Trekking Singapore and Beyond
The Journey of an Urban City Kid into Beautiful Nature

Finally, I will be going to Gunung Datuk, and its confirmed!

Gunung Datuk is located at Negri Sembilan in West Malaysia. According to what I know, the trek up will take less than half a day, but the view at the top is wonderful!

Here is what you get from the BOAC website

At 900m, Gunung Datuk is considered a short mountain and the hike up to the summit takes about 2-3 hours. The summit offers a splendid full 360 degree unobstructed panorama view of the entire state – you can even see the Straits of Melaka on a good day. To reach the summit, hikers need to climb up a ladder section near the top. Once atop, the summit feels windy as it is basically an exposed rocky outcrop and therefore can get a bit tricky to walk around on if there is a big group on top. This is a short interesting trek which can be completed by any reasonably fit hiker.

My journey there in December will take two days, leaving in the morning, and camping only one night there, rising early in the morning to see another magnificent sunrise from another mountain! I’m so looking forward to that!

Tags: gunung datuk

Its been some time since I discussed about my Kilimanjaro trip. Well, I got caught up with the daily things in life – work, school, stuff like that, you know… but anyway, I am still on and keen about Kilimanjaro, despite the fact that my friend said that it is just a “long Kinabalu”.

Its the peak of Africa!

My brother just bought me a heart rate monitor today as he was returning from Melbourne, and I think that will remind me to keep myself fit and ready for Kilimanjaro when the time comes. 2008 Kilimanjaro… I must!

I guess I will be making another trip to Mount Ophir, and my first trip to Gunung Datuk this December with NUS Rovers… just want to get out of Singapore for a while. We’ll see.

Tags: nus rovers, peak of africa

Yeah we had fun! This was done by one of the participants! You know, when I first watched the video, its like… such a wonderful feeling. I got to admit – sometimes, trekking is not so much about the nature, not about physical training, not about conquering mountains, but about the friends we make along the way, cooking and eating from 5pm to 1am, and telling each other corny jokes as we lie to sleep in the same tent.

Awesome!

Tags: berkelah

The Berkelah Waterfalls trip was simply wonderful! We did bump into a couple of issues, like having to take our breakfast before 5:30 (because it is the Malay fasting month), but all else was great. The group was very young and fun-loving, and I made many new trekking companions.

Oh! The rubber shoes were FANTASTIC for climbing slippery treks, and the thing is, its made of rubber, so it doesn’t stay wet! So it was a great feeling to wear dry shoes in the morning!

Anyway, the rubbish at the campsite is quite terrible. Its really really irritating to know that some people leave trash behind, and the look of it really stinks. How would you expect you sleep well when you have this 5 meters from you?

We as trekkers must always understand that by taking steps into nature, we are already destroying so much nature and all the eco systems and habitats. It is important to follow the golden rule – Take only photos, and leave only footprints.

Tags: berkelah waterfalls

Just yesterday night, a friend of mine called me and told me that one of the trek leaders of a trip to Berkelah waterfalls had to pull out because she had something urgent to settle, and she asked me if I could help to stand in… and yeah, it seems like a long while since I have get back to nature, and especially Berkelah Waterfalls, so I’m going!

Time to collect new photos of the toilet at the carpark, get used to walking on slippery mossy surfaces, and swimming in the natural jacuzzi of the waterfalls! I’m so excited about this trek because its was such a last minute thing – and it serves as a good time to do a refresher and recce for treks to run in Cynovate in the near future. I also need a break from everything in life, to keep my mind off all the nuances in the urban world and get back to greenery again, sleep with the ants, and experience the serenity of mother nature.

So well, I’ll update again after I get back! Oh! This trek will give me an opportunity to really put my rubber shoes to the test!

Tags: berkelah waterfalls

Trekking can actually be one of the best family activities – a getaway to somewhere to spend with only your family to stay for a night, makes the best family bonding experience ever! I know of a friend who goes to Berkelah Waterfalls with her whole family! Yeah! It sounds so fun isn’t it? I also remember that during my younger days, I made a day trip to Bukit Timah with my parents and brother!

Come to think of it, parenting is a skill most of us have to learn someday, and we all need to learn to appreciate the people around us, may it be our parents, children or friends.

Of course, Berkelah Waterfalls may not be the ideal place for everyone to go, because the trek can potentially be quite dangerous, especially for people who have less experience on trekking on slippery ground… but why not spend a night “field cooking” at Pulau Ubin, or for the tougher families – go for more challenging yet less dangerous (slippery) Mount Ophir?

Tags: appreciation, family activities

The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is on of the areas in Singapore gazetted as Nature Reserve in Singapore. Located off Kranji and Lim Chu Kang, this nature reserve features flora and fauna for both Mangrove and Fresh Water habitats.

Yesterday was the International Coastal Cleanup Day for Singapore, and over 280 volunteers from many different educational institutions in Singapore made a trip to the reserve to do their best to clean up all the trash! In the half day event, over 3 tonnes of trash was brought out from just 400m of the swamp. Data about the trash collected was recorded and profiled. Some of the volunteers found very peculiar things during the cleanup, like wooden chairs, diapers, and mattresses! You can find a good report of the results at the 2006 ICCS Results Page.

I think we all ought to do our part to keep places like this clean and green. Articles like plastic bags and carton tapes can strangle animals like crabs, essentially killing them.

One of the trekking places that has been really very much spoilt by trash is the campsite for Berkelah Waterfalls. Just beside the campsite, there is one huge collection of trash – and all these trash are not really biodegradable – most are plastics and food containers and etc. The look of the site is horrible, and imagine sleeping right next to a dump! It not only stinks the place, but also attracts unwanted insects and animals to the campsite. For example, we spotted a porcupine during one of our trips there, salvaging the trash for food.

The point is, its so easy to “contribute” to the trash. Everybody brings one food wrapper up and dumps it there, but the eventual result of this is that huge collection of trash, that is so unsightly. Clearing it up would require a lot of effort because of the sheer amount of trash there is.

So remember the golden rule whenever you ever venture into nature. Take only photographs, leave only footprints.

Tags: coastal cleanup, sungei buloh

Its been some time since the Kinabalu climb – that was in late June, and its already late August today! Really cannot wait to get back to nature and enjoy the serenity of mother nature… I think my trekking trips not only serve as an opportunity to get back in shape physically, but also gives my brains a break from all the hustle and bustle of this urban city life.

People in the city are too busy – busy with work, studies, family, business, relationships… and sometimes we just get so caught up that we don’t take time to think for ourselves. Take a break, and take a trip out of Singapore, venture out into the lushful green nature, and take time to reflect on your life!

I terribly NEED to make a trip to somewhere by the end of September, if not I’ll go nuts with all this stress! Really! Must go!

Tags: singapore trekking

I was talking to one of the current exco members of Rovers two days ago, and from her, I heard that they will not be doing Pelepah waterfalls anymore – because of the high cost. Its been a while since I’ve been there (last December) and though I heard stories about the need to get a trekking permit from the police station and stuff, I have not been updated that there is a need to pay RM150 for the permit? Is that true? In addition to that, trekkers are also not allowed to stay overnight at the beautiful campsite anymore – which is a terribly sad thing!

Contrary to the sad news, another friend of mine wanted to make a trip up (no overnight) recently – and not knowing that there is a need for the permit, she just walked in… and of course the guard stopped her. However, after some negotiating and bargaining, she managed to do her trek without the permit!

Pelepah / Lombong Waterfalls is really a nice place to trek – and the best part is – its so near to Singapore! Just over an hour away from JB! I remember during the time when I was in the committee, I made like almost 6 trips there in that year alone. It was like a “weekend getaway” kind of thing. AND, it has one of the nicest waterfalls, in my opinion. Arrrgh.

Well, I guess its time to move on to other treks!

Tags: lombong waterfalls, pelepah waterfalls

I was talking to one of my mentors today and we were chatting about life priorities and dreams. He asked me – where do you dream to trek?

Come to think of it, while I do have plans to conquer Kilimanjaro in 2008 (when I have the financial resources and time), I have not planned for further expeditions. Trekking trips take time to plan, to pack, to prepare all the equipment, to train… and I think that is what makes it fun. Unfortunately, not everybody can, or rather, is willing to spend that time.

I guess I have to set some goals on the treks I need to conquer again, to keep the momentum to clear Kilimanjaro, and beyond.

Its been a while since I have been to Lumbong, Berkelah Waterfalls, Ophir, and Stong. Alright, here is the list of treks that I shall be committed to complete before end 2007!!

1. Lumbong Waterfalls – 2D1N – September 2006
2. Berlekah Waterfalls – 2D2N – October 2006
3. Mount Ophir – 3D2N – December 2006
4. Gunung Datuk – 3D2N – December 2006
5. Gunung Stong – 5D4N – May 2007
6. Mount Kinabalu – 6D5N – June 2007
7. Gunung Tahan – 7D6N – July 2007

I think I really have to keep trekking. Lately, I’m getting caught up with work, but I need to get back to nature again, and learn to stay adventurous!

Tags: singapore trekking