KC & the Sunshine Runners

Saturday, February 24, 2024

CNY sau gung loh sang

CNY sau gung loh sang 收工撈生 hike at Bukit Kiara on Sat 3 Feb 2024.

Wishing everyone a Happy Chinese New Year of the Dragon.

祝大家新年快樂; 龍年大吉, 龍馬精神, 龍飛雲翔.

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

A group photo at Kiara park entrance

Preparing the yee sang which is hand-carry from car park to Starbucks in the trails

Preparing the yee sang

Yee Sang sponsor by George Siew

Getting ready to loh sang

Variety of food contributed and brought by team members

Gong Hei Fatt Choy! Chinese calligraphy from KK Lim

Posted by KC Leong

Sunday, December 24, 2023

Lata Perahu_ Berekeh_ Penyel

An action-packed 2D1N hiking and sightseeing trip at Sauk and Sungai Siput from 18-19 Nov 2023.

(1) Lata Perahu waterfall and Dusun Homestay (Sauk town);

(2) Hiking Bukit Berekeh for sunrise and sea of clouds (Sg Siput);

(3) Penyel Waterfall (Sg Siput).

At Sauk town, we went to the local restaurants to try the famous river-fish dishes. At Sungai Siput, we visited a soy sauce factory, and bought some soy products. En route to Ipoh while returning home, we have a nice coffee and toast at the famous Kin Loong Valley Chang Jiang White Coffee.

Do CLICK HERE to view photos taken by yours truly, KC Leong.

At Dusun Homestay, Sauk ... Ivy Wong, Ivy Chin, Rachel Thang

At Dusun Homestay, on the way to Lata Perahu waterfall

Lata Perahu waterfall

Delicious and fresh river-water fish

Viewing sunrise at Bukit Berekeh, Sungai Siput

Viewing sunrise at Bukit Berekeh

Penyel Waterfall, Sungai Siput ... Felicia Hew, Wey Tyng, Ivy Chin, Vandy Yap, Ivy Wong

Penyel Waterfall ... Rachel Thang

At at soy sauce factory, Sungai Siput

Actual itinerary and timing of post-event updates

Posted by KC Leong

Sunday, November 05, 2023

Phu Kradueng Second Visit

After a lapse of 4 years due to the interruption of Covid, finally, I assemble a team to revisit Phu Kradueng National Park again from 15-22 October 2023. Four years ago, it was a recce trip with LamKF, and I find the place offers superb experience for hikers.

Do CLICK HERE to view 249 from KC Leong's camera.

This trip ...

Phu Soi Dao National Park - overnight camping;

Phu Kradueng National Park - 3D2N overnight in chalets with hot water bath; sunset view at Mak Dook Cliff; photos shoot at waterfalls and Lomsak Cliff;

Phu Tubberk - overnight in homestay;

Hotel overnight:

At Lampang City - City2 Hotel;

At Loei town - Loei Village Hotel;

Eve of returning, overnight in Lampang City2 Hotel again.

Do CLICK HERE to view photos taken 4 years ago in the recce trip.

Phu Soi Dao National Park - overnight camping

Team members:

(left) ChanHN, Mey Wong, Josephine Lee, Amy T, Ivy Wong, Angie Ng, Wey Tyng, Vandy Yap, Cheng Li, Ng Lay Keong, Agnes Lee;

(front) Nelson Lim, KC Leong, Lee Guat Choo.

Phu Soi Dao National Park - overnight camping

Phu Kradueng National Park

Phu Kradueng National Park - the gerai-gerai here have been renovated with totally new facilities

Phu Kradueng National Park - viewing sunset

Phu Kradueng National Park - one of the many waterfalls

Phu Kradueng National Park - the famous lone pine at Lomsak Cliff

Phu Kradueng National Park

Phu Kradueng National Park - thousands of tents are being set up from Oct to May (following year).

Phu Tubberk - overnight in homestay. There was too heavy mist that we could not see any sunrise.

Posted by KC Leong

Thursday, June 15, 2023

Johor Hiking 2023

Johor hiking from 10 to 12 June 2023 (Sat-Sun-Mon) covering Gunung Pulai (Day 1), Trans Panti (Day 2) and Gunung Lambak (Day 3 at Kluang).

Round trip timing: G. Pulai = 6 hr; Trans Panti = 7 hr 30 min; G. Lambak = 4 hr.

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

At the start of Gunung Pulai hike

Team members: KC Leong, Chan How Nean, ChongYF, Derrick Tan, Ng LK, Josephine Lee, Mey Wong, Pearly Tan, Rynn, Sabrina Lim, Iris Lee, Wey Tyng, Carrin Kan, Swee Khim.

Gunung Pulai – the peak is a Telekom transmission tower; certain part of the trails is walking by the side of a stream; there are a few waterfalls on the descent journey.

Batu Katak

The group needs to descend this waterfall with the help of ropes

Looking up from the pool below

Another waterfall for this Gunung Pulai hike

Start of Trans Panti from the East

Trans Panti – we took 2 hr 30 min to arrive at the trail head (east) that involved driving our cars and taking the specially arranged 4WD. Traversing from east, to middle and then to the west, this trail would lead one to the Transformer Rock. After 5 hours of hike, we arrived at a nice rest area – complete with tables and benches – overlooking other mountains. The descent journey involved a near vertical drop in abseiling style. The trail head (west) is where Care Haven orphanage home is located where we parked our cars and took bath there.

The famous Transformer Rocks

Apul - the mountain guide from Johor

Mountain guide from Johor – Encik Apul (011-6386 6225) ... he is a good guide in ensuring the safety of all team members; he speaks fluent English; he also boiled water for making hot drinks; for those who are hungry, he even cooked Maggi mee.

A nice rest area up in the mountains (nearer to the west trailhead)

A near vertical rock of almost 50 meters in height

The Care Haven orphanage home at the trailhead of west trail (we parked our cars and took bath after the hike here)

Start of Gunung Lambak at Kluang

Gunung Lambak (Kluang) – this trail is a good exercising ground with the locals with wide and clear paths. The lower parts of the trail are running parallel with a stream with clear water. The peak of the hill is also a Telekom transmission tower. The original plan was to hike Pelepeh Kiri and waterfall (near Gunung Panti) but that venue was closed for maintenance.

At the peak of Gunung Lambak

A stream with cascades of clear water

Do CLICK HERE for Part 2 (KLUANG).

Posted by KC Leong.

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Danang Holidays

6D5N Danang (Vietnam) trip by Beruas buddies (hometown classmates and schoolmates) from 8 May 2023 ... The weather there was as hot as an oven; a better season is to visit Danang during early April for a cooler weather. Or maybe the heatwave, not only affecting Msia since 9 April 2023, is also affecting Vietnam.

Do CLICK HERE to view 270 photos courtesy of yours truly, KC Leong.

(Hoi An 会安) - bamboo basket boat ride at Cam Thanh water coconut village

For a short holiday trip, Danang is a nice place to visit. Facing the east of South China sea, Danang has good sandy beach with many high-rise hotels fronting the sea. The Bana Hills resorts built high up in the mountains with French colonial theme, offers a cooler climate. Located at 1,500m above sea level, the elevation of Bana Hills is 52 meters higher than Cameron Highlands. The most famous landmark at Bana Hills is the Golden Bridge with the signature fingers holding the bridge.

Hoi An ancient town ... many stalls sell lanterns; they also allow tourists to take photo with a nominal fee

Majority of the tourists in Danang during our visits were from Msia, Taiwan and Korea; visibily missing are the Chinese tourists. The Bana Hills were crowded with people, even on weekdays. On the way back from Danang to Kuala Lumpur, the Air Asia direct flight was almost full, mostly Msian Chinese.