Kundasang Holiday

Together with Zhineng qigong members and friends, we went for a 5D4N holiday trip to the cool mountains of Kundasang (Kota Kinabalu), and the white sandy beaches of Manukan and Sapi Islands from 6 to 10 July 2018. We stayed two nights in Kundasang and two nights in Kota Kinabalu. Excluding Air Asia flight tickets, total amount spent for food, accommodation and transport was RM900 per person.

While overnight at DreamWorld Resort, the wind was blowing strongly the whole night. A few of the team members could not sleep well due to the rattling sound of the glass-panel door. I tried leaving a 1cm gap between the two glass-panel door, and that produced howling sound. According to a member of DreamWorld Resort staff, July and August would experience strong wind in Kundasang. 

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

 DreamWorld Resort ... good view overlooking the Kundasang town

At the jetty for islands hopping (Manukan Island, Sapi Island, etc), there were many Chinese and Korean tourists – a good sign for the Sabah tourism industry. At the Philippines night market, 1kg of mangosteen sells for RM35, and 1kg of mango sells for RM25 – almost four times the price as in Kuala Lumpur.

Overall it was a nice and pleasant short holidays where one experiences "from the mountain base (not 'top') to the ocean beach (not 'deep')". If you would like to go, I can provide good information to you.

 Visiting Desa Dairy Farm which is very near to DreamWorld Resorts

 Visiting Sabah Tea Plantation ... background is Mount Kinabalu; this establishment is much smaller than the Boh Plantation in Cameron Highlands

 Poring Hotspring

 Overnight at the cosy H. Benjamin Residence Hotel ... background is the back view of Mount Kinabalu

 A tour of Kinabalu National Park

 Viewing sunset at Tanjung Aru Beach ... the huge food-court has been demolished

 Enjoying the delicious and sumptuous seafood dinner in Kota Kinabalu 

 Islands hopping at Manukan and Sapi islands ... lunch at Manukan Island is RM40 to RM60 per pax; for big group, advance notice is required as food is brought from main land.

Mari Mari Cultural Village tour and performance; entrance fee includes lunch ... recommended place to visit when one is in Kota Kinabalu

Posted by KC Leong

Bukit Kledang Hike Part 1

Hiking Kledang Hill at Menglembu, Ipoh ... We started our journey excitedly from Kuala Lumpur on Saturday 30 June 2018 at 7:30 a.m. En route to Ipoh, we stopped at Lata Kinjang waterfall of Tapah for photos shoot. After having lunch at Kong Heng coffeeshop in Ipoh, we walked around Concubine Lane. We later checked-in at MC Homestay in Menglembu; free-and-easy in preparing for the hike the following morning. 

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

 Photos shoot at Lata Kinjang waterfall, Tapah

 (left) KC Leong, Karen, Lana, Kellie, Bee, Shu-Lin, Hooi Miin, Ivy Wong, LeeWY; 

(front) ChongYF, George Siew.

 Behind Ipoh Kong Heng coffeeshop area

 At Concubine Lane

 The spacious master bedroom

About MC Homestay in Menglembu: This homestay is clean and can sleep 16 persons comfortably; it has four rooms each with attached bathroom. Located in a quiet housing area, it is only 2.3km to the Kledang Hill trailhead. The shared accommodation cost is very reasonable for each person. Google Maps search key: MC Homestay - Taman Kledang Permai. Contact person: Matthew Chin - 012 561 0231

 The main hall of MC Homestay

Sumptuous dinner at Menglembu ... with big portion serving

Do CLICK HERE for Part 2 ... hiking up Kledang Hill.

Posted by KC Leong

Bukit Kledang Hike Part 2

After a dim sum breakfast at Menglembu town, we arrived at the Kledang Hill trailhead at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, 1 July 2018. Parking at the car park was full to the brim, and we have to park our cars at the housing area. The Team Lead for the hike were June and Tiger Chee. Accompanying us was June's adorable labrador dog, Baileys. Whenever Baileys saw any pool, it would jump into the water to cool itself. And it was such a joy seeing Baileys playing in the water. Special thanks to ChanHN in arranging for Team Leads and good food in Menglembu and Ipoh.

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

 Group photo at trailhead

Our target was to arrive at the peak where RTM transmission towers were located. All the trails are labelled with the unique numbers and not names (for example Ah Meng trail). We followed Trail 5.4 and then Trail 5.8 or RTM Trail to the peak.

The first part of the trails was fairly flat running in a criss-cross pattern with the streams. After the stream area, the terrain was going uphill and steeper terrain all the way to the peak. Standing at 808m or 2651 feet, one way to the peak is around 2hr 15 min. 

 Baileys enjoying itself in the water

With 30 minutes rest at the peak, we descended the hill via tar road. After 30 minutes, we entered the trails again via Trail 5.4 passing by a giant tree. Round trip was about 5 hours with time spent on photos shoot. By the time we returned to the trailhead car park, the car park was almost empty. I was told that most locals or the regulars would not hike for such long hours.

The trails there are pleasant to hike; difficulty level is probably a few times more difficult than Apek Hill Cheras in Kuala Lumpur.

 The trails are labelled with numbers and not names

About Kledang Hill trailhead: Google Maps search key: Kledang Hill Trail Head; 

GPS coordinates: 4°34'35.4"N 101°01'48.8"E

                         4.576493, 101.030220

 RTM transmission towers

 The Team Leads: Tiger Chee, June and Baileys

 Group photo at the peak with an elevation of 808m

 Trail 5.4 passing by a giant tree

Nice view ... Shu-Lin, Lana and Hooi Miin

Special thanks to ChanHN in arranging for Team Leads and good food ... (left) Agnes, ChanHN, Angie, Kim Thai, WongYF

Do CLICK HERE for Part 1 (the journey to Ipoh, Lata Kinjang waterfall and staying in homestay at Menglembu)

Posted by KC LEONG

Bukit Kiara and Waterfall

Trail run at Bukit Kiara on Sunday, 17 June 2018 ... Led by Kelly Hoh, the trail run was delayed to start at 7:40 a.m. due to continuous rain, and ended the outing at 12:25 p.m. with a total time of 4 hr 45 min. We were in the drizzle for two hours. 

Being a long-distance trail runner, Kelly Hoh led the team traversing to those tough trails: Tokong Trail, Iron Window Trail, Pencala link, Hilltop trail, Kampung house in Segambut dalam (which is now flatten for construction), Container Trail, Jamban Trail, Prison Trail, and then to waterfall. Thanks to Kelly Hoh for leading the pack; we truly enjoyed the run.

Do CLICK HERE to view photos courtesy of David Ong (during wet condition using a Sony Cybershot waterproof camera).

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

 At Hilltop trail area (overlooking the entire construction site)

Kampung house in Segambut dalam is now a construction site ... Elsie, Kelly Hoh, Stephanie, Phoebe

 (left) PK Chan, David Ong, Stephanie, LeeWY, Elsie Liew, ChongYF, Phoebe, Kelly Hoh, Alvin, Vince Khor; not in the photo: KC

 At the smaller waterfall of Bukit Kiara

 Enjoying ourselves at the bigger waterfall of Kiara Hill

Credit to Kelly Hoh for leading the pack traversing the many trails of Bukit Kiara

Posted by KC Leong

Setia Alam Community Forest Trail Run

With Jack Oh as Team Lead, we did a trail run at Setia Alam Community Forest (SACF of Shah Alam) on Friday 15 June 2018 – first day of Hari Raya holiday. 

Started at Entrance A at 7:15 a.m., the group went through the following trails: MOU trail, The Wall, Sapu Tangan trail, Station C, Station B, Station B1, Sapu Tangan Peak (with a huge wooden tower), Station A, Taman Bukit Bayu, Lake, connect back to Station B; and returned via the Sapu Tangan trail for a total duration of 4 hours.

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

 Group photo at Entrance A of SACF of Shah Alam ... (back, left): Jack Oh, Wendy Chiam, Bee, Ivy Wong, Phoebe, Stephanie, George Siew, Joyce Teo;
(front): LeeWY, Rebecca Wong, Dphany, Miki Cheah, Lana, Christy, Voon Lee, ChongYF, PK Chan.

The trails were nice to run with uphill and downhill that balanced with long stretch of flat terrain. Overall it was a good trail run. 

The group then went for a delicious lunch at the famous bak kut teh in Klang. We then adjourned for coffee drinks but the shop was not opened on a holiday; we have rojak and ais kacang drinks instead.

 Vertical levitation pose at The Wall

 A few of such resting areas at Sapu Tangan trail

 Can have a mini lectures here in the jungle

 The huge wooden tower is in a deplorable condition that visitors are not allowed to climb up the structure

 At the far end of the lake

 At the end closer to Station B

hmmm ... the Klang bak kut teh is excellent !!

Posted by KC Leong

Gunung Nuang via Janda Baik

From the daily rain until 1 Jun 2018 where we were forced to cancel our Pine Tree Trail hike at Fraser's Hill due to landslide, the weather suddenly changed to dry period, and it has not been raining for one week. So a week before the coming Hari Raya long holidays and a dry period seemed to be a good time to hike in this trail again.

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

 The standard instruction before the start of any hike ... take group photo

I like it when the hike was according to plan: we hiked to the peak in 3 hours (the slowest arrived in 4 hours), relaxed at the waterfall, returned to trailhead 30 minutes ahead of schedule, and we have a good dinner this time in rewarding ourselves for a good hike amid good camaraderie.

The first obstacle course at the trailhead

The previous hike via Janda Baik was on 18 July 2015 during the Hari Raya long holidays – almost three years ago. I could still remember vividly that the group returned to trailhead carpark at 6pm. We drove excitedly to the Chinese restaurants in Kampung Bukit Tinggi, and we were surprised that all were packed to the brim. And we could not have a nice dinner.

Trail head GPS ... in Google Maps, type "Starting Point Gunung Nuang via Janda Baik" as search key.

 After the plantation area, the jungle trail has now turned into a wide gravel road (even a bulldozer can reach here)

  Bold act by MK Ganesan ... The favourite and adorable squirrel at Nuang peak

 Group photo at Nuang peak with the famous signature tree

 Having a dip in the cold water ... Karen, Hooi Miin, Lana, Freddy, Jack Oh

 A nice waterfall 

 Lana and Mandy ... Mandy is from India working in an IT company in Kuala Lumpur

Delicious and sumptuous early dinner in Kampung Bukit Tinggi

Do CLICK HERE to view photos in the previous hike on 18 July 2015.

Posted by KC Leong