Royal Belum and Gunung Kerunai Hike

Royal Belum and Gunung Kerunai 14-17 April 2023 (Fri-Sat-Sun-Mon) ... Itinerary:

(1) Royal Belum houseboat 3D2N; (2) Galeri  Arkeologi Lembah (Lenggong); (3) Tasik Raban (Lenggong); (4) Hiking Gunung Kerunai (Gerik); (5) Victoria Bridge, Kuala Kangsar.

Do CLICK HERE to view 252 photos courtesy of yours truly, KC Leong.

At the Royal Belum jetty ... this is puasa month time; hence, only our group. (L1: Josephine Lee, Ivy Wong, Wey Tyng, Sammi, Mey Wong)

It was an enjoyable trip for the 3D2N in Kenny's new houseboat. He served a lot of nice food. We have a good time with the good food, singing karaoke, outdoor trekking and water recreational activities. This would be my second trip to Royal Belum; previously, it was Kenny's old houseboat. 

As for hiking up Gunung Kerunai (1,000m) in Gerik, that morning, there was no sunrise and no sea of clouds because of the sudden change in weather with the heatwave. 

Kenny Ooi's new houseboat ... comfortably can accommodate 40 persons

Contact Numbers ...

(a) Houseboat operator: Kenny Ooi 019-488 9338 (lots of good food);

(b) Hiking Gunung Kerunai (Gerik): Ngai, 邓有毅 016-551 7731 ... JoMenis 013-341 4113;

(c) Overnight in Kim Chuan Homestay (Gerik) 017-877 6195 (comfortable and clean property; can accommodate 23 pax);

(d) Coach driver (Kuala Lumpur) Lee Kim Choy 019-357 9790 (a careful, patient and dedicated driver).

Happy moment seeing so much nice food

Fresh and nice river fish

Jungle trekking at Sungai Papan

Sungai Ruok waterfall

Water recreational activities in the evening ... Sandra

          Water recreational activities in the evening ... Gillian Ong, Claudia, ChongYF

                                 Water recreational activities in the evening

A lone kayak in the setting sun

Passing by Temenggor dam

Visit kampung orang asli

Pulau Batu Putih ... Mey Wong

At the peak of Pulau Batu Putih ... Claudia

Gunung Kerunai hike, Monday 17 April 2023 ... taking a rest. Started the hike at 3am; the first group arrived at the peak at 5am while the last group arrived at 6am. 

The background is another bigger mountain, Mount Kendorong; after the forest fire, the Forestry closed that mountain for hiking.

A group photo before we descent Gunung Kerunai. There was no sunrise and no sea of clouds due to the sudden changed in weather with the heatwave.

My previous trip to Royal Belum ... click here

Posted by KC Leong

Gunung Liang Hike 2022

Hiking Gunung Liang on 17 Sept 2022  ... We started the hike at 6am and only return to trail head after 12 hours. This is a tough mountain to tackle, tougher than hiking Gunung Nuang peak. It was a gloomy day but only started to drizzle at around 5pm after we have crossed the river at Lubuk Hantu campsite while returning to the trail head. Surprisingly, there was not a single leech on the trails, especially the first part (from trail head to Lubuk Hantu campsite). The first part of the trails is clear and wide. 

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

A group photo at Lubuk Hantu before crossing the river

I have a packet of Kembara outdoor meal - Chicken Masak Merah with Tomato Rice - balance from the Gunung Ledang hike. For a change, instead of eating buns at the peak, this time, I have a delicious meal.

My previous hike at G. Liang was on 10 Oct 2017, a lapse of 5 years. During that time, it was raining almost the whole day. When returning to the river crossing at Lubuk Hantu, the water level rose and we were stuck for almost 2 hours. Do click here for the posting (with timing, trailhead GPS, survival tips for crossing river).

Crossing this river is risky especially when the water level rises

Awesome natural sculpture of moss

Group photo at Liang West, the mossy forest 

From 7/E campsite to the peak, a lot of muddy trail just like the condition above

Posted by KC Leong

Kedah Hiking _Keriang_Jerai Waterfalls_Pulai

A 3-day non-stop, action-packed and adventurous hiking trip at Kedah. For two nights, we slept for 3 hours only each night.

Day 1 (27 Aug 2022) - Gua Keriang cave exploration, Gunung Keriang hiking for sunset view;

Day 2 - Hiking Gunung Jerai for four waterfalls;

Day 3 - Climbing up Gunung Pulai (toughest mountain in Kedah) for sunrise view. 

Do CLICK HERE to view 189 photos courtesy of yours truly, KC Leong.

If you are interested to try the journey, the itinerary and contact persons are at the end of this posting.

Gua Keriang cave exploration

Gua Keriang cave exploration

Gunung Keriang for sunset viewing

Gua Keriang cave exploration

Day 2 Jerai first waterfall

Day 2 Jerai second waterfall

Day 2 Jerai first waterfall - yours truly posing with Ah Kwang (in black T-shirt), the mountain guide. He is a serious and pro trail runner; he trains alone by running around in the Jerai mountains, and he chanced upon the waterfalls hiding in the mountains.

Day 2 Jerai third waterfall

Day 2 Jerai third waterfall

Day 2 Jerai 4th waterfall

4th waterfall shoot from inside the waterfall; this photo courtesy of Tata Yam ... model by Josephine Lee

Day 2 Jerai 4th waterfall - synchronization in flexing the muscles

Day 3 sunrise view at Gunung Pulai ... ... this is a rock-based steep mountain; 90% of the terrain is rocky and only 10% flat land. One has to use both arms to pull oneself up the rocks. This is something like the long version of Bukit Tabur in Melawati.  

Day 3 sunrise view at Gunung Pulai

Day 3 sunrise view at Gunung Pulai

Day 3 sunrise view at Gunung Pulai

Day 3 sunrise view at Gunung Pulai ... The Wall; the lower hill covered in clouds is Gunung Baling. Posed by Josephine, photo courtesy of Tata Yam. 

Above is the updated itinerary to reflect actual timing and also containing important contact persons and handphone numbers. Click on the image for actual large file size.

Posted by KC Leong

Gunung Hitam and Gua Jepun

Hiking Gunung Hitam and Gua Jepun on Saturday, 6 August 2022 ... Team Lead was Lee Wai Yin. This is a good and challenging mountain for training as the trails keep going up and up (not for beginners). 

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

One way to the G. Hitam peak is about 4 hours; Gua Jepun is about 500 meters further away. While there is no view at the peak of Gunung Hitam, the Gua Jepun is a fascinating sight to behold: the biggest boulder was resting on three smaller boulders. 

Permit is required to hike this mountain; trailhead car park charges RM10 per car.

Gunung Hitam:

Maximum elevation = 1,220m;

Trailhead elevation = 98m;

Difference = 1,122m;

Distance one way = 6km. 

At trail head of Gunung Hitam, Hulu Langat

At Gunung Hitam peak ... no view here; just an empty space area

At Gua Jepun

A good shelter under the boulder

Smooth surface on the underside of the boulder ... Josephine

A fascinating sight to behold: the biggest boulder was resting on three smaller boulders. 

Posted by KC Leong

Gunung Ledang Hiking and Camping

Gunung Ledang hiking and camping from 24 to 26 June 2022 (3D2N) ... 

do CLICK HERE to view 135 photos courtesy of yours truly, KC Leong.

A group photo in front of the Park Office

Day 1: Declaration and inspection of personal items at Park Office; hike to Pasir Panjang campsite at 11am , journey took 2 hr 15 min; visit Twin Waterfall at 4pm. 

Day 2: Hike to Gunung Ledang Peak at 8:30am, lunch is Kembara meal package (just need 200cc of water to heat up the food); return to campsite at 3:30pm;

Taking a breather at Check-Point #1

Day 3: Leave campsite at 10am; return to trailhead Park Office at 12 noon; inspection and tallying of personal items; have sumptuous lunch in Tangkak town.

The campsite is superb: flat and bright, complete with clean toilet and tap water from the adjacent stream; the Kolam Gajah rapid, just 50 meters away from campsite, is enjoyable for bathing at end of day.

This kolam (pond) is huge, and maybe elephants were sighted here last time; hence, the name, Kolam Gajah

Team Lead = Chan How Nean.

Some of the hikers were carrying heavy load of backpacks:

Chee Eng Hooi (organizer) = 18.5kg;

Loh CW = 18kg;

KC Leong = 17kg;

Gillian Ong = 16kg;

Pearly Tan = 16kg;

Chan Wen Shen = 16kg;

Michelle Wong = 16kg;

Teh Wei Ee = 15kg.

The campsite at Pasir Panjang

The campsite is flat and bright

There is even a clean toilet nearby

Visits to waterfall at 4pm on Day 1

Time for cooking dinner ... Michelle Wong and TehWE

There is even tap water from the mountains; the stream is just next to the campsite

Day 2 on the way to Ledang Peak ... passing by Gua Kambing. This is the same main trail for day hike.

The famous rope climb area ... the correct method is to climb with the rope is in between the legs. 

Group photo at the peak of Gunung Ledang; could not see the surrounding as there was a lot of clouds

Back to Kolam Gajah for bathing at the end of day, a distance of about 50 meters from the campsite

Day 3 morning

Final group photo at the campsite before descending the mountains at 10am

Posted by KC Leong