Kuala Tahan Experience 2019

Imagine sleeping on a sandbank by a river, listening to the flow of the water cascaded through the rocks; and when one looked out of the tent in a pitch-black night, one could see the sky full of stars. There were no cars, no pollution, only the sound of insects and animals ... that was the serene life of this camping trip in the wilderness of Kuala Tahan, Taman Negara, from 3 – 5 May 2019.

Do view photos below courtesy of yours truly, KC Leong:

CLICK HERE for Highlights Album (53 photos) – A summary of the photos;

CLICK HERE for Detail Album (163 photos) – The rest of the photos (note: photos in Highlight Album are NOT repeated in the Detail Album). 

 Arriving at the jetty of Kuala Tahan, one hour journey from the nearest town, Jerantut. (left) KC Leong, TehWE, Michelle Wong, Emily Kam, ChongYF, SC Yong, Kellie Wong, Shu-Lin, Cleo (not in the photo: Josephine Hoh)

 Arriving at the campsite

Weather – In April 2019 where we experienced 11 days of heavy rain and 10 days of light drizzle resulted in flooding at many places in Kuala Lumpur, surprising it was quite dry over here in Kuala Tahan. Hence, the boat could not reach the previous camp site due to shallow water level. On Day 1 evening, the sunset was fantastic with the vibrant orange hue; not only on the west side, but reflected on the east end also. It rained at 3pm on Day 2 but for a short span of 20 minutes; everyone has to check and wipe the tents dry.  

Pitching of tents – instead of everyone setting up his or her tent, we used the gotong-royong method where a few would help to set up the tents one at a time.

 Gotong-royong in setting up the tents

Cooking – Adi and Jennifer, the Event Coordinator/ Provider, would provide a BBQ meal on Day 2 evening, or provide the add-on meals separately; or one can opt to cook on their own. 

Through experience, it is good to form a small team with guys and gals together. So ChongYF, Shu-Lin, Emily and I were on one team. While ChongYF and I were busy setting up toilet tent and clotheslines, the ladies were busy cooking meal. And when the meal was ready, Emily would shout our names at the top of her lungs as we were at the far end of the campsite still busy working. When I was small, running around in the neighbourhood, my mother would do the same when dinner was ready – a fond memory of my childhood.

They quipped that make sure ladies that could cook are identified; otherwise, not only that the guys would have to set up toilet tent, clotheslines, but still have to cook 😊

 Taking a dip in the river; the water is slightly warm (unlike the mountain water that is much colder)

Places that we have visited in this trip:

Canopy Walkway (closed for many months);

Bukit Terisek;

Lubuk Simpon;

Taman Negara Park Centre;

Orang asli settlement;

Boat cruise to Lata Berkoh rapid;

Santuari Kelah.

 Spectacular sunset with the vibrant orange hue

Team members:

KC Leong (organizer), ChongYF, SC Yong, TehWE; Emily Kam, Lim Shu-Lin, Michelle Wong, Kellie Wong, Josephine Hoh, and Cleo.

Event Coordinator/Provider: Adi and Jennifer; if you would like to experience the nice camping site and the nature, do contact Adi at +6011-3756 2106

 Relaxing and chatting on the sandy ground in the evening (Michelle, Kellie, Shu-Lin)

 Day 2 morning going to Canopy Walkway (but it was closed for many months already), and hike to Bukit Terisek

 At Lubuk Simpon ... white sandy beach and brown-looking water (actually, the water is clear)

 Yummy BBQ dinner with grilled chicken drumsticks prepared by Adi and Jennyfer

 Day 3 morning ... preparing breakfast by Emily, Shu-Lin, Kellie

 Visit of orang asli settlement; Michelle trying on the deadly blowpipe

 Exciting boat cruise to Lata Berkoh rapid and Santuari Kelah; the water is shallow and with rocks beneath. So the boatmen have to steer clear of the rock.

 Having a dip in the water at Lata Berkoh rapid; after the previous day's rain, the river water is muddy.

 Having our lunch at Santuari Kelah. We returned to the jetty at 3pm, and we could not find any public toilet to refresh - there was no water! We have to drive all the way to Termerloh Toll Plaza to take bath, almost 2 hours' drive away.

Dinner at Bukkit Tinggi (7:30pm) Restaurant 126 ... delicious and reasonable price: for seven dishes (3 dishes of meat), per pax is only RM13.50 (this is the cheapest meal that I have ever come across eating in Chinese restaurants) 

Do click here to view my previous trip at Kuala Tahan 3D2N camping in September 2018.

Posted by KC Leong

Kuala Kurau

A free-and-easy 3D2N trip to Kuala Kurau from 27-29 April 2019 ... Located at the river-mouth of Sungai Kurau, Kuala Kurau is a fishing village about 50km on the northwest of Taiping. One of the main attractions is to take a boat ride to the fish-farming platform; this place is also a good place for relaxation and savouring the many nice hawker foods.

The famous drink is called Hor Ka Sai (虎咬狮): a unique brew of coffee that mix with cocoa. The next popular hawker food is the fried pancake (西亚煎) with a crispy crust and a soft and tasty ingredient inside.

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

Kuala Kurau by the riverside
(left) Ivy Wong, Bee, Celine Wong, Annie, Ronnie Wong, Camelia, Cindy Lim, Polly, Ana, TC, Gin (not in photo: KC)

Prized possession ... The famous fried pancake (西亚煎); one has to place order in advance !

Sunset at Ban Pecah Beach with a faint glow of the sky

Ban Pecah Beach in the hot afternoon

Taking a boat ride to the fish-farming platform, arranged by Ah Young, Cindy Lim's cousin brother

At the fish-farming platform (this photo courtesy of Ronnie Wong)

Sunrise at Kuala Kurau overlooking the fish-farming platform and a new hotel

Do Click Here for my previous trip to Kuala Kurau on 31 August 2017

Posted by KC Leong

Kemensah Trail Run

Trail run at Kemensah this morning, Sunday 14 April 2019 ... To ensure that no one was left behind, not only that we have to count the number of runners, we also have to count the six adorable puppies which ran with us to the lake together with mama and papa dogs. At times, the puppies out-ran us even with a 4-inch long legs comparatively with our towering height 🙂

Do CLICK HERE to view 91 photos courtesy of ChongYF.

At the orchard area ... (left) Joanne Lim, Michelle Wong , Shu-Lin, Helen, KC Leong, Hooi Miin, ChongYF, Yoke Leng (not in the photo: Bruno)

We gave them some food and they were motivated in following us hoping to get more food, but we did not bring enough. So the next time you go, bring more food for them; if possible, ta pau kai fun also (pack some chicken rice) 🙂

From the photos, you would notice that the puppies are black and greyish-brown type. While the papa and mama dogs are greyish-brown, how would the black puppies come about? When we returned somewhere near to their doghouse, then we saw a black papa dog; it is stronger and dominated the mama and the other papa dogs.

 Three black and three greyish-brown puppies

 The adorable puppies

The entire trail run took us about 5 hours for a total distance of 17km. We adjourned for some drinks at a café' near to the car park; then have beggar chicken for lunch.

Trailhead carpark GPS location:

https://goo.gl/maps/51LeddDUcZo

(photos courtesy of Chong YF,Joanne Lim, Helen Chok, Hooi Miin, Michelle Wong)

Arriving at the lake area

 Unique terrain sculpted by ATV (all terrain vehicles)

 Arriving at a clearing; from here, turn right to the stream 

 The stream crossing (150m) ... The end point for our Kemensah trail run; beyond this point is the Repin Peak (1,341m), a distance much longer from tralhead to here

 (left) Helen, Joanne, Hooi Miin, KC, Michelle

Having beggar chicken for lunch

Posted by KC Leong

Hong Kong Trail 50km Section 1 - 4 (Part 3)

On third day of the outing, 25 March 2019 the team took a bus from Central MTR station to Victoria Peak. Arriving at the peak at 8:15 a.m., it was drizzling; later, we reckoned that it was due to the dew in a misty environment.

We started the run at 8:30 a.m. on the tarmac path. After about one hour of running, the mist dissipated as the sun rose. The weather was cloudy and calm the entire day. Section 1 to 4 of Hong Kong Trail 50km is mostly downhill and flat, very nice experience for trail running. At Stage 3 (until Distance Post number H037 before one crosses the road), the trail was flat for a few kilometers long - one has to be here to experience it.

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

 At the trail head of Victoria Peak with Distance Post number H001 ... a wet and gloomy morning

Section 4 ends at Wong Nai Chung Gap Road with Distance Post number H050 (approximate). We arrived at the end of Section 4 at 4 p.m., a good timing to call it a day. We then walked to the same bus stop just around the corner to catch a bus home. With that, we completed the three consecutively days of outing. In the same evening, the team went for a celebration dinner in Sing Kee Seafood Restaurant, a renown restaurant in Central 中環. 

Overall, it was an enjoyable trip and a nice experience able to explore trails in other country. The group dynamics and team work were excellent to complete the outings as planned.

 Flat trails for trail running ... Ivy Wong, Claudia and Kristy

 View from the top ... the many high skyline of Hong Kong 

 A cargo ship just passed by in the background

 Arriving at the end of Section 3 ... many kilometers of flat trails at this section

 Yeah! One last section to go

 View from the top ... Hong Kong Ocean Park

 End of Section 4 ... arrow pointing left for the continuation of Section 5 which is 1km away via tar road

Celebration dinner in Sing Kee Seafood Restaurant (not in the photo: Miki and Claudia)

Do click here to view Part 2.

Do click here to view similar posting done in 2017.


Posted by KC Leong

Hong Kong Trail 50km Section 5 - 8 (Part 2)

On second day of the outing, 24 March 2019 the team took a city bus to Big Wave Bay and did a reversed loop of Hong Kong Trail 50km. At the trail head (or the end point of the trail), the Distance Post is numbered at H100 and it is called Section 8. The starting point H001 or Section 1 is located at Victoria Peak.

This is a scenic trail where one can view the sea and also passing by a dam. The weather on that day was cloudy, perfect for outing; while we were at the Dragon's Back, it was very windy. 

By the time we emerged from the trail (end of Section 5 with a Distance Post of number H052), it was 4pm. So we walked on the tar road for about 1km to the nearby petrol station to replenish our drinks, and went to a nearby bus stop and catch a bus home.

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

 Start of the trail run at Big Wave Bay

 Edwin Goh and Ivy Wong posing with the Distance Post numbered at H100; we are doing a reversed loop and our destination is H001 (50km away)

 Start of Dragon's Back

 Scenic view at Dragon's Back ... it is very windy up here

 Another view of Dragon's Back

 Yours truly running along the monsoon drains of 5km in distance

 The team running past the monsoon drains 

 Another scenic view along this trail

 At Tai Tam Upper Reservoir

 Running along Tai Tam Upper Reservoir

Emerged from the trail of Section 5; Distance Post is numbered at H052. The next Section 4 is 1km away connected along tar road

Do click here to view Part 1 of the posting; click here for Part 3.

Do click here to view similar posting one year ago.

Posted by KC Leong