Sungai Lembing Museum

Sungai Lembing Museum

Jalan Museum

Sungai Lembing

26200 Kuantan

Pahang Darul Makmur

Operating Hours

0900 - 1700 daily

Closed on first day of Eid ul Fitr/Adha

This museum is situated on a hill. No public vehicle is allowed to go up to the museum. There is a small parking area just outside the museum's gate.

The ticket office is at the foot of the hill, near the entrance. Next to the ticket office are the souvenir shop and washroom. I dropped by the souvenir shop and I must say that I was impressed with their offerings. A lot better than most museums I've visited.

***

Admission Fee(s)

Adult - RM2

Senior Citizen/Disabled - RM1

Child - Free

Foreigners

Adult - RM5

Child - RM2

Considering the museum's location, I thought it must be some angmoh tin mine manager's bungalow or police station. It turned out to be the former and also the place for His Majesty, Sultan Abu Bakar Riayatuddin Muadzam Shah (4th Ruler of Pahang) to stay while visiting in Sungai Lembing.

Personally, I think that the museum is managed fairly well. The information on tin mining and other relevant topics are well-presented in many forms of media and style. They have diorama, video presentation, photos and graphs along with the many artefacts on display. My only comment would be on the layout. The flow should be improved. I had trouble finding some galleries because they were outside the main hall.  

Go out of the 'house' to find more galleries before going upstairs

Impressive full scale diorama of tin mine and video presentation

Mining Machines Collection

Upstairs 'Living Room' - video on Sungai Lembing

Master bedroom 

Overall, plan to spend about 2 to 3 hours in this museum. However, I do not recommend taking the elderly and disabled for a visit due to various inconvenient museum settings.

Cambodia National Museum, Phnom Penh

Admission Fee: US$ 5 per adult

Operating Hours: 0800 - 1700 (last entry at 1630)

No photography allowed in the museum itself but there's a pretty garden in the courtyard where visitors are allowed to take pictures.

I love the huge, tall windows in the building. If not for the heavy weight of the exhibit, I'd feel concern for the security of the museum. 

This show gave me some idea what it was like in Angkor Wat once upon a time!

Do visit if you enjoy visiting museums like I do :)

Phuket Trickeye Museum, Phuket

Phuket Trickeye Museum

Operating Hours

1000 - 1900 daily (last entry at 1800)

Admission Fee(s) - 500 THB/adult

                               300 THB/child

I am pretty sure that you can get the tickets + return transfer from one of those tour agents in Phuket but if you're finding the place yourself, head to Phuket town and ask the locals. If you have internet access, Waze or Google Map your way. It's quite easy to find.

BRING YOUR CAMERA!

Camwhores like me Creative people will probably spend over 2 hours here. There are many interesting, indecent and funny arts for you to pose with. Adults love this place as much as kids do. 

  Oh a note on your footwear, you'll have to take them off (including your socks) and leave them at the reception counter. You'll pass it again before you leave.

Now you know why Der Schrei der Natur was screaming ;)

Kinda mocking Des Glaneuses' message, don't you think?

Sadako Yamamura wannabe

Hey Santa stop photobombing me!

No comment. Thanks, everyone!

But Shea, is that all?

Lol of course not. There are plenty more, complete with suggestions on how to pose. My advice? Be creative.

  Go check it out yourself. I made it worth the 500 THB. All you need is some patience, fresh perspective and a not-so-busy day (so you won't feel too guilty hogging the 'arts'). Have fun!

Siam Niramit, Phuket

Siam Niramit is more than a stage show. It is comparable to Phuket Fantasea in the way that it is like a mini theme park without the roller coasters. While Phuket Fantasea is more OTT, out of this world theme, Siam Niramit is more of a cultural extravaganza. 

  Come early to roam around, take photos with the 'characters', play a couple funfair games, explore the cultural village, watch a boxing match and some dance and elephant show. Be sure to bring small change as tips for the staff (if you want to take pictures with them in costume).

 You can get the tickets from any of the tour agents in Phuket at various prices depending on your preference. I got mine for only 1350 THB without meal, including return transfer from hotel. A van picked me up at around 6.15 pm and off we went!

  After the driver dropped me and the others at the lobby, he gave us a piece of paper with van's number and direction on which carpark to meet later. After a few minutes, a lady came over with my ticket and stuck a sticker on my shirt.

These are live karabau guys! Complete with the smell.

No recording is allowed in the theater but I know the guys in my van took some videos and you can find some on YouTube. The show is a mix of historical play and creative interpretation of heaven and hell and such. Probably not as grand as Phuket Fantasea but Siam Niramit sure is entertaining, impressive and charming in its own way.

Galeri Arkeologi Lembah Lenggong, Perak

Muzium Arkeologi Lenggong (Lenggong Archeology Museum) is also known as Muzium Arkeologi Kota Tampan. Situated in Kota Tampan, 33400 Lenggong, you'll be able to find this place using Waze by searching for 'muzium arkeologi lenggong'.

It is really a gallery but a quite an interesting one. Expect to spend over an hour here. 

No photography, drinks & food, pets, etc. allowed but I saw people snapping away anyway. 

As you enter, go to the left and watch an introduction video with a replica (many items on display were replicas) of broken pottery as 'frame'. Then, you'll see the introduction of the team of archeologists who found the Perak Man and all the other fossils and artefacts.

It was interesting learning about the process and how they identify the location to dig all. One area was made into cave-like to house the actual bones of Perak Man. Another section displayed info on the aboriginal people and their way of life. 

Upstairs, I dubbed "the boring political stuff" but-nonetheless-important-aspect, gallery displaying the journey of making the Perak Man and Lenggong Valley a UNESCO world heritage site. I confess, I went straight for the video presentation at the other side of the gallery. 

Is it worth a visit?

Yes. If you're interested in learning about how Asians are smarter than the Europeans :p or that your ancestors might have come from Africa.

Entry is FREE

Operating hours 9 am to 5 daily with break from 12 noon to 3 pm on Fridays.

Do stop to eat at Restoran Tasik Raban if you love Malay food/ikan bakar!

Museums in Perak

#PerakMuseums

Ipoh - Kuala Kangsar - Lenggong

2 pax

Date: 14 - 15 March 2015 (2D1N)

The plan was to visit museums. However, I gotta say that #GoMakan is probably a better tag for this trip. The food and drinks were really the highlights.

Itinerary

14 Mar (Saturday)

1400 - Muzium Geologi Ipoh

1500 - Head to Muzium Darul Ridzuan (Note: it was closed at 3.38 p.m)

1600 - ETA Kuala Kangsar. Check-in @ The Shop Hotel

1730 - Early dinner @ Laksa Pak Ngah

2030 - Coffee @ The Shop Hotel

2200 - Lights out

15 Mar (Sunday)

1000 - Coffee @ The Shop Hotel & check-out (Note: found out Muzium Diraja Kuala Kangsar is closed for renovation so we delayed our schedule by an hour)

1100 - Galeri Sultan Azlan Shah

1200 - Head to Restoran Tasik Raban for lunch

1330 - Muzium Arkeologi Lenggong (Note: It's really a gallery, instead of museum)

1700 - Tea/early dinner @ Roots by Meltingbites

1800 - Head home!

Got to see only 2 of the 4 museums I planned to visit. The authorities should really UPDATE their websites if there's renovation or early closure or something. I'm a local tourist so it didn't inconvenience me much (I was disappointed though) but imagine the trouble and waste for international travellers who have limited time and resource to get around.

Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda, Phnom Penh

The gate you'll probably first see would be the exit. Entrance is at the middle, so follow the crowd.

Admission Fee: 25,000 Riel

Operating Hours: 7.30 am - 11.00 am, 2.00 pm - 5.00 pm

View from the entrance

It's a big complex housing many buildings. The palace, in which the royal family still live in is behind the throne hall. It is of course, closed to public. But you can always try to peek :)

      Expect to spend about 2 hours here to fully appreciate all the exhibitions. We were rushed by our tour guide (so we'll get to visit Tuol Sleng) so I KNOW he skipped more than a couple exhibitions. Not his fault though. Poor planning of the itinerary. We should have left Siem Reap earlier.

Left: Pochani Pavilion
Right: Hor Samrith Phimean

Canchhaya Pavilion

Also knowns as Moonlight Pavilion. It's the place from where the king addresses the public or hold royal banquet.

Birds. As if they were trained.

Hor Samrith Phimean.
Go into this building!

Unfortunately, Napoleon III Pavilion was under renovation when I visited :(

Wat Preah Keo Morokat (Emerald Buddha Temple) or better knows as Silver Pagoda

I couldn't be bothered to open my shoes so I didn't go in.

Princess Kantha Bopha's stupa

Notice that the princess's stupa has doors? So she can come out and play :)

She died at the very young age of 4, so you know la kids kan.

Once you get out of the green gate, there are more things to see (traditional music show, mini museums, etc) and pray to. We had to skip all including the exhibition below :'(

Seriously, 2 hours. At least.