I,Malaysian!

Have you ever wondered how would you feel to be surrounded by acres and acres of red and white lotuses on waters, accompanied by majestic green hills? Wouldn't you LOVE to be out of your hectic lifestyle burdened with abundance of workload and stress for just a day or two to bask in these glories Malaysia has to offer? Just think of it... deep water underneath you, crisp, desirable aroma emitting from lotus blooms, swallowed by miles of lush green mountains, underneath the clear blue sky... you'll feel like you're in heaven the minute you step there, a peaceful lake in Pahang, an unspoilt beauty, of a lake, called Tasik Cini.

Located 100 km from Kuantan off the Kuantan-Segamat road, Tasik Cini is actually a conglomerate of 12 interconnecting lakes. Next to Tasik Bera which is also located in Pahang, Tasik Cini is the second largest naturally-formed lake in west Malaysia. For a better view on the map, click here. As beautiful as it seems, the lake is carpeted with red and white lotuses so majestic it will take your breath away. Not only that, if you happen to land on small islands around the lake, you can also enjoy the cool natural atmosphere of rain forests. Some of the islands even have a waterfall where you can relax and enjoy (or even swim!) to get your body cooled off immediately.

According to journeymalaysia.com, Legends have it that Deep within the still, dark waters of Tasik Cini lies an ancient kingdom that once ruled vast tracks of land around the lakes. It is believed that the Khmer regime pushed their way down as far as Malaya as they swept through the Indochine during their reign in the early 5th century. Legends told by ancestors of the local indigenoues tribes describe the deliberate flooding of an ancient city to avoid being invaded by enemies. To this day, the underwater kingdom has remained elusive to mankind. Perhaps this city of gold, hidden in the deepest, darkest waters of the lake is the legacy left behind by a great empire.

impressions.com.my also said that even the origin of the lake itself is mystifying with the story of how an old woman turned into large black log. Frightened hunters plunged their spears into the log which began to sprout blood that formed a hole in the ground. Water started pouring out from the hole, ultimately creating Lake Cini. Other folklore talk of Loch Ness type monsters swimming in the lake and of a close friendship between an old woman and the lake monsters. Another tale tells of a lost city beneath Cini’s waters and archaeological examination proved that the site was once home to a Khmer settlement.

But if you are not a curious archaeologist trying to uncover the mysteries of Tasik Cini, please do feel welcome to drop by a visit. Oh I forgot to mention, there are several places to consider if you're thinking of staying overnight at the lake. This depends on the type accommodation and the budget. There is also the Saturday morning market just down the road from the chalets which is a great place to go for food shopping.The market runs from 8.30am till 10.00am.

So i hope you will consider a trip or two to Tasik Cini. Brought to you by the team of imalaysian.com. We share, we care.