctuary Experience… Part 1 – The Houseboat ride

20th. August, 2010 -  I had an opportunity to visit the Kenyir Kelah Sanctuary at Sungai Petang in Tasik Kenyir (Kenyir Lake).

Located 21 km from Pengkalan Gawi, lies Sungai Petang, an area of 407 hectares stretches for 20km long – 10km within Taman Negara with 91 streams flowing mainly from Gunung Padang (1,314m), the highest peak in the territory.

 

Pengkalan Gawi, Kenyir Lake. It was an overcast morning when we arrived.

 

We enjoyed the experience we will never forget…. seeing the natures at its best with the magnificent rivers and rapids along the track to Kelah Sanctuary. We experienced the beautiful Red Kelah gently biting and stroking at our feet.

From Pengkalan Gawi jetty, we rented a houseboat to Petang Island Resort, a 2 hours boat journey.

 

 

Houseboat Jetty at Pengkalan Gawi, Kenyir Lake. Our houseboat is the third from right.

 

 

Houseboat jetty, Kenyir Lake.

 

 

Boat at the lake, Kenyir Lake. The calmness of the lake makes it so relaxing.

 

 

Kenyir Lake. Wouldn't want to miss this shot for memories.

 

 

"Orang Asli" of Kenyir.

 

Petang Island Resort, Petang Island, Kenyir. - Our houseboat stopped here. Our Journey continues on speedboats to Kelah Sanctuary through Sungai Petang.

 

Kelantan’s Songkran & Water Festival 2010

Songkran festival is a new year celebration among Siamese, is held on the 15th. day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar during full moon period. The Siamese community in Kelantan celebrates the occassion on the 9th. April 2010 recently at Sukhontharam Temple in Tumpat.

The Songkran festival promotes good values such as unity, respect and peace among people in a fun way. The custom of throwing water at friends and family is taken in good humour. Incidentally, this water-throwing festival coincides with the hottest season of the year, thus getting drenched is a welcome relief!

I was at Sukhontharam Temple with my fellow photographer friends from Kuala Terengganu and Kota Baru to witness the celebration. Here are some images of the friendly water-fight event, traditional dancers and dances.

 

Throwing Water

 

Dumped Into Water Tank

 

Backhand Swing

 

Artist - In Traditional Clothes

 

"Hold there! Can I have a photo of you?"

 

Artists in waiting

 

Siamese Traditional Dance

 

Traditional Dancers performing

 

Traditional Dancers 2 performing

 

Two little girls amazed watching the Wter-Fight with their mother

 

Nature Photography

I have been busy lately and I didn’t spend much time on photography. Though I’ve tried not stop photographing.

Last week, I’ve spotted this bird at a park near a river in the morning, looking for food.

 

Nikon D40 f5.6, 1/2000sec, ISO200

 

Below, I’ve created a fractal image of this bird.

 

Nikon D40, f5.6, 1/3200sec, ISO400

 

I’ve spotted this kingfisher on a high tree yesterday morning, after the rain.

 

Nikon D40, f5.6, 1/1250sec, ISO400

 

Later, during cloudy noon, I’ve accidentally spotted Madam Liz, the lizard, sunbathing beside a shop where I work.  It didn’t move a bit. So I quickly ran in and get my camera and switched my lens to 70-300mm. I’ve crawled til about 10 feets from it before I took this shot. It was generous of her to let me take a photo of her. By the time I’ve crawled another couple of feets, it quickly ran off, leaving me with this shot.

 

Nikon D40, f5.6, 1/800, ISO400

 

During cold seasons, reptiles are not very active. Like this lizard, they sunbathed to warm up themselves.

Candid Photography

Last week, I saw this little girl sitting at a lane near where I work on an overcast day. Her posture attracted me that I took out my camera and took some shots of her. Being careless,the shot was taken with Aperture of f/10 resulting a distraction background. I was lucky I managed to touch it up.

I was happy with the result and manage to give a copy to the parent a day before they left town.

Little Girl 1 (Nikon D40 100mm f/10 1/200sec ISO400)

Little Girl 2 (Nikon D40 150mm f/10 1/160sec ISO 400)

Photowalk – 25th. Dec, 2009

I was doing a photowalk alone for 1 1/2 hour early this morning. Perhaps a little too early as today is a weekend as well as Christmas day in Terengganu.

Mrs.Crab (Nikon D40 Sigma 70-300mm f8 1/200sec ISO400 220mm)

Meet Mrs. Crab. She was very shy and scared in the beginning and ran into her hole. I then  realized she was scared to the sound of my lens focusing on her. So, I set my auto focus to manual and patiently wait for her to come out from her hole again. Not very long, she came out from her hole and I started to focus in manual.

After that I started to continue my venture and met with Mr. Grumpy Bird. No doubt, I don’t know why he was so grumpy. Being afraid that he might flew off due to the sound of my Auto Focus motor, I made sure I have set my focus to manual.

Mr Grumpy(Nikon D40 Sigma 70-300mm f8 1/500sec ISO400 300mm)

Mr Grumpy 2 (Nikon D40 Sigma 70-300mm f8 1/640sec ISO400 300mm)

Later, I was attracted to the rain water on a pine tree at the beach. Since I don’t own a macro lens, I have to shoot with Sigma 70-300mm.

After The Rain (Nikon D40 Sigma 70-300mm f8 1/320sec ISO400 195mm)

Next, not on the list, a pair of swiftlets. I have never been this close to be able to shoot the wavelets successfully. I should say they are a beautiful creature.

A Pair Of Wavelets(Nikon D40 Sigma 70-300mm f5.6 1/250sec ISO200 300mm)

A group of kids were playing nearby.

Kids Playing (Nikon D40 Sigma 70-300mm f8 1/250sec ISO400 300mm)

After walking another 20 minutes, I entered one of the secluded area of Chinatown where I found a Classic telephone booth which was the only one left, has been repaired.

Classic Phone Booth (Nikon D40 Nikkor 18-55mm VR f8 1/160sec ISO400 26mm)

I have had a good time and learned some things on this photo walk.

Animals have sensitive hearings. Whenever you want to shoot an animal, be sure to turn your Auto Focus to manual.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday!