Lunas, Kedah

Lunas is a town in the state of Kedah, Malaysia. It is located 105 km to the south from Alor Star city center and also only 45 minutes out of Penang, it lies between Butterworth and Kulim [ [http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2006/8/7/lifefocus/14918835&sec=lifefocus Lunas and the rubber connection] The Star Online, 7 August 2006] . Lunas also serve as state assembly districts and also the Parliament Constituency of Padang Serai, Kedah.

Development history

The town with all its old shophouses was pretty much founded and developed in the 1900s' when British army colonize Malaya at that time. During that period many local people including Chinese and Indian migrant work at rubber estates that was formerly owned by British.

Today, there are still many well-preserved gems such as pre-war shophouses, a traditional “wooden bungalow on stilts” post office and also the colonial-style Soon Cheng Sai mansion [ [http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2006/12/3/lifefocus/16196101&sec=lifefocus A place for history] The Star Online, 3 December 2006] . Lunas is consider a town more than 100 years old. In year 2009, it will celebrate its 120 Years old.

Demographics

Lunas is a multi races small town. Indian is the largest population in Lunas area and many of them work or owned one or two rubber estates, while most of the Chinese people stay at Lunas Street and work as a retailers or lives in residence area near to the Lunas town, furthermore many Malay people stay at nearby residence area including in the village and work in farming industries or as a retailers.

Lunas is connected by only one main street. The main street almost 90% surrounded by a shop lot and some convert to residence house. Lunas also have two wet market, one is old wet market located at the beside of main street, while another one is located at Sungai Seluang area.

Local attraction

Food

Lunas also have its own cuisine which is the famous “living heritage” of Lunas’ roast duck rice. Beside roast duck rice, there are fews hawker stall that prepared some variety of dishes, this includes:
* Kampung Lama's Mee Tai Kam
* Laksa Rumah Murah and the most cheapest laksa near the town which just sell at RM1.00 - RM1.50
* Wantan Mee
* Pan Mee

Buildings

For Taoist devotees, Lunas is known as "Gate of Hell & Heaven". Lunas also has been famous with "Wen Mi" (Call the solve of the pass away people to ask for something) and "Fortune Teller".

Lunas also famous with Thai Buddhist Temple which is next to cemetery land near the town. Every time when Wesak day is near, many Buddhist people including from Kuala Lumpur, Butterworth, Penang and even Singapore will go to the temple for praying.

Another interesting tourist attraction is the horizontal chimney inside rubber smokehouses located near the Lunas town.

Besides,Lunas is currently expanding by the reason of the KULIM HIGHTECH PARK.One of the Multinational company is Intel,and celestica,Fuji electric,Infinion and First solar.

References