Let's Explore Sky Mirror in Kuala Selangor.

For the past 1 year or so we have been inundated with pictures from friends on visits to sky mirror and the word "Sasaran" have been heard. Why not we go check it out and so happened our buddy Kim Aun was planning for one. A group pf cycling friends gathered at Kuala Selangor on a beautiful Sunday at this kopitiam for a sky mirror experience. 

All of us drove to Kuala Selangor from our homes and it was absolutely no bicycle for the day. We were advised to wear as colourful as possible. The jetty is situated at Pekan Lama Kuala Selangor itself but I believe there are other jetties around Kuala Selangor offering such trip.

The group of 22 of us posing in front of the Jetty and ready to check out what sky mirror has to offer. The fare each was RM80.00 with a bottle of mineral water and packet of nasi lemak provided.

Catching up with friends, lots to talk and updates at the jetty terminal.

While some sitting outside the jetty with more other groups waiting to go out to the sea.

The jetty with at least 7 boats moored by the edge waiting for the right time to leave.

Mr. Chew Kim Aun, the organiser with his wife Janet and 2 body guards.

At last we have arrived somewhere at an open sea where the water was still receding and we were actually walking in the middle of the sea on a raised seabed. Timing is crucial for such trip and apparently it only happen within the 1st and 15th day of lunar months. And one by one we alighted and eagerly to have fun.

A rehearsal with their colourful umbrellas while the water level subside and soon the mirror effect will appear at its best. Of course one has to be skillful to get good images.

Up up and the way as Jason was taking off together with the rest.

The ladies and their posing ......

I had my fun too with my kicks.

A bit of drama with Jo.

This kiddo has a powerful kick that can blow off Jason, next time don't try to bully him ... ok!

Kim Aun & Janet for the first time I had the chance to go outing with this couple. Cheers!

Nothing is complete without a good food adventure in Kuala Selangor. Kim Aun has taken tips as to where to eat for lunch. And here we were at Restoran Tian Wai Tian 天外天海鲜餐室 for a late lunch. Location GPS : 3.352895, 101.252625, Pasir Penambang, Kuala Selangor.

Fried homemade seafood tofu to start off and pacify our tummies.

Then came the aromatic fried oyster omelette or also known as "Oh Jian".

Deep fried squid fritters.

One of the popular dishes in this place is this delicious crabs stranded with beehoon. Everyone of us love this great dish.

Assam gravy fresh prawns with lady fingers and brinjals, yummy and fresh.

Steam garoupa fish head it was fresh, succulent and delicious.

A simple stir fried tapioca leaves with garlic.

Sweet and sour mantis prawns.

So much of seafood to eat and the damage per head was RM26.00, it delicious, worth coming back again for more and pricing was very reasonable. Thumb up to Restoran Tian Wai Tian. All full and a slow drive back to KL after a wonderful outing.

A short video of the day.

Let's Cycle to Butterworth - Pantai Merdeka & Lembah Bujang

I left my mum's place at 6.00am trying to reach Bagan Ajam as early as possible so that we can start our recce immediately. It started with my first plot on Google Earth that I decided to do this one day cycling adventure.

The rain came before I could even get out of Air Itam, I had to Uber to the Ferry Terminal. It took another half an hour waiting for the ferry.

At 8.00am we met and had breakfast at the shop seen at the right hand corner of this photo and it was just next to the Butterworth Outer Ring Highway.

The day was on an intermittent rain mode, it was cooling and wet but lovely to ride.

Our first destination was Kuala Muda, a river estuary dividing Penang and Kedah.

Long long time ago Kota Kuala Muda was once Kedah a state administrative centre before it was shifted to the present location at Alor Setar.

Kota Kuala Muda is a small town, just imagine the size of a state administrative centre during the early years. We saw this beautiful house in the town as we were roaming around.

The 2004 notorious Tsumani came and swept part of Seberang Perai, it was at this spot where several lives were taken away and many houses were destroyed. A monument is built to remember this catastrophe some of the damaged houses are left displayed for public viewing. 

A gallery building with information of the disaster is made available for the public.

One of my listed "to go" places was this fishing village where it is well known for its uniqueness of fish bidding. It is called Pasar Bisik Kuala Muda. The bidding is conducted by way of whispering and the best offer gets the fish.

A short clip of this fish market, see how they carry out their daily transaction.

Our meal at a Malay food stall not too far from Pasar Bisik. The food was authentic and delicious with a wide spread of dishes to choose.

The scenery along this route is beautiful, I love the typical setting of kampong houses with coconut trees  together with the clear blue sky.

I thought we could get a boat ride across the water at Teluk Nipah but to no avail we had to head back to Pantai Merdeka.

The live of the young boys seem free & easy in a wonderful kampong. What a priceless living in a wonderful country side.

We eventually reached at Pantai Merdeka at 2.10pm. I recalled when I was a young boy I came to this beach with my dad's permission with a couple of dollars for the trip. It was my first ever outing of my live. I was thrilled then the minute I saw the sea. Now that I am back after all these years I am equally excited with a good memory of my past at this beach. It was such a good memory indeed.

A resort just before the beach front at Pantai Merdeka.

Happy man with his catch, what a fruitful way to spend his day.

A remnant of World War 2 bunker built by the British Forces to protect the land from Japanese invasion. This is found near the beach at Pantai Merdeka.

It was time to board the sampan to cross over to the other side called Tanjung Dawai.

I heard normally they charged the locals RM2.00 per head for the ride but we paid RM5.00 each inclusive of the bicycle. The ride is about 5 minutes.

Masjid Lama Pengkalan Kakap is the oldest mosque in the vicinity of Merbok, Tanjung Dawai, Bujang, Semeling and Bedong built around 1800, The 25th Sultan of Kedah His Royal Highness Sultan Abdul Hamid had frequently visited this mosque whilst travelling to Kuala Muda district. Under the supervision of the Department of Museums and Antiquities the mosque has been restored in 1994.

The verendah with round columns on square bases and a cemetery next to it.

Sight of local fruit stalls are commonly seen along the way.

It was already 4.40pm we arrived at Lembah Bujang Archaeology Museum, this is my second time coming to this place and I forget we need to ride up on the road. It is only when you cycle you will realise and remember it.

At the compound of the museum there are many artifacts displayed without any security measure and fear of vandalism. These are great evidences of history which have been traced back as old as 3AD older than Angkor Wat and Borobudur. Apparently there are another 80 over new sites found and it will take a long while to excavate. The old ancient kingdom of early civilisation is beginning to unveil slowly but steadily. The story of Old Kedah or Kedah Tua is becoming thicker and it is going to be interesting story.

Natural stream and waterfall next to the museum.

Some of the old shrines (candi) were found elsewhere were re-sited to this museum.

These stones are base for column, the sizes of the columns vary from big to small. Other artifacts such as grinder for sugar cane juice and others.

A pit stop at this hijau kuning warong for some fried rice and cold drinks.

Along the old trunk road it continues to provide ours beautiful scenery which I really enjoyed it very much.

The state so called as the rice bowl of Malaysia provides you sight of vast paddy fields. 

The sun beginning to set as we pedalled our way back to Penang.

I remember my dad used to take me through this bridge many times when I was living in Padang Serai. Jambatan Merdeka (Independence Bridge) spans across Sungai Muda, the longest river in Kedah, and marks the border between Penang and Kedah. It was built in 1955 and a replacement of the historical bridge (1940), which was bombed by Japanese plane in 1942 during the World War II. 

It was a long day by the time I reached Air Itam it was about 9 something. A view from the ferry approaching the island.

The distance we cycled on the mainland land was nearly 120km. It was surely another memorable ride. Hidup hidup hidup hijau kuning.