Thursday, October 29, 2009

Nature beckons ... Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve





We listened intently as Zul, our nature guide took us on a tour of the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur city. There were 3 of us - myself and 2 visitors from Chiang Mai, Thailand. Am I glad I opted for a guide instead of doing a wander myself. Truth be told, Zul, played his role well as a nature guide - giving his knowledge and passion for us to 'fire' some questions.

As soon as we stepped into the Reserve, we felt the city heat had 'parked' itself outside. Zul did not fail to bring it to our attention. The sudden coolness serves to bring home the message of climate change and how we should preserve Mother Nature or whatever remnants existing.



That's exactly what City Hall has done. Thankfully, this small hill, a crop of tropical rainforest was declared a Reserve since 1906. To this day, the Reserve, our ' forest in the city' is our heritage. Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve surrounds the Menara KL Tower (Kuala Lumpur Telecommunication Tower) and when it was being built, a 100 year old jelutong tree (dyera costulata) was preserved. At a cost of RM 430.000 , a retaining wall was constructed to preserve the jelutong tree - one of our treasured hardwood species. The tall buildings nearby may stand tall, so too the trees, if they are left alone - they are ever-reaching for the sky!



Zul highlighted the fascinating cicadas and other insects that live in the forest reserve. It was our luck to see first hand the cocoons left by the cicadas on the underside of a leaf to 'trick' the birds.' I enjoy this orchestra of the forest' , says Zul , referring to the singing of the male cicadas we heard in the background as we chatted.


We followed the Merbau and the Jelutong trails. They are easy to negotiate. Rising above our heads are the rainforest trees - their trunks thick and their well -defined, impressive buttresses never cease to bewilder trekkers.





Zul picked up the seed of the dipterocarpus ( 2 winged fruit) tree. Then, he let it go in the air - whee! - with its wings, the mini plant flew, helicopter -like to land on the moist earth again. With time, it will propagate as Mother Nature wills.



'How is it possible for huge trees to be standing on slopes whch seem too precarious?' asked our curious visitors. 'Coz Mother Nature has not been disturbed', was Zul's reply. Names of the plants just tripped off his tongue - merawan ( artocarpus scortechinii), pulai ( alstonia angustilobia)- as he pointed to the ferns, rare herbs, rattan, lianas and the different shaped leaves and highlighted their functions.



We heard the rustle of leaves and craned our necks upwards to look for the resident monkeys. Luck was in - we spotted 2 silvered lanquer monkeys high among the trees doing their 'crossings'. There's food to support them , the long tailed macaques and other animals in this natural habitat .

Zul seems fiercely protective of our natural heritage as we chatted under the shady trees. He shares his concerns about our diminishing rainforests and the harm we do that threaten to wipe them off forever. To me, he's an eco warrior not only in his own country but in Thailand too. I couldn't agree more with him that nothing can replace this green gem we have right in our midst. That we must protect our rich biodiversified forests and pockets of greenery from the onslaught of over - development.

As in the words of the poet, William Wordsworth, ' Nature never did betray the heart that loved her'. Let's preserve!



Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve
Jalan Puncak, Off P. Ramlee
50250 Kuala Lumpur
tel: + 6 03 2020 5448
http://www.menarakl.com.my


Guided tours are daily, subject to weather conditions
-11.00 am, 12.30 pm, 2.30 pm and 4.30 pm
Free of charge.

20 comments:

  1. My oh my greens within KL city that's nice, love them. Have not been to all these places even though set foot in KL for years. Thanks

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  2. owh.. nice expose.. never know that KL still have forest... (^_^) thanks 4 the info.... and good luck for blog 4 FT.. i just go through ur blog.. its good contain.. hehe

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  3. That natural heritage really is a real gem you have. You had a good time enjoying all that beauty all around. Thanks for sharing this wonderful tour with us.

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  4. Thanks for sharing, will find one day bring my kids to here.

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  5. Never know that there is a forest reserve at Bukit Nenas. Thank you for sharing.

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  6. Well, Zul may have been a wonderful tour guide to you, but so have you been for us! Thankyou so much for an excellent journey through the forest...

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  7. Hi
    CheaHS@n, do visit and it's a good family outing.

    HELAS, luckily, we're not a desert! LOL!! Nothing beats having a green lung right in the city.

    MedaM, a natural heritage not disturbed is truly a gift :)

    Sonia, you can do a few things with your kids besides the Reserve - there's the Menara KL to get a bird's eyeview of Kl and visit other historical buildings nearby.

    Wan Hashim, oh yes, you can have a nice little workout walking/jogging.

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  8. What a wonderful trek through the beautiful forest reserve. Thank you for showing off your land.

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  9. SS girl!
    You have amazed me yet again. What a spectacular reserve. Thanks for sharing...
    ON a side note, I award you an honest scrap award on my blog. Hope you can play along, no pressure though. Rosey

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  10. Way to go FT blogger!
    You have my vote once again!!!!!!!!!!

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  11. Voted again!! I've a feeling you're gonna clinch this one, girl!!

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  12. Hi
    Lucy, thank you for your appreciation :) Enjoy your day !

    Rosey Pollen, thank you! Keep warm and have a good day!

    lupie, i've caught your enthusiasm! thanks so much for voting.

    Veronica Lee, hold your horses!! I'm trying my best and thanks so much for your support.

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  13. Good job, Keats! I was in the area just this evening, after the rain. I've voted for you, too! I loved the cicadas best of all. They are unexpectedly HUGE! We don't often get to see them, do we? We can hear the racket they cause, but we don't get to see them close up.

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  14. Its a wonderful reserve,
    amazing pictures its beautiful in your country :)
    Its a unique post !!!!
    Have a wonderful day
    Anya :)

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  15. What a beautiful forest. I'd love to see the monkeys running through the trees.

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  16. Hi Shiasta,my apologies, I missed you comments and it's been a good few days .Thanks so much for your appreciation.

    ~Covert-Operations'78~, thanks! the cicadas are everywhere by the sound of it!!! Imagine how quiet the forest will be without their symphony!

    Anya, thanks for the lovely comments. My friends are asking me the whereabouts of this reserve!!

    adrienne, yes, monkeys are a delight to watch.

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  17. What a beautiful tour! How different from our changing leaves,soon to be bare limbs. Thanks for stopping by my blog and I'll be voting for you!

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  18. Nice to go for a nature walk for a change and be away from the city. I miss out about the vote, hope I am in time to vote for you. :)

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  19. Hi
    Lin, good to have you blogging again. Oh yes, summer's always in right here!! I've seen so many blogs showing off the autumnal colurs that one can only fall in love with the shades.; just that wintr follows after.

    Thanks for voting - the deadline is 5 Nov , so you can still vote for all the posts with the thumb sign.

    alicesg, yes, a nature walk in the city is a respite. I believe singapore has many as you have shown on your posts.

    You'ren't late !! the deadline for voting is 5 Nov as the competition started on 5 oct. So, please click and vote for me !! Thank you :))

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  20. hI GUYS...PLEASE ADD OUR (NATURE WALK KL TOWER) AT FACEBOOK....
    tq Keats ....

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Great to have you popping in!