Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker
Is a kind of bird. Found in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand. Natural habitats and subtropical or tropical moist forests and low tropical mangrove forests subtropical
More than 200 species of birds have recorded at Tasik Bera. The
White-Throated Kingfisher can often be seen diving into the water for
fish. Feared raptors such as the Grey-Head Fish Eagle and Brahminy Kite
help maintain the ecological balance of the lake. More beautiful avian
creatures include the Malayan Peacock Pheasant and Uncommon Wrinkled
Hornbill but sightings are rare. Commonly seen frolicking among the
pandanus are Bulbuls, Spiderhunters and Pacific Swallows.
To spot
wildlife, ask the boatman to anchor at a secluded bay or shallow channel
and switch off the engine. There is the possibility of seeing the
Malayan False Gharial, a fish-eating crocodile and the Striped Giant
Soft-Shelled Turtle. Across the water's surface, water snakes and vipers
can occasionally seen swimming from one reed bed to another. A feared
resident of the lake is the reticulated python, which grows to a length
of five meters. Its favorite food is monitor lizards and the Malayan
Giant Frog - the latter tips the scale at one kilogram.
The
lowland dipterocarps around Tasik Bera support medium-sized game such as
tapirs, clouded leopards, wild boars, monkeys, mousedeer, flying lemurs
and flying squirrels. Along nature trails, there are sights of their
existence such as paw prints on mud flats, fresh dung, and claw marks on
tree trunks. Angling is allowed at the lake, and more than 100 species
of fish are found here. The adventurous angler will try to reel in the
ferocious Toman (or Giant Snakehead) and Haruan (or Common Snakehead).
A
visit to a Semelai village should also be part of one's itinerary. For
more than 600 years, they have lived in Tasik Bera by fishing and
hunting. Today, they rely on revenue from farming. They also collect
sandalwood, resin from the Keruing tree and trap reticulated pythons for
their skin.
Tasik Cini is located 100 km south-west of Kuantan,
and consists of 12 interlocking lakes. Romanticized as the "Loch Ness of
Malaysia", Tasik Cini's fame is attributed to a Jakun legend that a
naga laut (water serpent) lurks in its underwater caves. The lake is
also believed to be the site of an ancient Khmer city as artifacts have
been discovered in the area though scientific expeditions to discover it
have been unsuccessful. According to one story, when the city was
threatened by attack, the populace submerged it using a system of
aqua-ducts, intending to drain it later.
Traveling to Tasik Cini
involves driving to the village of Cini from Kuantan. From Cini, the
next leg of the journey is through the oil palm plantation of Felda Cini
to the shores of the lake, where Lake Cini Resort is located. A more
exciting option is to travel from Kuantan to Kampung Belimbing; take a
boat ride across the Sungei Pahang, followed by an upriver trip along
Sungei Cini -- where a canopy of lianas hangs overhead -- to the lake,
What
greets the visitor is indeed a magnificent sight. The surface of the
lake is black and spiky pentenas grass protrude from the water in many
places. Wreathed in clouds, Gunung Cini rises 825 meters high, forming a
beautiful backdrop. Near the edges of lake stand massive trees with
their buttress roots half-submerged in water.
A highly recommended
boat ride is to Laut Babi, the biggest lake in the system where turtles
come ashore to lay their eggs. Another must-visit lake is Laut Melai.
From June to September, large parts of its water surface are swathed
with thousands of pink water lilies and white lotus blooms on velvety
carpets of green leaves. Last but not least, one must also venture to
Laut Gumum, where most of the purported sightings of the serpent by
locals have taken place. During colonial times, British engineers who
have glimpsed it have described the elusive monster as moving with
forward lunges, while Jakun elders have claimed that it has a head
resembling a tiger's.
At Kampung Gumun, which has a Jakun
settlement, visitors can hire a guide to escort them along the nature
trails. A popular trek is from Lake Cini Resort to Kampong Gumum, two
kilometers away. Another longer trek leads from the resort to a campsite
at Lake Terembau. The trail weaves through swamps, oil palm plantations
and lowland forests. Along the way, there are frequent encounters with
the Grey-Breasted Babbler, Crimson-Winged Woodpecker, Orange-Bellied
Flowerpeckers and Lesser-Tailed Drongo. Traditional Jakun villages can
also be visited, and one can try to use a blowpipe.
Tasik Cini is a
sanctuary for more than 150 species of fish. The best fishing months
are from November to January, with Gouramy, Giant Freshwater Puffer,
Carp and various species of Catfish being the popular catches. From
October to March, migratory birds make a stopover at the lake, enhancing
one's birding experiences. Tasik Cini, an undisturbed paradise for
centuries is truly spectacular.