In continuation of my previous trip to Bukit Tambun, my visit today starts with a stop at Samnak Song Kampung Ah Chooi (山那松甘榜亚水). This Thai Buddhist temple is located on the foothills of Bukit Tambun, right next to a natural hot spring.
The temple is not well-known to outsiders, so it is fortunate that I have a local to show me around. Next to the temple is an eye-catching dragon sculpture around a fountain.
Meanwhile, the resident python hibernates soundly in its cage. The snake is thought to bring magical powers to the temple.
Scattered in abundance around the area are nangka trees. Some of them are already ripe for the picking, attracting throngs of birds and insects with their lovely scent.
Besides flora, there are also a number of fauna species here. For example, an oriental garden lizard sneaks up silently in search of food.
The brown color and rough texture of its skin allow the lizard to camouflage easily against tree barks.
There are also several domesticated animals near the temple. For example, a 7-foot ostrich towers imposingly on the other side of the fence.
Like the medusa, few mortals can resist gazing at the peacock. Also impressive is the vibrant crest on his head.
Only the male of the species has such elaborate feathers. Peahens, on the other hand, are usually grayish in color and lack fancy feathers like their male counterparts.
A guineafowl seems to have lost its way and is finding the entrance back to its den.
Rural folks have no need for alarm clocks to wake up in the morning as the rooster’s crowing is sufficient.
Approximately 4 kilometers to the west, Pangkalan Jeti Batu Musang (Batu Musang Pier) provides boat access to and from Pulau Aman.
Docked beside the pier is a 10-person boat to ferry people to the island in the distant background. A one-way trip takes around 10 minutes.
