Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Underwater World or Cable Car?

We chose the latter. I'd been to the Underwater World twice when I was a small kid. Couldn't remember how the inside looked like though. Let's just say you'd also been to the Underwater World at Singapore & Australia, definitely you'll think they all look the same. Nothing else than watching the amazing marine life. You think you're allowed to feed them?
We took the cab to the Oriental Village where the cable car is located. The fare is RM30.
If you have MyKad with you, remember to show the cashier upon making payment at counter to get discount. A round-trip costs RM15 (for adult). There's no one-way ticket because cable car is the only mean of transport all the way up to Mount Mat Cincang.

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As the cable car ascends, you're able to catch this breathtaking view of Seven Wells Waterfall (Telaga Tujuh). There are 7 waterfalls that flow from one to another and eventually create 7 pools on the face of the hill.
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No, it's not broccoli. The cable car rides above the typical rainforest.
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The span between second tower and Middle station is the scariest part of the whole journey. The cable car ascends on a 42˚ incline, one of the steepest gradient in the world. As you can see from the picture, the gondola of the return trip doesn't look parallel in height with our cabin at all.

The cable car has Base, Middle and Top Station.
This is the Middle Station. You can get off from the cabin to snap some photos at the 360˚ panorama platform, or stay inside as it will continue taking you up to the peak.
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See the Sky Bridge?
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The view is magnificent.
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And guess that? We carried the luggage all the time with us. Into the cable car, up the mountain, and on the bridge. No luggage-keeping service was provided. It's not even in backpack form, can you imagine?
Genting Skyway is nothing compared to the Langkawi Cable Car, in terms of the view they offer. I would recommend you to come here instead of going to Underwater World. The online reviews said KLCC Aquaria is way better, has more marine creatures and more well-maintained!

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Partial Solar Eclipse On Jan 15

Malaysians will have the chance to observe again a partial solar eclipse known as the annular solar eclipse this Jan 15 between 3pm and 5.45pm.
The National Space Agency (Angkasa) said in a statement that members of the public could witness up to 40 per cent of the sun that would be obscured by the moon in the north of the peninsula in the evening.
"Langkawi would be the strategic location to observe the eclipse in Malaysia with 40 per cent of the sun obscured by the moon, while the coastal areas towards west would be an ideal location to witness the final eclipse during sunset," the agency said in the statement.
The percentage of the sun obscured by the moon will be less visible from the centre of the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak.
The annular solar eclipse will be visible broadly passing a path of 300km across central Africa, the Indian Ocean and East Asia, when the moon passes over the sun but is too small to cover the entire sun's disk, thus one will see an eclipse where a ring or annulus of bright sunlight surrounds the moon at the maxium phase.
Angkasa said the annular solar eclipse had occurred on Jan 26 last year and in conjunction with this year's eclipse, the agency would organise an observation programme on the eclipse from 2.30pm to 6pm at the National Planetarium on that day to give exposure and to inculcate interest in astronomy among society.
Angkasa said the public would be able to view the live webcasts of the eclipse through it website at www.angkasa.com.my from 3pm to 5.40pm.
The statement also said that the planetarium would be closed to the public from Jan 18 to March 31 for renovation and refurbishment, and will reopen on April 1.