A Unique Holiday Experience In Perlis' Timah Tasoh Lake

By Noraidah Abd Karim PADANG BESAR (Perlis, Malaysia), June 13 (Bernama) -- When the name of Padang Besar is mentioned, most people in Malaysia are likely to imagine a shopping haven of inexpensive goods that this town in Malaysia's northern state of Perlis is associated with. Indeed, many people probably do not even realise that Padang Besar is home to not only a duty-free shopping centre, but also a vast, man-made lake backgrounded by the scenic Cabang Hill and the Nakawan Range that borders Thailand. Lake Timah Tasoh is a well-known name among the people of Perlis, as it is not only the largest dam in the state, but also an unusual holiday destination for nature lovers. The lake was originally the confluence of rivers Sungai Timah and Sungai Tasoh, and a part of a village called Tasoh was flooded to make way for the construction of the Timah Tasoh Dam in 1992. Many houses, a mosque, a school, and burial grounds of the village were submerged. The sense of nostalgia among the town’s residents seems to have also slowly eased in the course of time. The dam was developed as a catchment, with water now being supplied to meet domestic and industrial requirements in the area, as well as for the irrigation needs of 2,466 hectares of paddy fields in the central and northern part of Perlis, where rice planting takes place twice a year. A FRUITFUL HOLIDAY Besides the picturesque scenery that a holiday by the lake offers, visitors staying at Tasoh Lake Resort & Retreat, one of the many holiday resorts in the area, can also enjoy for free seasonal fruits from surrounding orchards. A holiday in Perlis will be incomplete without the sweet Harumanis mangoes found in the state. Although a little pricey, with one kg of the mangoes costing up to RM20 (US$6.35), the fruit is very sweet, has a fragrant aroma, and its flesh is thick and yellow. The mango is also served as a traditional dish in Perlis, paired with glutinous rice. The fruit is also a popular choice for making juice and jam. Other exotic fruits in the area’s orchards include durian, durian belanda, rambutan and other varieties of mangoes that can be plucked right off the trees, said Helmy Faizal Mohd Kamal, Chief Executive Officer of Tasoh Lake Resort & Retreat. A STOP BEFORE THAILAND Less than a kilometre north of the Tasoh Lake Resort chalet is the Padang Besar shopping complex and Malaysia’s border gate with Thailand. Through this border gate, tourists can go to Thai holiday destinations such as Hat Yai, Krabi and Phuket. The lake is close to the Wang Kelian pasar sehari (a day market) in Perlis, which is a popular marketplace for locals on either side of the Malaysia-Thailand border. Timah Tasoh is also close to the Wang Prachan market on the Thai side of the border. Malaysians only need to carry their MyKad identification to do their cross-border shopping, while the Thai people can do theirs in Wang Kelian market by showing their national identity cards. However, the tax-free zone, where various products from both the countries are sold, is in Padang Besar only. According to Helmy Faizal, many foreign tourists take a break or rest at Tasoh Lake Resort before continuing their journey to Thailand. "For example, we have one regular customer from England who travels and stays in a caravan parked by the side of the lake for at least a month," he said. FISHING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES BY THE LAKE A holiday in the lake area also promises a good time for those who love fishing, because a variety of freshwater fish, such as Talapia, Ubi, Keli, Haruan, and Gelang Pam, can be caught while enjoying some cool breeze from the lake. The fish caught can be grilled straightaway, right at the side of the lake. A barbeque by the lakeside can also be organised during the evenings, with temperatures reaching about 28 degrees Celcius by night. Gazebos have been set up in the area for the convenience of visitors. Some fishermen, too, cast their nets in the lake. Other water sporting activities can be also carried out in the lake, which has been hosting an annual, national-level water sports event since 2010. OTHER ATTRACTIONS Those not interested in fishing or water sports can opt for other activities arranged by the resort. Helmy Faizal said the Tasoh Lake Resort is an ideal location for team-building events. He added that the resort also provided camping sites for those who wished to stay outdoors and not in one of its 51 chalets, priced in the range of RM80 (US$ 25.39 ) to RM500 (US$158.68). Leading companies, such as Prudential and Safura, have conducted team-building exercises there. Public institutions of higher learning, such as Universiti Islam Antarabangsa and Universiti Teknologi Mara, have also carried out such activities at the resort. During the month of August, Timah Tasoh becomes a sanctuary for migratory birds, especially those from colder countries, as the freshwater lake and its natural environment offer a suitable habitat, providing them with food and protection. The Timah Tasoh Lake area is also a regular filming location for Astro's drama series, Kiah Pekasam. The area was the location of choice for the music video production of singer Alya's song, titled "Kisah hati", as well. Other celebrities who have praised the place for its beauty include actress Fasha Sandha, who had her wedding reception there, and the Bunkface group, who held their first concert there in 2010. -- BERNAMA