A Paradise behind the Mountain

Written by May Ling Tan on 16 September, 2012

Photography by May Ling Tan

Pantai Kerachut, Penang National Park – by May Ling

Apart from its world-class heritage sites, local gastronomical delights such as char koay teow, and asam laksa have become a necessity to many when visiting Penang Island. However, what remains undiscovered to many visitors is the existence of a hidden paradise located at the north-west corner of this busy island – Pantai Kerachut.

The dock for people arriving by boat – 

by May Ling

Pantai Kerachut is part of the recently declared Penang National Park. Instead of lazing around on over commercialized beaches, where pollution is adamant and left-over charcoals are a norm, Pantai Kerachut offers an experience that varies from the typical Penang beach, and allows you to grow closer to nature.

Surrounded by small fishing villages, the beach is well-preserved with a turtle reservation centre and a rare meromictic lake that exists only during the wettest months in Penang.

Trekkers like me can sign up for an approximately hour-long jungle trek up and down the hill that separates the beach from the fishing villages. The beach is also accessible via boat, but costs around RM80-RM100 per boat.

I was advised to leave the beach earlier because it is dangerous to travel by foot after nightfall. Hiking to the beach in the middle of afternoon is not a major problem as it is shady and cool once you enter the forest.

It can be quite challenging to travel by foot, especially for children. However, the reward is brilliant. The fresh air, small river streams and colourful butterflies astound you all along the way.

Turtle Reservation Centre in Pantai Kerachut – by May Ling

As the journey nears its end, the air changes into the salty scent of sea breeze with a bridge that connects the forest to the beach.

 Hidden among the bushes at the end of the finest beach is the Pantai Kerachut Turtle Reservation Centre. It is one of the few places in Malaysia where green turtles come in and lay eggs. Here, you can observe the hatching of turtle eggs and baby turtles swimming in the small pool.

Melbourne Fringe’s Big Three-0

By Tan May Ling on 9th September, 2012

Celebrating its 30 years birthday in independent arts, Melbourne Fringe Festival is back in the city.

Since 1982, Melbourne Fringe Festival was established after the closure of Carlton’s legendary Pram Factory. The arts festival has supported more than fifty thousand artists. The festivals also presented various forms of arts genres, from circus, dance, design, visual art, comedy, music, and sideshow. All held in several hundreds of venues all across Melbourne.

People attending the 30 Years of Independence 

and Arts party posing for 

photo-shoot in the photo booth – 

Photo by Melbourne Fringe Festival Facebook

Melbourne Fringe Festival began with parades in Brunswick Street and rapidly evolved into a significant cultural event, attracting hundreds of thousands of audiences. People from all around Melbourne or Victoria would come and gather at the arts festival, to celebrate arts, exclusively independent arts.

“Melbourne Fringe used to be very well-known in the past but it had toned down a bit if you compare the current Melbourne Fringe to the past Melbourne Fringe,” said Eugene Wong, who is one of the organizers for A Tale of Two Melbournes.

Despite the decrease of popularity in comparison with the past, Melbourne Fringe Festival still attracts many locals and a number of travellers or tourists. It is the second largest Fringe Festival held in Australia after Adelaide Fringe Festival.

Running from 26 September to 14 October 2012, Melbourne Fringe has provided a space for local artists to come out with wild, bold and creative art ideas and presenting them to everyone in Melbourne.