Port Weld

We organised a short trip to Port Weld (Kuala Sepetang) on 18 April 2009 to visit the popular mangrove sanctuary, a large coastal forest reserve near Taiping.  It is part of our family photographic activities which we seldom had the chance as Alif (elder son a.k.a Jar Jar Binks) is always busy with his final year in USM. But today, is different as he finished his last few papers and can spend time away

The Matang mangrove swamp is south of Penang, a short one hour leisure ride. Seen below is a small pontoon and I guess it is where the forest rangers would start their boat rides to inspect the coastal reserve which span 40,000 hectares of prime mangroves' land. 

A charcoal factory is situated near this reserve too, operating with traditional charcoal igloo-shaped burners which opportunity we enjoyed pretty much. A humble owner Ah Ching gave us a guided tour, while listening to his narrations we snapped many pictures. A picture below is a small canal network where mangrove logs are being feed to the factory for charcoal making