PADANG BESAR (Bernama) -- When the name of Padang Besar is mentioned,
most people are likely to imagine a shopping haven of inexpensive goods
that the town in northern Malaysia is associated with.
Indeed, many people probably do not even realise that Padang Besar is
home to not only a duty-free shopping centre, but also a vast, man-made
lake backgrounded by the scenic Cabang Hill and the Nakawan Range that
borders Thailand.
Lake Timah Tasoh is a well-known name among the people of Perlis, as it
is not only the largest dam in the state, but also an unusual holiday
destination for nature lovers.
The lake was originally the confluence of rivers Sungai Timah and
Sungai Tasoh, and a part of a village called Tasoh was flooded to make
way for the construction of the Timah Tasoh Dam in 1992.
Many houses, a mosque, a school, and burial grounds of the village were
submerged. The sense of nostalgia among the town's residents seems to
have also slowly eased in the course of time.
The dam was developed as a catchment, with water now being supplied to
meet domestic and industrial requirements in the area, as well as for
the irrigation needs of 2,466 hectares of paddy fields in the central
and northern part of Perlis, where rice planting takes place twice a
year.
A FRUITFUL HOLIDAY
Besides the picturesque scenery that a holiday by the lake offers,
visitors staying at Tasoh Lake Resort & Retreat, one of the many
holiday resorts in the area, can also enjoy for free seasonal fruits
from surrounding orchards.
A holiday in Perlis will be incomplete without the sweet Harumanis mangoes found in the state.
Although a little pricey, with one kg of the mangoes costing up to
RM20, the fruit is very sweet, has a fragrant aroma, and its flesh is
thick and yellow.
The mango is also served as a traditional dish in Perlis, paired with glutinous rice.
The fruit is also a popular choice for making juice and jam.
Other exotic fruits in the area's orchards include durian, durian
belanda, rambutan and other varieties of mangoes that can be plucked
right off the trees, said Helmy Faizal Mohd Kamal, Chief Executive
Officer of Tasoh Lake Resort & Retreat.
A STOP BEFORE THAILAND
Less than a kilometre north of the Tasoh Lake Resort chalet is the
Padang Besar shopping complex and Malaysia's border gate with Thailand.
Through this border gate, tourists can go to Thai holiday destinations
such as Hat Yai, Krabi and Phuket.
The lake is close to the Wang Kelian pasar sehari in Perlis, which is a
popular marketplace for locals on either side of the Malaysia-Thailand
border.
Timah Tasoh is also close to the Wang Prachan market on the Thai side
of the border. Malaysians only need to carry their MyKad to do their
cross-border shopping, while the Thai people can do theirs in Wang
Kelian market by showing their national identity cards.
However, the tax-free zone, where various products from both the countries are sold, is in Padang Besar only.
According to Helmy Faizal, many foreign tourists take a break or rest
at Tasoh Lake Resort before continuing their journey to Thailand.
"For example, we have one regular customer from England who travels and
stays in a caravan parked by the side of the lake for at least a
month," he said.
FISHING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES BY THE LAKE
A holiday in the lake area also promises a good time for those who love
fishing, because a variety of freshwater fish, such as Talapia, Ubi,
Keli, Haruan, and Gelang Pam, can be caught while enjoying some cool
breeze from the lake.
The fish caught can be grilled straightaway, right at the side of the
lake. A barbeque by the lakeside can also be organised during the
evenings, with temperatures reaching about 28 degrees Celcius by night.
Gazebos have been set up in the area for the convenience of visitors.
Some fishermen, too, cast their nets in the lake.
Other water sporting activities can be also carried out in the lake,
which has been hosting an annual, national-level water sports event
since 2010.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS
Those not interested in fishing or water sports can opt for other activities arranged by the resort.
Helmy Faizal said the Tasoh Lake Resort is an ideal location for team-building events.
He added that the resort also provided camping sites for those who
wished to stay outdoors and not in one of its 51 chalets, priced in the
range of RM80 to RM500.
Leading companies, such as Prudential and Safura, have conducted
team-building exercises there. Public institutions of higher learning,
such as Universiti Islam Antarabangsa and Universiti Teknologi Mara,
have also carried out such activities at the resort.
During the month of August, Timah Tasoh becomes a sanctuary for
migratory birds, especially those from colder countries, as the
freshwater lake and its natural environment offer a suitable habitat,
providing them with food and protection.
The Timah Tasoh Lake area is also a regular filming location for Astro's drama series, Kiah Pekasam.
The area was the location of choice for the music video production of singer Alya's song, titled "Kisah hati", as well.
Other celebrities who have praised the place for its beauty include
actress Fasha Sandha, who had her wedding reception there, and the
Bunkface group, who held their first concert there in 2010.
