School Holiday Activities: Outdoor Pursuit

I 'stole' the October issue of goingplaces on my flight back from Penang. It's the perfect family issue featuring back-to-nature organic farm visits around Malaysia and picnic spots around the Klang Valley. Just perfect for the upcoming year end school holidays. I always believe that kids should spend more time outdoors rather than at home in front of the TV or iPad. Very unhealthy! Here's the list of places featured so that you can plan out your kids' holiday activities too :-)

Home on the Grange

1. Kahang Organic Rice Eco Farm (Koref). Located in the small town of Kahang in Johor, it is the only organic rice farm in Malaysia and houses a small resort. Activities include helping to plant rice seedlings or harvest the crop (depending on season), bamboo rod fishing, swimming in the creek, bamboo rafting, camping, feeding the cows, etc.
2. Titi Eco Farm Resort. Located in Negeri Sembilan, it is a commercial organic farm, also produces organic food products such as enzyme drinks, sesame sprout powder and fruit jams in an on-site factory. Activities include bread making, foot fumigation bath, educational tour to learn about healing herbs, ostrich and rabbit farms, etc.
3. Permaculture Perak. Located in Lenggong Valley in Perak, it is a set up by a husband and wife team to lead a self-sustaining life - farming, planting, breeding and rearing everything they need. Activities include helping out around the farm like watering and fertilising the plants and trees, feeding the animals and relaxing in the pool in the creek.  

 Let's Picnic

1. Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM). Located near the township of Kepong, FRIM oversees Malaysia's largest secondary forest. Activities include nature trails, bike rides, canopy walk and camping. There's a picnic area near Sungai Kroh with a few shelters and restrooms, as well as a hidden waterfall a short walk into the jungle across the main road.
2. KLCC Park. Needless to say it's located in KLCC. There's a children's playground and paddling pool free to all.
3. Kanching Recreational Forest. About 30 to 45-minute drive from KL (head towards Rawang), the park is on your right 1km after Templer Country Club. There are cascading waterfalls with clear pools and bouldered streams at the second and third levels (most popular spots). Picnic gazebos, changing rooms and toilets are available. Weekends can be very crowded.
4. Taman Botani Perdana (or more commonly known as Lake Gardens). Well manicured lawns and beautiful gardens. There's also a children's playground and boats for rowing on the man-made lake. Gazebos and picnic tables are available.    
5. Sungai Sendat Waterfall. 30-minute drive from Batu Caves (follow the raod to Ulu Yam). There's a three tier waterfall cascading among the lush greenery of the Sungai Sendat Recreational Forest. Can have strong undercurrents so swimming should only be done at the bottom level. Toilets and changing areas available.
6. Commonwealth Forest Park. Located in the vicinity of the Kanching Recreational Forest. There is a small stream surrounded by big, shady tropical trees. If you prefer nice landscaped gardens, go further uphill to a secluded valley where the original Commonwealth grounds are found. Activities include horse riding, mountain biking and jungle trekking.
7. Sungai Pisang. Located on the 12th mile, Jalan Gombak. This is for the more adventurous as you need to hike for an hour along a jungle trail to reach the waterfall.

We've personally not checked out any of the above places so cannot really give comments. For a start, we will definitely make day trips to the not so challenging places, i.e. FRIM, KLCC Park and Lake Gardens,  this coming school holidays :-)