2010 - Gopeng to Cameron Highlands

Trekking Adventure
Gopeng to Cameron Highlands
by way of 30km Orang Asli jungle trek
09 Jul <> 12 Jul 2010

1. Bernard Lee...........2. Ching Neng Bin............3. George Aeria


4. Koay Saw Hoon.......5. Lau Khim Hun.........6. Lau Khim Sun


7. Lee Shan Chen.......8. Lian Goet Ean..........9. Neoh Choo Loa


10. Ooi Kok Hooi..........11. Sitt S.K. .........12. Thong Kok Cheng


13. Toh Kim Kiang........14. Uncle Yeong......15. Mr.Talib (guide)

Day 01 (09.07.10) Gopeng > Kg. Ulu Kampar

10 pax in 2 cars from Penang made their way to Gopeng to meet up with the rest of the 4 team-mates ( Ching, Sitt, Ms.Lee from Ipoh & Bernard Lee from Port Dickson) at 4.40pm. Altogether, the team comprises of 14 members and Uncle Yeong, a veteran trekker, was the oldest at aged 72. Three Semai Orang Asli were hired as guide and porter.

After an early quick dinner in Gopeng, we drove to My Gopeng Resort to park our cars and it was here that the trek began. We started at about 7pm after the rain. The trail was a pleasant walk along a gently sloping gradient through the oil-palm plantation. It took us 1hr 10 minutes of trekking to reach the Orang Asli settlement of Kg. Ulu Kampar. We stayed in a long-house of our guide, Mr. Talib.

Miss Malaysia 2010 finalist having their team-building games at the resort. We were very surprised to see them there, but, they were shocked to learn that we are trekking up to Cameron Highlands at this hour.

The serene cool evening mist over the estate as the sun sets at 7.27 pm

Mr. Talib our Orang Asli guide in his long-house

Refreshing cool air from the windows

A very comfortable long-house with attached pantry and a solar light-bulb

Very good sweet potato 'tong-sui' prepared by the ladies for supper.

Day 02 (10.07.10) Kg. Ulu Kampar > Kg. Atap

The morning call was at 5.45am, breakfast at 6.30am and the trek began at 7.30am. The trek gradually became more like a real jungle trail and by the time we stopped for lunch on the river bank we had trekked for about 5 hrs at 12.30pm.

The jungle's hungry leeches soon made their presence felt. Bloody patches appeared in our socks, trousers and even shirts. Removing my shoes and socks I found 8 fat leeches still feeding. Even though I had applied an insect repellent it was washed away once we crossed the river. Leeches abound on the banks of the river and streams because their instincts tell them those animals come here to drink. On this particular trail leeches were found all along the track, weaving back and forth once they sensed the presence of someone approaching.

Talib's long-house

Talib's bath-room

Talib's 'musang'

Talib's grand-son holding a chicken

Talib's grand-daughter

Getting ready for the long trek at 7.22 am

Kg. Ulu Kampar Orang Asli settlement

Kampar River

Unused reservoir along the Kampar River

Beams of sunlight penetrates the thick jungle canopy

So far so good - no leeches yet

Uncle Yeong said, "I am well prepared this time"

Ching is ready to move on

George said, "Lets go"

The 1st river crossing was exciting at 8.56 am.

Fast and furious river

Checking for leeches during a short break and were happy for now.

Our guide got this wild mango from the forest - nice to eat but very sour

The 2nd river crossing was easy at 10.10 am

The 3rd river crossing was cool and nice at 10.20 am.

Knee and back bending was required because of numerous fallen bamboos and rotten trees, even though the guide in front did a lot of chopping with his parang. Many times my backpack was caught as I stooped low. An added difficulty was that as soon as we reached a high point, down we went on a steep descent. This was really hard on stiff knees.

Climbing on very steep mountain slopes

The 4th river crossing was narrow with fast flowing water at 12.14 pm

The colorful mushrooms

There was no way to prevent our feet from getting wet. Shoes and socks were soaked and the leeches had a grand buffet. Removing my shoes and socks - 8 fat leeches still feeding on my bloody socks.

This bloody fat leech that dropped off from my underwear..hug!

Our bloody legs

5th river crossing at 1.11 pm was adventurous - clinging to the cliff wall or be washed away

Beautiful butterfly called on George Aeria

Lee Shan Chen is happy for now that she is free of that bloody thing....

Time for a swim at 2.38 pm

Lunch break at 2.47 pm

The 6th and final river crossing for the day at 3.47 pm

We were all hungry and wet because we had to cross at least 6 rivers with very strong water flows

We expected to reach Kg. Atap by 6pm, but we did it at 4.16pm almost 2 hours earlier. Mr. Neoh, our team leader said that this was a record time so far. The distance trekked on this day was more than 20km in just over 8 hours.

This Kg. Atap orang asli woman came to welcome us at 4.18 pm

The girls set up open-air kitchen to prepare dinner. We cooked rice and heat up frozen chicken curry which we brought along. While uncle Yeong cooked special brown rice with plenty of nuts inside and ‘tong-sui’ for supper.

Chicken curry, baked beans, long beans with white and brown rice for dinner at 6.18pm

George brought this bottle ...

and knock off our Mr.Thong

Uncle Yeong preparing his famous 'tong-sui' for supper...

also fried carrots and sweet potatoes with butter, coated with cinnamon, salt and sugar

At 8.17 pm still queuing up for more from Uncle Yeong & Lian

Looking at his bloody itchy leg, Bernard was not sure how to sleep.

Sleeping was in a cramped hut, 14 persons in a space measuring less than 20 square feet with half of the floor broken up. However, space was the least of our concern. Luckily I have my sleeping mat; otherwise, I have to sleep on broken floor.

Everybody was very happy to sleep at 9.15 pm - even like sardine fish!

Day 03 (11.07.10) Kampong Atap > Tanah Rata

The morning call was at 7.00am, breakfast at 8am and the trek began at 9.00am.

Woke up at 7am and called to my mates to wake up. I was stiff all over because I slept on broken floor. The floor of the hut was bamboo slats with "air-conditioning" coming through the gaps. What caused me anxiety was my left knee which felt "frozen" and ached badly when I stretched out my leg. After hard rubbing and applying an anti-inflammation pain-killing gel it felt better. Breakfast was hot coffee, bread and some rice from previous night.

Some of us woke up to find more leech marks and blood patches on their bodies and thought that leeches had crawled into the huts. But I thought differently, more likely was that the leeches had clung to our back-packs and then found their way to our bodies while we were asleep.

Most of us were glad to donate left over food and clothing to the Orang Asli old couple, to lighten our backpacks.

So at 9am everyone was ready to move on. We were told by our guide that today was going to be easier because we only had to walk about 5 hours and the expected time to arrive at our destination was 12.30pm. What was easy to the Orang Aslis was going to be our toughest trail yet.

An open bath-room and the toilet is behind the banana trees

Breakfast at 8.08 am - hot coffee and bread for everyone

Dirty, muddy, wet and smelly

This is how we tie up shoes that turn into 'crocodile mouth'.

A fire place in the center of the hut for cooking and keeping warm

Getting ready for the final day hike. This hut that we slept on has tilted a little and hopefully be there for many more years to come.

"Come again" said the orang asli from Kg. Atap

Soon after we started off, we faced a steep 50 deg. gradient

Wild giant bamboo forest

10.20am at a resting place on top of a hill somewhere in nowhere!

Mr Thong a veteran runner said, "No sweat".

Chatting with other pass-by Orang Asli

As strong as ever the trio said, "We are the world".

Ching said, "I can't believe doing this grueling and dangerous trek".

11.40am - the trek continued!

We had to cross another 2 fast-flowing streams below. Just when we thought that there were no more streams, the trail itself became a stream. We found ourselves walking on water and very slippery rocks. In 3 minutes, Bernard fell two times in front of me - fortunately, his backpack broke the fall of the shock and was soon up and about.

The watery trail turned into a narrow ledge. Those of us who were afraid of heights kept their eyes away from the edge. However, where the soft soil gave way we had to use our hands to grip whatever we could hold onto. At times the terrain became rocky and the ledges became even trickier because of the slippery slopes. Team work called to lend each other a hand to pull the one behind across gaping cavities.

Well done to Saw Hoon

Well done to Shan Chen

Well done to Bernard Lee

Well done to Sitt

And well done to Ching followed by Neoh.

Pointing at the border stone marking Pahang and Perak boundary at the summit - (L-R) Uncle Yeong, Bernard and Ooi in Pahang while Toh, Ching and Neoh still standing in Perak.

At 12.11pm we finally scaled the last 60 deg. gradient wall which was the longest and steepest yet. At the summit (1372m) was a border stone, one side pointing to Perak and the other to Pahang. So we were literally standing between two states. What a feeling of relief that we did make it. Our exhaustion miraculously seemed to evaporate, a sense of accomplishment flooding our senses and we congratulated each other.

Our guide Mr. Talib and his twin sons as porter

Finally out of the Pahang jungle. With a feeling of jubilation the descend was easy, half an hour to reach Kampung Sg. Ubi. From there to the Bharat Tea Plantation was another half an hour, walking part of the way along a paved road and then we took a short-cut on a foot-path skirting tea shrubs and vegetable plots to reach the main road.

Walking down at 12.54pm towards the Orang Asli settlement - Kampong Sg. Ubi

Saw Hoon distributing biscuits to the Asli children

Ching handing out biscuits to children

We made it! - This is what we call "Adventurous Achievement".

We had our refreshing hot tea at the tea-shop while we waited for Mr Thee (Ms.Lee's husband who drove up this morning) to take us to KRS Pines Guesthouse in Tanah Rata.

Well done everybody

As clean as new

A celebration dinner at Sheng Ming Restaurant at 6.20pm

By 6.30pm nothing more to eat!

Day 04 (12.07.10) Tanah Ratah, Cameron > Gopeng

Only 4 mates woke up at 2.30am to watch the World Cup final. After breakfast, the car drivers left by taxi for Gopeng to pick up the cars from the resort and waited for us at Simpang Pulai bus stand. The rest of us left Tanah Rata by bus at 11am for Simpang Pulai and arrived there two hours later.

Flowers at the KRS Pines Guesthouse

http://krspines.cameronhighlands.com/

Special tea and nasi lemak for breakfast at an Indian shop outside our guesthouse

2.42 pm lunch in Simpang Pulai beside Public Bank

3.25pm tea break at Ching's house in Bandar Seri Botani Ipoh, before driving back home. Our team leader, Mr Neoh (standing) pointing at George said, " I am very happy that nobody gone crazy during the 4 days expedition".

Conclusion

The total distance trekked was more than 30km - 20km on the 2nd day taking 8 hours and another 5 hours to trek 10km on the third day. The toll on me was bloody, more than 50 itchy leech wounds, cuts and rashes on both legs. This was one of my toughest trails. Bernard said that even the highest mountain in Malaysia, Mt. Kinabalu is nothing compared to this trail.

It was not the altitude which made it challenging but the long trek and harshness of the terrain. Here you would find numerous rivers and stream crossings, lose ground on steep slopes, wet & slippery rocks, narrow trails that are overgrown with shrubs and rattan thorns, bees and leeches all the way.

The sense of accomplishment was well-deserved and we would remember this trail for a long long time to come with appreciation to the rivers and wilderness of the virgin jungle.

The RM200 per person for the 4 days adventure was no doubt definitely well spent. Many thanks to Mr. Neoh for taking us through and fulfilling our dreams.
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