After doing some research, I picked Gunung Lambak, at 510m - though height is never a factor in the level of difficulty when hiking mountains.
I had asked people who had done Lambak and most of them replied that it was a pretty straightforward climb though it can be quite steep. So I thought, we should do fine.
Cheng and Hui decided to forgo it, so our group was left with Nemo, Flo The Hub and me. Flo's friends with their two boys also joined in. I got a local hiking organizing company to do the necessary arrangements. And so on Good Friday, we embarked on our next hiking trip.
Bread, Butter And JAM!
We had planned to meet up at the Marsiling MRT Station at 6am where our driver would pick us up and drive across the Causeway to our destination.
Before 6 am, I received a strange whatsapp message from Flo. Turned out that she was stuck at such a massive jam that her cab could not even exit from the expressway. Geez the jam to Malaysia has already started!
Soon, Nemo met up with us and we waited. Flo's friends arrived a while later and there was still no sign of her.
After more than an hour, Flo finally arrived. We started on our journey. The jam at Woodlands was so bad that we decided to try the Tuas Checkpoint - the area where Flo's friends stay! What a way to start our exciting trip!
Thankfully as our vehicle was considered a mini bus, we did not need to queue behind the snaking car lane. But still, we had to queue like an hour in the bus lane and another clearing immigration.
The bread loaves that were supposed to serve as lunch on the summit became our breakfast - we originally planned to have a good breakfast at JB! Having no time for that as we were way behind the schedule, we proceeded on to Kluang straight.
Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush
To make matters worse, our driver did not know his way in Kluang well. And on he went round and round, even stopping to ask for directions. By the time we reached the foot of Gunung Lambak, it was already noon. We decided to eat something first before the climb. "Lunch" was a simple plate of fried beehoon and a cup of coffee at a nearby coffeeshop. We also bought some mineral water.
The time was already 1pm+ when we were finally ready for our climb and our hiking guide, Mr Roslan and his assistant guide had waited for us for a few hours. We had actually planned to hike up to the two summits of Lambak as well as visit the Big Tree. But Mr Roslan advised that we just do the two summits for the day as we were already very tired and weary from the long trip due to the jam, as well as that it was already so late.
And so began our ascent...
And so began our ascent...
No Joke Climb
A cat greeted us and started to follow us. The boys were enjoying its comp, patting and playing with it.
Start of route ... Easy Peasy... Whee...
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Then we came to a suspension bridge and we crossed the mildly swaying bridge.
Fallen branches along the way.
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| Fallen twigs |
More easy trails on paved surfaces...
That led us under the Malaysian flag and the spring section...
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| Natural or piped spring??? |
Until...
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| Toughness begins |
Well... not too bad. After the short steep section, we reached the welcome signboard.
And also a map which shows the routes and the looping trail (not pictured).
We were to pass the famous tea pavilion and take the tougher route up, and the easier route back down.
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After this picture was steepness all the way for quite a portion of the time.
We were was grateful for the ropes that aided in the pulling of our bodies up.
We really had underestimated the terrain... it was really steep and I had to muster all the muscles in my thighs to climb on the at times awkwardly angled rocks and slopes.
On the way up, we encountered a few locals whom, apparently had made ascent earlier on in the day from the other side, and now making their descent on this route. Geez we pondered why on earth would they want to descent via this route --- it's so tough!
It did not help that we started our climb with a full belly -- that made me feel heavy and laboured with heavy breathes... my heart was jumping at a rate that I was getting worried. Furthermore the immense heat and humidity made my perspiration rain down on me that made me feel even dizzier.
Luckily, I got accustomed after some time and was able to go with the flow.
Flo's friends and their young boys were amazing - never needed to catch on their breaths and pause to rest, unlike us...
Finally we reached more even slopes and I was finally able to reach out for my phone for pictures.
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| This was what we had to brave through in the steep forest trail amongst tall lean trees. |
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| Our guide was super fit. He has been taking hikers to Gunung Rinjani. |
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| The Hub catching a much needed breath. |
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| Our guide in blue, and this Neknek in pink was fabulous - our guide told us she's 65! |
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| Finally reached summit ONE -- land-marked by the telecoms tower. |
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The view from summit one from a normal angle.
To get a wider and hence nicer view....
You'll have to climb up this post haha!
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| Jackfruit Tree |
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| Wild flowers |
After a short rest and some photo taking, it's time to conquer summit two. We decided to forgo the Big Tree, given our not so good condition and the time limit.
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| Preparing to go down to the ridge that links to summit 2. |
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| The Hub found a stick for descent. |
Halfway we found this interesting root..
The descent to the ridge was really steep. Luckily The Hub got a stick and I needed it at times to help me better balance myself at descent.
Finally flatter ground... but not for long... after we took a short rest on a log.
Neknek bid us goodbye at this section and went on another way.
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Going up again for the next summit...
Greeting us before the trail up was this peculiar tree. This tree was oozing some sap like substance, which our guide told us was to make into incense
And then it was another steep ascent.
But this time round it was not as bad as climbing up summit one. Though looking very steep and dauntng from below, the climb was actually more relaxing, with the aid of the ropes tied from tree to tree.
Before long, we reached this sign that showed the way down. And we have reached summit Two.
No view. Only three plastic chairs that welcomed our achievement! Haha!
Then it started to drizzle. The Hub and I had not packed ponchos! But heck we were already so drenched - in perspiration that is!
Going down was a little slippery, we skidded a little here and there. But with ropes most of the way down as well, we grappled on as we descended as swiftly as we could.
It was around 4.30pm by the time we finally descended back to the visitor centre. Some of us went to the washroom to wash up while the rest of us hung around, taking a rest on the steps and enjoying the antics of monkeys searching for food and a kingfisher swooping down to catch fishes from the man made lake nearby. We had a group picture taken and also gave our guides each a RM50 tip.
Our driver took us back to our hotel to wash up and rest after we parted ways with our guide, but not without his signature merry go round and round trying to locate our hotel. He finally found it and after confirming dinner pick up time, we checked in, showered and rested.
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| A group photo after mission accomplished - not really, Big Tree not done, due to Big Jam at the customs that sapped both our energy and time... |
It was pouring heavily by dinner time.
Our driver had intended to take us to a chinese restaurant but he said the rain would render the whole place wet and hence wanted to drive us to another chinese zhi char coffeeshop... but again his unfamiliarity of Kluang town took us round and round. We circled the roundabout landmark so many times in a day that we swear we could really identify this place well now.
We finally settled on a zhi char place that saw a rather healthy crowd. We had a cheap and decent meal and the highlight was the red wine that Flo had brought from Singapore! The lady boss was kind enough to allow us to have it at her premise and served us ice and cups. We shared our hiking (and the lack if it) stories and celebrated at new friendship made.
After dinner we went for a massage at a health and wellness centre next to our hotel and it was shiok!
The next day before heading back to Singapore we were to visit ZenXin Organic Farm included in our package.
Kluang Rail Coffee & ZenXin Organic Park
Having a well deserved sleep, we had breakfast the next morning at Rail Coffee, which was less than a five minute walk from our hotel. I ordered dry mee siam which was good. What I did not expect was the coffee - it was really fantastic! - as recommended by our Singaporean tour representative. The kaya and butter toast was heavenly!
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| So good I had to buy a packet home! |
After checking out, we were to be driven to ZenXin Organic Farm. Our dear driver could not locate it and mistook it for UK Agro Farm...
Anyway after driving in circles and turn after turn, I finally spotted the signboard for him and here we were.
We were bought on a tour by two guides, one speaking in English and another followed up in Mandarin.
First we saw a pool of gigantic fish.
Their Scientific name...
We were then brought to view the dragon fruit farm and after walking down an aisle of rows of them by the side, we climbed up a viewing platform that gave a panoramic view of the entire site.
Next we were given a plastic bag each to go pluck mulberry leaves which could be boiled into tea, and mulberry fruits. It was extremely difficult to find ripen mulberries - which are supposed to be dark crimson or almost black in colour. The kids had a lot of fun.
After harvesting fruits, it's time to walk around the herbs garden.
There was a petting zoo at the other end of the herbs garden. After feeding rabbits, we proceeded on to do bottle feed koi fishes.
Basically the fish pellets were contained in some liquid in a milk bottle and by just submerging the teat in the pond, the kois would come sucking the pellets out. It was pretty fun doing this.
It was lunch time by the time we finished. Included in this farm package was a curry puff making experience, which we did before we had lunch. The filling was made of sweet potato and we had a chance to roll the puff after spooning the filling onto the dough before deep frying them.
We then had lunch and went on to buy some organic produce from the mart before boarding the bus back across the causeway.
Thank goodness there was no jam back home.
Though full of misadventures, we all agreed that it was a mini adventurous trip in which we all had fun. Hope to visit the Big Tree next time!
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| And this was my harvest from ZenXin Organic Farm |
This trip was done over the Good Friday Holidays in 2016.
