Tag Archives: ecology

Tuba Island, Magical Indeed

Posted on November 13, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Having heard very little about Tuba Island, but having seen a few intriguing photos I’d been interested to know more, especially about the island’s community. My previous information sourced in general seemed sketchy at best, so the idea of being dropped there by boat alone wasn’t exactly what I’d had in mind. Tuba Island sounded like a place that needed a formal introduction to be fully appreciated.

ONLY 15 MINUTES FROM LANGKAWI!

HELLO TUBA ISLAND!

Well good things come to those who wait. And I was finally able to source Tuba Travel and Tours as an escort service. Looking back, I can only wonder how many people have indeed braved the journey solo only to find an empty looking fishing village awaiting them? Perhaps they walked around a bit but couldn’t wait to get back to ‘civilization’…

SOMETIMES SLEEPY VILLAGE, SOMETIMES NOT

THESE DANISH TOURISTS HAD NO PROBLEM CHATTING UP OUR DRIVER

Actually, that was my initial reaction after arriving at the rather modern looking ferry dock, but then the journey began. I’d imagine most of my 6-hour day on Tuba Island would be spent sitting on the beach, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Was more like how did we fit it all in, in under 6 hours!

THE DIVERSE LANDSCAPE OF TUBA ISLAND

YES, THEY EVEN HAVE A POST OFFICE

After being collected by our friendly local driver, the actual size of Tuba Island became more apparent. Winding down this road and that, I could only imagine how far I would have gotten on my own.  Stopping in several kampungs via chaperone saved quite a bit of time as well as gave a more in depth overview of the island community. From the beaches to the interior; homestays, small hotels, markets, medical clinics, schools, a police station and even a post office emerged!

THE ULTIMATE ISLAND ABODE

THE MINIMAL IMPORTANCE OF PETROL IS REFRESHING

In some areas, with the mountain backdrops, it’s easy to picture Langkawi many decades ago in a good way. Although residing on an island in ‘modern’ times can sometimes be frustrating due to the lack of some more modern specialized services, seeing the little Utopia of Tuba Island is food for thought. All the basic necessities are covered as well as the health, education and safety of the community. And it’s apparent from the friendliness of locals that their system works.

IN THE JUNGLE, THE MIGHTY JUNGLE…

NICE SANDY BEACHES, TOO

Although there’s not a swimming beach per say, the beaches are sandy and wide open for exploration. And there’s plenty of jungle!  But since Tuba Island is a community and not a public park, access to these parts can require negotiations involving people’s home environments. This is a good thing, not only for your own safety but also for the environmental protection. There are a few quaint abodes nestled amongst the vines but access prevents the rainforest from becoming a ‘public’ dumpsite. And seeing nature doing it’s own ‘development’ is a beautiful thing.

WILD KANTAN

NATURE’S VAST SCULPTURES

There are decades of history on Tuba Island and who’s to know how much is actually documented. Some of that history is buried, literally. One of the island caves remembers the frightened villagers who hid there for months from Japanese invaders during World War II.  Certainly there are trees still standing on Tuba Island that have seen it all and will probably be standing for generations to come. That’s the beauty of Tuba Island, its simplicity has been it’s survival and greed seems not to be a word in the community’s vocabulary.

IMAGINE LIVING IN HERE FOR MONTHS!

ECO MINDED HOMESTEADING

You probably thought I was going to give you a blow-by-blow account of my trip to Tuba, right? No, I’d rather you have the experience for yourself. But for anyone who has dropped in, kicked a few rocks and left? You may not truly have experienced this ‘magical’ island. Some may view Tuba Island as ‘undeveloped’ and perhaps living in the past, but perhaps it’s more true that they’re protecting their island from the future.

 

 TUBA TRAVEL & TOURS
Saturday-Thursday
T: +6 017-456 5613
E: tubatour@hotmail.com

 

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Recycling in Langkawi

Posted on August 25, 2012 by | 2 Comments

Langkawi being an island with over a million visitors each year, waste management becomes increasingly problematic. In addition to the abundance
of plastic bags and styrofoam containers used on a daily basis, the rubbish just stacks up.  What to do? Landfills and incinerators are a solution. However, the long term answer for the majority of the rubbish is recycling.

MAJOR OVERFLOW

Most Expats in Langkawi are familiar with recycling in their home countries. We arrived here from San Francisco where 80% of the rubbish is recycled. So we started hording our recyclable materials from day one; paper, aluminum, metal and glass.

Little did we know that it would take some bit of time to find a reliable recycle business to take these materials, so they just kept piling up. We were quite happy to discard our ‘collections’ when re-cycle options became more apparent.

ZENS ENTERPRISES RECYCLING CENTER

Zens Enterprise is owned by Cheah Song Hui and is located just north out of Ulu Melaka on Jalan Ulu Melaka on the left hand side of the road.  They recycle metals, plastic and paper. When I asked about glass Cheah quickly stated that it was too expensive to recycle due to the shipping cost to the mainland.

HELPING KEEP LANGKAWI GREEN

Cheah first came to Langkawi with his father at the age of 2. He lived here until he moved to the mainland and became involved in the construction business. Growing tired of the construction trade and longing for a simpler lifestyle Cheah moved back ot Langkawi in 2007 and started the recycle company with a friend.

RE-USABLE MATERIALS READY TO SHIP OUT

Cheah says that the move has made him happy. He likes the quiet and peaceful pace of life and  Zens Enterprise allows him to give back to the community that has become his home. Open every day except Fridays. DIRECTIONS

 

PLASTIC AND STYROFOAM, THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

*In addition to recycling, the community can also help keep Langkawi GREEN by decreasing their use of plastic bags and styrofoam. Bringing your own containers and re-usable bags for shopping and takeaway foods can make a positive impact!

 

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Posted in Eco, Langkawi People and Places, Langkawi Services

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Tubotel? Don’t Be Square Lah!

Posted on August 9, 2012 by | Leave a comment

The Tubotel is located just north of Pantai Cenang out on the base of the breakwater for the Langkawi Lagoon.The original Boat Quay building is still there but simply renovated to offer the budget traveler a comfortable and welcoming environment. It’s also within walking distance of Pantai Cenang across the river bridge and through the small kampung.

WELCOME TO TUBOTEL!

You don’t notice the accommodation ‘tubes’ until you enter the open-air lobby. The large round 7.5-ton concrete pipe sections are lined up facing the small harbor and the sea beyond.

WALKING DISTANCE FROM PANTAI CENANG

They are unique and simple. Each has a glass front and large double doors to let in the sea breeze and frame the fantastic view.

NOT JUST A ‘PIPE’ DREAM

Each ‘Tube’ room has a lot of ventilation and there is no need for air conditioning as the thick concrete walls keep the interior cool all day round.
This is about simplicity, location and, well, recycling abandoned materials into
a functional environment. 

ROOM WITH A VIEW

The three saltwater pools reflect the environmental philosophy of the hotel. Water is pumped into the pools from the sea and drained back into the sea when not in use. No chemicals, no recycling pumps and filters.

ECO JACUZZI, A LANGKAWI 1ST

The Tubotel has a restaurant and bar that offers a simple and affordable menu with soups, salads, sandwiches, pastas and pizza along with the option of a set meal. With live music 3 nights a week and it becomes a relaxed gathering place for hotel visitors and locals alike.

ANYONE FOR A GAME OF POOL?

The common toilets and showers for hotel guests are clean and pleasant, but not ‘En suite’, so it may not be for the traveler that wants his or her privacy. But simplicity, value and quality with great attention paid to recycling and conservation of energy and water make the Tubotel a unique and intriguing accommodation choice.

 

Tubotel
Jetty Pelancongan Chenang
Kuala Cenang, Langkawi
Tel: +6012 329 4094

 

 

 

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Compost 101 at the Frangipani Langkawi

Posted on August 5, 2012 by | Leave a comment

The Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa   has been tackling waste management  issues for years and they practice what they preach .They
recently had Hafiz from PPSPPA come and demonstrate Takakura Home Composting Method, a waste management practice being implemented throughout Southeast Asia. Surabaya, Indonesia and Sibu, Sarawak
have already seen environmental improvements with this practice.

ZU INTRODUCING HAFIZ

VISITORS FROM SABAH TOURISM COUNCIL

My friend Zuraidah (Zu) is quite passionate about environmental issues, especially when it comes to recycling and waste management. It’s only fitting that she became part of the Team at Frangipani  Langkawi . Zu knew of my previous failed attempts at composting, so she invited me to the demonstration being given to visitors from Sabah Tourism Council.

IT STARTS WITH KITCHEN SCRAPS, WATER, SALT/YOGURT

FINELY CHOPPING KITCHEN SCRAPS

It generally takes a couple of weeks  for organic waste to decompose, through the process of decay and fermentation.  The decaying process is actually what causes the bad ‘odor’. The Takakura Method enlists fermentation to neutralize the decay aroma.

By initially adding kitchen scraps to a mixer of salt and water or yogurt/gula merah and water, a storable fermenting liquid is made. After one week, you can start your ‘magic bucket’, Mr. Takakura’s
name for the composting ‘container’.

EQUAL PARTS OF CHICKEN FEED, WOOD SHAVINGS AND TOP SOIL

PERFECT CONSISTENCY WILL ALLOW BALL SHAPE

The compost ‘starter’ for the magic bucket is made with equal parts of chicken feed, top soil, wood shavings or leaves (crumbled). By mixing the dry ingredients with the fermented liquid  concoction, the base of the compost is made. The proper consistency is reached when you can actually form a ball with the mixture. At this point you’re ready to add to your ‘magic bucket’ and begin your home compost.

‘MAGIC BUCKET’ MADE FROM BASIC SUPPLIES

By adding some of the ‘thickened’ compost material to the magic bucket, you can the proceed to add chopped kitchen scraps as they accumulate and mixing it in. We were told even fish ‘guts’ could be added without causing a stench! The fermented liquid speeds up the decomposing process of all the organic waste creating a beautiful compost usable for gardening . Some individuals have taken the process farther and are now making extra income by selling their home-made compost.

 

*PPSPPA in Langkawi is available to demonstrate this easy waste management solution to other hotels, groups or schools, free of charge. You can call them at +6 04 966 4735
or + 6 04 966 4735

 

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Ambong-Ambong Rainforest Retreat

Posted on July 14, 2012 by | 4 Comments

Earlier this year I was planning a visit to Negara National Park, but when
I looked for accommodations, all I found were ‘tree huts’. Maybe I had an outdated guidebook, but although I try to be adventurous, the thought of spending the night in an advertised  “tree hut” sounded uncomfortable at
the time.

AMBONG-AMBONG RAINFOREST RETREAT

So when Ambong-Ambong Rainforest Retreat invited me to come experience first hand what they are about, I quickly accepted. And with much
of my sometimes-outdated concepts, the word ‘retreat’ conjures images based
on my own life experiences.

Coming from California, past experiences with ‘retreats’ were sweat lodges, group hugs and strange concoctions of food to keep one’s system running smoothly. Ambong-Ambong is not like that at all. Although they are quite friendly there were no ‘group’ hugs or condolences for my previous bad habits.

THE VERY PERSONABLE G.M. ANNA

General Manager Anna escorted me personally to my assigned accommodation. In fact she herself welcomes all the guests personally if she’s onsite.  I was shocked when I saw that my accommodation was three levels high, from
the forest floor to the canopy layer! So, although I wasn’t wearing a Pith
Helmet I was feeling the ‘jungle adventure’ from this oh-so-comfortable
luxury ‘tree hut’.

Upon entering I could look down at the main living from the entry foyer. This consists of a lounge area to the right and the dining area and kitchen to the left. The interior is contemporary, balanced by tasteful details that reflect the culture of the island and the region.

BEAUTIFUL INTERIOR DESIGN!

The upper and lower levels each offered a well-appointed bedroom with a large private bath and lounging area and enough windows to view ever aspect of the rainforest and it’s inhabitants without disturbing them. I felt like they knew I was there but were quite happy with the arrangement.

Ambong-Ambong is the brain-child of two brothers, Amran and Adam Faroze, who have visited Langkawi every year since childhood. They wanted to share their love and respect for Langkawi’s beauty with others from around the World. And being conscious of the delicate eco system designed the retreat with the least amount of impact of the retreats environment. From building around trees to reusing 80% of their water!

ECO MINDED DESIGN

It takes extra time and money to build within nature’s boundaries, but a commendable feat and hopefully a blueprint for future ‘developments’.
Our planet needs its trees and rainforests. And for the business minded,
it certainly makes things much more interesting than bulldozed land that
gets ‘re-landscaped’.

Ambong-Ambong is practically engulfed in the rainforest, yet walking distance from civilization; beaches, mini-marts, restaurants, bars, etc… And yet it’s very quiet there, except for the sounds of nature.

CONVENIENT PATHWAYS

So consistent were the sounds of wildlife that I started to wonder if the ‘music’ was piped in! But no, where there are trees there will be abundant nature and Ambong-Ambong has both. So I now have a new definition for ‘retreat’; a place to decompress, to relax and to catch my breath.

But, Ambong-Ambong  isn’t just another place to stay in Langkawi. They’re also joining efforts with Ishan Malaysian Spa in developing an Ayervedic Treatment Center. The Spa is located within Ambong-Ambong ‘grounds’ and is already providing Ayurvedic treatments. Ishan manager and yoga specialist Baskaran Kosthi and his staff, have been trained by visiting Ayurvedic specialists from India. The retreat’s goal is to have an Ayurvedic Doctor by December 2012.

ARTISTIC FOLIAGE IMPRINTS ON THE STEPS

Ambong-Ambong Rainforest Retreat took it’s name from a native Langkawi plant. The Ambong-Ambong plant helps prevent beach erosion. And on an Island, that’s an important mission. So it’s quite fitting with the retreat’s own mission of insuring the future of Langkawi for generations to come and to give visitors a beautiful place to catch their breath. This ‘visitor’ most definitely did.

 

Ambong Ambong
Jalan Pantai Tengah
Pantai Tengah, Langkawi
Tel: +60 (0)4 9558428
Fax: +60 (0)4 955 8429

 

 

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