Exploring Gua Tempurung and Menara Condong Teluk Intan in Perak

The next day of our trip brings us to Gua Tempurung and Teluk Intan in Perak. Gua Tempurung was part of the tour agenda for 姐姐's school trip last year which we didn't join. We made it to Gua Tempurung this time!

Gua Tempurung (Tempurung Cave)
Gua Tempurung (Tempurung Cave) is about 30 minutes from Lost World Hotel in Ipoh. There is a big signboard outside the main road from Gopeng. Gua Tempurung is the largest limestone structure in Peninsular Malaysia.

I thought of bringing the kids to Gua Tempurung before we got too old to climb since the stairs looked quite steep from their website. We didn't have sneakers for the children (they had outgrown the old ones) so we just brought 姐姐's school shoes. Not to be surprised, 弟弟 actually wears the same size as her. Good thing they wore the school shoes as it must have rained before and some parts of the stairs were wet and slippery. This place is not for the faint-hearted as it's dark (oops we didn't bring torches :P) and requires negotiating quite high steps. But don't worry too much as there are lights along the way. We only took the Golden Flowstone tour which is the mildest, not sure if we could have the children in the caves for too long. Entrance tickets are RM6 each for adults and RM2.50 each for children.

Gua Tempurung entrance, cave window

Once inside, the children keep asking is it a real cave? Themepark symdrome you know, as they are too used to manmade stuffs at the themeparks. That's why we have to bring them to experience some natural surroundings. I think we came at good time as we can climb leisurely as there isn't a crowd (spoke too soon). Otherwise I would have hard time as I'm afraid of heights and at one point it is really going high up in the beginning (near the underground river).

As we just go by ourselves, we don't really know where the tour stops for our package. So we just keep going. The children sighted bats too, and were so excited. Until at a certain point near the "dinosaur teeth", 弟弟 got tired of it and firmly requested to go. We were all sweating and puffing as it's pretty tiring for us to negotiate so many steps.

Wind tunnel, it's very windy here. Looks like Mickey Mouse and heart on the roof here. A part of the cave which looks like dinosaur teeth. And the big sign once you go onto the road to Gua Tempurung (after a big signboard from the main old trunk road).

On our way down, we bertembung with a school group and had to let them pass first. It feels like ages waiting for them as it's such a big group. Lucky for us, we're on our way out. We went to the paid public restroom there (only 30 sen) and nearly fainted, so many people from school tours. And the toilet floor was flooded - not sure because of rain or the girls bathing after the wet tour? 姐姐 got her shoes and feet wet from stepping into the huge puddle of water as she is not tall enough to make one single step out of the toilet stall :(

It's past lunch time and since we didn't want to jossle with the school crowd, we drove to Kampar and saw Tesco Kampar just off the main road (about 10 km away). So it's KFC for the children as the kopitiams around the area seem be closed. Us adults already planned to try out food at Teluk Intan.

After Gua Tempurung, it's about a 1 hour drive to Teluk Intan to look for the Menara Condong Teluk Intan. In the car when we continue our trip, 姐姐 was a bit disappointed we didn't take the longer tour to the top called Top Of The World tour. We told her next trip when 弟弟 is bigger we will make another trip and take Top Of The World tour.

Menara Condong Teluk Intan (Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan)
We drove all the way just to see the Menara Condong Teluk Intan :) And when we reached, it was quite a surprise to me, so cute!! This little historical tower. Too bad it was not open for visiting (why? why?). So we just took photos around the grounds. It was a sunny day and 弟弟 complained about the sun in his eyes. He refused to take photo until we offered to let him use an umbrella.

The quaint looking Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan. Loved the photo on the left :)

Next it's looking for some food for the adults. First stop for soya bean drink. They had sold out of soya beancurd so we make do with jelly and the drinks. Then it's Ah Chai Rojak. Sorry to say we've had better :P The very popular chee cheong fun was not open yet and we didn't want to wait. After buying local biscuits at Ta Sin Guan, we drove to Ipoh for chicken rice at Onn Kee Tauge Ayam 安记芽菜鸡. It was raining in the evening, lucky for us it just drizzled when we reached. The children liked this chicken rice.

Food around Teluk Intan, and Ipoh 安记芽菜鸡

After dinner, so happened we passed by Kinta River and amazed that it has changed into Kinta River Walk. You know how much 弟弟 likes Kinta :)

Kinta River Walk

Short holiday to Lost World of Tambun, Ipoh

Despite 爸爸's busy work schedule, he still bring us for short holiday. This time we try to explore more of Perak, well, the Lost World of Tambun at Ipoh, Perak :) We set off pretty early at 7am and reached Ipoh for quick breakfast. Lost World of Tambun is just 5 minutes from the breakfast place, so we reached about 9:30am :P And the Lost World Hotel is right opposite from Lost World of Tambun themepark, so convenient. Since it's school holidays, we're not the only ones. There's already a queue waiting to go in after we got our tickets. This is the first time we are so early that have to wait for the themepark opening hours.

Lost World Hotel and Lost World of Tambun entrance

First we walk around the place. The plan is to go for the "dry" activities before going for the "wet" water park. Adventure Express, the train ride that the children wanted to go on, only operates from 12pm and no visitors doing Amusement Park rides yet so we went to explore the grounds first. There are a couple of tigers at Tiger Valley but can't really see from photo, they were hiding in the shades. Amazing human eyes vs camera zoom right?

Adventure Express, Tiger Valley and Swan Lake. 

 Visited some wild cats. The African Serval Cat is quite new Lost World of Tambun.

We heard the new roller coaster Lupe's Adventure in operation so we went for it. As it's family-style ride, the children say it's too slow (showing off to me, ya). They say it went into a cave and went around twice. I didn't notice anything since I had my eyes shut :P

Lupe's Adventure is a new attraction. It's a family-style roller coaster.

After the heart-racing stuf, it's milder activity next. We went into Tin Valley. There's a gallery showing tin mining tools and gadgets in a real limestone cave! In fact, the air at Tin Valley is really cool even though it's a hot morning, as it's nestled among the limestone hills. We met a friendly guide and he brought us around the place and explained many tin mining history and stories to us. He even showed the children dulang washing and the children had fun trying their hands at it. There are some stone elephants to show that in olden times, elephants were used to transport tin ores. The children climbed onto the biggest one where we can take photos.

Tin Valley. The children had a fun experience dulang washing.

By now the Amusement Park rides have started so we went for Perak Parade (the children's merry-go-round), Giddy Galleon and Dragon Flight (like swing chair).

Amusement Park rides - Perak Parade, Giddy Galleon and Dragon Flight

Near to 12pm, we went around to the train station to wait for Adventure Express. People just hopped onto the train to wait so we did the same :) We're early so we get to sit on the red locomotive as there are some other types running too. It went around all the places at the themepark and back to the station in about 20 minutes.

It's off to the Lost World Petting Zoo after the train ride. The staff had completed feeding activity so we missed that (they started it early when visitors streamed in). The children tried their hands at longkang fishing but the fishes were too clever to be caught :) They also enjoyed feeding the friendly raccoons (RM1 per pack for the feed). The children tried to pet a parrot but the caretaker didn't allow it (hm, I thought it's a petting zoo?). So some we get to touch and most we didn't (smell ah...). There's disinfectant for visitors to clean their hands before leaving the place.

While feeding the raccoons, since there are two coming to us, 姐姐 feed one which climbed on a high bar to reach us and 弟弟 feed the other which is hanging on the ground. 姐姐 tried to give some to the smaller one which didn't climb up, and the one she was initially feeding gave a friendly scratch on her hair to tell her to feed it :) She is ecstatic of its friendliness and the soft touch it gave her (like it's petting her back haha).

Around Lost World Petting Zoo

Feeding raccoon. This animal is really smart and friendly.

We would have stayed longer at the Petting Zoo but didn't want to miss out the fun at the Water Park. We had quick lunch at the hawker stalls before going for the Water Park. The children were so excited to play in the water. The water at Kids Explorabay is slightly warm (did they channel some water from the hot spring?) so it's pretty comfortable for the children. Some area are shaded from the hot sun by canopy too. There's a lifeguard on duty (well at least it makes me feel more comfortable). The lifeguard blew his whistle every time someone brought the tube float to the Kids Explorabay :)

Kids Explorabay is fun for kids :)

They enjoyed the Jungle Wave Pool as well, even though they tell us the water is not as warm as the Kids Explorabay. We only allow them on the shallow parts as they don't swim.

Jungle Wave Pool

Fortunately I slather them with sunblock before they go to play at Water Park. 爸爸 who didn't want any ended up sunburnt. Even though I put some on, I still get a little sunburnt too. We should have got some after-sun lotion in case of sunburnt. I think all of us got at least 2 shades darker. As for swimming suit, we got them new ones as the old one didn't fit anymore. It's not easy to find 姐姐's size as she is now considered a tween, but with kid's preference for style (of course we only went to Aeon and not the specialty stores, no time to shop around anymore). Some salesgirl even recommended teenager style to us, but it's not suitable with removable paddings (I was like, what?? at her age of not even 9??). It's off-putting to know they just want to make a sale even though they know their stuff is not suitable.

Around 3pm, we went for tiger feeding show at Tiger Valley, it's the most interesting animal show here according to the MC. It's totally full at the audience podium and we squeezed at the back standing. Even though it's called tiger feeding show, the trainers showed us tricks done by a dear raccoon, parrots, and a funny show by the chickens they rear. The trainer blew his whistle in rhythm and the chicks ran out in time and hop into a box, so funny as totally not expected. Finally only tiger feeding show started, where Putra and Jazz entertained us and got fed with chicken pieces.

Tiger feeding show at Tiger Valley, Lost World of Tambun

After that, the children requested to go back to the Water Park. We had such a hard time trying to get them to go to the hotel to take a short rest before dinner. By the time we're ready to leave, there's such a long queue in the changing room that we only changed the children into dry clothes to go back to the Lost World Hotel. After clean-up and shower, the children watched cartoon on the available Channel Four. Since everyone's tired, we only had a quick dinner at Pappa Rich which is directly at the hotel.

When it got dark, it's time to go back for the Lost World Hot Springs and Spa. They labelled the hot spring pools so you'd know what temperatures they are. There's a 37 degree C pool suitable for children called Saphira's Lair. Foot Spa is with reflexology pebbles which we stayed for a while. We also spent a few minutes at Crystal Pool. We skipped some of the pools like Top of The World Pool (too hot at 43 degree C) and Steam Cave which are not suitable for children. 姐姐 enjoyed most of it but 弟弟 was not so enthusiatic especially later at the 40 degree C area of Saphira's Lair. He said he felt uncomfortable so we went back to the hotel only after about 1 hour there. Hehe, actually I didn't enjoy it too as it's not my thing, they play very loud disco-type music at Saphira's Lair making me get a headache after a hot day in the sun. 

Lost World Hot Springs and Spa

Fortunately 弟弟 was ok after we got back especially with cartoons to watch. Maybe he ate too much for dinner and it makes him uncomfortable dipping in the hot springs.

The next morning, we had breakfast served at the themepark restaurant. As long as the children get eggs (at the egg station) and toast, they are good. That's not the only spread, as there's local cuisine like nasi lemak and fried koay teow, juices, coffee/tea, western style like sausages, meat slices, wedges, cereal, fruits. Not over-the-top but sufficient.

We bought the 1-night hotel stay including breakfast, themepark and hot springs for 2 adults and 2 children as part of a package which costs about RM353 (if 爸爸 remember correctly).

Now, after the Lost World of Tambun, the next day is exploring Gua Tempurung and Teluk Intan.

Wesak Day weekend in Penang - 卫塞节浴佛, 花车游行

Wesak Day 2013 grand float by Malaysian Buddhist Association 马佛总会 at Penang 

Just realized we have not bring the children for bathing Buddha ritual during Wesak Day. This time we went to the celebration at Malaysian Buddhist Association, Burma Road, Penang. They must have organized this event many times until they are very organized now. Queue for bathing buddha and queue for joss-stick offering prayers. There are volunteers helping out so everything is done swiftly and smoothly. Everyone is supposed to conduct the bathing buddha ritual only once, one scoop of flower water and pour a little three times on the buddha statue.

Buddha statue at the prayer altar

Queue for our turn for bathing Buddha ritual

I carried 弟弟 while he took a turn at bathing Buddha ritual

姐姐 is able to complete the bathing Buddha ritual herself

After bathing the Buddha ritual, we made a small donation to get some packets of "flower water" or 花水. This is to be used for cleansing/shower at home. We also lighted a candle for the family for blessing. In addition, there is a queue for offering of joss-stick at the altar. It's not the standard long type but just a short one as symbolic gesture I guess.

Outside the Malaysian Buddhist Association in Penang with their donation flags

After that, we went for lunch at vegetarian restaurant on the opposite row of shophouse. Biggest mistake as it's very expensive. 爸爸 didn't want to get lunch at the Buddhist Association even though they have vegetarian food fair as he felt it's tedious with coupon system. I told him next time we are better off having lunch there :P

At home, we mix the "flower water" with some warm water. Hehe make the children shower and only when they are clean then 爸爸 pour the flower water over them. They think this is fun :)

Activity for Wesak at night, watching the Wesak Day procession 花车游行. This is the first time we bring the children to see it. We went for dinner at Old Green House kopitiam. Since the procession started 6:30pm, we are kind of late as 姐姐 has English class replacement. It's fun having dinner there as we can see part of the procession passing by. Er, the children can't stand more vegetarian, but too bad the popular Hokkien mee stall has not started at that time :P Since it's still early the procession vehicles are not lighted up yet.

By the time we joined the procession, it's time for the grand float from Malaysian Buddhist Association to go off from the starting point. We got blended into the crowd, so we just followed the devotees 护送. Wow, the procession really go very fast and we were behind at the Jalan Pangkor/Gurney junction. We turned back and in the end we watched the parade at the junction near Lebuhraya Peel army camp. We missed some of the 花车, one of which had pink lighted trees and one which had white horse. 姐姐 say the one with white horse is the nicest, even though she just caught a glimpse from afar. The procession really go by fast, it makes taking photos difficult as it's moving! We only watched until the grand float passed by and went back about 8:30pm.

Singing children on 花车

This one had pagoda on trishaw in front followed by buddha statue under snake (2013 is snake year)

Monk on the 花车 flicker us with 花水 for 平安. The children was happy they got "splashed" :)

弟弟's favourite 花车 as it has white elephant with gleaming ruby eyes.

Chingay team joined the procession too

Front part of the last float with snake theme decoration, it looks like a car made of flowers

One of the reason to joing the Wesak Day celebration this year, as 姐姐's holiday homework for KSSR Year 3 Mandarin is to write a diary-like essay about Wesak Day. Since she didn't remembe the previous Wesak Day celebrations, we bring her and 弟弟 to experience it themselves. Like a field trip organized by parents :) I think the teacher wants the children to experience the event and then write about it. Otherwise kids will keep saying "I don't know how to write" as they still have not learnt how to write from imagination or by referring to news reports.

During the weekend, we were invited to birthday party of 姐姐's friend at a private clubhouse. We enjoyed great food and the children had a lot of fun. Birthday girl's daddy came up with lots of quiz questions to keep the children entertained.while we adults get to relax and chat :)

The birthday girl :) 姐姐 and 弟弟 were very happy as they get to enjoy cake, pudding and ice-cream

An earlier weekend, the children had pizza.

Double Sensation pizza at Pizza Hut