Monday, May 3, 2010
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Sungai Lembing [ the Past & Present ]
Sungai Lembing, short form as Lembing, once possessed one of the world’s largest underground tin mine. The entire length of the underground tunnel is about 400 miles (640 km), 新井 mine with depth of 1400 ft, Mayah mine with dept of 2100 ft, 加 格tin mine was 1000 ft, and every level was built at 100 ft in height.
Sungai Lembing residents once had a miserable life, with strings of calamities that hit the town; fire and floods brought destruction to the town followed by Japanese Occupation during the Second World War. Despite the tough times, they also enjoyed prosperous days before, with world’s largest underground tin mine company in operation that brought much progress and development to the town. However, the company stopped its operation in March 1987. In the following year, the government tried to save the industry but the effort came to no avail. The tin mine company could not stay afloat. The flourishing economy was long gone. The machines, equipment, factory were abandoned and left to rot. The mining areas had become bleak and barren. One might begin to wonder how a flourishing town lost its vigour as time passed by…
Though the glory is never recovered, Sungai Lembing has become a charming town attracting loads of visitors especially on weekends and during holidays.
Sungai Lembing is situated north east of Pahang, about 42 km away from Kuantan. Sungai Lembing is a valley nestled in the mountains with Kenau River running along its town. Along the river, there are three suspension bridges. The town is surrounded with mountains clothed with luxuriant greenery presents a great scenery to everyone visiting the town. Wild flowers speckled along the path add color to the green forest. It is certainly worth the climb to one of the peaks in Sungai Lembing. There is Sunday morning market, offering inexpensive goods to the locals and the visitors. There are crystal house and the Sungai Lembing Museum for you to explore.
Location of Sungai Lembing
Sungai Lembing is in Pahang state, about 42km from Kuantan, 259km from Kuala Lumpur. The geographical coordinates of Sungai Lembing in degrees minutes seconds is latitude N3°55’00” and longitude E103° 02’ 00”
Driving direction to Sungai Lembing
The best way to get there is by driving and make sure your car has sufficient gasoline to get away from Sungai Lembing because the town has only a gas pump which operate from morning until sunset or until the petrol is finished.
From north or south (Thailand, Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, Johor, Singapore)
North South Expressway (NSE) ── Kuala Lumpur (KL) ── Karak Highway ── East Coast Expressway (ECE) ── Kuantan (EXIT 833) ── Sungai Lembing
From west (Selangor)
Kuala Lumpur (KL) ── Karak Highway ── East Coast Expressway (ECE) ── Kuantan (EXIT 833) ── Sungai Lembing
From east (Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor)
Kuantan ── Sungai Lembing
From Kuantan to Sungai Lembing is a two-lane trunk road with a lot of bends and slopes, beware of animals crossing. Drive cautiously and enjoy the journey!