Exploring Kedah Part 2: Bujang Valley Archeological Museum, Ulu Legong Hot Spring, Gunung Jerai and Pulau Bunting Bridge

We have read about history of Kedah though our Sejarah textbook :) Now it's time to explore some of it. And after our daytrip, we manage to book a one night stay at The Regency Jerai Hill Resorts at promotional price. So it's an opportunity for us to visit places of interest nearby.

First stop at Bujang Valley Archaeological Museum (Lembah Bujang Archaeological Museum)
All of us have not been to Lembah Bujang Archaeological Museum, not even us adults as we didn't have school trips here. With directions from the GPS, we ended up at one of the archaeological sites instead of the museum! That's because I selected the wrong location :P So in the middle of the paddy fields, at the end of the small road, there we were at a locked gate! 爸爸 had to call the museum and was advised to look for the Merbok Balai Polis. We were told the museum is only about 2km from the Merbok Balai Polis, and only one access road. Since we travelled into miles and miles of paddy field, it's time for photo taking as the children have not been "this close" to any paddy fields before. The hill at the background is Gunung Jerai as Lembah Bujang is at the foothill of Gunung Jerai.

Paddy fields

Ok, finally we reached the museum :) The authorities had rebuild the candi's bases on the musuem grounds. Inside the museum the artifacts found are displayed.

The model of Lembah Bujang is interesting

Water from the hills

Candi Pendiat and Candi Bukit Batu Pahat

Candi Bendang Dalam and Candi Pengkalan Bujang

The museum grounds

Ulu Legong Hot Spring
The children cannot wait to go to the next destination. Again we use the GPS. However the hot spring is further away than we ever imagined. By the time we reach it's around 1pm, it's located near Baling. Erm, hot spring bath at noon temperature? Since we had taken the trouble to come all the way, we are definitely going to take a dip. Entrance is RM4 for adults and RM2 for children. There is only another family besides us. No wonder, as the water is hot! In the end, we only go to the children's pool which is the "mildest". Later more and more families came. Some area of the hot spring is still under renovation, there are chalets too. 爸爸 say " Don't ask me to come and stay please!" The water is quite clean. But the children turn a little pinkish after the hot dip due to the warm water dip.

Gunung Jerai
Check-in is very late at The Regency Jerai Hill Resort. Near to 6pm (we arrive around 4pm) as the staff could not handle such an influx of visitors. Folks arriving earlier only check-in 2-3 hours after arriving. Yes, don't ask me to go again :) After waiting for ages, we got our room, which looks like a small chalet from outside. After quick baths, we go for dinner at the Puncak Restaurant. More waiting there and I took some snacks for the children while they wait for dinner. This time around, Gunung Jerai is really misty and we couldn't see much of the view.

A misty night, photos didn't turn out good

Thought we missed the countdown but one of the big families that came brought fireworks. We were already asleep by the time we heard fireworks later at night. Is the hot spring so relaxing that everyone was sound asleep by then? Hot spring, cool mountain.....

Our room is opposite the children's playground. So kind of enjoy yelling to the children to come back from the playground.  Leisurely day as the only itinery planned is Forestry Museum near the Jerai Hill Resort.

Having fun at playground

Forestry Museum at Gunung Jerai

Pulau Bunting Bridge (Jambatan Pulau Bunting)
Have you ever heard of the "bridge that goes nowhere"? Since seeing Pulau Bunting from Gunung Jerai during our last visit, I've done some checking and wanted to show the children the bridge they saw.

Indeed the 1km rickety road from the small town (is it called Yan?) is funny. The rickety bumpity road is just next to a big drainage canal for paddy fields. We can see the sea from this little rickety road. Photos showed so many folks had been fishing from Pulau Bunting Bridge, but it's actually fenced up, though there's a open area where motorbikes and people walking on foot can pass through. There are really many people fishing along the bridge that it appeared on forums for fishing kaki's. Psst... there's even small stalls selling drinks and food at both ends of the bridge.

Pulau Bunting Bridge is 2.8km to Pulau Bunting from mainland. We can see Gunung Jerai from the bridge and also Pulau Bunting in the distance.

And no wonder it's well known among fishing kaki's. As we near Pulau Bunting, we can see fishes from the bridge on the water surface! These are small little fishies. However all along the bridge we saw sea shells (no idea why??) and fishes dried by the sun (probably thrown by the people who were fishing). There were some squids too :) And the children were cooing over the them. Initially I thought of just walking until the arch. It is not halfway through the bridge but more towards Pulau Bunting. 姐姐 is determined to set foot on the little island. No complaints and she walked very fast. But on the way back, complaints about being tired and aching legs came. She is still good and walked all the way and taking rests in between. 弟弟 had to be carried back as he is just too tired to walk.

Some websites say that millions had been spent to build the bridge, and yet the access road is so poor. So much for the adventure of "bridge to nowhere".

Day trip to Kedah's Beris Lake Vineyard, Lata Mengkuang and Gunung Jerai

Being city folks, we have not been around "kampung" and "nature" much. So it's time to go for a short "nature" type of tour which we can make in one day. We went to take a look at a vineyard (Beris Lake Vineyard or Ladang Anggur Tasik Beris), a "waterfall" called Lata Mengkuang and the unplanned one is Gunung Jerai (or Mount Jerai). In my naivity, I thought everything's pretty near in Kedah state, but it turns out they are quite a distance away. Well, since we are in the vicinity, might as well right? It was raining in Prai when we started our journey but on this blessed day, we left the rain behind!

Beris Lake Vineyard (Ladang Anggur Tasik Beris)

This is new to us as we didn't know of a vineyard in Northern region until quite recently. Have to warn you that the road to Beris Lake Vineyard is through quite a distance among a couple of small towns, palm plantations, rubber estates and kampungs. The GPS bring us to the right place and there are signs when we are nearer, example 16km from the vineyard. After all, it's a straight route ahead after Gurun toll and making a right turn at the traffic light. Oh, if need to go to the restroom on the way, look for petrol stations. Further up it's more remote and no more petrol stations, have to wait until reach the vineyard :D It must be a good day to get married as we passed 3 or 4 kampung houses having wedding kenduri.

Entrance fees is RM4 for adults, RM2 for children 7-12 years old

Dark grapes are larger size compared to the green ones when we visit

These "eating-the-grapes" shots are just poses. Not allowed to pluck grapes here!

  

As 爸爸 is tall, he has to bend his head and neck just to go through the visitor path. Probably anyone taller than 170cm (just rough estimate) will feel the strain walking through the vineyard. Finally there's an advantage to be short :) Those area that visitors can go are marked with colourful flags.

There's supposed to be a cafe called Beris Lake Cafe on its premise but we didn't see one, and didn't ask the staff. There's a small stall selling "grape curry puff" - saw some grape skin but didn't taste grapey, fried beehoon and grape juice (2 types, green and dark). We dine outdoors style under a big nice umbrella (no photo as busy eating). It was starting to drizzle ever so slightly, so we purchase some grape juice and a pack of grapes at the Sales Gallery. By this time, more visitors are pouring in and we're glad to escape the bigger crowd!

The patio overlooking Beris Lake

Enjoying a new playground

View of Beris Lake, some sections of the terrace here is in repair, the photos just didn't show it. We saw work-in-progress of what looks like a pier and a big house next to the playground.

The grapes and juices we bought

Lata Mengkuang Recreation Park
Next stop on the way back. We go through a winding little road and passed a couple more Malay folks' wedding kenduri. We tried looking for actual waterfall (with a fall) but the only the stream that came from the waterfall is accessible. Probably have to hike on foot, which the children do not want to. So we ended up at the park.

Having sandwiches packed from home at the picnic table

Probably we're the only Chinese family there :)

Mount Jerai (Gunung Jerai)
Immediately at the junction after Gurun toll in the morning, we saw a sign pointing to Gunung Jerai and decided we will take a look if still have time after the two locations already planned. We didn't research the place prior and I thought if we can't drive up then we'll head home. Have to passby Gurun town and there's quite a big project having flyover done there. Along the way to Gunung Jerai there are quite a lot of Hindu temples at the foothill, for a small town like this you know.

Finally we made it to a huge sign saying Gunung Jerai. The peak didn't seem too far away and 爸爸 decided he want to bring us to the peak, if you may. Boy, it's quite a winding and steep road uphill, only one lane each way and no room for more. Forging ahead, there are a few spots where the road is very narrow. Luckily just a few cars going up and down. At one spot, the MPV ahead of us and the MPV on the next lane have to slow down and inch their way across each other. So take note if you go in MPV. Don't even try to go uphill if driving skill is not good :D (I will never dream of driving on such road). Later we found out one can take a van service up Gunung Jerai from the foothill (the reference website said RM10/person). We actually saw two such vans going up and down.

The topmost place we can drive to is near The Regency Jerai Hill Resort. We parked our car and walked a little way up to the resort. When we step out of the car, we're greeted with cool, crisp air. It's cooler than Penang Hill and not wet, damp atmosphere at Cameron Highlands when we went. In fact, it's downright nice and comfy, a little colder when the wind blows. As we needed a toilet stop, there's a public toilet right before the resort entrance but it's sooooo terribly in ruins. There are steps leading downhill but we're not sure where to.

Once we reach the resort, we can see spectacular view of paddy fields. At one side we are so surprised to see the sea and a little island with bridge connecting to it (sua koo ah...). Part of the resort is still work-in-progress. Even though it's landscaped beautifully, it's more man-made than natural but you just can't please everyone. As it's getting dark we have to go downhill. My word, there are still folks driving up even though it's getting dark.

Says 1200m here but somewhere else says 900+ m



It's windy, can see it from the flyaway hair



The coastline and little island in the background

Nice view of paddy fields

At the foothill

All in all, a good day trip that the children enjoyed. Thanks to 爸爸 who is ever so willing to drive the distance. Oh and just got to know that Gunung Jerai has historical tales linked to Lembah Bujang. Yeah, I don't even remember what I studied in Sejarah anymore.