KC & the Sunshine Runners

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Gopeng Extreme Adventure

2D1N stay in My Gopeng Resort from 11-12 July 2020 for Gopeng river rafting, Bukit Batu Putih hiking, and Gua Tempurung cave exploration. En route to Gopeng, the team detoured to Lata Kinjang Waterfall for sightseeing.

Do CLICK HERE to view 157 high-resolution photos courtesy of yours truly, KC Leong. At the end of the album, there is a video created by Audrey Ho, one of the team members.

Or do click here for the video (with captivating background music) courtesy of Audrey Ho.

At Lata Kinjang Waterfall, Tapah

Happy faces at the start of Gopeng river white water rafting

White water rafting at Sungai Geroh, Gopeng is fun and thrilling when the raft rides through the rapids. Analyzing the photos, it is very easy for the rafting guide to capsize the raft. The instructions that are necessary for action to maintain balance of the raft are Forward, Backward, Boom Boom, Jump Jump, Hold the Line, and Stop. While the other instructions were straight-forward, "Boom Boom" means danger lurking and all are to squat low into the raft. When we were into turbulence water, we were stunt when the rafting guide shouted "boom boom" – we all paused momentarily, stared at one another did not know what to do.

Ahhhhhhh .... into turbulent water

This is how the rafting guide captize the raft with ease ... with the momentum from the current

He step to one side and pull ...

All drop into the water

Bukit Batu Putih hike

Scenic view at the Batu Putih

Entrance to Gua Tempurung

The Tempurung - this is where the cave gets its name

All mud ...

Crawling in narrow passage

The other end of Gua Tempurung

Posted by KC Leong

Friday, July 10, 2020

SACF Hiking

Hiking at Setia Alam Community Forest on Saturday, 4 July 2020 ... today, the trails are dry after a few days of hot weather. From Station B, we proceeded to the tower, then taking the long trails to the Mirror Lake. We managed to get a good spot today to brew our coffee right in the middle overlooking the lake. At the Mirror Lake, we saw a few triathletes practising their swimming. I heard someone asked "are they any crocodiles in the water?" We returned via a direct trail to Station B and returned to trail head.

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

A good location to make drinks and admiring the Mirror Lake

Posted by KC Leong

Saturday, June 27, 2020

SACF Hiking

Hiking at Setia Alam Community Forest on Sunday 21 June 2020 ... Arriving at the trail head at 7:20 a.m., I saw the entire car park was parked to the brim. The contact tracing during RMCO at the trail head is self-administration: every hiker dutifully scanned the QR code by using their handphone before starting the hike. Because of the self-administration for contact tracing, hikers could enter the trails earlier then the 8:00 a.m. requirement.

Do CLICK HERE to view high-resolution photos courtesy of yours truly.

At the lakeside area

posted by KC Leong

Monday, June 22, 2020

Bukit Kiara Trail Run

Trail running at Bukit Kiara on Saturday 20 June 2020 ... The Kiara Hill was re-opened one week ago during the RMCO (Recovery Movement Control Order) for Covid-19. Since the start of the lockdown on 18 March 2020, it has been almost three months that we last ran here.

Do CLICK HERE to view high-resolution photos courtesy of yours truly.

At Kiara Park area ... hardly any people

The entrance opened at 7:00 a.m. and each person must undergo temperature check, scanning of QR code using mobile phone or writing of particulars for contact tracing. The queue for this process was OK, about 10 persons queuing. I was informed by a hiker friend that the queue for recording of particulars at Wawasan Puchong was almost 100 persons this morning!!

At the end of the Container Trail

With the social distancing in mind, we have to constantly remind ourselves not to go too near to one another, and taking group photos has to spread over a bigger area resulted in smaller figures.

Josephine and Shu-Lin practising the levitation skill

Snake and the Ladder Trail – we returned via this trail and we spotted a small snake on the ground motionless, most probably it was run over by mountain bikers. While running at this trail, I joked that this is called Snake and the Ladder Trail, as confirmed with the presence of a snake. 😀

Extension of the Container Trail

Posted by KC Leong

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Permaisuri Running

Running at Taman Tasik Permaisuri, Cheras on Sunday 7 June 2020 with ChongYF, Shu-Lin, Josephine Lee, Ivy Wong (and yours truly). There were many people exercising at the park at around 8am, and for the few of us, that was the first time that we ran at this park. Since we can't go into the trails (for hiking or trail running), exercising at the park is the viable alternative.

With the C-MCO (conditional movement control order) started on 13 May 2020 in tackling the spread of Covid-19, people are allowed jogging at the parks. Since the lockdown started on 17 March 2020, it is almost 3 months already.

Do CLICK HERE for the high-resolution photos courtesy of yours truly, KC Leong.

(left) KC, ChongYF, Shu-Lin, Josephine Lee, Ivy Wong

Posted by KC Leong

Saturday, March 21, 2020

Gunung Jerai Hiking

Gunung Jerai (Kedah) hiking from 14-16 March 2020 ... this is a difficult trip to organize as it involved carpooling, and getting a driver that can drive long distance from Kuala Lumpur is not an easy task.

After months of planning and organizing with changes in the participants, the trip was finally proceeded as planned amid the scare of the Covid-19 virus pandemic. On 17th March morning, after viewing the Sea of Mist in Betong, we rushed back to Kuala Lumpur. We managed to return to Kuala Lumpur just before the lockdown on 18 March 2020, Wedn.

Special thanks to ChewSC, who led the team in the trails.

Do CLICK HERE to view 208 high-resolution photos courtesy of yours truly, KC Leong.

Do Click Here for sunrise photos at The Sea of Mist of Betong.

The main activities were:

(1) Hiking Puteri Mandi Waterfall – that was a challenging trail as the rocky terrain was quite steep, one required both hands to pull one up.

The trail head to Puteri Mandi Waterfall

Giant tree along the trail

Puteri Mandi Waterfall - a huge area

Due to the dry season, not much water is flowing

Partial group photo at Puteri Mandi Waterfall

(2) Hiking up Gunung Jerai from Titi Hayun trailhead – the first part of the trail involved almost one thousand concrete steps in ascending the steep slope, followed by jungle trails gradually gaining elevation; and almost reaching the resorts, there was a small waterfall where one can have a dip in the cold water.

A group photo at Regency Jerai Hill Resort before we were been transferred to the trail head

At Titi Hayun trail head

The waterfall just before arriving at peak

Arriving at the peak where Regency Jerai Hill Resort is located ... (left) Ivy Wong, Michelle Wong, Shu-Lin, Emily Kam

Putting up a night at the executive units

(3) Overnight at the posh Regency Jerai Hill Resort – this is my favourite resort, overlooking the horizon for its beautiful sunset and sunrise.

Not much vibrant colour of the sunset at around 7:00 p.m.

A group photo just before the dinner

At around 7:30 p.m. while we were having dinner, a colourful hue of the sunset appeared across the sky

Sunrise the following morning ... photo shoot from the balcony of the room

Regency Jerai Hill Resort

Yeah! We love Jerai Hill! We will sure to return!

Posted by KC Leong

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Royal Belum

An enjoyable and relaxing 3D2N Royal Belum trip from 7-9 March 2020 with USJ Zhineng chi gong friends. Located in northern Perak, Royal Belum State Park is 4 times the size of Singapore.

Do CLICK HERE to view 216 high resolution photos courtesy of yours truly, KC Leong.

Royal Belum jetty

The food cook by the Chinese operator was excellent - almost equivalent to 5-star hotel standard ! The houseboat operator, Mr Kenny, will be acquiring a brand new houseboat that can take 40 persons; he can be contacted at 019-488 9338.

This is a simple, practical and nice-looking houseboat that we spent the 3D2N comfortably on Royal Belum lake

The activities:

Day 1: Visit Orang Asli kampung; jungle trekking at Sungai Kooi; water recreational activity;

Day 2: Sightseeing ride at Sungai Papan; Sungai Ruok waterfall; water recreational activity;

Day 3: Sightseeing at Temengor Hydro-Electric station; Norway fish farm; Pulau Tali Kail.

All ladies pose ... the platform in front of the houseboat is useful

A group photo at the front of the houseboat

Whenever the houseboat travels, it will pull along 5 speed boats and 3 bamboo rafts

Simple and practical set up of the houseboat where one can have 360° view of the lake.There is a good karaoke system on board of the houseboat. And singing in the middle of the lake has a different feel whether it is day time or at night