Ecolife Basecamp: From Vienna with love

Ecolife Basecamp: From Vienna with love: We had seen many European cyclist passing by Pos Betau on their way to Cameron Highlands in Pahang. Most of them traveled in groups of 2-6. ...

From Vienna with love

We had seen many European cyclist passing by Pos Betau on their way to Cameron Highlands in Pahang. Most of them traveled in groups of 2-6. Many stopped by the village before taking the uphill 55km ride to Cameron Highlands. Barbara from Vienna, Austria was one of them. And she cycles ALONE! 

She sets off from Vienna 3 years ago to cycle around the globe, landing in Johor Bahru from Singapore via Indonesia and Australia. She stopped by at the basecamp, seeking only shelter for the night before her scenic ascend the next day to Cameron Highlands - and on her way to Thailand next. 

Ecolife Basecamp is the ONLY place between Pos Betau and Cameron Highlands where one can get proper shelter in a gated compound, complete with running water, electricity, clean washrooms, and a beautiful river to submerge yourself with. We wish her the best. Have a safe journey, Barbara! Do drop by anytime soon!

Barbara (right) and her trusty bike

Ecolife Basecamp: Year ends with a bang

Ecolife Basecamp: Year ends with a bang: 2013 ended with a bang. In August, a Hari Raya Aidil Fitri Open house was held at the basecamp for the Semai community. It was the 1st t...

Year ends with a bang

2013 ended with a bang.

In August, a Hari Raya Aidil Fitri Open house was held at the basecamp for the Semai community. It was the 1st time such event was held at the basecamp. Organised by the basecamp and contributed generously by friends of the basecamp and SMS Alumni members. It was well-received by the community. We shall try to make it an annual event.

In November,  nearly 60 bikers of all shapes and sizes roared into the basecamp. They were from the Sungai Buluh Prison Bikerzs Club. They stayed for a night, held their 1st ever exhibition in a rural area about life behind bars, had fun in the river and extended their fun in the evening with a BBQ session with the Semai community. They also generously gave away food hampers and used clothes to the community.

The arrival of the bikers club. The convoy of bikes itself was an exhibition to the folks of Pos Betau

Lunch was a big affair every time

Prison club members helping with lunch

Food hampers for the Semai folks

The exhibition attracted even the kids

The folks of Pos Betau came out to see the rare exhibition.

A child asking his father about the exhibits.

Prison officials were present to explain to those who required more infor.

BBQ organised by the club members

The local Semai community were also invited to join the BBQ

One for the album

Nenel Laila, 70, was also presented with food hamper

They traveled in style and they went back in style after an unforgettable outing...We hope they come again.

Towards the end of Nov and early December, UiTM students came for the third time to engage in charity and community services. They traveled an hour away from the basecamp to Pos Lenjang in 4WDs, painted the local public-funded Surau, engaged in telematches with the local Semai community, gave away food hampers and served them meals over 2 days and 1 night. And they did it in style eventhough it rained almost the entire duration of their stay. They were certainly made of sterner stuff and should provide an shining example to other institution of higher learning on how to do a real community service.

The Tok Batin welcoming the students

The sign said it all. The surau was also the base of the student's activities.

The students painting the Surau

Food was cooked almost round the clock to feed the community of 300 Semai.

The Semai kids during dinner

Students helped to serve food to the Semai folks.

It was a real challenge to prepare and serve food  for 2 days and 1 night, but the students did very well.

Food hampers and gifts were aplenty for the folks.

The serene skyline of Pos Lenjang

A day of giving

Students giving away food hampers to the Semai community.

It brought smiles from them...

A token from UiTM to the Tok Batin (Village Head)

The student's mode of transportation

Students engaging with the Semai in Telematches.

The makeshift shelter where food was served.

The Semai turn out in full force to watch the event. For them, it's very rare for students to do charity work at their village. Before this , no students came here to do anything. Bravo UiTM!.

If you are thinking of doing your charity work (CSR), have a good time or simply want the place for your family and friends, do contact us anytime.

Have a great 2014! Peace yo...!

Sampling what life has to offer in Pos Betau...

There's places here that nature has left for us to discover. Here's a sample of the places within Pos Betau you can visit or do...

Serving the Semai Community

UiTM, the country's premier University was again at the forefront of community service when 27 of its students and a lecturer performed community services at the Semai village of RPS Pos Betau, Kuala Lipis, Pahang from 15-16th June, 2013.

Comprising of second year undergraduates of various courses from its main campus in Shah Alam, Selangor who formed the bulk of the Community Service Club, the students arrived early by UiTM's bus at 10.30 am on 15th June at the Ecolife Basecamp in Pos Betau. Upon arrival, they straight away get down to business, painting the basecamp's Sri Sewang Hall, taking a break for lunch at 1.30 pm, before continuing their paint job until finish.  

After that, it was playtime with the kids of Tadika Kemas kindergarten. More than 200 Semai folks came to watch their children took part in the games organised by UiTM students. UiTM students also performed a group song for the audience while the kids presented a cute ritual Sewang dance, which was later joined by the crowd.. The crowd - 100% more than we expected - were later treated with dinner served by the students.

On Sunday morning, 16th June, the students boarded three 4-wheel drives loaded with hampers and goodies to Pos Lenjang, about 40km away from the basecamp to distribute them to poor Semai villagers.The presentation to 20 families was made fronting a beautiful river and joined by the community. The journey to the place was simply breathtaking.

It was certainly a proud moment for the students as they were the first batch of students from any local university to do a community service in Pos Betau of its kind. They should all be given an "A" for their noble efforts for blazing the trail. Well done, UiTM!

The sign says it all

Students painting the Sri Sewang building

The students were well fed at the basecamp...!

Instructions were given in the Semai language for the tele-matches.

Cute kindergarten students performing the Sewang dance.

UiTM students performing for the crowd

The big feast after the games. 

Students loading the goodies for the trip to Pos Lenjang

The students traveled in 1 tonne lorry and SUV and had a thrill of their life...

Lining up the goodies at Pos Lenjang

The food hamper was distributed to 20 families.

Admiring the beauty of Pos Lenjang