Beris Lake Vineyard and Gunung Jerai

I received a special invitation from my sister-in-law. “Come on, come and join us, what are you doing staying home? It will be good for you?” Frankly, it really does not matter where they are going, after all my feet do get itchy.

I have been staying in Alor Setar for 20 years in total and I have not been to Gunung Jerai, so what is holding me back? Beris Lake Vineyard?


Our First Destination : Beris Lake Vineyard

Haven’t heard of it till now, where is it?

The geographic coordinates are approximately at N05° 55.908' E100° 46.262. (use that for your GPS etc and you would easily find the place). 

The highway over the Lake Beris

Alternatively, take the highway exit to Gurun,then turn right to Sik and head straight on for about 47 km. There will be many signages as you approach Beris Lake Vineyard/Ladang Anggur Tasik Beris.

We left home early in the morning of 8^th Dec. 2011. Beris Lake Vineyard at Sik, Kedah was our first stop.

The scenery at Beris Lake is fantastic, what a beautiful view. Wonder why they named it ‘Beris’, Lake? Maybe it used to have a lot of different types of berries growing in its vicinity. It seems that they named it after the lake, which is a man made lake formed by the Beris dam.

The Sun shining high  in the sky

Is this Malaysia, great view isn't it?

The vineyard is an agro tourism initiative and is managed by Excel Agrotech Sdn. Bhd.There are 4 acres of vineyard at Beris Lake and another 30 acres at Sungai Senam, Sik.

Entrance fees are RM4 for adults and RM2 for children above seven years.

The nearest and furthest vineyards

This is definitely my favourite, except for the .......shhh.....the imprinted date

My first view

My 2nd view, not bad isn't it?

My 3rd view, more bunches.......and more grapes

Beris Lake Vineyard
(Ladang Anggur Tasik Beris)
Lot 264, Kampung Ternas
08200 Sik, Kedah Darul Aman
Tel : 604-462 0466

The beautifully decorated lobby blends so well in between the 2 types of vineyards (green and red)

The place opens from 9.30 am to 6.30 pm. How would Beris Lake look like in the evening?

Mmmmmm!

Which is mine?

Is this mine? No plucking...:-(

 

Seeing those kindergarden kids, remind me of my young school days when our teachers would organize pinic trips to the Taiping Lake Gardens, which practically sits next door to my alma mater, Treacher Methodist Girl’s School. It was on one such school picnic, when my father bought me some grapes to take along. It was a rare occasion as having grapes, was such a luxury in those olden days.

Wow, now we have it in our…..Kedah state……..

The advancement in biotechnology as well as the hard work of those involved in the project has made this possible.

These are mine....?

Grapes from Beris Lake Vineyard
at a special price of RM15

Our Second Destination :  Gunung Jerai

Travelling up the road up to Gunung Jerai was not much of a hazzle, for the careful driver. Could not help wondering when they started building the road up the hill, not an easy job indeed.

On the way up, we stop briefly at the Muzium Perhutanan Gunung Jerai.

Muzium Perhutanan

Must be the biggest Tongkat Ali in Malaysia

Wow, look at the trunks, as big as pillars of a building

Malaysian Wildlife

                                     The wildlife must have  been  from here, the jungles of Gunung Jerai

A painting so very beautifully drawn,merchants arriving at Bujang Valley

The Indian Ocean, from Gunung Jerai

Luckily for us when we reached Gunung Jerai in the afternoon, the sun was merciful, cloudy and cool...., cooler than expected.


The place has been transformed, that is since my sister-in-law's visit during her teens. It is much neater without the wilderness. We now have the Regency Jerai Hill Resort and the gardens and surroundings are well kept and landscaped.

Regency Jerai HillResort

It is 986 m above sea level

The chalets

Around Gunung Jerai

Hi, care to join me

Around Gunung Jerai

Around Gunung Jerai

There is a camping site for those interested and for the fit and young, hiking trails up to Gunung Jerai.

Another of my favourite

Gunung Jerai is the highest peak in Kedah, not very cool, but definitely cooler and quieter than the lowlands for a weekend getaway.

I had a great time at Beris Lake Vineyard, it was warm but not very hot within the vineyard. The Lakeside heat is bearable at that hour, just bring your umbrellas..... Could not help wondering though about the view at Beris Lake especially in the evening, when it is much cooler. Maybe I will get to relish that on my 2nd trip.



Click here for more information : http://www.berislakegrapes.com.my