Saturday, January 29, 2011

Semai like it grilled...

One of the Semai's staple food is anything that is grilled. Their favourite grilled food includes tapioca (ubi panggang) and banana (pisang panggang). It taste surprisingly good! They also cooked their simple food in bamboo, like the Malay's "Lemang" (glutinous rice cooked in bamboo), eventhough their houses are now equipped with electric rice cooker and modern stove. We also found out that they like to add Ajinomoto (MSG) in their food!

Grilled food is cooked over a zinc sheet in their bamboo house. Grilled banana anyone?


TV Hijjrah airs Semai of Pos Betau

Recently, TV Hijjrah run its episode on the life of the Semai tribe of Pos Betau, Kuala Lipis on 24th Jan over its free-to-air TV channel. Since the newly launched government-owned TV network did not subscribe to Astro, the 13-episode series was watched by more than 10 million non-Astro viewers in the country. The scene was shot over 2 days in Pos Betau. Let's hope the series will be shown again on Astro channels.We were informed TV Hijjrah will be on Astro in the middle of the year.


The Semai kids watching the shooting thru' the Director's monitor

Adjusting for the best angle...


Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Unexpected visitor at Pos Betau

You can expect unexpected guest at pos betau. A baby quail, obviously separated from his mother suddenly popped up into the basecamp area. There are others too, like the the white heron (I think) which linggers around the basecamp. The rule is: always have your camera/video ready all the time. You'll never know what's coming next.

A baby quail popped into civilization out of nowhere in the middle of the night

Ray Charles - What'd I say

Danyel Gerard - Butterfly 1971

Vicky Leandros - Mono Esi (1972 Apres Toi - Greek Version)

Monday, January 17, 2011

What a life...

Ecolife Basecamp




            A private enclave all by yourself...  


A baby owl once wandered into the basecamp



Many have experienced the life here...

If you are looking for an private enclave all by yourself, just about 2 hours drive from KL and wants to be with nature and the friendly Semai tribe, then here's the place to be - ECOLIFE BASECAMP, Pos Betau, Kuala Lipis, Pahang, Malaysia. A haven by the river...




                                                                                   
The beautiful Betau river...

Relax infront of the scenic Betau river

The office facing the river...

Dewan Sri Sewang...the place where the Sewang dance is held. It also doubles as a dining hall & sleeping quarters

Ecolife basecamp as seen from the river...with its own port of call

Semai-built Sri Semai house accomodation, if you want to experience the Semai lifestyle. It faces the river.

What you can experience here:
    Visit their village and get to meet the Semai, Peninsula Malaysia's largest subtribe from the Senoi main tribe.
    A typical Semai house, though many have moved to modern houses.
    The Semai kids are friendly and as eager as we are



    Taste their food...grilled bananas/tapioca...
    Visit their orchard. Fruit season is normally in the middle of the year.
    Takraw seems to be their popular sport. A game with them can be arranged. Mind you, they are good!
Participate & experience the Sewang

The colourful Sewang ritual dance is accompanied by their own 'bamboo' musicians. Several versions are performed to suit the occasion and can last for hours. Remember to get your camera/video ready...

Even a 4WD trip to the starting point of the bamboo rafting is an adventure...
    Experience a 2-hour bamboo rafting cruise down the Betau river...
    A typical scene when you cruise the river
    We can even stop by the river banks and play football with the kids the natural way...
    You can try fishing right infront of the basecamp, 
  • You can also charter a boat for fishing
    Take a dip in the Betau anytime of the day...
Donate used clothes/food package for the needy/charity...
Tour the villages & its natural beauty...
Heaven for photographers...
Read a book...
                                                 Or just enjoy the variety of food we serve....
BBQ....

Indian-styled banana leaf lunch...

Ayoyo....!

Steamboat

Bowl of steamboat goodness
Typical Malay fare...


...with the works


Even kid's meal..

Occasionally, the local fruits if it's the season...
How to get here...



Slightly over 2-hour self drive from Gombak Toll. Exit Bentong toll to Bentong, then follow signboards to Raub, Tersang, Sg Koyan, Pos Betau. Same road goes to Ringlet, Cameron Highland. Road condition is excellent. You can drive right to the basecamp.

You may also hire a taxi from K.L. Alternatively, you may take the 3 times daily K.Lumpur- Raub-Sungai Koyan-Cameron Highlands Lin Siong bus from Pekeliling bus/LRT station. Ask the driver to stop at the government clinic (Klinik Desa Pos Betau) and walk about 10 mins to the basecamp. 


Site Map to Ecolife

You can drive & park right infront of the basecamp, bus included.

Excellent road all the way leads right to the basecamp. Road also leads to Ringlet, Cameron Highland.

Accomodation:


For those seeking authentic Semai lodging by the Betau river, Sri Semai traditional bamboo house can accomodate 8-10 people.

Sri Sewang by the river...it's also doubles as sleeping quarters for 40 adults, dining hall for 50 and the place where the Sewang dance is held.




                                                  
All meals will be served at the Sri Sewang

Ammenities


Modern washrooms with male/female sections

The newly refurbished Surau Al Falah in the basecamp compound can also doubled as a lodging

The newly-built Pos Betau R & R
Klinik Desa Pos Betau - complete with Ambulance service.

      Others:
  • Basic sundry shop - 5 mins walk
  • Malay Restaurant -10 mins walk
  • Hair salon (yes, you heard right!) - 5 mins walk
  • Motorbike shop - 5 mins walk
  • Nearest town -15 mins drive (Sg Koyan)
  • Post Betau R & R - 10 mins walk
  • Ringlet, Cameron Highlands - 45 mins drive               
                                  Packages:
  • 1N/2D  Easy Package at RM300.00 per pax (minimum 20 pax)
  • 3D/2N  Leisure Package at RM350.00 per pax (minumum 20 pax)
  • Village tour by 4x4  at RM 100 per trip (max 4 pax per vehicle)
  • Fishing Package (Tailor-made. Please enquire. Fishing gear not included)
  • Training/motivational/CSR Package (Please enquire)
  • Semai food demo at RM500.00 per session
  • Sumpit (blow pipe) demo at RM100 per session
CSR , telematches & community program with the local Semai community can also be arranged.
* Payment for ALL packages MUST be made 7 DAYS before departure date
* All packages are ex-Pos Betau
*Easy & Leisure package includes all meals (breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner), accommodation at Sri Sewang and/or Sri Semai (sleeping bag, blankets, pillow & camp bed included), Sewang performanceBamboo rafting,  (transportation to starting point, river guide & safety vest included) & river floats. (additional charges apply for food demo and blowpipe demo)



                                ENQUIRIES WELCOME!

Send enquiries to ecolife@aol.asia / ecolifecamp@gmail.com


See you soon!