These igloo-shaped charcoal kilns
build probably more than 50 years ago
were used to make charcoal from mangrove logs
which was once in abundance here
but with depleting supply of wood
and modernization of home kitchen
from charcoal to gas as a main source of fuel in the 80ies
lead to the end of this traditional charcoal production kilns
here in Semeling,Kedah.
all fence up now as it's a safety hazard
that could collapse without any warning
due to neglect.
This canal was once probably bustling with boats bringing in logs for the kilns.
A nice writeup on the Legendary Tasik Chini
which i found in my Kuantan's ST Thomas School magazine of 1964
when the place was still in its pristine form,
with only the lakes,jungle and aborigines from the Jakun tribe.
Nicely written by the late Soon Ah Kam, a student and scout from the 4th Kuantan troop,St Thomas School.
A similar type of floating hut lays abandoned (photo taken 2 years back)
In their search for iron ore,even the scared mountain around Tasik Chini was not spared.
The scared lotus flowers of Tasik Chini have slowly being replaced by the 'ekor kucing' (Cabomba Furcata)
The beautiful jetty of Tasik Chini,
let us hope and pray that the beautiful place
can survive the test and the impact of development
coming up around it
and be there for the future generations
to cherish.
The mystical Elephant Rock or 'Batu Gajah'
as the locals fondly call it is located at the foot of Bukit Dumbar,
so famous of this rock that the road running beside is named after it
but development is fast catching up here and soon it mighty
not be there any more.
Legends say that long time ago
a pious old man used to meditate on the rock daily
and when he passed away his spirits remains on the rock.
In the old days people with life problems
use to visit the place to ask for divine help
and it was said that many have their wishes granted.
Tasik Chini,our country's only Unesco Biosphere Reserve
is in a verge of having it's ecosystem collapsing
due to logging,plantation activities,excessive iron ore mining
and even the effects of a national service camp nearby.
Who will be the ones to do something to save it?
The helpless orang asli of the Jakun tribe,nature lovers or politician,
whatever,for nature have it's limits in fighting back.
a new alien species,
a type of aquatic plant Cabomba Furcata called 'ekor kucing'
by the local aboriginals is beginning to replace the lotus.
The fear of radiation from the LYNAS rare earth refining plant in Gebeng,the world largest,
about 20km from Kuantan have been the talk of the town and country for quite some time
with protests spearheaded by SMSL
and with the green issues now being link to the 13th Malaysian General Election
with the participation of the Wong Tack the chairman of 'Himpunan Hijau'
the major green movement in Malaysia as the Pakatan Rakyat candidate
in the Bentong Parlimentary seat.
A win for him will mean a voice for the green movement in Parliment.
normal readings for now..
Will the future of people of Kuantan be like this corpse like rock of Batu Balok?
What will this tranquil scene of the Balok river be like
with waste water discharge flowing into it years from now?
how about the Balok mangrove forest?
a muddy Sungai Tunggak.
Junction of Balok and Tunggak river.
A fishermen cleaning his net at the Balok river mouth,
wonder what will his catch be like a few years from now? OEKO report
watching the returning fishermen at the river mouth is a favourite past time for many on weekends
especially during low tide.
early boats leaving for another day at sea.
let us hope a new sunrise will come on the 6th of May
which will bring lots of good news to the people of Kuantan.
