Maliau Basin : Part 7 - Day 5 : Seafood Noodles in Tawau Town

10072016 : Today afternoon, we fly back to Kuala Lumpur. In the morning, we had a walk to enjoy a bit of sea breeze and to have seafood noodles for breakfast!

Maliau Basin : Part 6 - Day 4 : Back to Civilisation

09072016 : Today, we walk 9km back to Agathis Camp. While everyone was packing their stuff, I was taking photos. I had not much to pack. Look at all the clothes hung and strewn on the posts to be dried.

We go to the kitchen by crossing the thin plank. It is a very sturdy plank. 

And for breakfast, behold. Sort of fried rice with omelette, sausages and fishball.

Maliau Basin : Part 5 - Day 3 Afternoon : Maliau Waterfalls

08072016 : After the 4 hour hike / trek from Ginseng Camp to Maliau Waterfalls, we have reached the falls. Ahh, to watch it in front of your eyes. Amazing-ness. The stones were hot when I removed my shoes. I probably have burnt my soles walking on the rocks and stones. 

"Maliau Falls is best known for its seven tiers falls. It is the largest of all the waterfalls known in the Maliau Basin Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia." (Source from Wikipedia)

Maliau Basin : Part 4 - Day 3 Morning : The 5.5km walk to Maliau Waterfalls

08072016 : Today, we are headed to Maliau Waterfalls, one of the must-see waterfalls in Maliau Basin. I was pretty excited to see it because this is one of the reasons I got interested in Maliau Basin, besides the fact its nickname is 'The Lost World of Sabah'. 

Before the trek, the guide and the porters prepared a delicious spread of breakfast. Can you imagine this being prepared in the jungle? This is luxury for me! I don't even have this back in the city. There is even peanut butter jam! So, we have fried glass noodles, fried crabstick and potato wedges. Also, there are coffee sticks, tea and milo sachets. I am so blessed with food in this trip. I have mentally prepared myself for insufficient food but this is way much more than I expected.

Maliau Basin : Part 3 - Day 2 Mid-Afternoon : Ginseng Waterfalls

07072016 : From Ginseng Camp, we trekked 300metres to Ginseng Waterfalls. It is very near the campsite. We have to cross a small stream which has rocks for us to step on. Then, we saw it. One of the must-see waterfalls of Maliau Basin - Ginseng Waterfalls. The waters were freezing cold. I am not kidding. Cold till the extend of pain. We played in the waters till 430pm because it gets dark fast in East Malaysia, and not to mention, quicker in the jungle.

Maliau Basin : Part 2 - Day 2 Morning: The 9km Walk to Ginseng Camp

07072016 : As we all know, the sun rises earlier in East Malaysia. It is 6.50am and the sun was hot, and bright. We were to make a move by 8am, and it was still early to take some morning shots and enjoy my breakfast of nasi lemak! Can you believe it? The kitchen staff cooked nasi lemak. It was a simple one but so delicious. I love the tempeh. It is fermented soybean that has turned into cake form and this one was crunchy. I was afraid that this meal will give me stomach upset but fortunately, I was fine. Phew. I am not sure if I could manage easing myself in the nature. 

After breakfast, I saw a few wildboars wandering in the compound of Maliau Basin Studies Centre (MBSC). They were different from the ones I see in West Malaysia. I thought it was a different species because they were fair. My sister tells me they are the bearded wildboar species. I asked her why is their snout so pink and protruding. She mentioned that this is because these wildboars are used to putting their snout in drains and rubbish waste looking for food resulting in the protruding snouts and also hairless too. 

Maliau Basin : Part 1 - Day 1 : Journey to Maliau Basin Studies Centre (MBSC)

It has been my dream for a few years to go to Maliau Basin. I have never heard of the place until a friend mentioned it. I googled it and keep yapping on how I want to get there. However, it never materialised as one needs to go in a big group to get a cheap price. I have surveyed prices for 2 persons or a single person and the price is more than RM3K.. No.. I am not willing. I must have wished really hard because the Universe heard me. I saw a post few months back in Facebook in Round Malaysia Round group on a trip to Maliau Basin! WHEE! YAY! The price is RM1,700 for 5 days 4 nights but it does not include the meals in Tawau town. The flight ticket was RM642.74 without checked in luggage. Altogether RM2,342.74. Not too bad. 

Here is the itinerary:

Day 1 - Morning flight to Tawau. Take 4WD to Maliau Basin Studies Centre. Stay the night in the hostel.

Day 2 - Take 4WD to Agathis Camp. Start trek to Ginseng Camp. Initially, we were supposed to stay in Nepenthes Camp but the generator broke and there were lots of fallen trees. We missed out 3 waterfalls because we opt out Nepenthes Camp. Visit Ginseng Waterfalls. Stay the night in Ginseng Camp. 

Day 3 - Start trek to Maliau Waterfalls. Stay the night in Ginseng Camp. 

Day 4 - Trek back to Agathis Camp. Take 4WD back to Tawau town. Stay the night in Heritage Hotel.

Day 5 - Free and easy. Mid-afternoon flight back. 

First, let me describe what is Maliau Basin and why I am so keen to go there. 

"Maliau Basin is the single best place in Borneo to experience the wonders of primary tropical forest. More than that, it is one of the world's great reserves of biodiversity, a dense knot of almost unbelievable genetic richness." Lonely Planet Borneo, 2008

In 1947, a British pilot was heading towards Tawau when he flew over what he thought was a mist-shrouded jungle. But as the cloud dissipated, he found himself encircled by a wall of steep cliff rising some 915 metres above the jungle floor. This serendipitous discovery was reported in the Borneo Bulletin which was first published in 1953; this episode did not generate much interest and quietly slipped back into obscurity. The mystical Maliau Basin is one of Malaysia's finest remaining wilderness areas. Bounded by a formidable escarpment reaching over 1,675m asl, the almost circular Basin encompasses reaching over 390 km2 of pristine forest, a virtually self-contained ecosystem, never permanently inhabited and with large areas still remaining to be explored and documented. Remarkably, the whole basin is a single huge water catchment, drained by one river only, the Maliau River, which flows through a gorge in the southeast of the Basin, joining the Kuamut River and eventually the Kinabatangan, Sabah's largest and most important waterway. (Source from Maliau Basin)

Maybe the above description don't describe much of my keenness. Haha. Actually, the main reason it got me interested was its nickname - Sabah's Lost World. 

*fast forward to the day of the trip*

Outdoor World Adventure : Outdoor Items

14052016 - Today morning, I woke up intending to buy my pair of trekking pants. I have wanted to make this purchase as I have only one proper pair of trekking pants which I bought in Nepal. I bought 2 from Nepal but one was not comfortable to wear anymore. I believe that with the proper attire, one can enjoy whatever they are doing. I searched for trekking pants in the hiking group "Hiking and Camping Around Malaysia" in Facebook. There came out 2 options - Abe Mat Trading in Shah Alam and Outdoor World Adventure in Seri Kembangan. I am aware that one can probably buy trekking pants in departmental stores or proper stores in the mall but they are way out of my budget. 

I chose to go to Abe Mat Trading first because it was nearer to my place. The shop sells various outdoor stuff and trekking pants which were imported from China. As the China brand does not have a specific size, one has to try the pants. I selected 2 and also found a hat that covers the neck and the face. I am not sure what is the name of the hat but in Malay, it is called - Topi Ladang translated as Farm Hat. I was excited about my find and was ready to pay but the staff gave me a different price which was higher than what was initially promised. I don't think that is the way to do business. A verbal promise is the reason why I agreed to buy the stuff. I was not pleased about that and it happened to both my trekking pants and farm hat, so I left the place.  

I went to Outdoor World Adventure which was a bit further. The place is located next to Hotel Sun Inns. Can you see the address in the name card - No 2-B, Jalan Dagang Sb 4/2, Taman Sungai Besi Indah, 43000 Mines, Seri Kembangan. And to my luck, they have what I need to. So, here I am sharing my purchase. 

Kuala Kubu Bharu : White Water Rafting Grade 3 and 4

After a long period of no activities, I participated in a white water rafting which I registered for 2 weeks ago! I was very keen because it was in Kuala Kubu Bharu, and this is one of the must-go places for white water rafting with rapids of Grade 3 and 4. Previously, I did white water rafting in Gopeng and Ulu Slim. I joined a group organised by Maya Xcape Ventures for RM180 which includes snacks (apple, chocolate bar, mineral water, and Apollo chiffon cake), guide, equipment and lunch. Photographs are not provided because there are no locations along the river where one can snapped photos but we may request for one and it costs RM350. Pretty expensive. Luckily, one of our group members have a waterproof casing for handphone and he took most of our photos during the 3-hour activity. 

09042016: My friend and I drove to Kuala Kubu Bharu and the meet up point was at the post-office. From there, the group drove to the start point which was close to the Selangor dam. I was worried if there was minimal water level because of the hot season now. According to the guide, the dam is open and hence, the water level is high. I dropped my friend at the starting point, and all the car drivers are brought to the exit point where we parked our cars. The exit point is close to Kem Bina Negara. Then, a 4WD brought us back to the starting point. 

At the starting point, the guides and staff were pumping air into the raft. The tourists like me were busy snapping photographs. We put on our lifejackets and helmets. There were 9 of us in the group. Of course, there are other groups on that day too. We got briefed by the guides on the do's and don'ts of white water rafting. Although this was my 3rd time doing this activity, I was still nervous. 

Gunung Angsi : New Year Day Hike

01012016 - Happy New Year! What a belated New Year post. For the first day of the year, my friends and I hiked up Gunung Angsi. We paid RM5 each to the Park Ranger before starting the hike. We went up the easier route which is the shorter route. It is a suitable hike for first-timers as the route is not steep. It was a never-ending walk straight up to the place where there are stalls. These stalls were empty today. Usually, they have the elderly brewing soup or tea for anyone who wish to have a taste. It was a pretty muddy walk today because it rained before we arrived.

Gunung Nuang : Jungle Trail Run 2015

Last year in November, I did my first jungle trail run in the mountain - Gunung Nuang Jungle Trail Run. 21km - the hike up and down the mountain. I have already expected it to be very difficult because I have never reached the peak before. I attempted the hike once in 2011 and I only made it to the last camp (Kem Pacat) before the peak. Back then, I was not very fit, and I was slow and did not try the peak. Well, I am not very fit now either, but I am better. 

Last year, my friend convinced me to join the Jungle Trail Run because he wanted to join. I know, that is not a very valid reason. How he convinced me - because I never made it to the peak before. I think, this is by far the most expensive trail run I have paid for. Trail runs need more preparations in anticipation of injured runners in the jungle. Before the actual day, my friend and I trained for the run twice in October. 

17102015 - Today is the day of our first practise to Gunung Nuang peak. My friend timed us to reach the peak in 5 hours and back in 5 hours. That is how most hikes on Gunung Nuang are. 10 hours generally. I thought to myself, that a trail run ought to be faster, but I was limited by my tired legs and wrong footwear. We met up with a new group of friends who guided us the way to midway. Neither me nor my friend knows the route, and not taking any chances, I wrote posts in various Facebook groups looking for friends who were going up Gunung Nuang. I was lucky to meet Haidher Aziz. They stopped till Kem Pacat.

 

At 12noon, my friend and I reached the peak. 5 hours as predicted. It was such a coincidence that both of us wore the same t-shirt. 

 

 

Laman Seni Seksyen 7 : Street Art in Selangor

13062015 : For sometime, I have meant to visit the Street Art located in Shah Alam. There is a signboard on the road for it too - Laman Seni 7. You can find it on Google Map and Waze. Hence, no worries. You will not get lost. I went during mid-morning, and I should have went earlier because pretty soon, there were more people joining and photography session takes longer than ever for a single mural. It took me about 20 minutes to finish the walk. It is not a very long walk. It is painted on the walls of the back of a stretch of buildings. Enjoy the pictures!