Camping in Cameron Highlands

Led by Jimmy Chew, the team lead, the group went for camping at the tea plantation in the high mountains of Cameron Highlands on Friday 16 Sep 2016. The temperature at night was 19 ºC, and the coldest was 17 ºC in the wee hours. Next morning, Jimmy led the group to trek up to Gunung Cantek and Gunung Centuk for a round trip of 3.5 hours.

Do CLICK HERE to view photos courtesy of yours truly (KC Leong).

 The group travel to Cameron Highlands via Sungai Koyan way passing by Bentong and Raub

Many tualang trees along this Sg Koyan highway. Bees construct beehives on the branches and the orang asli has to climb the tall trees to harvest the honey.

Passing by the Ulu Jelai hydroelectric power station. Water comes from three rivers: Sungai Bertam, Sungai Telom and Sungai Lemoi

 Heavy load of backpack -- each is between 15kg to 20kg ... (left) Alan Ng, Jimmy Chew, KC Leong, CJ; not in photo: Khoo.

 Cheers! Having some red wine in the cold mountains; temperature is 19 ºC 

 Spectacular sunrise the next morning

 Topdressing in progress (aerial spraying of fertilizer)

 Serene and tranquil tea valley

 MNS (Malaysian Nature Society) chalet which is now closed and not in operation. Trekking up Gunung Cantek and Gunung Cenduk is from the trail behind MNS.

 Trekking along the trails of the tea plants

 Gunung Cantek peak -- there is no view at this peak

Gunung Cenduk peak -- there is no view here either 

Posted by KC Leong

Kemensah Trail Recce

Only three of us (Jimmy, Alan and KC) went for a recce trekking trip into the Kemensah - Congkak trail on Saturday, 10 Sept 2016. Most of the time, the trail was overgrown with bushes and thorny weeds; after the stream crossing, the trail was not visible in the rainforest. Jimmy has to rely on his Orion GPS unit and the topographic map to determine the actual location and the destination. At one area, we were trekking along a ridge but headed towards a dense bamboo bushes which we could not cut a trail ahead. 

In adhering to the cut-off time, we decided to abort the mission and return to the trail head. We shall re-strategize, get more choppers and try again later. 

On the way out, we detoured to Kubang Gajah waterfall (or Sofea Jane waterfall) for taking a breather. We also met a group of ATV (all terrains vehicle) enthusiasts who were going into the waterfall.

Do CLICK HERE to view photos courtesy of yours truly (KC Leong).

The trail where we are heading is near to Jimmy. Direction to Kubang Gajah waterfall is on the right of the signboard.

A waterfall next to the trail 

 Trail? there is no trail. We have to use parang to cut out a trail to move ahead

 Most of the time, the trails are encroached with overgrown bushes and thorny weeds

 Taking a breather at Kubang Gajah waterfall ... KC Leong, Jimmy and Alan

 Kubang Gajah waterfall (aka Sofea Jane waterfall)

On the way out, we met a group of ATV enthusiasts having fun in the outing 

Getting There:

Park your car by the roadside in front of Institut Budaya Baru Malaysia. 

Google Maps: Pertubuhan Pendidikan Anak Yatim Selangor.

The trailhead is 100 meters before the Institut Budaya Baru Malaysia.

Trailhead GPS coordinates: 

3°12'57.8"N 101°47'21.6"E

3.216068, 101.789337

Before you decided to visit the Kemensah trail or the waterfalls, do give Encik Shidee a call in ensuring your car and your safety (handphone: 012- 644 1226 or 019-611 7002). 

Posted by KC Leong

USJ Zhineng Qigong Lantern Gathering

PSZQM USJ centres jointly held an early lantern festival on 5 Sept 2016 at Wawasan school. The event was graced by Ms Hannah Yeoh, state assemblyman of Subang Jaya ... (cameraman: KC Leong)

Do CLICK HERE for the photos.

 Lots of food for the event 

 Hannah Yeoh (fifth from left)

A mega group photo

 The dances

 The cheers and the support

 The approval

Prizes for the games

Posted by KC Leong

Fraser's Hill Camping

Car camping at Fraser's Hill on Saturday 3 September ... It was a fine weather up in the cool mountains. At night, the group went out to look for tarantula spiders. The next morning, we went to Jeriau waterfall for some water activities. 

According to an article in the Star newspaper, one of the taratula species is found only at this hill resorts and nowhere else in the world.

Do CLICK HERE to view photos courtesy of yours truly (KC Leong).

 More organize and taking shorter time in preparing the site and setting up tents

 Nine persons in seven big tents for a comfortable night's sleep ... (left) ChongYF, Tioh, Cindy Lim, Jaclyn, Kellie, Geraldine, Annie, ChuahTK, KC Leong

 As usual, my 1-man tent is at the far end

Time for tea break

 A little cozy corner ... Tioh and Cindy

 Heating up the roasted chicken

 Mooncake festival is drawing near ... lightning up lanterns in the cool mountains

 Looking for tarantula spiders

 This is quite a big spider

 The next morning, we adjourned to Jeriau waterfall

 Having fun with the water activity 

Jeriau Waterfall

 The golf course next to the clock tower

At Fraser's Hill Clock Tower

Posted by KC Leong

Kota Damansara Trail Run

Trail running at Kota Damansara on Saturday morning, 27 Aug 2016 with running friends and Elsie's good-looking and adorable Roxie, a female Rottweiler ... Round trip (from Seksyen 9 to Seksyen 10 and return) was 4 hours; according to George Siew's timing device, we ran a total of 14km. 

We were trying out some shortcuts and ended up heading to nowhere, and have to backtrack for almost 500 meters. From the post-event trail map, we realised that the shortcut is the loop for Sahabat trail but we went off tangent. 

Do click here to view photos taken by yours truly.

 This pondok is the demarcation for Harmoni trail (at Seksyen 9 end, left of photo frame), and Unity trail (at Seksyen 10 KDCF end, right of photo frame)

 Elsie and her adorable Roxie

 At the Denai Tiga Putri peak
(left, behind) David Ong, George Siew, ChongYF, Eric Wong, KC Leong
(front) Josephine, Elsie Liew, Lana ... and of course the star, Roxie

 Additional challenge for the doggie to go up the ladder

 There is a giant tree along the trail to the peak

Arriving at the pond of Kota Damansara Cummunity Forest in Seksyen 10; from here, we have to run back to the other end where we parked our cars

Do click here for the trail and location map drawn by yours truly.

Posted by KC Leong

The Cutting Edge Campout 3.0

Participating in the Cutting Edge Campout 3.0 at Kem Sungai Pauh from 19-21 August 2016 ... Cutting Edge forums (in Facebook) share and exchange information on knives, cool gear and the great outdoors.

This campout event was organized by Marcus Wong and assisted by Li Kuan, Kevin Lee, Chew Soon and Ken. It was a well organized event with lots of food, camaraderie and laughter amid the cool mountains of Cameron Highlands. The event ended with a lucky draw having a few razor-edged knives as prizes.

Do CLICK HERE to view photos courtesy of yours truly (KC Leong).

Sungai Pauh campsite at Cameron Highlands; it is near to Tanah Rata

The campsite is nestled in between tall trees

This is where I pitch my tent

My camping stuff just next to the Kelty Salida 1-man tent

Pat (left) is cooking a delicious fish-head curry while Marcus, the organizer of the event, looks on

Another group of students doing some serious cooking ... notice that there is electricity plug point at the left pillar

A pleasant and conducive environment for camping

Setting up of hammocks is possible since the tress are close to one another. However, one must have a good sleeping bag as the temperature in the wee hours drop to 15 degrees Celsius (which is very cold).

Another two camping sections at the upper tier. This area is a little further away especially going to the toilet at night though the entire campsite is lighted up at night

A big flysheet serving as a communal area for chill out. It has been drizzling on Day1 and Day2 at this campsite so the flysheet is a must

Day2 BBQ dinner - Marcus busy grilling drumsticks and hot dogs assisted by Kelvin and Ken

Jimmy and Chew Soon examining the the various types of knives

Some of the participants in this Cutting Edge v3 campout

Lucky draw - Wilson Ng receiving the gift from Marcus; on the right is Ken

Posted by KC Leong