Semenyih, Hulu Langat, Selangor

We went to Semenyih for the first time today. I have always been fascinated by this rather odd name for a place but never thought I would ever really need to go there. (Though I have harboured thoughts of hiking the Broga Hills/Bukit Lalang which I know is in the vicinity). But then a relative kindly invited us to his housewarming party in a new Taman (housing estate) in ... Semenyih, so how could we refuse? We had been thinking before, "Who lives in Semenyih"? Even if the controversial 1.5 billion ringgit incinerator project there had been scrapped.

Of course we had to use the GPS to get to our relative's place in Semenyih, but then we still got lost because the Taman is very new (and not yet under the radar?). Then again we were lucky to be lost in Taman Semenyih and a local gentleman there kindly led the way to our destination (Taman Pelangi Semenyih 2) because it was on his way (to golf). So happily we got to meet our relative and his family, admired his big, new house and ate a very sumptuous lunch spread right there in Semenyih.

About Semenyih - it is a small town (about 8 km southeast of Kajang) in Hulu Langat, Selangor near the border with Negri Sembilan. Small it may be, but we noticed that there's definitely a lot of development going on there. Many new housing estates are coming up. We also spotted the signage for the way to the University of Nottingham Malaysia campus. A branch of an English university way out Semenyih? Why? We thought the young students must be restless and 'mati kutu' (bored) here. But I suppose there are some places nearby they can go for R & R rest & relaxation, not rock & roll or Ritalin & Redbull. I checked online and found that apart from the Broga Hills to hike, there are waterfalls (Batangsi, and Tekala near the Semenyih Dam) to frolic in. And there are also the usual fast food outlets (KFC, McDonald's) and other local eateries in town.

Note: 'Semenyih' may mean 'sembunyi' or 'hide/hidden' in a Negri Sembilan dialect. Indeed this place has been hidden from our my knowledge for a long time. Its history is fascinating if not blur. It was during the reign of Sultan Abdul Samad of Selangor that Lukut was was given over to Negri Sembilan in exchange for Semenyih.

P.S. Of all the #@%$*, I forgot to take pictures of this first time visit to Semenyih!  I must have been in a stupour or something. Or did we really go there at all?