Kinta Valley Geopark - Malaysia’s 2nd National Geopark

Gunung Lang, one of 18 identified geo-sites named in the Park

This was an historic, absolutely ecstatic week simply because my Kinta Valley has been declared a National Geopark.

Yes the place where I grew up and which I declared long ago as my playground has been declared the Kinta Valley Geopark by Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin, what an honor.

Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin declared Kinta Valley a national geopark

The event was held at Gunung Lang Recreational Park amidst cool rain-trees and quarried limestone outcrops was an appropriate location reflecting the history of the Kinta Valley, its rape of its geology for the riches of mining tin and in later years quarried again for its limestone.    

 The Geopark is spread over two districts, the Kinta and Kampar districts and covers an area of 1,952 kilometers.

Other geo-sites. The rapids of Sungai Kampar, caves of Gua Tempurung ......

....cave drawings of Tambun Cave and Ulu Kinta Forest Reserve

A total of 18 geo-sites have been located in area, These include Gunung Lang, the fascinating Tambun Cave with its cave drawing, the massive and cavernous Tempurung Cave, the eco-adventure Rapids Kampar River, the Forest Reserve of Ulu Kinta are among the attractions within the park.

The best part is that these geo-sites are literally a stones throw away from Ipoh. Should tourism Perak market these products, and it’s just a matter of time, then the visitors stay will be extended to three of four days instead of the current 2 days.

State Tourism Chairman  Tan Kar Hing said the Geopark will fall under the management of Perak State Park Corporation

State Tourism Committee Chairman Tan Kar Hing said the Geopark will be placed under the management and observation of the Perak State Park Corporation (PSPC) with plans to form a Perak Tourism Action Council to support the PSPC in managing and preserving the identified heritage locations

Tan added that the Kinta and Kampar districts are suitable to be developed into a Geo-trail in order to attract both local and foreign tourists.

Sultan Nazrin greeted by Jean Yves Clement, Plant Manager at Lafarge Cement ....

Gunung Kanthan lies within Lafarge Kanthan Cement 

Fantastic. Cameron Highlands have jungle trails and Kinta Geopark will have geo-trails. Thoughts of hiking through geo-trails with mountainous jungle trails and clear rivers before maneuvering through caves and ending the day in a tree house sounds like a fascinating getaway. 

  

Well we shall see how Tourism Perak moves on from here. As several tour operators said at the launch only time will tell.

Me, I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

JAG

MBI Negligence Created Illegal Dumpsite - Ipoh Garden East Resident’s Complain

The dumpsite at the junction of Persiaran Perajurit 1 and Lebuh Perajurit 1

Residents of Ipoh Garden East are at their wits end. Due to the negligence of MBI’s late clearing of rubbish specifically located at the junction of Persiaran Perajurit 1 and Lebuh Perajurit 1 has now created an illegal dumpsite and threatens to get worse if nothing is done soon.

 

Resident claims 'MBI cut the hedges and dumped it at the roadside for months'

One of the residents wrote to this blog and said “the side of my house is like a junk Yard. The MBI cut the hedges and just dumped it on the roadside for months. People now throw house hold rubbish on this dump site. Trees n bushes in the drains are not clean.  Who do I to complain to?” screamed the resident.

Another resident complained that MBI workers had “come to clear the drains of our house and neighbors on 16 October just lately. MBI also piled up what they had cleared and dumped it at roadside dumps. A few days later people came to dump household rubbish there”.

A typical scenario of how an illegal dumpsite is created only in this instance it is created by MBI.

Timely intervention by MBI is needed here before the dumpsite increases in size.

JAG

October: Month of the Holy Rosary

Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Members of BEC St Joseph Area 25 congregate to Pray the Rosary.

Children Helping Children – A Children’s Mass

Whenever we have a children’s mass it always turns out nicely. And similarly the children’s mass last Sunday 21 October was great.

Even the sermon by Fr Paul Kee incorporated a cartoon to get the message through with an underlying message for the adults too......

but there is an attention span ....

The readers, ministers and choir were made up of children and .......

..........they even put out a short presentation at thanksgiving.

...and then it was over and they were blessed and received a token 

... a little show of cheekiness

Now if only we could end the year with a lively youth mass that would be a a blessing.

JAG

Malaysia’s Para Games Athletes Medal Haul

Malaysian Para Asian Games athletes with ICW Chairman Dr Richard Ng in Indonesia.

Our Ipoh City Watch Chairman Dr Richard Ng was with the Malaysian squad of Para Asian Games athletes in Indonesia specifically at the closing ceremony held at the Istora Senayan Stadium.

The Malaysian contingent did us proud by bringing home 17 Gold 26 Silver and 25 Bronze medals from the games.

Jolly good outing guys, congratulations.

Methodist Girls School - Pestaria

Can’t remember ever having stepped into this school. Think this my first time, unbelievable. The front of the school is nice and nostalgic similar to schools built at the time.

It was their food and fun fair though nowadays it called Pestaria. The concept is the same but the games were pretty hi tech, must be a sign of the times. Imagine scooters and virtual reality game console. 

friends and family playing together

stall offering darts and soap bubbles

..but these scooters were a hit 

horsing around 

lots of food .....

needs promotion

                                                                         its a pretty big school

...and getting bigger. Note the blue partitions, another block coming up.

virtual reality in an old classroom 

Wefie ...

But then again it’s a food and fun fair.

If trees could talk this tree would have lots to say 

JAG

Beauty .....

                   Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Pets Blessing 2018

Proud owners with their pets 

Some 30 parishioners congregated at to Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church today and brought their pets in tow to get then blessed .This was the second year in a row the event Blessing of Pets was held.

Blessing of Pets is a ceremony held in remembrance of St Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of animals.

Rev. Fr Joseph Stephen said a prayer for the pets and their owners then blessed them amidst a cacophony of barks due to the attention which the animals were receiving.

There were mainly dogs and cats and a pair of terrapins. Many parishioners brought their pets by car though one family came on a motorbike, the dog sat in the motorcycle basket and the cat in the cage with the pillion.

 

(left photo) Pet came on the bike (r) Veronica and her dog and cats (in cage)

Another parishioner Ms Veronica Wong brought her family of pets 1 dog and 2 cats along saying another dog ‘could not come as it was under the weather’. 

As with most memorable events the session ended with a group photo of the pets, owners and the Parish Priest.

JAG