Machinchang Cambrian Geoforest Park at Langkawi: a pictorial journey

3 days, 2 nights - that's my holidays at Langkawi this June. By far the best single destination at Langkawi, the cable car ride is a real thrill as one can really feel the height, all 700 meters of it from the tiny confinement of a plastic bubble. Just when you thought it's over, it's not- you have to take another ride to the other side of the cliffs to get to the highest vantage point! Definitely better than Genting Highland's. We arrived right after an early breakfast after a stroll at the beach, at around 9:30 and the shops were just getting ready to open. It was the best time to climb as the tourists were not there yet (well, not many yet) and that gives a tiny window of opportunity to snap some nice photos uninterrupted.

The start never gave any indication of the immense height that the cars will scale later. A definite no-no for vertigo sufferers.

The facade of the Machinchang mountains.

Sheer cliffs like these transport one to another world, like those once featured on National Geographic's lost world of the Roraimas in Venezuela.

View of the Burau Bay. The climb was exhilarating, from sea level directly to 700M!

Another view of the Machinchang mountains from the first observatory station.

The other two stations waiting...

Took a snap...the missus did this one.

Up in the clouds, well, almost...observe the distance where Datai Bay is...

View of the canvas roof of the second platform from the highest point...

This is it...the highest point.

At the first platform, after a few steep marches down slope, a view from the suspension bridge.

View of the Northeastern part of the island, with islands in the horizon.

Observe the dangling cable car in the air...

Spectacular view from the suspension bridge.

The suspension bridge.

Dark clouds suddenly pop up, covering up the otherwise sunny morning.

The suspension bridge...observe its esthetically designed curves.

Dragonflies en masse hovering over the sky above the first station when we finally came down from the other side.

A view of the Telaga Tujuh waterfalls from the cable car on the way down...

Glad to be able to snap a view from below because it means we're finally down safely...

In Cognac Country (1)

Before we visited the Otard chateau where fine VSOPs and XOs are made, we were given an informative tour of how one of the basic and essential ingredient of Cognac is made - the oak barrel. It was indeed one of my best cultural trip back in spring 2005.

Beautiful town of Cognac.

Some ready barrels at the entrance of the factory.

Stacks of oak planks being aged in the open air for the barrels...they will be sorted out again later to make a fine quality oak barrel. Much attention to given to these artisan product as the quality of the oak barrels itself has profound influence on the quality of the cognac being aged inside it.

Charring was done to the inner surface of the oak barrels to promote a less porous barrel.

Assembling the barrel from planks...

Oak planks being chosen...

The oak planks carefully chosen and aligned to start the assembly process of oak barrels.

Topside done...bottom's still waiting...

Rows of barrels ready for further treatment...


Detail of the inner side of the oak barrel - it is not smooth but ridged to allow greater interaction surface with its precious contents.

Jamming in the lid to shut the barrel. Shiny metal rings replace the cast metal ones used to structure the barrels earlier on in the assembly.

Beautifully cut oak wood panels for the lid...got to keep a fragment from the oak barrel lids as a souvenir. Fab, absolutely.

Leakage was tested before the spinning...

Putting the barrel up for a spin test.

Some VERY huge barrels for lots of wine there...