WHAT TO DO WHEN ENCOUNTER WITH LEECHES

How much do you know about leeches?
 I did not  know there are so many species of Leeches.
Here is some interesting pointers on leeches here

HIKING GEARS

Things you can't do without on a hike

a 30 Liter dry Bag. Can be use for all type of hike. Most suitable for waterfall hike

This one with rain cover. But not suitable for waterfall hike as not water proof

If you are into macro photography this is a must have len

A good Hiking shoes will make your hike enjoyable

Nothing like a cap to keep you from the sun. and of course a cool hiking pants will makes  one very comfortable

TENGKIL FALL

This is my second trip to this marvelous waterfall and also my shortest trip ever. Reason being I received a message from my son , saying his wife was in the Hospital and will be in labour soon. It will be my first grandchild and I was excited and anxious to  get out of the jungle where there is limited coverage. I had to get out soon to where there is stronger signal to get more info from my son. He had gone earlier in the morning while I was making my way to the fall.  So this trip I took very little photos as well. Making my way out was no easy task and there was not much markers except for some red paint on the trees. Anyhow I made it with God's help. Yes I believe in prayer. Here are some of the shots taken.

Some of the members from the Freewill Hikers Club

A Fall from at the 2nd tier.

Note: I got news later in the afternoon my Granddaughter was born around 11.15am . I will be on my way home soon to hold her.

TABUR EXTREME

This is my 3^rd time hike with the singapore group SANL(Singapore Adventurous and Nature Lover) and and their 3^rd hike at tabur.This time I took them to another hill located behind the zoo negara, known as Tabur X. Some had nicknamed it as Extreme, which gave the impression it was very extreme.

tabur X

When I put up the event on Facebook as well as on meetup I did not except such  a good response.As it get closer to the date of the event the response was over 30 hikers including the 12 already confirm guests from the Sanl group. I was a bit worried as hiking with a big group can be very challenging and it will also slow down the group.

Anyway just a few days before our hike there was another accident at Tabur West and so I posted that news on the wall of the event just to let them know and also a chance to pull out if they choose to. As I had anticipated, I saw a number of them pulling out over the next couple of days. In a way I was glad as it has reduced it to a smaller group. Finally on the actual date of the event only 26 turned up at our agreed meeting point. After our breakfast we made our way to our destination. It was not a smooth journey, we end up on the wrong road,passed through a fallen electric pole .When we finally got to the correct road, we met someone at the car park who informed  us( more like intimidating,) saying we need to hire two guides and also pay for the parking Charges. We told them firmly that we do not require guides , but will pay for the parking fees. Then two girls from the group decided to pull out. I wonder if the guy at the car park had frighten them off. The road leading to the hill was quite steep. Luckily it was not too slippery or muddy, though it had been raining for the past couple of days. After half an hours' walk we reach another hill slope leading to the hill we intend to explore. It was not a clear path as the undergrowth was quite thick due to not many people frequent this place and also due to the rain. 

But not to worry I had my columbia knife which I just bought and clear the path as we bulldozer our way through. 

my columbia knife

Two hours later we were up on the peak. By then the sun was already above our heads and we almost baked,but manage to find some shelter to rest. Those first timers of course were very excited over their achievement. this trip I did not take that many photos , I leave it to the new comers who were happy snaping away.After we took the group photo,we were ready to decend . If climbing up was difficult , going down was just as difficult especially if you are a first timer. So there was a delays as well and those who were faster had to wait it out. We started the climb at 8.30 am and made it at the foot at around 2.30 pm, totally exhausted, but very contended. Another adventure, another hill conqured!

rock climbing at certain parts of the hill.

group photo of Sanl & Budget travellers

with a member of Sanl

photos credit: Apoorv Kulshrestha

More photos here and here.

WHY I/WE HAVE TO DO THIS?

An account by Agnes Tan

Mountain climbing is such enjoyable experience.

On a personnal note, I am doing it for health, for friendship and for the love of nature; and it is so with my friends, whom we do this together in Bukit Tabur for the last of many years.

When people asked do I/us if we organised trip up Bukit Tabur ?
We say no.

And they checked why do I/we start the trekkers ?
I just said, from the experience we went through while enjoying that place, we hope to document it so that other trekkers, who needs it, may find it useful.

Then they asked again Am I/are we selling any product or services related to trekking ?
The answer is no.

And when there are people who wants to go up asked me/us, can I go with you and your friends ?

I will said, well I have no problem, but please make sure you don't bother us with your heart attack, or any other health problem because we are not professional to handle you.

We are just hobby maker in trekking.

And so if they come trekking with us, it is alright for us, if they dont come trekking with us, it is also alright with us.

At our age, most of us are retiree and take health as utmost importance, and sharing friendship while enjoying the nature.

And so, the many times of trekking, in the same place, being with friends together for health and friendship and nature, we kind of take note whatever changes happened to the place and the people and the rock and the trees and so is the accidents and the location of it.

I am asking myself, why is it that when accidents happened in Bukit Tabur, why am I/are we so sensitive to this issue ?

I can frankly tell you personally that it related to our unique experience we went through while saving a trekker name Siaw Ching specifically, when she fell off the cliff.

Siaw Ching & I /us can laugh about it now when we looked back, but during the incident, she scared the day light out of me/us then.

We hope others ( parents, family and friends ) dont have to go through that kind of emotion that was really yarky.

There definately is a need for workable solution


for complete story go to this link
Also visit her facebook page here.

GUNUNG BELUMUT, AT LAST

After months of waiting and pestering my friend Tony to take me to this mountain, finally the day came I could take on Gunung Belumut(Mount Belumut.)

This mountain, standing at 1,010 metres (3,314 ft), is located in the state of Johor, Malaysia. The trek can be completed within a day, while the average climber would take two days one night. For the average climber, the climb to the summit takes 5 to 6 hours and the return to the foot (by the same route) takes 3 to 4 hours.

The route upwards to the false and true summits is uphill almost all the way. It is considered quite a tough climb for those less fit or first timers. It takes about 20mins to reach the true summit from the false peak. Except for a huge boulder and the pyaramic shape pinnacle there was not much of a scenary.
. We arrived at the entrance at around 0830hrs and started climbing immediately after posing for some photos.

The starting trail was quite easy, but after a couple of km was steep all the way, with a few flat land along the way, then it's back steepness till eternity. I must have walk for miles. Have you ever walked until you can't walk anymore and all you wanted to do is to sit down, have a cold drink? That was how I felt, but I knew I had to keep on pushing myself in order to complete the hike. For this expedition we had a group of 14 people , the oldest was about 65 years old. Everyone took their own time and at their own pace. It took me 3 hours to reach the peak and about the same time down. It rained on my way down and the wet condition makes it quite difficult to descend and I had to slowed down abit. At one point there as a fallen branches and I had to bend low to get to the other side and got in the way of a twig.I got cut across my forehead between my eyes. Had it been a few inches nearer I would had been blind. Finally reach the foot of the mountain at around 1550 hours. This is by far the highest peak I had climbed and the most difficult one for me and I don't think I would be in a hurry to try another similar or higher ones. Even if I wanted to I doubt my body could take such punishment anymore. Here are some photos that serve as memories of the trip.

part of the team members

at the summit

crown rock

                                           wild mushrooms

at the main entrance

You may view more photos on my facebook page here.

DISCLAIMER

I thought I better have this in place, just in case. A simple disclaimers like this will saved us a lot of trouble in case something do happen. As they say better be safe than sorry. The below disclaimer is on the southern hikers page on facebook and also on the event that has been created for southern hikers.




Disclaimers: The organiser recognizes the inherent risks and dangers of outdoor activities which may result in injuries or even death.
By joining this hike you are aware of the risks involved.
Neither
southern hikers nor the organizer will be liable for any accidents or any unto wards incident that might occur.
Whilst every consideration has been given to your safety in the planning of these routes, ultimately your safety is your own responsibility.


ABOVE SHALL APPLY TO ALL EVENT ORGANISED BY SOUTHERN HIKERS