Holidaying in Gili Island

This is Part 2 of Mount Rinjani trekking. After the strenuous trekking trip of ascending Mount Rinjani, the group went holidaying and relaxing at Gili Island: a trip that encompassed from the mountain peak to the ocean beach.

Not many trekkers go to Gili Island for relaxation, they just go home after the trekking. PK Chan commented that in KC's trekking trips, there will be makan (feast). In this case, on a bigger scale, extended holidaying.
.

Gili Island is only 30 minutes of boat ride from Lombok Island, where Mount Rinjani is located.
.

Please click here to view photos at Gili Island taken by yours truly (KC).

Do CLICK HERE for Part 1.

Do CLICK HERE for Part 3.

The group put up two nights at the Dream Diver Bungalows at Gili Island; this time camouflaging as divers ... :-) your truly (KC Leong)

On this peaceful island, motorised vehicles are not allowed; so all have to rely on horse carts.

Beautiful setting good for a romantic dinner

Gili Day-2 sunrise

 Gili Day-2 sunrise

 Gili Day-2 sunrise

 Round island tour with the iron horse

From the mountain peak to the ocean beach ... PK Chan, Jean Soh and Rocky

Have iron horse will travel

Divers practising the dive procedures before entering the sea

Ahhh... that is nice ... Taking an afternoon nap under the shady tress: listening to the wave hitting the shore; feel the gentle breeze; touch the cool white sands ... PK Chan and yours truly (KC)

 Silhouette of lovers admiring the sunset at Sunset Point ... Gili Day-2 Sunset (ah... actually it was guest star by our group member).

 Gili Day-2 sunset

 Gili Day-3 Sunrise +++++++++++
The mountains in this photos, Mount Rinjani is 3rd peak from right. While we were high up in Mt Rinjani, we could see the Gilis Island. Now that we are at Gili Island, we could see Mount Rinjani.

Mount Rinjani

Yeah, I am back from trekking at Mount Rinjani. After more than six months of planning, organizing and liaisaing with the trekking agent; going for the training in preparation for the final challenge, and now, it leaves a good memory behind.

Mount Rinjani is an active volcano on the island of Lombok. It rises to 3,726 meters making it the second highest volcano in Indonesia.

Lombok Island is located next to Bali Island reachable within 30 minutes of domestic flight or by a longer duration of boat ride.

This Mount Rinjani is tough to climb, tougher than Mount Kinabalu. One must overcome the fear of height when ascending the final 300m leading to the summit. At certain part of the ridge, the width is only 5 feet wide where a slip would mean fatal accident.

Do click here to view photos taken by yours truly (KC). In Picasa web photo album, click Slideshow to step through the photos.

Fully Charged -- 19 June 2011 morning ... Start of Day-1 trekking. The group put up a night at Senaru Cottage (600m).

Back (left): Sylvia, Bernard Lee, Rocky, PK Chan, KC Leong, Jayne Aw, Sharon Tan, WongKC

Frong: Chiew Hong, Jean Soh, ChooTS

 At the main gate from Senaru trail

 First lunch is served. It is a simple lunch but the group is not complaining.

For 11 of us, there are 12 support crew; including a Mountain Guide by the name of Macho (not in photo) !!

 Lots of blue sky as it is a dry season ... going up to the Crater Rim I

 Fishing at the high mountain? Well this group of teenagers are going to the lake located in the centre of the main crater for fishing

 On top of the world feeling

A beautiful, calm but cold morning

 Going down to Segara Anak Lake within the Rinjani crater. Notice the baby volcano within the big crater rim. Top left is the peak of Mount Rinjani.

Arriving at the lake which is inside the big volcano ... background is the baby volcano

 The group went for a dip in the hot spring pool while the cold water from the waterfall is gushing down from behind.

 The higher the elevation, more spectacular is the view; the same lake is now seen at the background. The clouds are seen hurriedly flowing through the pass.

Camping by the Crater Rim II. The next morning, starting the journey at 3:00 a.m., the group took 4 hours of strenuous effort to ascend to the summit to see sunrise.

Note: photos to the summit will be processed later.

What a view for a spectacular sunset, not available in Kuala Lumpur ... :-)

 Good night and a colourful dream ...

Camping in the wilderness -- the third and final night of camping. We experienced nomadic life where everywhere is a good place to put up a night.

More photos on holidaying in Gili Island after summiting the peak.

Do CLICK HERE for Part 2.

Posted by KC Leong

Avatar Shield

Note: Away for trekking at Mount Rinjani (in Lombok Island which is next to Bali from 18 to 25 June. Do click here for more intro... KC

++++++++++

Eileen, an avid runner and trekker, asked me:

Hi KC, is that guy Rothman wearing lady tights?  How come he so flexible ah? 

BTW, where you get your arm tattoo (which shop)?  No, not because I want to wear one, I want go to the shop and find a red rose/ ship's anchor/skull head for your arm :-)  

Extreme Flexibility -- Rothman and Carin at Kem Pacat, Gunung Nuang on 11 June 2011

KC's light-hearted comments:

Ahh.. we did not realise Rothman was wearing tights. We only notice the girl on top was wearing one and very flexible ... :-)

Yeah, that is Rothman with the Avatar purple tights. I presume when we approach 22 October 2011 (the Mount Kinabalu Climbathon day) the purple would reach greater height - full Avatar purple.

According to Rothman, with the Avatar tights, leech would not be able to attack him. Anyway, on that morning (11 June at Gunung Nuang), even without the Avatar shield, I also did not encounter any leech attack. Nevertheless, if proven that this type of coloured tights are effective in warding off leeches (after a few tests), you may see guys donning multi-coloured tights such as red, green, orange, blue, etc., in future lah … :-)

The shop with the mobile tattoo is located in Seri Kembangan. Ship's anchor/skull head? I checked; unfortunately, no such design. Otherwise, with ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ the in-things these days, sure they may think that I am Runner Jack Sparrow (as in Captain Jack Sparrow goes running) ... :-)

According to Rothman who accompany his friends to trek up Gunung Nuang again in the evening without the shield from the Avatar tights, he reported that "My friend and I got one leech attack each when I hike again in the late evening without tights."

+++++++++++++++

About Rothman: He is a very keng chow and fast runner in trail running. In the recent Pulau Tioman Eco Challenge, he is one of the 17 achievers – out of a few hundred participants – to cross the finishing line within qualifying time (7 hours). The trail running route was set by the army that requires participants to go through thorny undergrowth in the jungle, climbing up huge rocks as part of the obstacles course, etc. Reason why he wore the awful purple tights: this is the only colour left; obviously, not many ladies would want this colour... :-)

Written by KC Leong

Gunung Nuang Trail Running

Those turned up at Gunung Nuang this morning, Saturday, 11 June 2011.

The turnout was quite good with 21 of us.

Do click here to view the photos taken by yours truly (KC). Click Slideshow, hit F11 for bigger display. To download photos, (in Slideshow mode), right click and Save Picture as into your PC.

There were a few sub-group here:

Mark Boogaers (Back-Left 7) and four of his trekker friends

Derek Mak (Back-Left 4) and three of his friends

Wong (Front-Right 2) and Yoong Wai Loon (Back-Right 2) who are very fast in their pace.

Those that you know:

Back row: KC Leong, Rothman Fong, Jean, ChooTS, Rocky

Front row: Larry Lai, Lim Peck yah, Chiew Hong

With long hairs, YoongWL bears a remarkable resemblance with the famous Hong Kong movie star - Ekin Cheng Ee Kin.

I quipped that if I keep long hair, I would also look like one of the rock star singers – Steve Tyler of Aerosmith.

The trail runners with the Avatar purple legs.  – Sivalingam, ChooTS, Rothman, Mark Boogaers, KC Leong, Chiew Hong, Larry Lai.

The weather is superb this morning; generally, it is dry in June. The whole mountain is devoid of leech. Even when we stood there for some time, we also could not see any leeches.

Just like our school mid-term holidays, they must be away too for summer vacation ... :-)

There were two main groups: the trail running and the trekking group. Due to different pace, we divided into smaller groups with experienced unit leader leading the unit.

At Camp Pacat ... notice the misty effect at the background

Timing:

Start: 7:30 a.m.

Arrive at the pondok (end of Tier 1 terrain): 40 minutes

Clear all the four streams and arrived at Kem Lolo: 8:40 a.m.

Ascent to Kem Pacat: 9:30 a.m. (50 minutes)

The youth in us ... Rocky, Jean, Rothman, ChooTS, Larry Lai, Carin, KC Leong. This tree at Kem Pacat is unique. It enables group photo to be taken in portrait format (instead of the usual landscape format).

Extreme flexibility ... Caution: do not practise this stunt at home without any supervision; otherwise, you may not be able to run or trek for a few weeks ... :-)

 A good place to unwind with the positive chi

Always a decent meal after the strenuous trail running / trekking.
.

With the time-bound schedule of 3 hours, most of us returned to base car park by 1:30 p.m.

After a good, cold bath, we adjourned to Ulu Langat Batu 14 restaurant for lunch; a few members could not join us with prior appointments.

++++++++++++++++++++++++Next:

Trekking to Mount Rinjani (in Lombok Island next to Bali) from 18 to 25 June 2011.

Those going are:

1.    KC Leong

2.    Rocky

3.    ChooTS

4.    Chiew Hong

5.    PK Chan

6.    Bernard Lee

7.    Wong KC

8.    Peter Ho

9.    Sharon Tan

10. Jayne Aw

11. Jean Soh

12. Sylvia Chong

Do click here to view the scenic views of Mount Rinjani.



Posted by KC Leong

Nature's Gym

(Received from Internet email):
I'm at the gym the other day and I hear this from an older man, not in the best physical condition, who asked the trainer:

"I want to impress that beautiful girl over there, which machine should I use?"

The trainer replied: "Use the ATM machine outside the gym".

++++++++++++++++

KC's comment:

Next time when I go to gym, before I start to use the machines, I shall display a few credit cards and ATM cards over my neck (bind them something like those voodoo doctor type) and see whether it works ... :-) 

++++++++++++++++

KhooLK's comment:

It's quality over quantity, KC -  just carry the right type of cards.  BTW, which gym do you go to??!!  hahaha.....

++++++++++++++++

MakCK's comment:

I think cash is king;
Bring cash better;
I think KC goes to Great Young Man or Gorgeous Young Madam gym :-)

++++++++++++++++

KC's comment:

I usually go to a gym called Nature's Gym with many branches in Kuala Lumpur, and presence all over the world some more ... :-)

This is a photo taken at Bintang Hill on 4 June June. Seen here is yours truly busy doing the work-out at the no-frill gym with free membership ... :-)

++++++++++++++++

Do click here for posting on Bintang Hill on 4 June 2011.

Posted by KC Leong

Bintang Hill Trail Running

With the lush greenery and hilly terrain, Bintang Hill is an excellent alternative training ground for trail running, or even trekking. Nestled within Desa ParkCity and Mount Kiara areas, as you can see, this Bintang Hill has no connection with Bukit Bintang or Star Hill near Sungei Wang Area.

Comparatively, the terrain is steeper than Puchong Hill but easier than Apek Hill in Cheras. Since it is closer to NKVE Highway, the air here is not very cool and fresh; besides, we could constantly hear the noise of the fast moving vehicle.

Special thanks to Chong Ying Fook for leading the group in running around in this area; also Steven Oon who treated the group in light refreshment after the trail running.

Nice view – sigh ... have to ignore the transmission cable; maybe you just imagine that these are the trails charted by the fighter jets rising higher and beyond) ... :-)

Do CLICK HERE for the complete photo album taken by yours truly (KC).

 The other peak is at the right of this photo frame. This scarecrow, not only frighten birds away, in a dimly lit night, would scare people also.

 Nature Gym -- PK Chan testing out the no-frill workout equipment; even the bicycle chain and handle can do a good job ... outdoor and free membership some more ... :-)

The ingenuity of the facility here can rival the sanctuary area in Apek Hill, Cheras.

 Barbed wire and high fencing... looks like a (DMZ) Demilitarized Zone

 This is the Desa ParkCity  ... Thanks to ChongYF for leading the group to this Bintang Hill.

 At another peak

Back (left): PK Chan, Wendy Liu, Elaine Lee, Boon Kee, Steven Oon, Chong YF, KC Leong.

Front: Siew Cheng, Annie Lim, Kristie

 Stylishly posed for the varied and arid terrain ... KC Leong, PK Chan, Siew Cheng, Steven Oon, Kristie, Wendy Liu

 Wendy Liu, Siaw Cheng, Kristie

Adjourn to a mamak restaurant for some light refreshment. Thanks to Steven Oon for treating the group. Teh Tarik with susu lembu and roti chanai with eggs ... hmmm ... creamy and superb drinks, and good to reward the body system after the trail running.

Annie posing for the camera ... Steven Oon said he is going to dedicate Annie's Song (by John Denver) to her and I said I shall dedicate any other songs (to her) ... :-)

She owns three classic mini cooper cars and love riding scrambler motorbike in outdoors.

Note: next heavy-duty trail running is scheduled on Saturday, 11 June at Gunung Nuang.

Trekkers are welcome as Rocky and Bernard Lee are leading the trekking group. Do click here for previous postings of trail running at Gunung Nuang.

Posted by KC Leong