Malaysia
Peninsular Cool Highland, Kedah, Jerai Hill
马来西亚半岛，吉打州属，日莱峰
Gunung Jerai (Mount Jerai) rises
above the surrounding plains at 1380metres/4140 feet above sea level and is
visible for miles around. 11kms of winding road lead up to this mountain resort
which can be reached by car. The vegetation begins to change gradually as you
ascend the mountain - through the lower and upper dipterocarp forests that we
commonly encounter in parks and reserves down in valleys and low lying areas
that give way to the low montane forest where conifers thrive.
At the top of the mount the trees
are much shorter in height, twisted and gnarled from the base to the branches.
It certainly is a delight to step off the cemented trails and onto the soft
forest floor - nature's best carpeting, thickly covered with layers of acid
humus soil and peat.
The forest is saturated with
delicious scents. A wonderful mixture of balsamic fragrances from various types
of coniferous and oak trees gives the forest a rather alien feel. It's like
walking into a curio shop in a little seaside town - everything seems so
strangely out of place.
Just a short distance away from the
resort, sits the forestry's museum. The displays give a fair bit of information
on the Malaysian forests. However, a number of displays do not have English
placards and can be frustrating for some. There is also a section dedicated to
wildlife found within the Jerai Forest Reserve area. Guides can be arranged for
trekking expeditions in the reserve park through the rangers at the forestry's
museum.
Dusky Leaf Monkeys are common
around the area and can often be seen feeding on trees at the quieter end of
the road leading to the old shrine at the peak. Its unfortunate that the old
Hindu shrine, believed to date from the 7th century CE is off limits to the
public. There is now a telecommunications tower located by the shrine. The nine
square foundation blocks constituting the shrine is believed to be hearths
which some archaeologists believe they might be connected with the nine sacred
planets of Hinduism, or Navagrahas.
Gunung Jerai plays a most important part in the history of Kedah. Years before Melaka became a central trading hub, the Indian and Arab merchants preferred Kedah as it is geographically positioned on the same latitude as Southern India. In those days, the ships got to their destinations by hugging close to the coastlines so that they didn't float away into the vast, open sea. This means that the ships could sail due east or west through the Bay of Bengal without getting lost. Gunung Jerai must have been a welcomed sight, being the only visible landmark identifiable from miles away. It commands a magnificent view of the coastal plain, the Merbok estuary to the south and the sea.
Many centuries later, Gunung Jerai
was again used for strategic means. During World War 11, the British army built
trenches close to the peak where the lay in wait for the enemy coming in from
the sea. The trenches are still there, snaking its way along the slopes of
Jerai. Unfortunately, some of the historical sites and a number of sites
associated with local myths are left in poor condition. Disposables such as
plastic containers, bags etc are strewn all over. It's best to stick to the
outer areas of the reserve, where fewer visitors roam and therefore you can
appreciate the true beauty of the place minus the unsightly human
contributions. There was once a time when it was suggested that a 10,000 step
walkway be constructed from the base to the peak. (Horrors!). All that has
stopped now thankfully and the jungle is once more as it should be - natural.
Planning
your Malaysia Cool Highland with Cheng Pai Voyage
城派梦想旅游策划您的马来西亚高原度假，
Cheng Pai Voyage 城派梦想旅游,
Dennis Loh, +6 012-359 1886
Ice Looi, +6 012-631 7638
Email : chengpai@gmail.com
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icelooi33
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