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28 | FireFlyz
Must visit sites:
· RainbowWaterfall – a secluded
waterfallwithaviewofarainbow
to boot
· Panorama Hill – most visitors
come here just for the sunrise
· Mas River – perfect spot for
swimmingandcollectingpebbles
from the river bank
· Hanging Bridges – the four
wooden bridges over Kenau
Riveraremorethana100-years-
old
O
n
the drive to Sun-
ga i Lembing , oi l
palm trees and wild
greenery can be seen
stretching out on both
sides of the highway,
and upon entering the
town, wooden houses line up before
opening up to twentieth century wooden
colonial store fronts. Three looming trees
dot the mere 1km stretch of the town
centre. The quaint town comprises several
thatched tin-roof coffee shops and conve-
nience stores, all old-worldly. However
each store is unique and bespeaks its
own charm. For instance, two distinct
Sungai Lembing, once a prosperous mining town, not too far from Kuantan in the East
Coast of peninsular Malaysia, remains a cowboy town today. Venturing into this cosy
town was like stepping into a time capsule. While the world around us may be changing
and shifting at lightning speed, Sungai Lembing lies still, a place lost in time.
Lost in Time
buildings are the Hakka and Hainanese
Association centres that stand side by side
and are the tallest buildings in the town.
The quirkiest thing about Sungai Lembing
is the little petrol pump housed in a little
hut with only one nozzle. To complete the
antiquated feel, there are two payphones
right next to this petrol ‘hut’. This certainly
isn’t a sight you see every day in 2015.
I had gotten into Sungai Lembing
rather early in the day as I was told that
almost all the shops and restaurants
would close early. My first task was to
sample the famous Sungai Lembing
noodles which are such a hit that visitors
come all the way fromSingapore just to try
it out. The Sungai Lembing food court is
where you can find delectable
yong tau fu
and various noodle preparations. There’s
only one food court in this tiny town so
it isn’t too hard to find. Although I had
arrivedmuch earlier than 10am there were
only a few stragglers left, apparently the
town comprises early risers, and this is no
surprise as most of the town folk consists
of the elderly because the younger genera-
tions have left Sungai Lembing in search
of bigger cities with more moolah. After
a hearty breakfast I continued to stroll
along the main street. It was evident that
W o r d s : A r t h t h i S a t h a n a n t h a r
Sungai Mas