Charcoal factory owner Chuah Chow Aun
has a special relationship with the Matang
Mangrove Forest Reserve. Like his father
before him, Chuah is in the charcoal
business and it revolves around the
mangroves and the rising tides.
His factory in Kuala Sepetang is next to a
canal that leads to the mangrove reserve.
When the tide is up, there is a rush of
activity. Boats head out to the mangrove
reserve to harvest the trees. Harvesting
mangrove trees is a work against time and
tide. High tide last for just a couple of hours
and the trees must be cut down and hauled
back to the factory before the tide goes out.
Like the old adage ‘time and tide waits for
no man”, if they are too slow, the tide will go
out and the boats will be left in the reserve.
Back at the factory grounds, several igloo-
shaped kilns which measure 7m high are
being prepared. These kilns are used to
bake the green logs harvested from the
Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve. The
green logs are then baked at high
temperatures. The process takes about a
month, at varying temperatures, slowly
removing all moister from the logs. Final
product - shiny black charcoal.
has a special relationship with the Matang
Mangrove Forest Reserve. Like his father
before him, Chuah is in the charcoal
business and it revolves around the
mangroves and the rising tides.
His factory in Kuala Sepetang is next to a
canal that leads to the mangrove reserve.
When the tide is up, there is a rush of
activity. Boats head out to the mangrove
reserve to harvest the trees. Harvesting
mangrove trees is a work against time and
tide. High tide last for just a couple of hours
and the trees must be cut down and hauled
back to the factory before the tide goes out.
Like the old adage ‘time and tide waits for
no man”, if they are too slow, the tide will go
out and the boats will be left in the reserve.
Back at the factory grounds, several igloo-
shaped kilns which measure 7m high are
being prepared. These kilns are used to
bake the green logs harvested from the
Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve. The
green logs are then baked at high
temperatures. The process takes about a
month, at varying temperatures, slowly
removing all moister from the logs. Final
product - shiny black charcoal.
| The Charcoal Factory at Kuala Sepetang |
Baking the logs is a month long process at varying temperatures.
The canal beside the factory. Workers fight against time and
tide. The logs have to be harvested and hauled back to the
factory before the tide goes out.
tide. The logs have to be harvested and hauled back to the
factory before the tide goes out.
Mr. Chuah explaining the process of charcoal to visitors.
Visitors from around the world looking inside one of the kilns.
| The Matang mangroves is one of the largest producers of charcoal in the country. Visitors from all around the world drop in on Chuah for tours around the factory. Some of the uses of charcoal include BBQs, water filters and cooking. |
| PANGKOR ISLAND BEACH RESORT |
| Featuring an expansive stretch of private beach, the Pangkor Island Beach Resort provides tranquil holiday accommodations in Pangkor, a small, unspoiled island northwest of mainland Malaysia in the Straits of Malacca. With white sand beaches and little-changed Malaysian fishing villages, Pangkor is great for canoeing, jungle treks and scuba diving. The island is 125 miles north of Kuala Lumpur and is easily accessible by a 30-minute ferry ride from Lumut. The Pangkor Island Beach Resort is 30 minutes from the Foo Ling Kong Chinese Temple, which features a miniature replica of the Great Wall of China along with numerous rock paintings; the Dutch Fort, which was built in 1670 and once provided protection against pirates; and Pangkor Village, an area with fresh produce, seafood and a few kedai kopi (coffee shops). |
| SWISS-GARDEN GOLF RESORT & SPA DAMAI LAUT |
| Swiss-Garden Resort & Spa Damai Laut is a very private hotel, built on a quiet peninsular on the Northern Straits of Malacca. Located in 400 acres of natural rain forest and plantations, the hotel has its own 18-hole championship golf course - Damai Laut Golf and Country Club, designed by the well-known American Ronald Fream. In addition, there are 180 units of Swiss-Court Holiday Apartments. The hotel offers 300 comfortable rooms and suites, all with uninterrupted scenic views, which have a 24-hour movie channel and satellite television. |
| FOUR SEASONS LANGKAWI Island |
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| Fantastic Malaysia |
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