Kuala Sepetang Eco Tourism, Perak, Malaysia

2KSGoh 5:00 PM Mar 3, 2011

sparse fireflies just an expensive boat ride
The jetty for the tour is situated in Kampung Dew on the eastside of Hwy 1 on Sungei Sepatang. In spite of lots of sign boards along the highway there was no clear indication that one needs to do a U-turn if going north on Hwy 1. Once turned around there was no clear sign for turning left onto a dirt road to the jetty just before the bridge. The entrance was in the dark and the one sign was facing the wrong way. We had booked a large boat for 10 people at a cost of RM300 ringgits (US$100). When we arrived at the appointed time 7 p.m., the boat wasn't there. We waited 30 minutes for the previous excursion boat to arrive and unload. There were half a dozen people working at the jetty, and as far as we can see we were the only tourists. The staff were very friendly. We were supplied with life jackets and helped with putting them on. The clips were all broken, so I have to tie my with knots. Once loaded on the boat, we had to sit on the floor, no seats. It's a fume spilling diesel boat, fortunately the fume was blowing away from us. There were a boat driver and a spotter in front. We putted downstream and saw sporadic mangrove trees with fireflies. The colonies were sparse. This was supposed to be a guided tour but there was no description or explanation, and no stops, just an expensive boat ride for hour and a half. Although it was a moonless night, the surrounding city lights gave off enough disruptive glow. And through the darkness we can see the mangroves were only a thin row backing into oil palm plantation. This supposed eco-tour was spilling diesel exhaust fumes at the fireflies. Soon fireflies will be no more snuffed out by the fumes from the tour boats and the surrounding belching charcoal kilns. Hey, can we use electric boats? At the end after we paid, Two of the staff members silently followed us all the way out to our cars. We thought that was really friendly of them. Strangely they didn't wave or bid us goodbye just stood there in anticipation. Tips?

3123456789041 5:00 PM Sep 24, 2014

Charcoal Factory , Coffee factory and fireflies watching
The tourism over in Port Weld / K. Sepetang is booming. We went on a hired busload of 30 pax. The charcoal factory was amazing. $60 per whole group of us with briefing on how charcoal is made. The coffee making factory is beside the bungalow of Dr Sun Yat Sen while he was here to gather funds back to China . His mansion has photos of him and his Malaysian mistress. The fireflies watching was fun . We embarked on it at 8.30pm on a clear night. The boat can accomodate 30 of us seated in benches . The mangrove swamp lit up as we watch the fireflies mating...it's like Christmas! Worth a visit