Fireflies at Kg Kuantan

Kg Kuantan, Kuala Selangor
8 p.m, 15 Jan 2012

Initial plan nak teman kan Cik Fad gi jalan2 dekat2 jer yang konon-konon nye nak release tension after her last exam paper tapi tiba2 tergerak hati plak nak jalan-jalan ke Kuala Selangor. So, of course our main agenda is to visit one of the most amazing places in the world… kelip-kelip at Kampung Kuantan… sebab nye nak menyambung niat yang tak kesampaian ke sini a few weeks back.

Jetty Kelip-Kelip Kg Kuantan

We arrived around 8 p.m & since only two of us, we shared our boat together with two Mat Salleh (save skit)… Caroline from Germany & Sergio from Spain. From two different country but both are staying at London… working there maybe. We don't have much talk on the boat since four of us are so busy focusing on the fireflies. Nice meeting both of them. Actually both are them are architects. Travelling & cycling is their hobby & passion… I guest by reading their blog. At the same time, both of them are doing the charity work, raising fund for the kids… wow, sempat lagi beramal sambil2 tu. Good job… I wish I could do the same one time, Insyallah. Ameen.

Met with Caroline

One boat is charged for RM40 & can accommodate up to 5 persons including the boatman. But, for sure there is no engine boat here only traditional boat for the trip. But, don't worry as you will be provided with the life jacket. So, try to make it 4 people for one trip so that you only need to pay RM10 per person. But, I would say, it was really worth to pay for RM10 for the entry fee because if you're lucky enough, you will see a millions of fireflies appeared at one time. The boat trip normally takes about half & hour but depends on the boat man, sometimes, it may take longer time than usual. Like us, I think we spend more than half an hour sitting on the boat & enjoying the magnificent fireflies flashing their lights.

According to Pak Salih, our boatman, normally the male flashes more brighter compare to the female. This is to attract the female fireflies during courtship. So, you can differentiate just by looking at the light they flashed. Fireflies can live for only two to three months.

There's no specific time to see the fireflies. Throughout the year around 7.30 pm till 2 a.m...the fireflies can be seen. Only during the raining time & strong wind, it will probably not appear & at this time they will not allow visitor to come in. And it depends on the fireflies mood too, according to Pak Salih, sometimes too many of them, sometimes a few only & sometime they may not appear at all. So, everything depends on your luck. As for us, we're lucky enough because almost all the berembang trees at the riverside are mostly full with the fireflies… sometimes it may look like a christmas tree… seriously. Subhanallah, what a wonderful & fantastic creation.

Signboard for information

The boat man will ride the boat nearby the riverside so that you could see the fireflies closely & clearly. You're advisable not to touch & catch the fireflies… maybe not harm for you to touch it but since most of the fireflies normally congregate at berembang trees at the riverbank, so, there is possibility that other poisonous creatures may appeared & attacking you, so, be extra careful although you're too excited at that time but think of your life first… it is more worth.

I did not bring my Camera as I was told that only special camera can capture the light of the fireflies. But, honestly, I left my memory card, only camera, so, better not to bring because no use at all. Luckily, Pak Salih said that so far only camera owned by aunty of Sultan Selangor can capture the fireflies… of course high quality camera & I guaranteed the cost must be very very high. But to me, see them in live are more satisfying compare to see them in the image.

We ride the boat around 8.15 p.m & around 9.00 pm then we returned to the jetty. The distance is not so far to see the fireflies, just 100m away from the jetty you already started to see thousands of them. And the area is just nearby… ranges about 500m away from the jetty.

Day view along Kuala Selangor River

I was really having fun & hopefully one day I can capture the image of the fireflies in the dark.

Kekecewaan di Kelip Kelip Kg Kuantan

Ahad, 11 Dec 2011
Kampung Kuantan
Kuala Selangor

Initial plan, aku sepatut nye ke Kelip-kelip Kampung Kuantan nak melihat keajaiban jutaan kelip-kelip tapi banyak sangat plak halangan malam Sabtu tu... terpaksa lah aku batal kan niat murni bersama Fad, adeq n kak Sab nak melihat keindahan kelip-kelip yang dah lama aku impikan. Based on sumber-sumber yang boleh dipercayai, millions of fireflies can only be seen in two places in the world (kata nya)... one is along the Amazon river in Brazil and the other one is at Kampung Kuantan, Selangor. But, between this two places, the location along the Selangor River in Kampung Kuantan is more special because can be easily accessible whereas the one along the Amazon… of course not. Actually, ade satu lagi tempat juga kat Malaysia ni… Kuala Klias kat Sabah tapi aku advise sangat-sangat lupa kan jelah... sebab Kelip-kelip dia segan nak keluar kalau orang ramai. So, don’t waste your money travel long way just to see the fireflies at Kuala Klias… cukup lah kat kampong Kuantan ni aje. Bayaran masuk pun RM15 jer for 30 minutes boat ride.

View of fire flies jetty during day time

Nak dijadikan citer, memang sangat mencabar jalan nak ke sini… lagi lah dengan manual gps from orang yang kata nye dah familiar dengan jalan kat situ tapi zahir nye… aduyai… bagus lagi GPS aku rase nye… hehehe. On the way nak ke sini, kena pass thru mini-gold course and Sime Darby oil palm plantations. Memandang kan kami pun dah datang lewat malam, so, imagine jelah jalan kat ladang yang seluas-luas alam tanpa cahaya… fuhh, tobat aku tak nak lalu situ dah. Actually ade jalan yang lagi better and more safer if you are travelling at night. Aku pun baru je tau… lepas ni rase nye aku akan follow jalan tu nak pergi tengok kelip-kelip next time… Insyallah. Jalan ni pun jalan yang sama kami nak ke Homestay kawan Kak Sab. Takpe, pengalaman mendewasakan kita… hopefully lepas ni tak sesat lagi dah.

Homestay kawan Kak Sab

The next morning, sempat juga aku menyinggah kat Jetty Kampung Kuantan ni. Tak dapat pergi tengok kelip-kelip, tengok tempat dia je pun jadi lah. For your info, siang tak dibuka untuk pelawat yea. Tapi aku datang nak amik gambo jer… yelah lepas ni ntah sampai malam plak kan. Tengah-tengah busy amik gambo ni, ade sorang uncle ni datang borak-borak dengan aku dan kak Sab… maybe dia rase hairan apalah yang aku buat kat situ padahal belum pun buka lagi. Borak punye borak, rupa nye... dia cakap malam tadi sebenarnye tak hujan… orang pun ramai datang. Aku pun naik pelik lah sebab nye kat Jeram beria-ia hujan mencurah-curah tapi pakcik ni boleh cool je cakap… mana ade hujan…. Emmmhhh heran juga lah tapi nak wat camne kan. Sebab aku ade baca kalau hujan, kelip-kelip takkan keluar. Pakcik tu ade cakap juga yang tempoh lawatan pun tak terhad sebab kalau ramai dia orang akan buka to pelawat sampai awal pagi. Pakcik tu siap suruh aku datang lagi next time and siap promote lagi tempat2 yang menarik aku boleh pergi kat area2 situ and homestay untuk menginap. Thanks for the very useful information pakcik.

Jetty to watch fire flies at Kg Kuantan

Jetty view on the other side




Visitors are strictly reminded

Amacam geng... dah tengok boat dia ade brani ke nak gi tengok kelip-kelip

Kampung Kuantan Jetty yang mendamaikan

Insyallah, next time akan ku cuba panjang kan langkah ku lagi untuk menyaksikan keindahan ciptaan Allah ini.