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GUNUNG LEDANG JOURNAL by
Leonie Status
: Challenging and enjoyed Day 1 – Thursday, October 25,2000 As I was coming back from
work, it’s almost 9 p.m. I had my dinner as usual and a nice
bath after a full day frustration at work. I worked OT that
night and I came back late. After bath, I took a short nap to
rest my entire ligament and muscles. I almost felt into deep
sleep and forgot to pack. I called my cousin, Tony, about going
to Peter’s house for the night. After packing, I drove my 120Y
to pick up Tony. It was midnight. Day 2 – Friday, October 26,2000 In the next morning, Peter and Wendy disturbed us when they are doing final checking and packing. A very good morning to them, and we put our stuffs and everything inside Peter’s car. It’s 5.30 a.m., we had our stuffs prepared, brushed our teeth and depart to meet Jerry, Jamie and Richard in the Nilai Pit Stop, kekkeke. So we have all the members together. After a nice ‘TEH TARIK’ we continue our journey to Gunung Ledang with Peter and Jerry’s car. It took us around 2-3 hours to reach our destination. I does not really know exactly how long because I was totally knockoff along the journey. Upon reaching there, we had a nice breakfast with ‘char siu pau’ and hot drinks from a Chinese kopitiam in a town very near to the mountain. There was some misunderstanding when paying our bills. It’s nothing serious actually. When we are at the bottom of the mountain we saw a resort. A large parking space, and some shop lots. We were shocked when we checked in with the rangers, they charged us expensively. At approximately 10 a.m. we hike up the mountain. Basically there were many campsite, our tour coordinator (Wendy) recommended it would be better and nicer if we set our tent in Kolam Gajah. It was located at 2050 ft and took us 4 hours to reach there. Carrying our backpack with lots of load, we finally made it to the campsite. The hike was tough expecially with kilos of stuffs at our backpack. We had to take it slowly. I think it was hard to explain the toughness of hiking 4 hours straight up with kilos of loads, its all about tears!!!! I mean sweat, don’t get me wrong… hehehehe :o) It’s a good exercise for our knees and thigh!! This was my second time here; last time was 5 years ago when I was still a kid, a junior scout. Going to Gunung Ledang for 4 days training with my schools scout members. I still remember that we took 5 hours to reach our campsite. As soon as we reach the point, we say a wide area with a stream in the middle, a very suitable place to camp. But still we prefer to go in some more to look for a better spot. Wendy again recommended us a very nice spot. We didn’t see any people camping at the moment, when we reach our spot, we saw several people already setting their tent up. I think we are the third group who reaches this wonderful heaven. We set up pur tent as soon as possible because it’s already 2 something in the afternoon. Tony helped me with my 2 men tent while others helped Jerry and Peter’s 4 men dome tent. We had a very late lunch at 1430 hours. Our food for lunch was maggi mee. So, after lunch we run towards the stream just located next to our domain. It was cold and refreshing!!! Some of us took bath before lunch and some after lunch. The water was crystal clear, we used the water for cooking and drinking. And even for frosting our coke. I took all the mess tin and washed it in the river and Richard was playing water with me, so after washing I took bath with him and shared my shampoo and bathing foam with him. The sky was going to fall soon as we noticed it, many campers already setting up their flysheet. Next to our territory was a group of campers from KL also. I went outside to look for some wood and I was shocked to see the entire campsite in Kolam Gajah was occupied. I think there are more than 20 tent. It’s like a colony of colorful UFOs because majority of them was using dome tent. Some of them are from Singapore. Around our campsite also occupied and jammed up with tent. We took enough rest before preparing to cook dinner. It was going to rain soon, so we started to cook very early and managed to finish everything before it rains. Unfortunately our neighbour did not manage to finish their cooking before the rains come. The rain fell in heavy drops, pounding the canopy on top and smaller particle of the rain fell down to us. “Rain, rain go away come again another day”. That’s what I was wishing when it rains. So all of our members stuck under the flysheet. Luckily Tony managed to finish up his draining system before rains fall. The most effective drain system was Wendy’s. Mine was only about 1 to 2 inch deep, but Wendy’s one was more than 5 inch deep. It took her quite long to finish the drain. By the way, it was a good aerobic exercise. The rain pour for couple
of hours before dark. I used my gas lamp to light the area below
the flysheet. We all rested below it and chit chatting while
cooking a pot of red beans water. Late that night, Richard was
talking with the group of campers next to us, If I’m not mistaken
Richard can tell other people character by many factors. I didn’t
really listen to what they say because I was tired. There is
nothing special that night, just a little racoon eating some
rubbish near our place. Jerry and Richard each of them took
a nice photo of it. I slept early that night at 2230 hour. After
that I’m not sure whats happening. Day 3 – Saturday, October 27, 2000 The time was 0730, Peter and Wendy was boiling water for breakfast. Tony, Jerry and Jamie were still sleeping. Richard is exploring the entire Kolam Gajah and he found out the whole area was populated. Our quest that morning is to conquer Gunung Ledang by hiking up to the peak. A lot of people had already on their journey to the peak, but we are still hanging out in our campsite. After having a nice morning bath, we finally prepared ourself for the challenge. Precisely 10.30 in the morning, seven pair of poor humble legs started to move up to the steps of nature. Most of these steps are made of roots from old trees that are standing tall for millions of years. Just before the hike, some of us wipe some of Wendy’s Counter Pain on our restless knees and thighs. So the seven draft went inside the woods to search for the top of the world. Tony, Richard and I are taking the lead to catch up to the group of nice people that’s took of earlier than us. Soon, Richard is left behind because of the load he has to carry. In the front pack are some good trekkers and Tony and me. We manage to follow them because we didn’t carry any heavy stuff at our backpack. There’s a guy dunno what’s his name, carrying 2 tent and is going strong. I was totally amazed by his strength. He’s been always in the front row. And there are also 2 women in the most front walking without any hassle. Finally we reach “Sungai Segi Tiga”. Also a nice campsite, but nobody camp there. We had a rest besides waiting for the others. After 10 minutes or so, we can see some of our members and theirs are starting to merge out from the woods. Soon after refueling water bottles that’s already dried up, we started to hike again. This time, the spiderman (men with 2 tent and a big haversack) is in front of us. As we approaching the KFC (Killing Field Center) the hike became climb, we have to take it slow and steady. I manage to reach the Gua Kambing and of coz the spiderman is just behind me. I waited for Tony and others to reach, but the guy continued his climb after several minutes of rest. He is unbeatable. Soon after several minutes, I can hear Tony is shouting for joy because he finally sees a flat land. Hehhehehehe, I did that also when I reach Gua Kambing. I think I almost disturbed some rangers that are sleeping next to the Gua. The 2 big rocks that form the gua is as tall as a double story house with a white rope hanging from the top to the ground. We uses the rope to climb up the giant rock. We did took some picture when we are climbing the rocks with Richard’s camera. I have to confess to Richard that I accidentally took a picture after you passed me the camera. I need to balance the camera because I almost got loose of it and the camera went off suddenly. Nobody notices it, and we continue our climb. *Sign* Through out the journey we can see Jamie is whining but she’s tough inside. She went through all the difficulties with ease. She passed with flying colour and so do the rest of us. It’s only the beginning of the climb, ahead of us are rocks!!! And rocks!!! We climbed our palms out. My palm is already red in colour because of the rough ropes. We climbed up many cliffs there. It’s all straight up!!! Dun play play!!! Fingers already stiffed up!! So do my knees and thighs and ligament and muscles!!! Try to imagine that…. Kekekekeke :o) It’s very relieving when we can see the bonsai tree and natural air-con breeze up there. But we’re just only half way up the peak. We still have some walk plus climb to reach another campsite. The place is hot and botak!!! So maybe they call it Botak Hill, who knows? At botak hill, it was 3650 ft. After reaching the campsite, we look for shelter to protect from sunburn. I got some burning skin up there. We refuel our water bottle and had a quick snack before continue our journey to the top of the world, just assume. Well, we don’t have much choice… it’s just hiking and climbing and sometimes hanging on the cliff. We almost get lost there as we are looking for short cuts :o) Struggling with conflicts, we finally found out the short cut. It’s not easy, they say it is very though!! We used the short cut and we end up rock climbing!! Duh!! Scary man!! Still…. Challenging and fun…. Ekekkeke :o) Ahh!! Not to forget, when we are at botak hill there are a group of around 8 people up the peak shouting at us!! Hahahha we reply the echo. We also meet a white man, he’s very friendly, me and Richard had a short conversation there. According to this guy, he said it’s very dangerous way up the peak!! There are few KILLING slopes.. eekekeke ust exxagerating. Ok, back at the cliff climbing, we finally made it after struggle with the nature wall of rocks, that’s what I call it, hehe don’t mind? So!! Finally we made it. The group that shouted at us when we are at botak hill still there. We say hello to them. Friendly group 8o) After some shouting and jumping for joy, we started to snap photos and had our sandwiches as lunch. It was raining when we marched down to base camp. Of course we all are wet and tired by the time we reached our campsite. We cooked dinner and took
a nice bath at the stream. On the evening, all the members gathered
below the yellow fly sheet. We talked about jokes and other
stuffs…. Most of us are groaning because of the tough climb
since morning. Sleep then. |oO Day 4 – Sunday, October 28, 2000 As usual, we had breakfast. As today is the last day, we had mushroom soup. Thanks to Wendy… ekekkekek that was nice. Richard and I had a stroll around Kolam Gajah camp site. We manage to chat with other group that was from Singapore while we are walking around. We took some photo. Richard like to take photo. Well…. it was bye bye Gunung Ledang. We hike down straight to the ranger office to settle some rubbish business…. :o) Then, took bath and drive home. Before that, we manage to took a group photo with our neighbout campsite up there at the parking lot. We head straight to Melaka
for dinner. Shopping around, we really enjoyed walking along the
Pasar Malam and had cendol.
Conclusion, Gunung Ledang is consider a good place for hiking and camping!!! The stream is not poluted, unless we pee inside. And there is not much garbage than other places. The cons, entrance fee is a little bit expensive and need to pay deposit. Better bring extra cash if you are going to Gunung Ledang. If you do not like camping, you can rent their chalet. –n- {Leonie Lim}
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