Tree Top Walk @ Sungai Sedim

Vertigo much? The walkway spans 925m for a complete rectangular clock-wise loop which is some 30m above river level. Admission is RM10 per adult (2014).

Located within Gunung Inas Forest Reserve, this attraction is located some 30km from Kulim @ N5° 24.799' E100° 46.972'. For weekenders this place is packed with picknickers as they pitch their mats along the crystal clear and icy cold waters of Sungai Sedim.

This POI is already in our maps since time immemorial.

If this place is packed, there is the other alternative of Lubok Jong - also along the same river further downstream.

Gua Tempurung 2014

After 44 years, I finally set foot in Gua Tempurung. As is often the case, we tend to miss a lot of our local attractions and end up paying thousands of dollars visiting far flung places overseas instead. We  often hear of Mulu Caves or Batu Caves but Gua Tempurung's name never really struck a chord with potential visitors. Quite why so I can never tell, except that it is one heckuva cave worth your time. Well, better late than never I say.

Get ready for some 1,300 steps along metal ladders that will take you to the far end of the cave. Legend has it, the cave has 2 magical white pythons resident within Peninsular Malaysia's largest cave system. This is a thoroughly entrancing cave, complete with whistling wind corridors, amazing stalactite stalagmite formations and crystal clear underwater river.

KRU filmed Vikingdom to take advantage of of this stunning cave, but unfortunately it was not enough to save the movie :p

The main entrance to the cave - visitors will descend into its belly before ascending to the end of the cave

Steps galore - some 1300 worth

What does this look like to you?

Every Malaysian should go!

Tracking Perlis : Gua Kelam

Sure, I have heard of Gua Kelam the name - but never been here myself until recently.  I ended up wishing I knew of it much much earlier. This is a beautiful park - it has 2 cave systems and the park at the OTHER end of the caves is a park worthy of your time and visit : you will be amazed that this is in Malaysia but not much is publicised about it.

Picnic spot at the Cave entrance

Pack snacks and budget time to spend on the other side of the cave

Cave system 1# is now closed - a tram used to run and enables the visitor to punch out on the other side of the limestone hill. The tram is now broken down and some millions obviously wasted. So we're left with cave system 2# which is an elevated gangway that cuts through the hill whilst being suspended above the underground river. All lighted up with railings so it is safe for little children as well - this facility and the park spaces will cost you a princely sum of RM1.00 (2014) only. It is a short walk through the cave which opens up to this :

One of the many wakafs you can set down for a picnic

Like a little hidden paradise

Pack lunch, a hammock with an afternoon to spare - and you're all set. There are toilets and changing facilities should you decide to swim in one of the creek network. There's a deer farm and the mystical Sintok Tree (Pokok Ajaib Sintok). At last count (we literally lost count), this single tree has it roots creeping up to more than 32 other adjacent trees! You could say it is a spineless tree. Indeed.

Get your kids to count how many trees that this parasitic tree has decided to creep upon.

DISCLAIMER - please DO NOT do the following:

Fully equipped with proper gear, supplies and torches - we sought out the second cave system. It was not difficult to find and the egress was located somewhere higher up against the limestone hill wall. Inside - there is absolutely zero light so reliance is solely on your (hopefully very reliable) torchlights. What's inside is a network of caves - complete with concrete paths, steps, rest areas, railings, multiple junctions and lightings which leads you to the end of the line of the tram. Of course none of the lights work now. As we moved further into the cave, it got warmer and before long we were sweating buckets. The trek ends where the tram rail meets. We were tempted to trek out along the tram rail but decided to backtrack to avoid tangling with the Park Rangers.

now disused pathways

secret stairway to the underground river

If you're in Perlis - don't brush off a visit to Gua Kelam : you must go!!

Is it far? In Perlis, everywhere is just "15 mins away". So wherever you are in Perlis, it will take you no longer than 15 minutes to get to Gua Kelam. Really!

History has it that Gua Kelam was previously used a rice trail or a smuggler's run where supplies made its way to and from across the Siamese border.

Gunung Rajah (up to Y Crossing)

Y Crossing

This was a leisurely hike along the Gunung Rajah trail. The complete trail to summit and back is about 27km but this is the short hike to Y Crossing. You have to take your boots off to make this crossing - and depending on weather, the water could be calf height to totally uncrossable (after heavy rain). On the other side, the trail continues on to Lata Naning and Kem Hijau and all the way to summit. 

Vital Stats
Min / max temperature : 27 deg / 33 deg C
Elevation gain : 565m
Max elevation : 618m
Avg HR / Max HR : 141bpm / 163 bpm
Distance : 17.81 km (Fenix)
Avg Pace : 14:03 min/km

Trail conditions : very good, well maintained, deadfalls all cleared, log crossings all intact. A good part of the first 8 km is exposed, so you are well-advised to start early.

Out and back profile

 If you don't mind the sun, the hike up to Y Crossing in one word : wonderful - gradual grade that saw us gain almost 600m in 9km. That is gentle by any standards and made for a wonderful stroll amidst cool forest settings. No hard climbing, no knee-to-chest climbs and it was literally a walk in a forest park. You will pass a Mini Hidro station and a tiny orang asli settlement with its neat houses.

At Y Crossing, dip in the sub-22 deg waters (measured at 3pm on a sunny day!), break out your stove, eat and head on back.

Recommended:

•  proper hiking boots
• trekking poles here pay dividends on a hike this long - use two to trek alpine style.
• a hat for the exposed hike along the logging track
• at least 3L of drinking water - or stove to purify river water at Y Crossing
• there are leeches in the trail but not in abundance, you would be considered lucky if you are bitten by one.

Bukit Kembara, Ampang

Tracked this trail over the weekend. It's a local favourite for dwellers around Taman TAR, Ampang Jaya residents. The trail description was a steep climb to the reservoir. Ok. Not that steep lah, just a short punt up a well manicured trail.

This place is being kept squeaky clean by like-minded nature lovers and I was impressed there were no empty wrappers and bottles lying around.

99% of visitors stick to the trail which goes round the reservoir. We decided to hike one of the trails that branched off from the reservoir and came back with 5 monster leeches .. one of which was the bloodiest leech bite we've ever encountered ANYWHERE - and at Ampang of all places. It's not like we're in deep woods 100km from civilisation. But there you go.

Another short punt before reaching the reservoir

 Mapped this into revision 9 Sep 2013 so it should come out in the next map release.

Tanah Aina, Raub

Tracked this resort at Raub. Price ranges from RM260 to RM300 per pax.

This is a plush back to nature resort and the obsessive attention to details shown by  the resort owner pays dividend in giving visitors a most memorable stay. It may NOT be what a seasoned hiker would look for but for the general sedentary working populace of Malaysia - this place is full of superlatives.

This place was tracked using Montana 650. The hike to the Leap of Faith was tracked using Garmin Fenix (you are not allowed to bring anything with you for this hike save for your own personal flotation device so a wearable GPS came in very handy :) ).

Aerial shots were taken by Phantom.

Mapped to server on 9 Sep 2013.