Bird Sanctuary

Almost 5yrs in Ipoh but never heard of Kinta Nature Park until last month when we were searching of a place in Perak where we could practice our hobby in photography. Immediately checked on Google, we learned that it is less an hour drive from our place. Seems so easy to get there!

Well, the location is easy to find if you are guided by GPS. If not, you might have a tough day searching for it. The other concern is the road as the last 3 kilometers are all bumpy and muddy at the same time. Not a good ride with an old car.

breathtaking view of a sunrise

We arrived at the place exactly before sunrise so we skipped first our breakfast to capture the breath-taking view from the other side of the park.

Entering the park was a bit eerie. Though someone is surely manning the vicinity, it looks as if  it was an abandoned place.

Nevertheless, you can still make your way inside since the gate is not locked and if someone sees you with your camera, they would simply greet you with a smile. We even parked our cars in front of the old structure right after the gate.

watch tower where bird enthusiasts climb to observe species of local and migratory birds

From the main gate you can see the watch tower fronting the bird sanctuary where a number of local and migratory birds nest

overlooking bird sanctuary from the watch tower

Kinta Nature Park was said to be the sanctuary for number of local and migratory birds. Mostly are herons and egret. The peak season where you could see more species of migratory birds starts from September to March. But some of them opted to stay here and start breeding with the rest.

Some of the photos I took during our recent visit at the sanctuary.

Anawangin Cove

After enjoying a day in Pundaquit, the obvious next destination will be in Anawangin Cove. It has a nice crystal white beach and is the most popular camping site in the town. Most tourists come and camp here for an overnight beach activities. Others simply want to have a quiet place to unwind and relax while some just want to explore and get closer to nature.

unlike most beaches, anawangin cove is surrounded by pine trees instead of coconut trees

Camping

If you like camping, this is the best place for you. If not, you can book a hotel in pundaquit while you rent a boat for a day trip only.

Many of the campers bring with them a hammock (duyan) for their complete relaxation. In between the shady and tall pine trees, I saw quite a number of hammock mounted on each tree.

For the ladies, don’t worry about the comfort rooms. They built several toilets and shower rooms with free-flowing water. You just have to be patient lining up the que. Else, there are some deep wells that you can manually pump to have a quick shower.



Island Hopping

When renting a boat, you can also negotiate with a boatman to get you to Capones and Nagsasa Island. This two islands offer equally beautiful sights. Though not always accessible especially when the water gets rough in the afternoon.



Bonfire

Nice to spend the night with friends singing with a guitar, with some beers and a bonfire. In a place away from city and with the absence of electricity, one can feel the old natural way of life. No television, no cellphones – no mobile signal in the area, and no noisy cars and traffic jams. What can be heard are the sound of the sea waves and chirping of the birds.



Trekking

The best time to trek is in the early morning or if possible, when the sun is not shining yet. You’re going to regret it when the sun catch you in the middle of your trek.



Swimming

And of course! With the bright blue crystal clear water, it is very fascinating to watch fishes playing around the corals. It is the activity I love the most!



Here are some more photos from the trip to Anawangin Cove.

going to anawangin

our boatman

clouds kissing the mountain

campers resting under the shades of pine trees

only a few dared to swim under scorching heat

convenience store open 24hrs on weekends.

crystal clear water even at shoreline

bright blue sky

campers are well shaded by quite a number of tall pine trees

some peacefulness while watching the sunset

friends chatting while enjoying the beach view

early morning view

old watch tower

sunrise while trekking the rocks