Gaharu Products And Benefits.

This is a continuation of yesterday's post. If you have missed it, you can click here to read it. It was a 2nd visit for hubby and myself but it was a pleasure to visit again with our friends.

Organic crop. Chemical is prohibited.

Benefits of drinking gaharu leaves tea - claimed to overcome asthma, diabetes, prostate cancer, gout, kidney problems, constipation, skin disorder, hypertension, headache. It is also claimed to act as antidepressant, anti-aging skin, lose weight, add energy, soothe sleep disorders, etc.

Gaharu Technologies Sdn. Bhd.

Gaharu plantation and clear blue sky.

Visitors preparing to take group photos under the signboard.

A Gaharu tree in flower pot = MYR 106 (≈ 25.74 USD).

A Gaharu seedling = MYR 40.30 (≈ 9.79 USD).

Gaharu retail shop selling gaharu products.

Entrance to the retail shop.

There is free tasting of Gaharu hot tea.

Products for sale: Gaharu tea, gaharu instant, cookies, gaharu instant noodles, nougat, gaharu oil, gaharu wood chip, gaharu seedling & soup mix.

I bought a pkt of chicken soup mix & a pkt of chi kut teh to try.

The price of 1 pkt MYR 12.17 (≈ 2.96 USD).

Items on display.

We have tasted the gaharu ice-cream and it has a very unique taste.

A section of gaharu trunk showing darken and harden centre which is the most costly and valuable part of the tree.

Sunrise

Linking to Skywatch Friday.

No one can redeem the life of another

or give to God a ransom for them -

the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough -

so that they should live on forever and not see decay.

(Psalm 49:7-9, New International Version-NIV)

A Visit To Gaharu Tea Valley, Gopeng.

Last Saturday, hubby and I accompanied our friends to Gopeng for a half day tour. We started our journey at about 8.30 am. Hubby was the driver for the day. First, we started with Gopeng's authentic "Lai Fun" noodle for breakfast at a new food court in Taman Gopeng Jaya. The breakfast post will be scheduled for a later date. Our next destination after breakfast was the Gaharu Tea Valley. From the food court, we saw road sign directing us to Gaharu Tea Valley and we were game to try out this new route. It took us straight to Kampung Sungai Itek without having to pass through Gopeng town. (Kampung is village in Malay.) There was less traffic and no traffic lights on this route.

Gaharu Tea Plantation.

Upon seeing this signboard, we knew we were on the right route.

Hardly any traffic on the road at 9.55 am on a Saturday morning.

Main entrance to Gaharu Tea Valley, Gopeng, surrounded by a 3 m high wall.

Here is an excerpt taken from Wikipedia:

The resin embedded wood is commonly called gaharu, jinko, aloeswood, agarwood, or oud (not to be confused with bukhoor) and is valued in many cultures for its distinctive fragrance, and thus is used for incense and perfumes.

Red plastic lanterns at the gate to welcome visitors.

Visiting hours: Mon to Sun, from 9 am - 6 pm.

Opens on public holidays.

The gaharu wood has long played a significant role in Arabian and Chinese cultures. It is considered to be nature's most valuable wood not only because it is an essential oil but because of it health benefits. So high was it regarded that this natural forest treasure is known as the "wood of gods".

(excerpt from Gaharu Tea Valley's brochure)

Those joining the organized tours for visitors will be taken to the above places at a fee.

Photos on the walls next to the ticket counter.

Colourful umbrellas hanging from the ceiling.

Tour vans to ferry visitors on the organized tours.

Beautiful sculptures.

Concrete fence,

Great wall of Gopeng resembling the Great Wall of China.

More on Gaharu in tomorrow's post.

Passing through the gate.

There were many other visitors besides us.

On our way out after our visit, a busload of tourists was on the way in.

We passed by many Malay kampung (village) houses.

Can you see the white fence?

Neat wooden fence.

Selamat Jalan is Goodbye in Malay.

Passing under an overhead bridge road.

Entering Gopeng town.

Linking to Good Fences.

If a town welcomes you, follow these two rules:

(1) Eat whatever is set before you.

(2) Heal the sick; and as you heal them, say,

'The Kingdom of God is very near you now.'

(Luke 10:8-9, The Living Bible-TLB)

Air Plants Or Tillandsia.

Last month we were at the Pet Fiesta held in Menglembu. Hubby was attracted to this Air Plants stall and he took some photos of the air plants that were on display there. At that time I was not paying much attention to the air plants. My attention then was on the furry pets.

Scientific name of Air Plant is Tillandsia. It is an evergreen plant. At first glance from afar, I thought these were baby pineapple plants. Air plants do not necessary need soil to grow. They can be found growing on other plants, rocks or in soil.

There plants are usually in green or grey colours. Air plants make great house or indoor plants. With some imagination, these air plants can beautify our homes or offices.

This air plant is placed in a glass container with good air circulation. Air plant gets moisture or nutrients from the air around them. If the air is dry, it will need some misting to get moisture.

 Place air plants away from direct sunlight or in partial shade. Air plants does not have much roots.

 Air plants are low maintenance plants. They are small and can fit into small and cute containers. Propagation of air plants are through offshoots growing from the mother plants.

I have seen Air Plants with bright red or pink leaves and bright flowers. Air plants are not cheap. I have been thinking of getting some air plants. But until now, I have not decided whether I should add any more plants to my garden. I once saw a very beautiful air plant in the nursery but the price was too costly for me!

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The following photos are for joining Flower Wednesday. 

A flower bud of my Alcasia plant.

 From bud to flower.

Deep pink/red periwinkle flowers.

These periwinkle flowers help to brighten up this corner of my garden.

A pair of Peace Lily blooms. 

Linking to Image-in-ing & Flower Wednesday.

For, after all, the important thing for us as Christians

is not what we eat or drink but stirring up

goodness and peace and joy from the Holy Spirit.

(Romans 14:17, The Living Bible-TLB)

Delicious Curry Noodle at Restoran New Fair Garden, Ipoh.

As usual, we were at the recreation park to catch the sunrise just before we started our walking exercise. It was a beautiful glow from behind the trees and the glow was reflected on the lake.

 The lake was an ex-mining pool with lotus plants growing around the edge.

 Reflection of palm trees on the lake.

 After our walk, hubby mentioned that we have not eaten this curry noodle for a long, long time. We used to enjoy the curry noodle from this particular stall at Restoran New Fair Garden (corner shop), Jalan Ng Weng Hup, Taman Pertama / Buntong, Ipoh. 

 We both had this yummy-licious curry noodle with roast pork, bbq pork, prawn, fried beancurd sheet, mint leaves, etc. I like the bbq pork that is not dyed red in colour.

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This old motorbike is for joining Tuesday's Treasures.

I found this motorbike with pedals on display in the Gopeng Museum.

Linking to Tuesday's Treasures.

Praise him for the growing fields,

for they display his greatness.

Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise.

(Psalm 96:12, The Living Bible-TLB)

Ipoh Town Hall.

Today, I want to share with you a beautiful building and it is our Ipoh Town Hall. Today, this building is still in use. This is the place where important and grand events are being held here, e.g. government events, public events and weddings. 

 This photo was taken at about 12 midday, on the 15.09.2015 (last year), just 15 days after the National Day celebration which was held on the 31.08.2015.

 Last year, May 2015, there was an exhibition at the Urban Transformation Centre by the city council and the following 2 photos were taken from there.

 A black and white photo of Ipoh Town Hall.

The Town Hall and the Old Post Office/building was located back to back. The building was constructed from 1914 to 1916 in the Neo-Classical style and designed by A.B. Hubback. The Malay Nationalist Party, the first political party formed in Malaya, held its inaugural congress here in the late 1945. The Post Office has since shifted to a nearby new building.

 This photo was taken at about 6.30 pm on the 14th Sept. 2015 during a very bad haze situation.

 Front view of the Town Hall, taken same time, same day as the previous photo.

One year later. This photo was taken at about 6.30 pm, on the 20th Sept. 2016. I was at the Railway Station, facing the Town Hall waiting to pick up hubby, returning from his one day trip to Kuala Lumpur city.

And now you have become living building-stones

for God's use in building his house.

What's more, you are his holy priests; so come to him -

you who are acceptable to him because of Jesus Christ -

and offer to God those things that please him.

(1 Peter 2:5, The Living Bible-TLB)