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More pictures of Tasik Kenyir boathouses…; Part V of Terengganu road trip

Keong — Sun, 10 May 2009 05:31:02 +0000

A floating boathouse of Lake Kenyir

Here are more pictures on boathouses of Tasik Kenyir. I received a few emails asking about the boathouses. Effectively, a typical boathouse in Lake Kenyir is a boat, usually one that has been retired from the open ocean use and been modified into a floating, mobile house on water.

Some boathouses on Lake Kenyir are designed and fitted with all the right fittings to make anglers smile from ear to ear. Because the lake is a popular fishing haunt for many, it is not surprising to see boathouses with no railings on the side!

These fishing ‘kaki’ boathouses may not be suitable for groups with children

The above boat has been modified with fishing rod ‘holders’ on the whole side. While this may seem like a dream come true, it may well be a nightmare for groups with young children. Even for adult, a playful push can end up with someone struggling in the water. And mind you, waters in Lake Kenyir can be as deep as a hundred feet.

En. Hassan, my boat contact in Pengkalan Gawi told me that owning a boathouse in Kenyir is easy but maintaining the ‘boat’ is a totally different matter. The boats somehow always takes in water (rain and leakages), the owners have to be constantly keep an eye out to ensure that their ‘vessel’ doesn’t go down. Below is a fine example:

Boathouses require a lot of maintenance.

So, if you ever decide to hire a boathouse for a holiday in Lake Kenyir, make sure you call the boatman a day or two before your actual arrival date to make sure that your holiday plan is still floating.

Kitchens are always simple. Basic utensils are provided and if you plan to do a lot of cooking, maybe bring some extras to make sure you have everything you need. Keep the food halal as most of the boat operators are Muslims.

Simple kitchen on boathouses

Not your average house kitchens sink

If you do plan to rent a boat house, make sure you do it in advance, especially during peak season. They range from RM800 to RM1200 per night with most maximum carrying capacity around 10 passengers.

If you are lucky, some boathouses have kayaks and small boat onboard.

A Malaysia lake holiday… Kenyir boat house Part 2; Cooking & hygiene

Keong — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 22:47:00 +0000

There is really not a better Malaysia lake holiday than a Kenyir boat house. Ask any Malaysian what’s important when holidaying and I am quite sure food is one of them. On a boat house, you have control over the food you’ll be eating because you can cook them yourself!

You can prepare and cook your meals in the ‘mini’ kitchen on a boathouse. A typical boat house comes with basic cooking area. Do not expect refrigerators, blenders or ovens though. Expect basic stoves, food preparation table, basic utensils etc. Some of the operators provide food catering as part of their services. Consider this if your group is hopeless in cooking!

Alternatively, you can stock up your own food supply in an ice box and prepare your own food. However, note that most boat crews are local Malay Muslims. When you choose to prepare your own food, you will be required to share your meals with the crew (as a courtesy as well), so make sure your food is acceptable to their religion and belief. If you plan to bring your own beverages (beer, liquor etc), do inform the operators in advance so as not to offend them. However, getting drunk is not only impolite but is also very dangerous when you are floating on big open waters.

Depending on your cooking ability (and loads of creativity), food on a boathouse can be really good. The fresh fish comes from the lake and with some basic ingredients, you and your group can really enjoy some good tasting food.
Toilets are available of course. Then again, toilets are most basic with most waste going back into the lake. A complete recycle circle they say. Most are squatting type but I am sure some of the more ‘flashy’ boathouse would come equipped with seat toilets, water heaters etc.

Water supply for the entire boathouse comes from the lake itself. There will be a water pump that fills up the water tank on top of the boathouse, supplying to all water needs. It is therefore best that one boils the water before drinking.

Yet again, most are very basic, squatting types generally. I have to admit that all the boats that I have been on have the wastes going straight back into the lake.

Night time can be very peaceful and extremely dark. Boat houses come equipped with electric generators. However, most operators do not operate their generators throughout the night. Generators are not only noisy but they pollute the air around. Lights out are usually around 11pm. It is wise to bring your own head torches or at least hand torches, just in case you need to get up in the middle of the night to answer nature calls.

To me, Tasik Kenyir is the ultimate Malaysia lake holiday there is. With good company, fishing, good food and hours on a boathouse enjoying the beautiful lake, what more can one ask for?

Holiday on Lake Kenyir boat house Part 1; A Malaysia lake adventure

Keong — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:24:00 +0000

A lake holiday in Tasik Kenyir can really be a wonderful experience. What better way to do it than on a boat house! With all the basic comforts of a home, one can really get use to living on a boat house in a lake surrounded by lush tropical rainforest. I would call it the rainforest accommodation on water.

We packed like tonnes of gear, not too mention people

I manage to dig out some pictures of one of my trips to Kenyir somewhat in 2007. It was a trip organized among a bunch of us from the same company. Almost 10 of us, 4 kayaks, a whole load of food and supplies and a beat-up van to bring us there. Oh… not forgetting the fishing rods as well.

I remembered the van struggling up Karak highway. I have never experienced being in a vehicle at full capacity yet doing like 10km/h. I swore one could actually overtake the van on foot. But after an enduring 9 hours (half asleep) drive on the road, we finally made it to the lake…with the van still in one piece…hooray!

Spirits were high. We were all very excited to get away from the office and be able to do anything but work. All 10 of us, plus the kayaks, gears and other stuff goes on the boat house we chartered with ease. There’s a lot of space to spare actually.

This is the boathouse me and my mates actually hired once. Big and comfortable.

There’s also the engine room, the captain’s bridge and the staff cabins. The captain’s bridge of course is not as high-tech as one would expect. They are rather basics, with the huge wheel, a radio and at times a GPS. Yup, the locals know the lake like the back of their hand and they use landmarks to tell the way. Note that most boat houses do not anchor up and sail at night. It is almost impossible to navigate in the pitch dark. Negotiating floating logs, sandbars and even crossing animals in the blanket of darkness is risky business.

With rates ranging from RM800 to RM1500 per nite depending on the ‘frills’ and little comforts that one can afford. This trip, we took a basic Kenyir boathouse. It has an upper deck which is the sleeping area and it fits all of us just fine..

One open sleeping area!

For hygiene purposes, I would suggest that you bring your own sleeping bag, bed sheet etc. The ‘upper’ deck can be rather hot during the daytime (unless the boat is under a big shade) but temperature can drop rather drastically during the night time. In any case, during the day time you ought to be swimming, fishing, paddling and enjoying yourself. Not sleeping!

Bring your own kayak for a paddle!

To be continued…

Tasik Kenyir boat house; Malaysia lake rainforest accommodation

Keong — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:18:00 +0000

A Tasik (Malay language for lake) Kenyir boat house is arguably one of the best ways to explore this huge man-made lake. With an area of over 260km2, one would require a mode of transportation that is self sufficient, comfortable and practical to see the most of the lake. What better way to do it on a Tasik Kenyir boat house.

Some boathouse looks rundown but can be very comfortable inside

I have visited Tasik Kenyir several times. Each time I go there (usually for relaxing and fishing), I will engage one of them boat house. They are not super fancy but enough to make my stay relaxing and enjoyable. Imagine a boat house as a moving caravan home on water. They have all the basics you need. This include toilet, sleeping area, cooking area and some even comes with TV lounge.

The boat houses in Kenyir are mostly modified fishing boats. The boats are extended on each side with cylindrical metal pontoons. This not only increase the flooring space but it also increases the stability of the boat tremendously. The best part is that because the lake is fresh water, the metal pontoons do not rust easily. There are no barnacles growing on it, the most you will see is green moss.

There’s ample space around a boathouse for you to relax and absorb the scenery around

With the pontoons in place, there are now more ‘base’ for to build more space on the boat. Platforms are extended to the sides, back and front portion. What follows is then the upper floor, where the ‘accommodation’ blocks are located.

There are no fixed designs for the boats. I have seen many versions of Tasik Kenyir boat house and they varies, perhaps by the creativity of the builder and also the amount of ‘bells & whistles’ the owner/ financier wants to put in. Some Kenyir boat house comes with all the modern facilities like satellite TV, water heaters and even a karaoke set. It all depends on what one’s liking and budget.

The boat houses are normally accompanied by at least two caretakers. They spend most of their time at the captain’s helm and ensuring that everything is in order. Engines are typically very noisy and being diesel engines, they have this very strong smell.

The boat houses don’t travel very fast thanks to its design drag, weight and possibly the engine capacity as well. This I think is a good thing. Fast moving vessels like speedboats create way too much waves/ ripples that they break and corrode the loose soils at the shore line. Over the years, islands gets smaller and shoreline becomes a steep drop, making it very difficult for anyone (or any animal) to land on.

What I like most about the Tasik Kenyir boat house is its ability to travel to almost any part of the lake. It provides the basics necessities while is still and adapts well to the natural surrounding of the lake. The boat house is so flexible that you can probably move it from point A to point B anytime and with ease. It allows me (and my mates) to choose where and how we wanna spend our time on this beautiful and enchanting lake… away from the nosy neighbors and work. Blissful…

Fishing in Tasik Kenyir; A Malaysia lake adventure

Keong — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:58:00 +0000

Tasik Kenyir fishing is one activity you would not want to miss in this huge man made lake. It is a Malaysia lake adventure you would not want to miss.

This group is definitely on a fishing trip with all the smaller boats being tugged along

I have done a few fishing trips to Tasik Kenyir. Me and my mates normally hire a boat house and spend about 3 days 2 nights out on the lake fishing and relaxing.

There are plenty of them fishes in the lake

I am not a serious angler myself but the occasional thrill of reeling in the fish is so very satisfying. It makes the 9 hours road drive and few hundred ringgits spent really worth it. I have caught fishes like Lampam (Puntius schwanenfeldii), Baung (Mystus sp), Sunhok or Ketutu, Sebarau (Hampala macrolepidota) and of course the famous Toman (Channa micropeltes). Of many shapes and sizes, some fishes are however very illusive and difficult to catch. Depsite my multiple fishing trips, I have never once caught the famed Kelah or Malaysian Mahseer (Tor tambroides).

Baits used to fish in Tasik Kenyir varies and at times a matter of preference. Different fish prefers different kind of baits of course. You can use artificial lures to attract fishes like Sebarau and Toman but very unlikely for you to land a Lampam or Baung. If you are not sure about which bait to use, ask the locals there. I have used bread, earth worms, insects, fermented palm seeds (Kelah’s favorite), life frogs and even chicken intestines. Catfish loves that kind of stuff.

Since Tasik Kenyir itself is huge, one starts to wonder where to even drop the line. My experience there (and the local guides) tells me that the fishes are normally found around the shallow waters of the lake. Some parts of the lake is 100 feet or more deep. I really wonder if anything can survive in that depth. Most of the good fishing is nearing to the shores or at the river mouths.

Fishing around shallow waters, especially for Tomans

As for myself, I admit that I am not much of an angler. The fishes I caught back when I was a kid seem to be much bigger than even the ones I see at the wet market. Then again, even the wet market seems so much bigger when I was a small 15 year old. And ever notice how the person next to you seems to be reeling in more (and bigger) fishes than you? Well, that is sort of the ‘norm’ when I go fishing. So, my mates know where exactly to position their rods each time.

Good mate Ben beaming with joy with his catch

Then of course there are moments when you just wonder why the other person have such good luck. I witness a guy pulling in a huge Toman once and from that day on, I reckon I am just not born with the ‘fishing luck’.

Look at the size of this Toman compared to my 25 liters Osprey daypack!