A Day with Sheila Majid at Belum Rainforest

Hello readers,

If you still remember, I was at Belum Rainforest Resort on April for Sheila Majid's concert. Read this entry in case if you have forgotten about it.

Apart from the concert, we also joined Sheila for Belum-Temengor Rainforest tour and its surroundings. It was an interesting trip organised by the EMKAY group where we learned more about life in the heart of the rainforest. So readers, lets read this entry till the end to find out what we did.

The journey started by gathered at the Reception area of Belum Rainforest Resort where we depart via a few 4WD. 

Our first destination was to Kampung Semelor, an Orang Asli settlement situated within the Temengor Forest. Yes it is .. the Orang Asli village were situated deep inside the Belum Rainforest. The journey to the village was via off road route. We were told that this route is a log path where heavy lorries and machinery use this route to transport logs out from the forest. The same route is used by the Orang Asli children to go to school. The journey to school took them a few hours by foot. 

Upon arrival, we were greeted by Tok Batin and the villagers. A warm welcomed speech were given. The visit were also accompanied by representatives from Yayasan Emkay, a foundation under Emkay Group which was founded on January 12, 2001 with the aim of easing the burden of the less fortunate without the limitation of race and religion, especially those living in remote areas or away from development flows.

The aid program under Yayasan Emkay is divided into five main categories, namely education and efforts towards raising awareness on the protection and conservation of the environment, healthcare, religion, sports development, and last aid towards community development and courtesy.


With Tan Sri Datuk (Dr.) Haji Mustapha Kamal bin Haji Abu Bakar as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Yayasan Emkay has contributed RM51.1 million (till September 2016) through various activities held under their noble vision.

Kampung Semelor, one of the Orang Asli village in Belum Rainforest. This village is very clean and well maintained.

After the welcomed speech, we visited the Toy Library, which was set in 2008 by Yayasan Emkay to help the orang asli children to have the opportunity to be exposed to education through play. The kids were excited to show us their skill - performing 'Sinaran' dance, one of Dato' Sheila's famous hit.

We then later visited Orang Asli women's sewing class and handicraft making centre. The women's sewing workshop is part of the Orang Asli Educational Program and is collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resources.

Together with the support of Ministry of Human Resource, Yayasan Emkay provide training and development skill to the Orang Asli women. They attended sewing classes and were taught how to do some handicraft. The handicraft are available for sale for visitors.

Jeans bag - creative, right. Should you have any unused jeans, you are encouraged to donate it to Yayasan Emkay. The donations will then channel to the Orang Asli community.

We walked further to our next destination ~ the weather was so clear, the sun smiled .. it was a bright, breezy day.

And we stopped for picture..

We later visited Madu kelulut area 

Madu kelulut or honey from 'kelulut' bee ~ 'Kelulut' bee is among the 33 species of trigona bee species that have no sting and not harmful to humans. It is reported that the prolong intake of madu kelulut will give beneficial effect on health and restoration of chronic diseases.  We tried made kelulut .. it is naturally sweet and nice!

Some nice moments of Sheila and her family captured by the photographer's lens, Ardalan Memarzia

Sheila also tried her skill with 'sumpit' and Yes .. she made it!

We then were later served with 'Kampung lunch' ~ Ikan pekasam, Nasi buluh, Ayam masak buluh, Sambal belacan dan Sambal Tempoyak. 

We also visited Pulau Banding Research Centre, a centre responsible in carrying out research on flora and fauna of Belum-Temengor Rainforest and disseminates the information and helps facilitate to make the are a sustainable and eco-tourism destination. Sheila handed over a cheque of RM10,000 from her showcase proceeds to Dato Fazwinna Tan Sri Mustapha Kamal, Executive Director of Emkay Group to the foundation.

Sheila then setting her mark through a tree planting session to end her short, sweet trip at Belum Rainforest and its surroundings.

It was a memorable journey to discover the beautiful Belum-Temengor Rainforest and its surrounding, learned more about life in the heart of the rainforest and what Yayasan Emkay has contributed to conserve the nature and environment and community development.

Belum-Temengor Rainforest has everything to offer nature-lovers and holiday-goers ~ complete relaxation and serenity, stunning views and surroundings. It is a home to rare foliage and 14 of the world's most threatened mamals, and our rainforest is the oldest rainforest in the world, older than Amazon.

This is not my first visit to Belum-Temengor Rainforest .. every visit are special and I look forward to be there again.  If you are a nature lover *like me*, this place is 'heaven' *love*

More information can be obtained at www.belumrainforestresort.com