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 in 2017.

Posted by KC Leong

Lantau Trail (Part 1)

Lantau Trail Stage 1, 2, 3 from Mui Wo to Ngong Ping 360 for a distance of 13.5 km on 23 March 2019 ... We took the ferry from Hong Kong to Lantau Island and began the trail running at Mui Wo. While it was still drizzling, we started the ascent at 8:35am, and the rain stopped at 9am. Most part of the trails were misty and cooling; we arrived at the peak at 1pm. 

Upon completion of taking photos at Lantau Peak, it started to rain again for the entire downhill journey. With the wet and slippery ground, the descent required more effort. All team members arrived at the finishing point of Ngong Ping 360 at 4:30pm, where the Big Buddha statue (of Lantau Island) is located.

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

 (front, left): KC Leong (Team Lead), Edwin Goh (Trail Leader), ChongYF (Assistant Lead), Nixon Wong; (back, left) Ivy Wong, Miki Cheah, Kristy Chew, Amy Thew, Claudia, Josephine Lee, Emily Kam, and Bee.

 Posing with the trail and distance marker. The starting marker is L001; every number shows an increment of 500 meters in distance. For this trail, letter L denotes Lantau.

 Clean trail shoes before the start of the outing

 Taking a breather amidst the misty and cool weather

 Posing with the mysterious mossy stone-wall cabins with doors securely locked with padlock; there are many of these cabins here

 Having our lunch ... eating apple, bread, buns, munchies, etc bought from the supermarket the evening before

 Arriving at Lantau Peak with the entire area engulfed in mist

Arriving at the finishing point of Ngong Ping 360 

Do click here for Hong Kong Trail 50km Section 5 - 8 (Part 2)

Do CLICK HERE for the similar outing on 24 March 2017.

Posted by KC Leong

Bukit Kiara Trail Run

Trail running at Bukit Kiara on Sunday, 10 March 2019 for the team to meet up in preparation for the upcoming trail run in Hong Kong and Lantau. 

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

 (left) Vernique, Amy, ChooKS, Lana, Edwin Goh, Bee, ChongYF, Shu-Lin, Emily; (front) Josephine Lee, Ivy Wong, KC Leong

 At the Container Trail

  At the Container Trail

At the mini waterfall of Bukit Kiara; after the daily afternoon rain, the flow of the water is better

Posted by KC L:eong