Port
Dickson, the playground resort in Negeri Sembilan,
is thirty-four kilometers from the state capital of
Seremban and about an hour and a half from Malaysia's
capital city, Kuala Lumpur. It has miles of fine sandy
beaches fringed by Casuarinas, palms, and the intricate,
above-ground root formations of the Banyan tree. The
road to Port Dickson hugs the Malaysian coastline,
making impromptu rest and swim stops almost impossible
to resist. Vendors along the road offer thirst-quenching
drinks of coconut water and sugar-cane juice.
A
complete menu of leisure activities is available in
Port Dickson, including water-skiing, canoeing, snorkeling,
windsurfing, and sailing, all of which can easily
be handled through the reception desk at your hotel.
Despite
Port Dickson's reputation as an area firmly focused
on beach resort activity, the sights and history of
the surrounding area are well worth experiencing.
At Kota Lukut, a mere seven km from Port Dickson,
stands the fort of Raja Jumaat, a renowned nineteenth-century
Bugis warrior. The fort was built in 1847 to control
the lucrative tin trade in the area. Another rewarding
site is the lighthouse at Cape Rachardo, built by
the Portuguese in the 16th century in order to guide
ships to the safety of Malacca's harbor. The lighthouse
is still functioning today, and visitors can ascend
its narrow spiral stair to the beacon, which offers
a magnificent view of the coastline of Sumatra. The
Cape is also a popular stopover point for migratory
birds. From September to March, flocks of sparrows,
honey buzzards, and swifts can be seen here, together
with birds of prey, such as hawks and eagles.
Twenty-three
kilometers south of the lighthouse, on the road to
Malacca, sits the small and mysterious village of
Pengkalan Kempas. The village houses the enigmatic
15th-century tomb of Sheikh Ahmad Majnun, whose epitaph
explains that he fell while fighting to save a now
unknown woman referred to simply as "the princess."
It is home to a more prominent mystery as well, however.
Beside the tomb stand three megaliths, elaborately
carved, of unknown origin and use. As if to seal the
reputation of this hamlet of the unknown, there is
also in Pengalen Kempas an "ordeal stone."
This ancient lie-detector, through which a person
would put his arm when answering questions, allegedly
reacts to an untruth by closing upon the liar's fist.
Whether or not this story is true makes for an interesting
dare. |