Malaysia through the lenses of a Mat Salleh: Episode 11

ktleong 05/03/2021

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Malaysia through the lenses of a Mat Salleh

By Philippe A.Durant

Here is another episode of my virtual photographic journey.

Day 11: Teluk Intan

I am making my way north, and this is the first episode about places in Perak, the silver state. Probably most of you have heard about the place nestled on the banks of the Perak river. Here is what Wikipedia says about it:

“Teluk Intan is a town in Hilir Perak District, Perak, Malaysia. It is the district capital, the largest town in Hilir Perak, and the third largest town in the state of Perak with an estimated population of around 120,000, or about half of Hilir Perak district’s total population (232,900).

In the early days, the town was known as Teluk Mak Intan, after a female Mandailing trader. It was here that the Perak rulers held court from 1528 until Kuala Kangsar became the royal town in 1877.

During the British protectorate era, its name was changed to Teluk Anson (Anson Bay), in honour of a British officer and last lieutenant-governor of Penang, Major-General Sir Archibald Edward Harbord Anson, who drew the plan of the modern township in 1882.

In 1982 during the centenary of the town’s establishment, the name was changed again to Teluk Intan (Diamond Bay) by the Sultan of Perak. The Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan is one of the town attractions. The town has a number of colonial buildings and Chinese shophouses together with modern buildings, few shopping complexes and a modern cinema.”

But the reason I went there was the bird island. Thousands of resident birds, as well as the seasonal migrating birds, come there for nesting and consider the island their ”home”. It is an amazing and quite unique place in the country. Every evening birds are coming back from their feeding journeys here and there. It is in the middle of the river and therefore protected naturally from predators and human activity. Several boat tour companies have started bringing people around to watch the daily evening show together with a possible great sunset in the horizon.

The town also has interesting temples, mosques and vestiges of the prestigious tin era, old shops and a leaning tower built in the middle of the city square.

We did an interesting video about the river cruise that you may want to watch: https://www.facebook.com/1111239472401028/videos/2507491222862745

Do follow my daily postings about different themes and/or location and do not hesitate to comment constructively. Embark in a photographic journey in Malaysia through the lenses of a Mat Salleh.

Bon voyage.