Case Study of Lata Iskandar Waterfall

What is a waterfall?

A waterfall is usually a geological formation resulting from water, often in the form of a stream, flowing over an erosion-resistant rock formation that forms a nickpoint, or sudden break in elevation.

Some waterfalls form in mountain environments in which the erosive water force is high and stream courses may be subject to sudden and catastrophic change. In such cases, the waterfall may not be the end product of many years of water action over a region, but rather the result of relatively sudden geological processes such as landslides, faults or volcanic action. In cold places, snow will build up in winter and melt and turn into a waterfall in summer.

How is the Lata Iskandar Waterfall formed?

However the Lata Iskandar Waterfall that we visited was not formed by faulting but resulting from a stream flowing over an erosion-resistant rock formation that forms a sudden break in elevation.

Do you think this diagram is an accurate description of the Lata Iskandar Waterfall?

Or is this a better diagram to show the formation of the Lata Iskanda Waterfall?




What type of waterfall is the Lata Iskanda Waterfall?




The Lata Iskandar Waterfall is a cascade waterfall where water descends a series of rock steps.

Cascade waterfalls have a small volume of water.

A series of falls may form one waterfall.







How are the load of a river transported?

Material which has been eroded from river banks is transported down the river in a variety of ways. The material may include pebbles, stones, boulders, tree branches and leaves. There are several types of transportation:

Flotation.
Materials such trees and branches are carried on the surface of the water. If there is a boulder or other large object in the way, then they can get stuck or be deposited behind this object.

Suspension.
Very small particles are carried in the water. They are usually deposited in the lower course where the flow of water becomes very slow.

Solution.
Very small particles of sediment dissolve in the water. Rivers which carry a lot of sediment in suspension may have brown water.

Saltation.
Small pebbles and rocks bounce along the river bed. In turn, they can loosen other small sediments.

Traction.
Small pebbles and large boulder are rolled along the river bed.
Sediments are carried along the river, provided the river has enough energy to carry them. Fast-flowing rivers in their upper course usually have the most energy. Most sediment is eroded and transported here. When a river loses energy or slows down, then the sediment is deposited.


Based on the above description, what kind of load do you think is found at the Lata Iskandar Waterfall?



How do you think this kind of load is transported?





Study the phtography carefully. Do you think any transportation is has taken place at all? Explian your reasons.



















Final Group Photo before we depart the Iskandar Waterfall.

Case study of the Orang Asli

We visited an Orang Asli settlement on our way up Cameron Highlands. We discovered some interesting facts and features about them.

Who are the Orang Asli?

The Orang Asli are the indigenous minority peoples of Peninsular Malaysia.


The name is a Malay term which transliterates as 'original peoples' or 'first peoples.'



It is a collective term introduced by anthropologists for the 18 sub-ethnic groups generally classified for official purposes under Negrito, Senoi and Proto-Malay. They numbered 105,000 in 1997 representing a mere 0.5 per cent of the national population.



This group of Orang Asli live close to forested areas. Here they engage in swiddening (hill rice cultivation) and do some hunting and gathering. They also trade in petai, durian, rattan and resins to earn cash incomes.

Orang Asli are traditionally animists, where they believe in the presence of spirits in various objects. However, in the 21st century, many of them have embraced monotheistic religions such as Islam and Christianity following some active state-sponsored dakwah by Muslims, and evangelism by Christian missionaries.

(How do you know that this group of Orang Asli has embraced Christianity?)


How do the Orang Asli look like?
The Orang Asli are divided into three main tribal groups – Semang (negrito), Senoi, and Proto-Malay (Aboriginal Malay).


Many Senoi live in the Cameron Highlands. They just look like Malaysians, although the dark ones look like Negrito's. Originally they must have come from the hills in Vietnam, Cambodia or Northern Thailand, about 6000 - 8000 years ago.

In Cameron Highlands some of the Senoi live as wage-earners, working on the highland tea estates. Others have obtained jobs as varied as government employees and taxi drivers



How do the Orang Asli hunt?

The Orang Asli ( mostly Negrito),who live in the jungle, hunt with blowpipes for birds and little monkeys. The blowpipe is made from bamboo.

The mouth piece is made from damar, a resin obtained from the dipterocarp trees. Darts are made from the split leaf-stalks of Arenga palm cone


The tip is coated with a lethal preparation made from the sap of the lpol tree (Antiaris toxicaria) and carried in a carefully closed bamboo tube.
As for the windage, a soft fluffy "wool' is made from as kind of bark. Blowpipe is deadly accurate within 20 meters.




Why are their house built on stilts?


At night,90% of the rain forest inhabitant come out to play,eat and sometimes cause trouble. Snakes, poisonous insects, army ants, scorpions, hungry mammals, all roam the forest floor by nightfall and sue heat seeking sensors and night vision to home on their preys.

This is why the Orang Asli always build their huts on stilts, never on bare ground.




Bamboo strips are used as walls and windows.

Some part of the roof are made from bertam palm leaves while the rest are made from zine.



A typical Orang Asli hut is divided into two sections -- one for sleeping and the other for cooking.


They have no need for lobby or dining room.


Although enclosed, the interior is usually airy because ventilation takes place between grooves and gaps of walls and floors made from bamboo strips.

There is always a fireplace where mud pad insulation protects bamboo flooring from damage.



Here, Ms Farida is interviewing the settlement
headman who could speak in Malay. It was a rare opportunity for us the gather some oral history evidence right from the horse's mouth



At the end of the visit, the Orang Asli and our students took a group photo.


Reflection Questions

1. Do you think that the Orang Asli standard of living is better or worst then those living in Kuala Lumpur?

2. Do you agree that although the Orang Asli has a lower standard of living, their quality of life is higher then those in Singapore?

3. Do you think that their way of life will be destroyed when tourist like us visit them?

4.. Tourism for the Orang Asli : Boom or a Bane?

CLick the video below to see an interview that Mdm Feridah has with an Orang Asli mum.

Malaysia Boleh

Today we continue our trip up Cameron Highland . On teh way up, look out for signs which shows Malaysia boleh.


The phenomenal growth of Malaysia under the leadership of its fourth prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad has brought about a patriotic sense of achievement amongst its people.

The Government has led the way to show that Malaysians can excel in whatever they put their minds to, and this, in no small way, has produced a society that tries to outdo itself (sometimes at ridiculous levels, if truth be told) in the endeavours it pursues.

Embodying this spirit is the slogan "Malaysia Boleh!" which loosely translated means "Malaysia Can Do It!" How this slogan came to be the "battle cry" of a nation is rather sketchy but the general belief is that it was the slogan used by a health beverage in its marketing campaign in the 80s.

It caught on and soon cries of Malaysia Boleh! were heard, first only at sporting events like the Commonwealth Games and Thomas Cup Finals, then later everywhere else as it was embraced wholeheartedly by the people as a means to push themselves to endure and accept challenge, to set targets, to excel.

The "Malaysia Boleh!" spirit has since produced many achievers and achievements, and has been a cornerstone of the success story that is the new Malaysia.


The above is quoted from this website
http://allmalaysia.info/msiaknow/malaysiana/malaysia_boleh.asp

1. What do you think is the outcome of this message of Malaysia Boleh?

2. Why do you think the slogan "Malaysia Boleh" was created?



Biofuel crop : Crime or saviour?


The government has announced the introduction of a National Biofuel Policy on August 10 2005.

The policy is primarily aimed at reducing the country’s fuel import bill, promoting further the demand for palm oil which will be the primary commodity for biofuel production (alongside regular diesel), as well as to shore up the price of palm oil especially during periods of low export demand.


Go to this website and read the article.
http://my-biodiesel.org/web/America/Biofuels-crops-Crime-or-savior.html

A PROMINENT United Nations activist against famine has demanded a five-year moratorium on biofuels as a new report showed Australia could use its sugar to become a major global provider of ethanol.
The writer Jean Ziegler who wrote theUN Special Report said it was a "crime against humanity" to convert food crops to fuel, driving up food prices when there are 854 million hungry people in the world.


Do you think agree with the following statement :
It is a "crime against humanity" to convert food crops to fuel, driving up food prices when there are 854 million hungry people in the world.

Explain your answer.

GP Programme takes off

Finally, the GP Programme to Cameron Highlands has started.

We left the school at 1.pm. There were 57 studnets with 5 teachers going on this trip.

In the evening, we met the famous K.L. traffic jam. It took us an hour to go through the highway when we could completed the journey in 5 minutes.

This is the toll where every vehicle has to pay before they are allowed to enter K.L.




This is one of the housing development projects that we could see along our way.

After we cleared the jam, we were given the opportunity to take picture of the Petronas Twin Towers.

Here are some interesting facts about the twin towers.

• The 88-storey Petronas Twin Towers was designed by Cesar Pelli and Associates
• It is the Petronas Corporate Headquarters
• It was completed in 1997.
• The towers are joined at the 41st and 42nd floors (175m above street level) by a 192 ft-long (58.4 m) double-decker Sky Bridge.
• The 1,483 ft (451.9 m), was one of the world's tallest buildings in the world.
  

• 

'I tried to express what I thought were the essences of Malaysia, its richness in culture and its extraordinary vision for the future. The building is rooted in tradition and about Malaysia's aspiration and ambition.'

This is the quotation from the archetect.

What do you think is the purpose of the archetect in giving this quotation?

What do you think is the outcome of this quotation on the reader of this blog?

FAQ on Cameron Highland

Now that there are only 5 days more before our expedition to Cameron Highland here are some answers to some FAQ.

How high is Cameron Highlands?
It is as high as 1500 metres above sea-level.

How cold and it be in Cameron Highlands?
Temperatures can be as low as 16 ˚C.



Where is Cameron Highlands?
Cameron Highlands is the smallest district in the state of Pahang which is located in the north-western corner of the state. Although it is in Pahang, its two main exits go to Tapah and Ipoh in the state of Perak.





How many towns are there in Cameron Highlands?

It is made up of 3 main townships at different elevations. The first town from the south is Ringlet, followed by Tanah Rata, Brinchang, Kea Farm, Tringkap, Kuala Terla and Kampong Raja.

Which is the first town that you will see when you reach Cameron Highlands?
Ringlet is the first town you will see when you reach Cameron Highlands.

How high is Ringlet?
It is 1,200 metres above sea-level.

What is Ringlet main economic activity?
Ringlet is one of the main agricultural hub for the highlands.














What is so important about Bertam Valley?
Bertam Valley which is located about 5km away, is one of the main flower and vegetable producers in Cameron highlands.














Which town is the administrative capital of Cameron Highlands?
Tanah Rata is the administrative capital of Cameron Highlands where most of the government offices are located. The general hospital and the district police station is also located here.















What is one of the must-see features of Cameron Highlands?
Tea plantations is one of the must-see features of Cameron Highlands. You can visit the factories to see the process of tea production and some have shops where you can drink and buy tea.

Where can I get more information about the Boh Tea Plantation?
You can get more information from this website
http://www.boh.com.my/

Are we visiting a strewberry farm?
We may be visiting the Big Red Strawberry Farm & Gift Center also known as Big Red Strawberry Farm, also known as Taman Agro Tourism Cameron Highlands offers one-stop garden and farm centre to relax and unwind.
It is located in Brinchang town, right beside Cactus Valley at the new town of Brinchang. If you are staying in Brinchang, ask the receptionist at your hotel and they can guide you on how to reach there. Alternatively, identify Star Regency Hotel/Apartment and it is only about 500 m from this place.