Cherating Turtle Sanctuary and Information Centre

Last Friday, we went to Kuantan for our group agency’s family camp for a three days and two nights stay.

Part of our itinerary was a visit to the Cherating Turtle Sanctuary and Information Centre on that Friday afternoon.



Kids at the entrance to the Cherating Turtle Sanctuary and Information Centre.



The Cherating Turtle Sanctuary is managed by the Department of Fisheries Malaysia alongside the State Government of Pahang. Apparently,  it was opened to the public sometime in mid 1998.

As we enter the centre, we went straight to the three ponds at the centre where there are turtles and terrapins swimming in the pond. From here, we moved on to a room with a video playback on the efforts in the turtles conservation programme in protecting the turtles from getting extinct.

We were earlier been told that there were baby turtles ready to be released into the sea. We had to prebook the number of turtles we required a few days earlier as release of the baby turtles are limited. A payment of RM5 per turtle hatchling is to be paid which is also treated as part of a donation towards the conservation programme.

The kids were extremely excited to know that there are baby green turtles ready to be released to sea.

After the video presentation, we headed outside to get ready for the turtles release. Just beside the centre, there is a turtle hatchery area where turtle rangers transfer turtle eggs laid by the turtle from the beach to the hatchery to protect from any harm.

This would ensure that the turtle hatchlings will hatch safely, after which, it will need to be released to the huge ocean out there.



Turtle Hatchery



We were told by the guide that the baby turtles from this beach will normally come back to lay their eggs when their time is due.

Admission is free and the visiting hours are from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm with an hour lunch break from 1:00pm to 2:00pm/ On Fridays, there is a 3 hours break for lunch and prayers from 12 noon to 3:00pm. The Sanctuary is closed on Mondays.

You may need to call and verify if you want to participate in the release for the baby turtles or watching turtles laying eggs at night.

Cherating Turtle Sanctuary Address:

Turtle Sanctuary & Information Center
26050 Balok, Cherating, Kuantan, Pahang.
Contact No. : (6) 09-581 9087



baby green turtles in a box, ready for release



kids taking great care and being gentle with their hatchlings



Brendan's extremely careful with his baby green turtle



Up close with a baby green turtle



Eryn gently releasing her baby green turtle on the sand

 

A baby turtle making its way to the sea



wriggling their way through the rough surface on the sand

 

Love our turtles.



Brendan at the beach



Cup Bangle?

On school days, my mornings are the routine of waking the kids up, showering them, preparing breakfast for kids, wash their water tumbler, ensuring their bags are properly packed, washing the dishes and then sending them to school. In-between, there's the constant nagging to get them to hurry up cos they like to take their own sweet time, dilly-dallying here and there.

Anyway, this morning. I did the usual routine, and then this happened!!

While I was washing this particular glass, the bottom just broke and in a split second just before I realised the bottom was broken, I pulled my hand back in and had various cuts all over my right hand, plus one on my left hand too. The one on the second finger on my right hand is really deep. I put on soap and tried to pull my hand out gently. There were blood all over the sink.

The kids started screaming! "No! Mummy! No! Don't do that!"

Sigh! Had to get Brendan to bring the hammer out. Wrapped my hand in towel and smashed the cup away.

 I can feel my whole hand throbbing with pain right now.

Damn!! A domestic goddess I'm not! Not domesticated, and definitely not a goddess. So, you see, my days are NOT filled with pleasant mornings all the time.

I don't know what is more comforting. Brendan taking this photo for remembrance, or Eryn saying "Mummy, don't die! Who is going to take care of us?!" or the kids suddenly became so grown up and concern and started taking their bags and stood at the door without me having to open my mouth.

Oh well, just another day in paradise........not!

Tesco, Oh Tesco!! How disgusting can you be?

Aaarrrrggghh!! This is totally disgusting! Damn!! I just can't believe that I did not learn my lesson, and I'll tell you why.

I shop in Tesco a lot mostly for the dry goods and household items. I don’t normally buy meat products or fish from any hypermarkets or supermarkets as they just don't look as fresh as the ones in the morning market. People tell me that NHK (I first heard of it last week), Cold Storage and Jaya are the better supermarkets.

Occasionally, the meat section in these "super hyper markets" tend to emit some sort of nauseating smell. I do get the chilled Australian sliced beef to make pizza once in a blue moon, provided I "think" they look fresh and does not smell. We take more fish and vegetables most of the time and the morning market supply really fresh ones though they may be a little pricey as compared to the supermarkets.

Anyway, this morning, I was in Tesco Puchong doing some grocery shopping. As I passed the fresh meat section, I  thought I could make do with the packed  chicken fillet in Tesco after noticing that it was packed today (based on the label). Since it's a weekday and it's a rush for me, I didn't want to make a detour to the pasar and besides, it's too late to go to the morning market.

Upon reaching home, I proceeded to remove the fillet from the pack to rinse and was extremely shock to see a slightly harden piece of fillet  with greenish parts on it. Eeeww!!

I immediately drove back to Tesco Puchong to return it and filed a complaint to the customer service girl at the front counter. Apparently, one lady whom I spoke to, said that this is rather normal. Yet, the photo that I showed her made her gasped in disbelief.

Another lady staff of Tesco (in apron) said that this could be packed by a newcomer. While a third lady staff (in office clothings) mentioned that the meat was from a supplier and not packed by them. The fourth person that came by was a guy by the name of Din, who was apparently in charge of the “fresh food” area for day, indicated they will give me a refund.

Gosh! I’m not concern about the refund!! I drove all the way back to Tesco Puchong, just to show this and file my complaint. It took off some of my time and petrol, so that little refund is not my concern. Don’t they have any assurance or QC check on your supply? This is a shame. Are the fresh food even fit for human consumption?!!

I don't care if this meat was packed in Tesco, or from a supplier. They seriously need to look into this.

With the rising rate of health problems due to food and environment, this kind of greenish meat will definitely make your life shorten. Eewww!!!!! Horrible!! Disgusting!! I'm feel sick just talking about this...

I feel like puking...

Look at the date! It's supposed to be freshly packed this morning!!

If you read my first sentence above, I mentioned "I did not learn my lesson". Why? Well, this is because I just can't trust these hyper or super thingy. Below here is a pack of Tesco brand honey breakfast cereal which I bought in December last year. My first and my last time buying that stupid "cicak cereal". NEVER EVER buy Tesco brand food products. Just stick to Nestle or Kellogg's and you'll not get it bad.

I only realised that dried and shrivelled lizard after the kids ate a portion of it. Again, I called to file a personal complaint. I cannot tahan. This time must make it public. I even drove all the way to return it back, not even bothered to get back my refund. To date, I don't even get any assurance from them.

Spot the lizard!! No price for getting it correct.

This fella is not enjoying his cereal bath. It's dead. Period. And it's found in my cereal!!

Note to self : Stick to my standard household goods, biscuits and vege and only when it's fresh. No meat! No cicak cereal or in-house brand food products.