Turtle Conservation and Information Centre, Segari, Perak

The stone statue of a turtle in the centre

Do you know that turtle is an endangered species? People go for their eggs. In addition, sometimes, baby turtles do not survive in the sea as they get eaten up by their predators. :( Therefore, their numbers are diminishing in the world.

The entrance

Turtle Conservation and Information Centre at Pasir Panjang, Segari, Perak is one of the turtle sanctuaries in Malaysia.  

The compound of the centre

There was no admission fee or guided tour. So, we just walked in like everybody else. Many signboards in English and BM about the turtles were erected near the ponds. We only took photographs of them for our later reading as it was rather hot to stand in the sun and read. 

A gazebo is located in the compound

There were many families with kids there. Everyone was thrilled to see live turtles. We were too. There were different ponds for different ages of turtles. 

Turtle pond

This turtle is not camera shy as it likes to swim near the edge of pond to get its photo taken.

Turtles in line 

There was a different pond for the baby turtles. I found that the baby turtles' shells are quite dark or almost black. Do their colours lighten when they mature?

Are the baby turtles learning how to swim? 

The most important place was the hatchery which was not accessible to visitors (just in case, turtle eggs got stolen!). I read before that the adult turtles always come back to the same beach to lay their eggs. In order to help them remember, when the adult turtles are released to the sea, they are left a distance away on the beach. This is to help them recognise the beach. Then, they can make their way back to the same place to lay their eggs.

Hatching process of turtle eggs

The hatchery in the distance

It is definitely worth a visit as there are not many places in the west coast of Malaysia for you to see live turtles. 

Blue sky and blue sea....it is so relaxing.

How to get here:

We actually used Damai Laut's map. It is numbered as attraction no. 15 in the map. When we were driving along the Pantai Remis trunk road, we followed the signboards. It was not too difficult to find.

Visiting Hours:

Monday to Sunday : 10.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Friday                   : 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.

It was also opened on a public holiday because we were there on Deepavali.

Visiting hours signboard at the entrance

Tua Pek Kong Temple at Kampung Pasir Panjang Laut

Kuan Yin and Tua Pek Kong temple side by side

Before our Sitiawan trip, I read about this temple in the Internet. Tua Pek Kong temple or Kuan Yin Temple, a Taoism temple, is a tourist spot in Sitiawan. On a recent public holiday, there were as many as 150 buses loaded with tourists coming to this temple. Wow!..

The arch at the entrance

There were ample of parking lots in front of the temple. As soon as we were in the temple, we bought the prayer paraphernalia from the counter in the temple to pray. We also lighted the spiral joss sticks. One thing for sure was it could burn longer than ordinary joss sticks.

We wrote our Chinese names on the pink paper and it was attached to the spiral joss stick

The temple caretaker putting up our spiral joss sticks

It was so relaxing to be in the temple's compound.  There was a beautiful garden with water features behind this temple. There were benches to sit and relax.

Ponds and fountains behind the temple

Man-made waterfall

Statues of Chinese gods in the temple's garden

We wanted to photograph the always hungry Japanese carps so I bought a pack of fish food from the temple and fed them. Within seconds, the whole school of carps came swimming near us and trying to grab the food. We could not stop clicking our cameras and videoing them.

If you want to look at the fish close up, try feeding them.

Statue of old man fishing at the pond

There were many stalls set up in the temple's compound. There were Sitiawan's special Gong Pians, fish maws, red yeast rice wine and many local products sold. The fish maw was extra large in size so, we ended up buying two packs of fish maw.

Well, we wanted to visit the famous Tua Pek Kong Temple because we were attracted by the gigantic deity statues facing the sea. When we stood near the gigantic statue, we did not even reach the ankle of the statue.

Tua Pek Kong (centre) and Kuan Yin (left) statues

Oh yes, while I was sitting and enjoying the sunset, I saw temple devotees, including a couple of Indians, were busy washing themselves with the water flowing from a pipe directly below the gigantic Kuan Yin statue. Later, they would fill up the plastic bags with the water. There was another woman who used the pail filled with water to pour over the number plates of her MPV. Out of curiosity, I asked an aunty sitting on the next bench. Then, I learned that the water was  presumably blessed, so one can use it to wash their faces, hands, and legs or take it home to bathe for good luck and health. Or wash your car number plate to strike your plate's number. Not to miss out, I also went and packed three packs home to be distributed among my family members. The temple was very thoughtful as they also prepared free plastic bags and rubber bands at the table near the water pipe.

Get your blessed water below the Kuan Yin statue

The temple was located near the beach. We were there in the evening so we were lucky to see the sunset at the beach.

View of sunset from the temple

By the way, there was also a mangrove swamp area in the temple's compound.

The mangrove swamp called Taman Monyet

Things to do at Lumut

Just opposite the Lumut jetty: bone-like design in the middle of Lumut town

Lumut, a naval town

Lumut jetty area is always bustling with activities. There are  a few things to do at Lumut jetty.

1. Take a ferry to Pangkor Island: This is where you can buy your Pangkor Island ferry ticket and board the ferry to Pangkor Island.

The jetty terminal

The ferry heading towards Pangkor Island

2. Shop for dried and preserved seafood: This is where you can get plenty of dried seafood products readily packed for you to buy and take home. The products range from dried anchovies to the famous satay fish. There are also prawn and fish crackers which are ready to be eaten.

3. Shop for souvenirs: You can shop for Pangkor and Lumut souvenirs at the two stretches of shops at the jetty.

Double-storey shophouses line Lumut jetty area

The bazaar complex

Slippers for sale

4. Watch sunset: A never to be missed activity at Pangkor Island or Lumut. Watch the sun as it slowly sets in the evening.

Sunset amid cloudy sky

The jetty in the distance

Two sampans at the beach

The Pangkor ferries docking at the jetty

5. Satisfy your hunger and thirst: There are a few Malay food restaurants, a couple of western bars nearby and also a KFC in the vicinity.

Seashell wall decor near an eating place

Portrait drawing, anyone?

Battleship docking at Lumut coast

Rahmat, proudly engraved on this warship

Rahmat Maritime Museum

Do you enjoy movies like the Battleship and dying to experience one? If you are curious about stepping into a real warship, well there is one that docked off Lumut coast. To be exact, KD Rahmat warship is berthing at the coast of Lumut Waterfront Marina Wing. She is now known as Rahmat Maritime Museum and visitors are welcome aboard. It is a real life learning experience but it is nothing like what you see in the Battleship.

View of Lumut Waterfront Marina Wing from the deck

A little background about KD Rahmat F24 quoted from the brochure: She was the first major warship built for Royal Malaysia Navy in  1966. Originally, she was configured as an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigate but she was later transformed to a training vessel for the Malaysian Navy in the year 2000. Now, she has retired and is serving as a maritime museum since September 2011.

Malaysian flag, Jalur Gemilang, flying high

First, in order to board this ship, you need to purchase tickets at the booth in front of it. Then, as you step into the warship, you will be greeted by the personnel on duty. This is not a guided tour. The personnel is only there to give some guidance if needed. Every room is labelled and a short description (in Malay and English) is pasted on the door. So, you just need to read it yourself and you will not get lost if you follow the arrow sign on the floor. We explored every nook and corner of the ship with the exception of the engine room. We spent two fruitful hours taking exhaustive shots of the ship interior and exterior. 

Yachts docking near Rahmat

A few interesting pointers: 

• Our first stop in the warship was the washroom as we needed to ease ourselves. It was small and old but clean though we did not expect anything lavish. After all, this is not a cruise. So, this could help you put yourself in the shoes of those navies who had used them before.

The toilets: clean but very small

• The control room has a commanding view. That is where the captain sits and navigates the ship. 

Control room

• The excitement built up as we walked along the narrow long corridor that linked to different rooms like the sick bay, berths, laundry room, supply room, their canteens, switchboard room and we were amused by the complicated look of the switchboard and the numerous and thick wiring on the ceiling and wall.

Thick wiring all over the ship

More and more switches and not to mess with them

• Even the water piping was also on top of our heads. They were all not concealed. The ceiling was not very high at some point. I guess it was not higher than 1.8 metre. 

The narrow corridor in the ship

High-ranking officer's berth: looks more comfortable

• High-ranking officers got to enjoy better facilities like their own berths, cafe and also karaoke room. But the crews slept in bunks, eight to a cabin.

These bunks are for the crews

• Some notable rooms are like the karaoke room, the communication room and the operation room (now, it is called Zain Hall, a conference room). 

The karaoke room (only for high-ranking officers)

Communication room

Operation room: the grandest place to be in

• Enjoy breathtaking view at the deck. 

The deck

Admission Fee (per entrance):

Visitor                                   : RM 24 

Adult (with MyKad)              : RM 12 

Children below 12 years old  : RM 7

Children below five years old : Free of charge

Opening hours:
Wed to Mon (10 a.m. to  6 p.m.)
Closed on Tuesday

They also provide overnight packages and hall rental.

Contact number : 05-6887707 / 7923

Website             : www.warshiptour.com

Lumut's background:

Lumut is a naval town in Perak, Malaysia and it is also famous for its seafood. Pangkor island, the popular island getaway, is just located opposite Lumut coast and one can get to Pangkor island by boarding a ferry at Lumut jetty.