16.7.11: Outdoor learning

Here's what we did during our stay at Felda Residence Trolak. Discounting the room that we stayed in, it was a nice green place, albeit a little run down in some places.

Played at the playground which was a little run-down

They learned about flowers and how it is small, (sometimes yellowish-green) and in a bud, before it blooms. They learned about the creatures that eat nectar from the flowers.  

Pretending that the yellow flower is a bee and going from flower to flower. I always teach them to pick up fallen flowers from the ground, and not to pluck any live flowers from a growing plant. I'm glad to say that they haven't plucked any live flower yet

Nature treasure hunt

The boys collected pine cones. They counted them and learned some addition. 

Observation

 

Drawing

E decided to trace the outline of a leaf

Cicada. We saw 2 during our stay there. 

S says that these trees are like ice-cream popsicles

15.7.11: Felda Residence Hot Springs again

At 9.40 am, we arrived at the Felda Residence Hot Springs again, barely 24 hours from yesterday. No discount given. We had to pay in full, and decided to make the best use of our time there. This time, I was allowed to drive in my car to park inside the parking area inside. Only during Friday, Saturdays and Sundays are people allowed to drive their car inside and park inside.

We saw some people boiling eggs. It seemed as though the people selling eggs weren't interested to sell them. You can see why from the next picture. When we wanted to buy some eggs later on, they were gone. How disappointing. I should bring my own eggs next time. However, the management had stressed that we weren't allowed to bring in outside food. However, I did see some people bring their own sardines and bread to eat with the eggs as sandwich. 

At 11 am, it started drizzling. We left the cool mountain springs pool and went to soak in another hot pool which had a covered shade. It was 30 to 35 degree celcius. It felt very warm at first, but gradually our body got used to it.

 

When the rain stopped, we went to the mountain springs pool. The pool was a little dirty as it had debris in it. I took E for a ride on the slide. He insisted on wearing goggles (mine) as I didn't bring his. There was water sprays all around us.When we got to the bottom of the slide, we were immersed in water for a second. The water got into my nose and throat. For a moment, I was worried about E? Did he choke on the water as he was immersed into the water too? Fortunately, he was alright.

The boys posing with the goggles.

There was also a swimming pool on the right hand side of the cool mountain springs pool. However, a sign stated "strictly no entry for below 120 cm". Although it was just 3 feet at the side, (certain parts were 4 feet deep), and the children brought their float, we chose not to go into the cold pool. It was certainly much nicer in the warm hot springs pool. 

The cold swimming pool

We had to cut our stay short as there were black clouds overhead. At 12.30 pm, it started drizzling again and we rushed to the car just in time before the downpour began. I drove back in my wet clothes. If I had stayed on to change, we would definitely have been caught in the downpour and wouldn't have been able to get to the car.

14.7.11: Felda Residence Hot Springs

I drove on and on the narrow tarred road following the signs leading to Sg Klah hot springs, a.k.a. Felda Residence Hot Springs. On my left and right were oil palm plantations. Finally it was 4.20 pm when I reached there. We didn't bring any change of clothes there. Entrance fees were RM10 per adult and RM8 per child. Since we had lots of time and the place only closed at 7 pm, I paid the entrance fees and we went in. The boys played in the warm hot springs water S forgot about his injured knee. I just soaked my feet in and didn't go into the water since I hadn't brought any change of clothes. 

The large hot springs pool

Optical illusion - Looks like his head is detached from his body and floating on the water.

At the reflexology foot path which was flowing with warm hot springs water

E is asking about the signs

In front of the cool mountain springs pool

The boys collected small coconuts that had fallen onto the ground

We walked on the boardwalk on the way to the exit. 

We passed by this stream which was emitting steam

One can also sit here and bask in the natural sauna

14.7.11: Sungkai Wildlife Conservation Centre

At 2.50 pm, I drove out to the Sungkai Wildlife Conservation Centre. I had depended on my GPS but strangely my GPS said that it was 29 km away and I had to exit the Sungkai toll and get on the highway. Forfunately, at a traffic light leading to the toll, I glanced left and saw a large billboard showing the Sungkai Wildlife Conservation Centre and the arrow directed me to go straight on, not turn right (into the toll and highway.)

I drove on and on, following signs to the Kawasan Perhilitan. I didn't realise that it was quite a distance away from Felda Residence Trolak. It was 3.15 when I arrived and I had to sign in at the guardhouse. I was told that the area would close at 4.15 pm. "We would only have a short time here," I thought, feeling disappointed. 

I was told to drive right to the end, and that's where the bird aviaries were.

I drove the car along the narrow tarred road. The place was isolated and I had the luxury of stopping my car in the middle of the road, winding down my window pane and snapping pictures of the deers in their enclosure.

 

Finally, I reached what seemed to be their administrative office. I parked the car and we walked to the office which contained taxidermy displays of animals. It was dark and there wasn't anyone there. I switched on the fans. 

This is a skeleton of a tiger. 

Musang and a huge elephant's leg

Skin of a snake

Various types of eggs

Ostrich egg 

After that, we walked outside to the aviary. On the way, we passed another building which said "brooder". I think this is where they hatched their eggs. We couldn't see anything from the outside and the worker there just ignored us, so, we went to the aviary instead.

The birds were housed in these large cages.

Counting the squares

After that we went to see the birds in the aviary. It wasn't interesting as there were only a few birds and one of it was the Great Argus Pheasant. The nice part about the place was hearing the sounds of the insects (sounds of nature). The whole place was so isolated and hardly any visitors.

After that, we turned back and headed for the car. While walking back to the car, I heard a thud behind me. It was S, who ran after me and had fallen down on the road. He cut his knee quite deeply and fresh blood started oozing from his wound.  It was a deep open wound. I didn't have any antiseptic with me, just plasters. I washed his wound with water and stuck a plaster on his knee.

As I drove back, I saw the signboard to Sg Klah Hotsprings and on impulse made a detour there. I had planned to go there the next day, but I thought that the hot springs water could perhaps clean his wound and heal it faster, since I didn't have any antiseptic and I did not come across any pharmacy in the vicinity. After all, this was a small town. (Next time, I need to pack a first aid kit, you never know when it might come in handy).