The Journey from KL to Kuantan

I was travelling by coach along the East Coast Highway from KL to Kuantan in November 2013. Having made this trip many times before, I decided to document it through photographs on this occasion, showing the landscape, scenery and other interesting things.

All photos were taken on the coach with no flash. The quality is therefore not of the highest order, but tells the story of the journey I want to share with you.

Vehicle scrapheap in KL

Last glimpse of the KL Tower before we turned east towards Kuantan

A Hello Kitty bus!

Sitting comfortably for the 3-hour journey east

The winding roads shortly after leaving KL for Kuantan

View of the highlands

The tunnel separating the winding roads outside KL with the straight highway to the east coast. My wife and I continue our tradition since 2005 of sneaking a quick kiss while on the bus going through this dark tunnel!

Fluctuating altitudes in the highlands make my ears blocked each time we pass through. The weather is often cold, wet and very dangerous

A view of the scenery around the highlands

Rest station one hour from KL

Approaching one of the many tolls that dot the highways of Malaysia

Toll booths

A welcome rest station on the way to Kuantan

An open field with a vast expanse of palm trees approaching

Exit to a small town on the way to Kuantan

The Pahang River near Temerloh

Taller dropping trees stand amidst smaller palm trees

A pylon sits in a palm tree plantation

More open fields

Tried to seize a chance to wave at this lorry driver, but he was rightfully concentrating on the road!

Heavy trucks can be frequently seen on the east coast highway

Huge stone walls looking like cliff faces line sections of the east coast highway

Scenery along the east coast highway approaching Gambang

A landscape on the east coast highway near Gambang

Arrived at the exit to Gambang

The Gambang toll. Just 25 minutes until we reach Kuantan

Some people waiting at a bus stop outside UMP

A house stands alone on an empty piece of land near Gambang

The distinctive yellow and red steps leading to a temple 5km from the Gambang toll

A helicopter sits stationary at the Kuantan airport

Top 20 Photos of 2013 - #8

#8

The more I look at this image the more I love it. I had wanted to snap a picture of the cable car that ascends and descends the slopes of Genting Highlands. Unwittingly I also captured the other modes of transport that operate in getting people up and down Genting Highlands - bus, car, taxi. Genting is famous for hotels, the casino and the theme park, among others, in addition to refreshingly cool temperatures. In this photo you can really get a sense of the incline on this steep and winding road. It is also very dangerous, particularly at night and in wet conditions. Shortly after our visit here, a bus full of people tragically lost control while descending, and fell down a ravine, resulting in a number of fatalities. This photo stands as a reminder of the real perils of the road to Genting Highlands. You can never be too careful.

What do you like about my blog? - A Poll

Hi everyone, and welcome to Kuantan again!

It's still so hot here in this part of Malaysia. We're having small showers here and there, but no real signs of the imminent annual monsoon rains just yet.

We are also anxiously awaiting the operation of the brand new rapidkuantan public bus service, starting on Saturday 1st December, 2012. It's long overdue and a positive forward step for Kuantan!

Today I would like to invite each and every one of you who are on a PC or laptop to participate by voting in the poll just below this post. I want to know what you like about this blog. 

It just takes a click of your time!

What is the most urgent thing that needs to be done in Kuantan? - Poll Analysis

So, the poll of the past two months is closed, and a total of 66 people cast their votes. Thanks to those who voted who either live in Kuantan or are from Kuantan. There was no clear winner as the results were well spread over 4 of the 6 options.

Implementing a public transportation system received 31% of the votes, representing just under 1/3 of all voters. I must admit that I have only seen perhaps a single public bus per year while I've been living here. I'm aware that there are a few buses which go around a small part of Kuantan, and out to places further afield like Gambang and Pekan. However, a proper, well-organised public bus system serving people all around Kuantan town would be a welcome addition, and provide a cheaper alternative to expensive taxi rides.

Although the public transportation system idea received the highest percentage of votes, on the other side it also means that 69% of voters decided that there were other things more important for Kuantan than a public transportation system. 

In second place with 16 votes (24%) is beautifying places of interest. Kuantan is rich in places to go and things to say, but unfortunately some of those places are old, run-down, dirty or under-staffed, making these venues an actual turn-OFF. One example is the Kuantan Waterfront, which could, and should, be a beautiful place to visit, but has all of the problems I just mentioned.

Coming in third is solving the rubbish problem, which gained 13 votes (19%). This admittedly is a major area of concern in Kuantan, with blocked drains, public disposal areas beside housing, over-flowing and unattended bins, along with a complete lack of bins. It doesn't help that the public have the unbelievable confidence of throwing any and all types of rubbish on the floor, just like that. This option is my personal choice, closely followed by improving customer service.

In fourth place is promoting Kuantan to better attract tourists. This option had 11 votes (equating to 16% of voters). With better promotion, I am absolutely sure that more visitors would love to come to Kuantan because it is after all, a beautiful place with good shopping avenues, great hotels, interesting religious sites, and located close to the beach.

The two lowest finishers were improving customer service (only 3 votes - 4%) and improving the English language (2 votes - 3%). I am extremely surprised that only 3 out of 66 people voted to improve customer service. The service I have received in Kuantan has been nothing short of mediocre. I think it reflects a general "tidak apa-apa" (never mind; it's ok) attitude amongst locals. Actually, it's NOT ok. As a customer of various services, I have been left terribly frustrated at too many inconveniences caused. I think if there is to be an increase in foreign visitors, the standard of customer service will be the one important aspect that will determine how they view Kuantan in the future, and whether they come back again.

Improving the English language finished bottom of the pile, the most unpopular option in the poll. English is often frowned upon by teachers as they feel Malay should  be spoken more, as this identifies who they are - citizens of Malaysia. However, as Kuantan continues to grow and welcome increasing numbers of tourists, writing and speaking English will become a necessity to its prosperity.

My apologies finally, to those who weren't able to take part in this poll as it was restricted to those who know Kuantan. I hope you will all enjoy voting in the next poll which will appear at the top right of my blog.

So, now that you have voted in what Kuantan needs to improve on, I'd love to hear from you in analysis. Why did you cast your vote for that specific option? What do you think about Kuantan currently? If you didn't manage to vote, what would you have chosen?

You can leave me a comment below, or alternatively, you can contribute to the discussion on this poll by clicking on the tab at the top of the page.

Thanks, look forward to hearing your opinions!

Singapore Puts Malaysia In The Shade

So I concluded my previous post detailing the Marina Bay Sands area of Singapore with the following words:

"Singapore puts Malaysia in the shade."

So impressed was I with my brief sojourn in Singapore, that I have been creating a small illustration for you all to have a look at. It puts into a picture the quote above.

I'm not trying to say Malaysia is all bad. This image merely highlights the different worlds I encountered which are amazingly separated by a short 30-seconds-to-traverse road bridge across the sea.

However, I am encouraged by one thing Malaysia seems to have got spot-on in recent times. A great bus-route for tourists around KL. It takes in 40 different attractions and one can buy tickets valid for 24 or 48 hours.

But Singapore already has the transportation down to a tee!

DISCUSS THE BENEFITS OF A TRAIN LINE LINKING KUANTAN WITH KUALA LUMPUR (KL)

The Plan


1. easy access to KL and quicker
- non-stop ride or maybe few stops
- avoid congestion near KL
- shorter travel time


2. save money on petrol, buses
- increasing petrol price for personal car
- buses are slower and stuck in congestion near KL
- more affordable


3. expanded work horizons
- have an option of working in KL
- be able to earn more money
- find higher-paid jobs, advance in company


4. increase in visitors to Kuantan
- people in KL will have an alternative route of transportation to Kuantan
- foreign visitors will have an easy option to discover Kuantan
- the east coast region won't seem so far away


5. better for the environment
- save fuel
- less air pollution
- carbon footprint




Introduction:


A proposed train line linking Kuantan with KL will offer many advantages to the people of KL and Kuantan, foreign visitors, and the environment.
[24 words]




1st point:


The train line would primarily offer easy access to KL. A non-stop ride would take a maximum of two hours with perhaps a few stops at prominent towns along the way. Such a line would also avoid congestion around KL, making a stress-free journey to the capital. A shorter travel time of two hours will be appealing to those in a rush or even those who are travelling at their leisure.
[73 words]




2nd point:


Generally we either travel to KL by our own car or by public bus. With the implementation of a new train line, commuters will enjoy savings on petrol and bus ticket prices. As the price of petrol continues to increase, it becomes more necessary to travel in groups so that the cost of fuel is spread equally. Certainly travel by train would dramatically reduce spending. An added advantage of using the train over the bus is the fact that buses often get stuck in traffic jams, especially around KL. Travelling by train induces no such congestion. All in all, the train holds the benefit that it will be considerably more affordable than going by car or bus, therefore allowing more people from Kuantan and surrounding areas to visit KL.
[129 words]




3rd point:


KL is 300 kilometres from Kuantan which equates to around a 3-4 hour drive. With a new train line connecting the two locations, those 3-4 hours will be slashed to two. A faster journey to the capital will expand the work horizons of a number of Kuantan folk. Young, single entrepreneurs will find it a pleasure to work or expand their business in KL, where a better market and more money is available, thus enhancing their selling power and productivity. Others will have the option of travelling to KL for work at the start of the week, and returning to Kuantan for the weekends.
[104 words]




4th point:


Visitors to Malaysia, as in any country, need to enjoy easy access to destinations through advanced transportation. A train line would provide such tourists an additional travel option to discover Kuantan. Such enhanced infrastructure and development will trigger the arrival of many more foreigners. The people of both KL and Kuantan will have an alternative route across the country, making access easier, and the possibility of expanding businesses brighter. Simultaneously, the east coast of Malaysia won't seem so far away and will not be perceived as an isolated place which is tricky to reach.
[94 words]




5th point:


Finally, in addition to benefiting people, a train line could also bring a better picture of health to the environment. With fewer cars on the road, the demand for fuel would decline slightly. As an effect of this, air pollution caused by emissions from exhaust pipes would also decrease, lessening the continued onslaught of the ozone layer with carbon dioxide. Indeed, reducing our dependency on fuel is important in looking after our planet. Taking these steps will help each individual minimise the burden of their carbon footprint.
[87 words]




Conclusion:


A train line joining Kuantan with KL will bring benefits to both cities as KL looks to consolidate its standing and Kuantan seeks expansion. With greater infrastructure and a public transport system, Malaysia will be doing its part in preserving the environment and enhancing the lives of those who use the train line.
[53 words]






Total words: {564}










This is a sample essay for Form 4-6 which can be used for Form 1-3 by reducing the number of main points to 3 instead of 5.