PAHANG
Pahang is blessed with famous hill resorts with cool
mountain air, internationally renowned beaches and islands, serene lakes,
spectacular waterfalls and intriguing caves. This largest state in Peninsular
Malaysia is also home to the world’s oldest rainforests filled with exotic and
even endangered flora and fauna. At its coast, the virgin jungle relaxes into
peaceful and rustic fishing villages, a stunning contrast to the multicultural
and sophisticated state capital, Kuantan.
THE DRAGON OF LAKE CHINI
The true enchantment of Lake Chini lies in the secrets
lurking beneath is surface. One legend relates to an ancient mighty Khmer City,
as magnificent as the Angkor Wat in Cambodia, which reputedly lies on the
bottom of the lake. Interestingly, linguists claim to have established
remarkable resemblance between Thai and Orang Asli Jakun (Aborigines of Jakun
Tribe) Languages. For example, in the Thai, the word “ Chini” means gibbons and
until today the lakes’s forest is still home to many of these long limbed
carefree primates. Still, the most celebrated of Chini’s legends is the lake’s
numinous sentinel the iron scaled and mighty Naga Seri Gumum ( Seri Gumum
Dragon)
Long time ago, the first JAkun people settled in Chini were
skilled hunters and expert farmers. One day, as the JAkun settlers were
clearing more area for cultivation, an old woman emerged from the forest
declaring the recently cleared area was hers and that the JAKUN men were greedy
because they have taken more than they should. In claiming her rights, the
mysterious old women planted her walking stick into the ground and warned the
men never to remove it. Swiftly and humbly they apologized, and the elderly
woman allowed them to continue working so long as they did not infringe on her
area again.
Days later, the dogs started to bark angrily at mossy
coloured log like shape near the forbidden area. The Jakun men went to check
out the excitement. One of the men hurled his stick at the log and it started
to move and bleed. All of them stood in shock, as deep red blood kept gushing
out.
As they watched, the sky above darkened, lightning pierced the land and
deafening thunders stifled their horrified screams. In panic, one of the men
knocked over the old woman’s walking stick and a fountain of water shot sky
high. For years, the water gushed, forming the lakes, which now has become
dwelling of Naga Seri Gumum that was transformed from the magical log.
Located 100 kilometers away from Kuantan, Lake Chini is a
humbling place, offering numerous inspirations to its visitors. Its
refreshingly lush background is home to exotic equatorial flora and fauna that
will astound and educate. From late June to January, the lake’s surface is
teeming with stunning pink and white lotuses, yielding a mesmerizing contrast
to its verdant setting. There are also more than 200 species of birds recorded
around the area, making Lake Chini one of the premier bird watching locations
in Peninsular Malaysia.
The monsoon season swells the lake, making it the best
time for anglers to try their luck at the 144 species of fishes living in the
lake. It is also a fantastic time to enjoy the lake in its entirety, via a boat
ride for a unique lake safari experience.
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