My brief vacay to Lumut, Perak was very much needed. I was thrilled that Anwar and I managed to step our feet at as many places as we could and learn a thing or two about animals, nature, and history.

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SEGARI TURTLE HATCHERY
One mistake that we made was assuming that a visit to this sanctuary was tour-guided. As a result, we had to pay RM30 each person for a return shuttle service, when we could’ve driven there ourselves. Imagine! Sixty ringgit could’ve easily be spent elsewhere valuable, or at least tangible. Lesson #1: Never assume. As my former boss used to remind us: when you A.S.S.U.M.E, you’re making an ASS out of U and ME. Lesson #2: ALWAYS make a research of a tourist attraction beforehand. Well, actually I did read a little on this Turtle Management Centre. But like I said, only a little… and I probably missed that “admission is free” part. I initially thought the money we paid was for the entrance and tour fees.

Lesson learned and lesson gained. Turtles are one of the oldest creatures in the world, indeed, having existed more than 100 million years. But it would be a shame if the next generation after mine knew turtles as we know dinosaurs today. Before these gentle creatures go into extinction, the Department of Fisheries Malaysia is doing its best in conserving and protecting turtles… and one of the sanctuaries built is in Segari, just by the Pasir Panjang beach.

The juvenile turtles swimming in the tanks at Segari Turtle Hatchery.

I had many childhood dreams, and one of them is being able to marvel at the sight of baby turtles coming out of their egg shells and watch them crawling to the direction of the sea. Nobody in authority was around then, so I supposed I could only get that opportunity another time, another place. Nonetheless, we could peek inside through the fence and see the turtles swimming in the tanks. Beautiful shells, cute creatures… especially the little ones in the blue plastic basin!

Cute baby turtles in the blue basin. If only I could smuggle them...

A nearby man-made pond with nicely planted plants houses adult turtles, all swimming casually under the water and sometimes coming out to the surface for air.

What beautiful shells! Sadly, the hunt for their shells also contributes to turtle extinction.

For those who are new to turtles, there’s an information centre to enlighten you about the factors that are leading to turtle extinction and what the department is doing in curbing the problem.

LUMUT WATERFRONT
We had an early lunch at Jook Joint Bistro, located in the compound of the Lumut Waterfront Promenade. The whole area consists of shops that sell products of the sea and handicrafts, restaurants, as well as a jetty that can take you to Pangkor Island.

The front look of the Lumut Waterfront Promenade.

Because not much research have been done on Lumut in prior to this vacation, I didn’t know what the town had to offer. Thank God, we stumbled upon Tourist Information Centre and sought help from there. The lady at the counter was super helpful, giving us suggestions that we so much needed and appreciated. I didn’t want us to drive pretty far go to Matang Mangrove Forest and she recommended us to go check out Taman Paya Bakau (Mangrove Swamp Garden), which was close-by.

Anwar and I had our dessert at a small eatery ran by a middle-aged Belgian lady who could speak Malay. Impressive! Having the ice-cream while watching the boat carrying passengers to and from Pangkor Island, for a moment, life felt blissful!

Ah, what a blissful life!