Per la versione in ITALIANO su Koh Yao ENTRARE NELL’ARTICOLO.

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Turtles are cute reptiles, and since I love these animals, during my last visit to Kuantan, Pahang province, Malaysia, I stopped at the Cherating Turtle Sanctuary to see how they care of this endangered species. An early research informed me that turtles scientific name is Testudines or Chelonii. Turtles are the oldest ever living reptile group, with the largest specimen of chelonian being the leatherback sea-turtle, or Dermochelys coriacea, a turtle living in either fresh water or sea that can reach 2mt in length and weight over 900kg! Tortoise are turtles that dwell in rivers and fresh water streams, much smaller in size than the sea turtles. Their body is usually covered with shells that develop from their fibs, and that function as a shield. The only things you ever see on their living body are the head and the legs. Even though turtles are cold-blooded, like other reptiles, they lay eggs on earth and breathe air. This unique creature is believed to have night vision and intelligence as they can navigate mazes better than white rats. Their diet is dependent on the environment they live in, and consists mostly of meat and plants. Turtle in Malaysian language is Penyu; there are 4 main species of turtles in my country: the Green-Chelion Mydas, the Hawksbill-Eretmochelys imbricata, the Leatherback-Dermochelys coriacea and the Olive Ridley-Lepidochelys olivacea. Pahang has 5 major landing and nesting areas for these sea turtles: Pantai Chendor, Cherating, Tioman, Sri Buat Island and Rompin Beach. The most common turtle found in these areas is the Green-Chelion Mydas, which usually land on the shore between April and September. But back to my visit now: the Cherating Turtle Sanctuary was established in 1972 on an land plot of 0.33 hectare as a turtle hatchery in an effort to protect this species; it was opened to public in 1998 and it is run by the Department of Fisheries. I immediately felt the center is the perfect place for turtles, being next to the sea and in an area where turtles usually come to lay eggs. The main purpose of this center, apart from being a tourist attraction, is the collection of turtle eggs and the organizing of hatching programs. The hatcheries can be easily seen as they are located near the beach. A turtle’s eggs incubation period is around 50 to 60 days, and the eggs usually hatch at night. In order to prevent baby turtles being killed by other predators, they are immediately released to sea by the center. The period for a turtle to become mature is around 20 to 50 years, and only one in 1000 turtles is believed to live that long. While at the exhibition area, I collected some info from the several boards: I discovered that Cherating turtle sanctuary carries out a few research programs on turtles, as well as educating the public on awareness and on the importance of conserving these species. I was also happy to learn that those caught on capturing turtles are liable to a heavy fine and to a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years, or both, under the Fisheries Act. I hope this is effecting in stopping ‘human predators’. Walking around the centre, I saw plenty of turtles in pond, turtles that are part of the center’s hatching program. They look sooooo cute, especially their babies. There are plenty of information boards and other ocean species on display, for the pleasure of the general public, dugongs and species of fish endemic to these waters. Over all, a pleasure time spent at an amazing place! Cherating turtle sanctuary has a souvenir shop and can provide camping facilities for those who want to experience turtle’s hatchlings program. Price range for pitching a tent is around RM30. Cherating turtle sanctuary is open to public from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 am to 5.30 pm, with lunch hours being observed, and 3 hours dedicated to prayer every Friday. Admission is FREE, and donation (in the box provided) is appreciated. To get there, from Kuantan take a bus, a taxi or drive, following directions towards Kemamam/Kuala Terengganu. The sanctuary is located just next to Asia’s First Club Med in Cherating, Pahang, 50 Kilometres from Kuantan city. For more information on Cherating turtle sanctuary, you can email penyuhg@tm.net.my.

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Per la versione in ITALIANO sulla baia di Phang Nga ENTRARE NELL’ARTICOLO. ARTICOLO SU CROCIERA NELLA BAIA DI PHANG NGA: http://asianitinerary.com/cruising-phang-nga-bay/ UN INTERESSANTE ARTICOLO SUGLI ZINGARI DI MARE: http://asianitinerary.com/koh-lanta-sea-gypsies/

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It was thanks to an invitation by a Balinese friend to follow them on a trip to attend to a local ceremony that I discovered the beauty of Menjangan Island. This 1,5 km long and 500 mt wide island, with its size of 24 square kilometers, is situated in the northeast of Bali and is a significant part of the Bali Barat National Park. The park occupies 190 square kilometres area in the most north-westerly point of Bali, the Prapat Agung Peninsula, and large swathes of land, protected beach and offshore coral reef and long stretches of around the towns of Gilimanuk, which together with 580 square kilometres of protected reserve in the highlands to the east it accounts for some 10% of Bali‘s total land area. The small, uninhabited offshore island called Menjangan, at 10 kilometers from the coast, is s part of the Indonesian archipelago. We left Lovina in the mid morning on a cloudy Sunday; the trip took about 2 hours by minivan. At the Labuan Lalang pier, where lots of people were waiting their turn to be shipped to Menjangan, we drank a tea and had a snack at a local stall, and observed peanut sellers and boat builders on the bay before boarding our chartered boat at the harbour. The sea was a bit rough but the ride was pleasurable and charged with excitement. The boat trip was fun and lasted about 40 minutes; the view of Ruang volcano in Java during the journey was majestic. I always love being on the water, and seeing the ocean in all is glory. On approaching the island we realized how beautiful is nature on Menjangan, with unspoiled white sandy beaches and a green interior complete with a group of inhabitant deers. Our day was dedicated to visiting the 3 temples present on the island, the most notable being the Pura Gili Kencana, which is certainly worth a visit for the huge white stone of Ganesh looking out at sea. We were told this is the largest Ganesh temple in the world and the oldest temple in Bali, dating back to the 14th century. Another temple, located at the hilltop of Menjangan, is the Kalenting Sari: it was built as part of the holy trip of the great Hindu missionary Danghyang Nirarta who, in the 16th century, came from the kingdom of Majapahit in Java to teach Hinduism to the Bali people. These temples are inhabited by 16 Hindu monks, the only human presence on the island. Next we took a nice walk around Menjangan perimeter. The walk took 1 hour and a half along paths of dry turf, as we did it slow in order to absorb Menjangan natural coastal beauty. Menjangan in Javanese language means ‘deer’, and this name was given by the local coastal population when they observed herds of wild deers swimming to the island every spring. And deers were indeed present, hiding on the thin island bushes, shy at our presence. Deers, we learned, are not the only animals present on the island: there are wild rabbits, iguanas and wild chicken as well. Once we reached the coast, we witnessed the woman shaman performing a ritual dance armed with a kriss knife, as well as a processions of men and women heading towards the moored boats to take part of the traditional ceremonial trip around the island. The day trip was a great success, though in my opinion, more could be done in terms of organization, cleanliness  and communication: there was lot of waiting around at the harbour, the walking tracks on the island are few and badly kept, and some of the beauty of the island is lost in the rubbish. DIVING ON MENJANGAN Menjangan area is where diving first started seriously on Bali back in about 1978 under the sponsorship of the Indonesian Navy, which helped to establish Menjangan as the premier international dive location in Bali. The island is still today considered to be an important part of the local tourism industry thanks to the seven world-class dive sites that lie off its coast, and to one of the most spectacular and best-preserved coral reefs in Bali. These reefs incorporate an incredible marine fauna that includes groupers, large groups of jacks, turtles, enormous sea fans, pygmy seahorses, vivid gorgonians, schools of snapper and reef sharks. Thanks to the depth of the dramatically deep drop off of nearly 60 meters and by complex rock formations, there are a great number of large and small caves hosting sponge and soft corals, moray eels and young snappers and batfish. The moderate flow of currents and its protection from strong winds means it is common to see tuna, shoals of jack-fish and angelfish. Many of Bali‘s dive operators based in the southern tourist regions can arrange daily dive excursions specifically to Menjangan. Snorkeling is also said to be the best on Bali: the water around Menjangan is often clear and calm, there is a great abundance of marine life and coral, and visibility is usually excellent, ranging from between 15 and 50 meters. Dive companies offer a comprehensive selection of wetsuits, masks, diving equipment and all other gear necessary to explore beneath the waves. _________________________________________ What are you waiting for? Whether you are a dive aficionado, a sea lover or an adventurer, a day trip to Menjangan is absolutely worth it. Boats leave from the beach at Labuan Lalang and can chartered on the day. The best is to arrive early in the morning and try to club with other tourists in order to make chartering a whole boat worth it. The permit to visit the island cost Rp 40,000 per person and can be purchased from the national park office in the main Labuan Lalang car park. Trips to Labuan Lalang last: 90 minutes from Lovina, 15 minutes from Pemuteran, 15 minutes from Gilimanuk. Menjangan has no accommodation or facilities. Sleeping options are plenty on the north western coast of Bali near...

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Last week I got the opportunity to visit amazing Langkawi, a beautiful island well-known not only in Malaysia by quite popular in neighbouring countries such like Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand. I can tell you that I was totally amazed by the beautiful natural scenery offered by the island brochure, especially the mountains and the beaches. I know all too well that the Dayaki believe it is not good to visit the sea, a beach or even a mountain towards the end of a year. Perhaps it had something to do with the magic of the raining season, or with my curiosity behind some local myth, but when I thought of my imminent trip to Langkawi I couldn’t stop myself dreaming about snorkeling in the sea, walking along the beach and feeling the cool breeze in the top of mountains. DAY 1 So, with that dreams in mind I booked a last minute deal to the island together with a few close friends. I’m from Kuching, so all I had to do was booking an airplane ticket to Penang, where I joined my adventure friends for the trip by sedan car to Kuala Kedah Jetty to take the ferry to Langkawi. The car journey took only around 1 hour and half, and the ferry cost us a fair 24 ringgit per ticket. Arrived at Langkawi, the first thing my friends and I did was looking for a car to rent. We had heard that some car renters at the jetty are not licensed, so we decided to hop on a taxi and went directly to an agent in an office not far from the Dataran Lang (Eagle Square). The gentleman there offered us a Toyota Avanza for 100 Ringgit per day, a price we found quite reasonable and affordable for a group of tourists like us. From there we drove to a nearby town named Pekan Kuah where Amara Guesthouse is located. The rooms were clean and affordable at 90-ringgit per night, and equipped with air-con, WiFi, hot water and a king size bed. See them on Facebook: Amara-Guest-House-Langkawi. After checking in and dropping our stuff in the rooms, it was time to go for some shopping: liquor, chocolate and other snacks; I must say Langkawi is a paradise for those who love chocolate, liquor and tobacco since Langkawi is a duty free area (the only item I do not advise buying there are perfumes, more expensive than on the mainland for some reason). After a tiring and intensive shopping like that, we were in need of food to refill the lost energy. If you are keen to eat spicy Malay food, Pekan Kuah roadside area is the best: it not only serves delicious dishes, but also at prices affordable to travellers. From Pekan Kuah we drove on to the Dataran Lang (Eagle Square), located near the seaside, to capture few pictures for the memory album. The drive to the Underwater World Langkawi in Pantai Cenang took about 30 minutes, and it was sure worth it: there you can see almost all sort of species, some not native to our country like the penguin, such a great and cute animal. Sharks gave me a similar impression: scary but amazing to watch. I even saw a jellyfish, which I had never seen in my life! So pretty! The 30 Ringgit ticket was a real bargain! Find out more at http://www.underwaterworldlangkawi.com.my/location.html And as the day got darker, we ate and went to rest, planning an exciting next day in amazing Langkawi. DAY 2 The day after I checked my wish list and wished the weather would be on my side: no rain please! We drove to Pantai Kok, on the foothill of the Machincang Mountain, part of a mountain range formed 450 millions years ago, where the cable car station is located. My friends and I paid the 20 Ringgit ticket and entered the SkyDome where we watched some videos before being guided to our car. The views along the trip to the top are simply amazing, more so as the cable car gets higher, but let me tell you it can be scary too! The whole experience is exhilarating, and the view are just complete, with sea, mountains, flora and fauna that can be seen at once. I took so many pictures as a memory of my travels to amazing Langkawi, and made friends with a nice couple from Germany who shared with me their enjoyment and amusement on a fantastic Malaysian experience. The journey from the base to the top station, where the SkyBridge is located, covers 2,200 meters and takes visitors to an elevation of 700m above sea level in about 15 minutes. From there you will be able to enjoy commanding views over Langkawi’s western sea coast, the town and the staggering rock blocks and pinnacles. Find more information on http://www.panoramalangkawi.com From Langkawi cable car, we moved on to Telaga Air Tujuh, a fantastic seven-tiered waterfall; it took us only 30 minutes of hiking to get to the top, perfect for those who love a bit of exercise. Time was indeed limited, and it is a shame that we could not visit more places; we had to even skip a visit to Pulau Dayang Bunting for snorkeling and swimming. Before leaving Langkawi, I did the usual shopping for the family: fridge magnets, t-shirts and keychains to take back to family and friends in Sarawak. That’s all I can share about this Langkawi trip. Traveling and travel memories are for me priceless, notes and testimonials I can record for future generations, to motivate them to travel. So, what you waiting for? Plan the trip, grab your luggage and visit amazing Langkawi!  

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Many travelers visit Phuket and complain that the main beaches are overcrowded, too touristy and lacking that special something we all desire. The simple solution is to head to your own private island. Luckily for all of us, it is not as expensive or as difficult as you might think. Phuket has plenty of hidden germs just waiting to be discovered. You’ll find one such gem about 15 minutes from Phuket’s east coast. A visit to Rang Yai Island is an affordable way to experience your own private, tropical resort. Located on just 275 rai of land, Rang Yai Island boasts white sands, inviting waters and a dense jungle. Getting to Rang Yai Island is a piece of cake. You can take a speed boat from either Sapam Bay or Laem Hin. It is the ideal place to visit on a one-day excursion or for a unique camping opportunity as the island is full of things to do and points of interest. One of the best things about Rang Yai Island is the pearl farm, known as Phuket Pearl Farm. When you arrive at Rang Yai Island, you will be greeted and presented with a fresh coconut before being taken to a live demonstration of how pearls are cultured and harvested at the farm. The step-by-step explanation of how the pearls are formed and then turned into the precious stones we know today is fascinating. You will learn all about oysters and the farm itself. As you would expect, where there are pearls there is business and there is ample opportunity to buy pearls in their various guises at the island’s own pearl store. Phuket Pearl Farm’s treasures are also exported all over the world. There is no pressure to buy pearls, but if you are a pearl fan or after a suitable present for your mum, the convenience is there to be used. The island is small enough to have its own trail around the perimeter. Bikes can be hired and the whole island can be circumnavigated in less than half an hour. If you want to make it last a bit longer, there are some tucked-away spots at which you could stop off and enjoy the views. The trail is easy-going without too many steep slopes. With the island being owned by one company, Richy Island Phuket, there is only one resort and restaurant. Thankfully, the food is top notch, with a wide range of delicious dishes offering some of the best Thai food around. The seafood in particular is as good as anywhere on mainland Phuket. Fresh prawns, fried fish and other marine delights will satisfy your taste buds. Meals by the sea as the sun sets are particularly memorable. The beach at Rang Yai is charming and clean and the water is warm and a joy to swim in. If watersports are your thing, there are kayaks available for people to paddle about in. One of the focal points of the island is the number of recreational activities that have been made available without imposing on the natural charms of the island itself. Everything from darts and petanque, to volleyball and golf can be played at Rang Yai Island. The on-site putting course is a cute touch and great for whiling away an afternoon. Rang Yai Island is not a hive of activity, but a place to go, relax and enjoy the scenery. It attracts many couples and there is even the option of getting married on the island. A number of lovers have chosen to say their vows on Rang Yai Island. What could be more romantic than saying “I do” in the seclusion of your own private paradise? The wedding team can cater to your every desire should you decide to take the plunge. Most people visit Rang Yai Island on a day excursion and there are a number of packages available. You will be picked up from your hotel and taken from your doorstep to the island. The half-day excursion includes a live pearl demonstration and time at the beach, as well as snacks and refreshments. GOOD TO KNOW A full-day excursion includes the live pearl demonstration and an extended time to relax on the beach or get involved with activities such as snorkeling. Half-day excursions cost 1,200 baht for adults, 600 baht for children, while full-day excursions cost between 1,600 baht and 2,200 baht for adults, between 800 baht and 1,100 baht for children. Rang Yai offers the perfect island getaway and the ideal retreat from mainland Phuket. A night in one of the bungalows will set you back 1,000 baht. For further information visit www.rangyaiisland-phuket.com

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