The island called Cempakasari in Parit

Continued from Perak river from the Alor Kangsar town jetty.

The following day, Saturday, after going around to a number of places in Kuala Kangsar we went south the small town of Parit. Lying besides the Perak river you could see an island called Cempakasari... or rather Pulau (island of) Cempakasari.

Parit used to be a regular stop when I was actively travelling to many places by public transport and hitchiking, 2001-2008. Then, I used to sit around the banks here wishing I would walk on the island someday as there was no bridge.

 

If I remember correctly they only started building this bridge early 2008. If I remember correctly again I did pass here end of that year when the bridge was completed. But I was in a rush to get somewhere else. Since then I've vowed to take this bridge someday. It was built to allow the locals to get to the villages on the other side. Otherwise they have to get to the main bridge 7 km or so to the north meaning to get from the villages to Parit they have to travel no less than 14 km, that is 7 km up north to get to bridge, 7 km down south to get to town. And that's just one way. A return trip would take around 30 km of travel!

A look to the north or rather upriver as I walked across. The land you see on the left is actually the island of Cempakasari, narrow but long.

A look downriver.

Going down the staircase to get to the island.

 

There. A look to the banks on the opposite side.

 

I started taking pictures while turning anti-clockwise.

 

Looking down south.

 

The banks at Parit.

 

And that's the part of bridge we crossed to get here.