Another lovely weekend spent camping with some good friends. Some photos below. Enjoy. :)
You need a 4x4 to get to this place
Where Kids Explore the Beauty of Malaysia's Great Outdoors.
Showing posts with label Waterfalls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Waterfalls. Show all posts
Living on a Boat House on Tasik Kenyir (Kenyir Lake)
We spent 3 days on a boathouse out on Kenyir lake, through rainy and sunny weather. It is one of our best outdoor adventures so far. We went with 3 other families and a total of 17 children. Living on a boat house is wonderful coz it sails away (very slowly) to the cleaner section of the lake, away from noise, away from pullution. It takes you on a journey that allows you to enjoy the beauty of Kenyir.
TO read more, please visit this link on my personal blog. Living on a Boat House Kenyir.
On the right is our Boat House..which was actually just planks kinda built together as a sort of shelter. Because there aren't really safety planks around, I'd highly recommend you get life jackets before going, and to keep them on your children at all times.
@Martha, 2011
Gunung Gading National Park, Rafflesia
Seeing a Rafflesia is one of the most exciting part of life. :) One of the best places to spot a Rafflesia is in Gunung Gading National Park , situated near the town of Lunduk, about 2 hours from Kuching.
This is a park famous for the growth of the very rare Rafflesia flower. However, the Rafflesia is not always in bloom, and if they do, it only lasts for a week. A Rafflesia grows as a bud for 9 months, blooms for about 7 days and then decays. To find them, you have to look for the host vine, or better still get a guide. A guide there costs RM50.
The first time we were there, we went without a guide. The Park Ranger there said there were no Rafflesias in bloom. However, since we had made a trip all the way there, I was desparate/stubborn enough NOT to belief in the park ranger.
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| There are several lovely falls there, some suitable for swimming in |
Then I said a little prayer. Lo and behold, 2 burly men with tatoo all over their bodies appeared. They looked at me and asked "enjoying your hike?" I replied "...well, I came to see the Rafflesia, and didn't see any." They replied "We know where there is one! Want to follow us?"
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| Climbing a vine |
I jumped in excitement and said "I'll follow you!" 5 minutes into the walk, I began to wonder if they were robbers or something...even my husband started wondering...... 10 mins passed, then they showed us a narrow trail off the main one. I began worrying a little. Then they man said "here it is!" I followed, looked behind a large tree, and there it was. :) A medium sized one....about 6 days old. I thanked them profusely...and was just so overjoyed at the sight of the Rafflesia. It's amazing how God answers simple prayers. :)
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| A Rafflesia bud which the men showed us. The rafflesia takes 9 months to bloom! and when it blooms, it starts decaying within 7 days. |
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| The Rafflesia that took my breath away coz I was just so thrilled and overjoyed at finding one |
This year 2011, we found ouselves at G. Gading National Park again. This time we hired a ranger and found the trail more interesting. He provided us with lots of information about the Rafflesia and its host vine. He also showed us many other plants, some parasitic and stinky as well! We saw many buds and finally found a Rafflesia, one day before full bloom. The species we saw this time is different from the one we saw during our last visit. If I'm not mistaken there are 2-3 different species in that park alone.
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| Rafflesia Bud (different species from the one we saw the year before) |
Rafflesia Bud
Just a day before full bloom
Other interesting finds there include
dried rotting Rafflesia
Ive to google this up. But it was smelly!
So, if you're near Kuching, you should make your way to this park!
Endau Rompin
(bits taken from post March 2010 on previous blog)
Endau Rompin, I have wonderful memories of the time we had there. I miss that place. The whole vacation was just absolutely beautiful….Beautiful weather, the sound of the gurgling river right beside our camping ground, the singing of the gibbon early in the morning, the funny “three tone” toad as I call it coz of it’s song…the singing of the insects…the cool weather...all created such a Magical place.
There are several trails there, each taking you to a different waterfall. Do ask your guide which would be more suitable for your children's age. Also, it is wise to trust your guide more than the information given at the office in Bekok. Your guide will know more! We trusted the office at Bekok and ended up on a very long, tiring and strenuous trek for children. So tiring that our youngest trekker Du (aged 4) fell asleep and his dad had to carry him out, and we arrived back at campsite almost dark! Thank goodness we had sufficient food and water, plus change of clothes. It is always better to have extra food/water on a long trail then too little. The waterfalls there are worth the trek! but just remember that waterfalls can be dangerous and take extra caution with your children.
What did our children do every night? They visited each other’s tents, had fun doing shadow shows, playing with torchlights, building sand castles at night and telling jokes and stories.
Endau Rompin, I have wonderful memories of the time we had there. I miss that place. The whole vacation was just absolutely beautiful….Beautiful weather, the sound of the gurgling river right beside our camping ground, the singing of the gibbon early in the morning, the funny “three tone” toad as I call it coz of it’s song…the singing of the insects…the cool weather...all created such a Magical place.
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| Our tents all set up |
There are several trails there, each taking you to a different waterfall. Do ask your guide which would be more suitable for your children's age. Also, it is wise to trust your guide more than the information given at the office in Bekok. Your guide will know more! We trusted the office at Bekok and ended up on a very long, tiring and strenuous trek for children. So tiring that our youngest trekker Du (aged 4) fell asleep and his dad had to carry him out, and we arrived back at campsite almost dark! Thank goodness we had sufficient food and water, plus change of clothes. It is always better to have extra food/water on a long trail then too little. The waterfalls there are worth the trek! but just remember that waterfalls can be dangerous and take extra caution with your children.  |
| A nest of millipedes which we saw while trekking |
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| Our guide cooling down in the middle of the falls (Takah Berangin). Some of us topped up water at this fall too. |
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| Refusing to sleep they played late into the night under the clear moonlit sky... So lovely to hear the giggling and laughter of children playing their hearts out.. |
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| We went during Cap Goh Mei and had a FULL moon to brighten the nights |
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| We set this up to attract insects. Later kids used it as platform for shadow skits :) |
I’ll definitely be there again…… When I asked the children “do you want to come back here again?” All 11 children shouted with a unifying “YES!!!!”
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| children feeding fish before jumping in to swim |
Finally if you plan to go, you'll need to prebook your campsite. There will be a fee per camper, and guide fees (compulsory.) You'll also need a 4 wheel drive to get in there, or hire the ones provided there. They'll drive you in, but I hear the charges are rather steep.
Finally if you're gonna go on the trails there, you need to be extra prepared in case you take longer then intended. We brought with us:
-Extra Water
-Lots of food (we trekked a total of 6 hours!)
-Enegy bars, chocolates
-First Aid
-Change of clothes
-Mosi Guard
-Trekking poles/sticks..whatever you call em. (this came in useful when my bro sprained both ankles coming down a steep slope)
-whistle
-torch light (also useful coz we came out later than expected)
-Camera for the amazing things you'll see on the way.
@Martha, 2011
Templers Park
Templer’s Park, I’ve always imagined it to be the overcrowded waterfall with filth and stinking toilets everywhere, and have not been there for at least 20 something years.
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| lovely stream along the trail |
However, a friend called and said he knew a jungle trek there where few people bothered to walk. So we went, the same 8 adults and 11 children. I must say, it was really a beautiful, serene walk in the forest. We trekked 45 minutes along the peaceful meandering stream, heard lots of bird calls, chanced upon a giant millipede and finally arrived at a beautiful waterfall. The best thing was that, we had the WHOLE falls to ourselves. Totally lovely and refreshing! We’ll be back there and have identified a possible camping site.
the lowest part of the several tiers waterfall...heard it's 7 tier?
twas my favourite jacuzzi spot! COLD, shivering STRONG water...totally refreshing. Best part is it has a little space behind the water...
in the "jacuzzi"
Getting behind into the space behind the water. I tried it, and it's shiveringly cold and powerful when the water hits you! brrr....
Almost behind the water in that space. It's an awesome experience. you get to hear the very powerful n LOUD sound of water rushing...while breathing in pure oxygen....while shivering your butt off!
finally, the most awesome thing I saw there..even took a video of it!! it's a blue wasp, called the blue mud dauber I think...and it's injected its venom into the widow spider..and dragging it to its nest! really cool!
Sungai Perdik, Hulu Langat
(view with IE, for some reason if viewed on Mozilla(some pics go missing)
Hiking the track at Sg Perdik is relatively easy and suitable for almost all ages of children. While looking for Sg Perdik, we got lost a bit, coz there's no clear signage. We finally found the place, after getting directions from some of the local village folks. Basically, it's situated midway between the junction to Sungai Gabai Waterfall and the Sungai Chongkak.
With 5 kids (the youngest being 4), it took us one hour to reach the VERY BEAUTIFUL, MAGNIFICENT falls, and one hour to get down. All in all, because we went during the rainy season, most of the track was wet and muddy with leeches! So it'll be quite a horror trail for some, especially if you hate bugs and creepy crawlies. A Leech sock will be useful, or just go during DRY season.
If you're a calm parent like me, I basically told my kids, there was nothing to be afraid off, and no point in screaming as that will not get the leech off. And to prove it to them, when I found one crawling on me, I yanked it out, stomped on it and said "See nothing to be afraid!" although i HATE the sight of leeches n the way it feels on my skin. My husband, impressed, told me "wow, you were really calm with the leeches! I am surprised!"
I said, "I've to practice what I preach. I can't go screaming after I've told them to be calm! " haha..
Anyway, if going there, wear sandals, coz you have to cross the river 3 times. Bring a mozzi repellant, picnic food and brace yourself for leeches. I've found though, that using repellant on the socks, lessens the chances of getting a leech up your leg. Anyway, seriously, this is a beautiful place!
With 5 kids (the youngest being 4), it took us one hour to reach the VERY BEAUTIFUL, MAGNIFICENT falls, and one hour to get down. All in all, because we went during the rainy season, most of the track was wet and muddy with leeches! So it'll be quite a horror trail for some, especially if you hate bugs and creepy crawlies. A Leech sock will be useful, or just go during DRY season.
If you're a calm parent like me, I basically told my kids, there was nothing to be afraid off, and no point in screaming as that will not get the leech off. And to prove it to them, when I found one crawling on me, I yanked it out, stomped on it and said "See nothing to be afraid!" although i HATE the sight of leeches n the way it feels on my skin. My husband, impressed, told me "wow, you were really calm with the leeches! I am surprised!"
I said, "I've to practice what I preach. I can't go screaming after I've told them to be calm! " haha..
Anyway, if going there, wear sandals, coz you have to cross the river 3 times. Bring a mozzi repellant, picnic food and brace yourself for leeches. I've found though, that using repellant on the socks, lessens the chances of getting a leech up your leg. Anyway, seriously, this is a beautiful place!
wet track
Jo, did most of the track by herself, as I watched carefully from behind.
crossing river 2
more river crossing
the beautiful Perdik Falls. It is really huge, just that I was not able to really capture the magnificence of it with my cam and didn't wanna risk stepping into falls as current was strong.
When you get done tracking, you can head to this lovely Thai restaurant Fish Farm Thai Restaurant @ Ampang - Ulu Langat Road which serves absolutely delicous food and lovely ambience
When you get done tracking, you can head to this lovely Thai restaurant Fish Farm Thai Restaurant @ Ampang - Ulu Langat Road which serves absolutely delicous food and lovely ambience
Thai floating restaurant
tomyam came with very big prawns!
snails cooked Thai style with sambal and herbs like Basil.
dessert of the day- mango with sticky rice (sorry upside down pic, too tired to rotate it now. You rotate your head k? :) )
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