Kellie’s Castle - Among many European planters that set foot in this region, William Kellie Smith undoubtedly stands out. Hailing from a small town called Kellas in Scotland, Kellie Smith touched the shores of Malaya in 1890 at only 20 years old. He eventually made his fortunes in rubber planting and tin mining. Missing his homeland, Kellie Smith built a castle on a hilltop to be named Kellas House. He died before the completion of his dream castle and the building is today known as Kellie’s Castle.

White god - Being fluent in Malay and Tamil language, locals were fond of Kellie Smith. When worldwide epidemic Spanish flu hit the community of planters, Kellie Smith financed a temple for his Hindu workers to pray. Today, those with keen eyes will spot an European figurine placed among Indian gods and goddess to commemorate his generosity

Tin rush leftover - Like many hamlets dotting the west coast of Malay peninsula, Malim Nawar’s place in history is fueled by tin mining. The tin dredging ship TT5 is perhaps the only survivor left to tell the stories of Malaysian tin industry heydays. The year was 1939 when W.F Payne & Son built it, costing the equivalent of whooping RM30 million at today’s currency value. One will have the opportunity to scour the belly of this giant mining ship and see how bygone engineering feat works

In the afternoon, explore the outback and visit Kinta Bird Sanctuary. Only discovered 2 years ago, the lake’s islet is teeming with nesting big birds such as herons, egrets, stocks and a plethora of unique tropical semi-aquatic plants. The rare Purple swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio poliocephalus) is perhaps the most striking bird in damp pastures. Although clumsy in flight, it can fly long distances. It is also a prolific swimmer, especially for a bird without webbed feet. Trails are shaded by towering old rain trees. With some patience, a bird-watcher will be richly rewarded with sightings of large predators like eagles, falcons, buzzards and kites that stake out for fishes and small mammals

Local riverine and wetland network is a highly diverse ecosystem. Up to time of this writing, the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia has recorded 564 species of freshwater fishes that call Malaysia home.

Striking flora gives colour to the wetland. The almost extinct Vanda Hookeriana orchid can only be found here. It is the only type of orchid that lives in the wetlands. Avid orchidists travel from all over the world to catch a glimpse of its rare beauty. Thriving in cluster of colony, Vanda H. need full blast of heaty sun as well as the dampness of wetland to propagate.

Local orchidists say Vanda H. hates to “get its feet wet”. How true. Despite the constant need for moisture, it prefers to perch on top of other aquatic plants to stay above the waterline.