A daypack to Gunung Berembun & Telapak Buruk

 

        We did it! A day backpack from the foot of Berembun mountain to B24 Liberator British Fighter Jet crashed location and continued to Telapak Buruk peak ! We started at 8am from Berembun trailhead, almost 3 hours picnic at the peak and crash site and made our way out at Telapak buruk at 6.30pm.
The wet weather provided us with a challenging trail together with our constants companion, leeches the bloodsuckers.
Alhamdulillah, we made it as well as safe and sound out from the jungle. Most of all, we had fun still.
   

  A few days after I came back from camping at Legendary Gunung Ledang, I was summoned to hike again. A few participants whom I met during our Ledang trip invited me for their next hike. Although the sore still shrouds my legs, the temptation to be surrounding by nature hard to resist.. so, I agreed to join them again.


The plan was instead of entering from Telapak Buruk trail down to Gunung Berembun peak, we decided to hike from Gunung Berembun trail, up to the B24 Liberator British Fighter Jet crashed location site and then continue hikes to the peak of Gunung Telapak Buruk in just a day Backpack!
(sounds like doing trans, hmmm.. I'm not sure if my body is up for the challenge, but my mental is definitely ready .. phew!!)

After discussing and planning all the necessaries that we need, as early as 4.30am we left KL on 21st November heading to R&R Seremban for our breakfast and regroup with the rest of participants.
(Me, Intan, Rashid hop on into Hani's car and drove by Abbas). All 20 of us, a combination of all age in five cars drive through the cooling morning and heads to Klawang, N.Sembilan. All excited, looking forward to the adventure and discovery.

We embarked to the location site near Kampung Pantai, parked our cars closer to the water station area, briefing, doa and some stretching before we step into the trailhead at 8 am.
Dianz, whom I first met at Pinetrail several weeks ago was trusted to leads the group and the kind-hearted Abas responsible as a sweeper. Meanwhile, Rashid (a.k.a Aaron Aziz ..haha), Hani, Dekwan, they are in between the whole group, making sure no one is left behind or separated.

The path rises and drops gradually (as we pass small streams) and snakes its way on the left bank of the river valley. I carefully marched down the trail along with others, watching my every step and maintaining my pace. (After several hikes, I've learned about the pace and conserving my energy). Am, (just like in Ledang) was patiently walking behind me while helping to carry the white box filled with cake!

We reached Lata Berembun around 8.45am and took slightly more than 1 hour to arrived at Gua Kambing. (Along the way, we passed camp site and waterfall, and had to walk on the fallen tree to cross the stream with our constants companion, leeches and stumbled into a python with a size of human thigh curled up in the mid of the trail!).

Reaching Gua Kambing, we bumped into other groups of hikers and we greeted each other. The weather seems promising with the clear sky. We took a rest for a while and as usual posed for pictures, while the guys filling up the empty bottles with water before we continued our journey.


From Gua kambing, we had to climb the steep trail almost 90-degree angle, I look up and started scratching my head (Remembering the story about my other hikers friends on their miss unfortunate incident, I pray harder that our journey will be blessed with safety).


The trail is too slippery due to the current wet weather. I watched other members in front of me as they carefully climbing up and hold tightly on to the rope and scattered roots, before my turn to go up. Not only some level of fitness and stamina, but safety and a basic survivor skill definitely required on this trail.
(At that moment, I found myself saying why would I want to leave my comfy bed and get bitten by the bloodsuckers, covered with dirt and sweat all over.. oh boy! I guess, I must be loving it LOL)

We reached the peak of Gunung Berembun at past 12pm after almost two hours crawled to the top. I take a deep breath slowly exhale it to relieve the fatigue that envelops me. The men began to cook and prepare meals for us. Sitting cross-legged on the ground and joking each other, we fill our hungry stomachs with rice and preserved fish, fried eggs, and drink hot black coffee!

Some other hikers who enter from Telapak Buruk trail started to flood the peak and we greeted each other. Suddenly the weather change and drizzling. We pack up after we finished eating, took group pictures and continued our journey to the crashed site.

After more than an hour walking, we arrived at the site where the B24 Liberator British Fighter Jet crashed down the ravine almost 200 meter deep on 1945 during the world war 2. ( I was told before that the remained of the 7 passengers who perished in that crash were buried nearby the body of the plane..)

Some of us went down the ravine to see the wreckage while me and a few others taking a break and snap some pictures.

Around 45 minutes later (at 4.45pm), we continue our hike to the peak of Telapak, I look up and watch the sky changing it color, I knew its gonna rain and according to the info we need to walk another 2 hours to reach the peak of Gunung Telapak Buruk. 

We hurriedly walk, but it was slippery with a couple of long upwards stretches which hardened our journey. I was afraid that my left knee gonna hurt again and had to stops several times to catch my breath. We finally reached the peak of Gunung Telapak Buruk at 6.30pm.

A Long Walk in the Park - Pinetree trail

Instead of being holed up in KL and venting out about Jerebu, we are breathing in the fresh air while strolling through the rainforest trails paths at Pinetree trail Fraser Hill, Pahang.
This cooling retreat destination nestled quietly at 1524 meters above sea level among the Titiwangsa mountain range and took about two hours drive from Kuala Lumpur. It is one of the most enchanting Highlands in Malaysia.

Our trip to Fraser Hill started three weeks after our hike to Mount Nuang, Hulu Langat recently. This time we choose to trek Pinetree trail at Fraser Hill, a peaceful retreat destination locally known as Bukit Fraser. The highland was named after Louis James Fraser who set up a tin-ore trading post in 1890.
There are other trails too and each told a different story, but Pinetrail has the most challenging trail and offers a different perspective to adventures seeker. It takes 3 to 4 hours trekking to get to the peak (depending on your pace and how many times you stop). Many said it is the most difficult trail among the eight trails offered in Fraser Hill, probably because it has a long trail.

“I plan to hike Pinetrail soon”, Linda told me, whom I get to know from another friend during my early hiking. She started to gathers the participants. Without a second thought, I jumped and say yes! I’m in! my eyes sparkled.

Finally, six of us, Khairul, Linda, Zamri, Intan, Liza and me agreed to do a day pack to Pinetree trail.
We started our journey from Kuala Lumpur on 24th October at 5.30am and stop by at R&R Rawang to regroup and have breakfast.
Leaving Kuala Lumpur at that hour, our view was obscured by the early morning fog mixed with the haze that has engulfed the environment for the past few weeks.
As soon as we finished our breakfast, without wasting time we proceed our way to Fraser hill via Kuala Kubu Baru, Khairul jumped in to our car and take over the driving seat.
Reaching the Fraser hill we registered ourselves at the nearby polis station and informed the officer on our plan to hike the Pinetrail.

Before heading to the trail head, we stopped for awhile at the clock tower to take a few pictures, there were other hikers taking a group photo too, we exchanged a smile and greet each other.

After we parked the cars and all gears up, we walk steadily towards the entrance with a huge signboard which located about 20 metres from the TM Bungalow. There, we bumped again into the same group which we met at the clock tower earlier. We waited for our turn to enter the gate and took another group picture before we step into the trail at around 9.15am.
The freshness of air greeted our faces as if a signed of welcoming us, all eyes sparkled excitedly.


I’ve been here twice and still enjoying the trail as the first time, it is one of my favorite trails. I love the cool fresh air on my face while strolling down the trail.
We strolled in slowly like walking in the park through a few set of stairs. A few minutes after we walk our eyes served with the view of hill and valley thought it wasn’t that clear due to the haze.
There are also several huts at the beginning or the trail with the information on plants. As we walk deeper and began to explore the trail a new sense of wonder and appreciation enveloped us.

The winding trail with the distance of 5.5 KM to the peak marked clearly; there is the time we had to crawl on top or under a few fallen trees. Along the way, we stumbled into growing moss, pitcher plants, kingdom of fungi and huge tree root.
We found special pleasure in leaving the city for a little-used back road. Walking atop logs and taking some nice pictures made us feel like little kids again.We were lucky to have Intan and Zamri who is expert in photographer and video. 

After almost two hours walking down the trail we passed by a beautiful tree roots formation resembled a canopy, like a little kid in a candy store Liza, Linda and me crawl on top of it while Intan was trying to choreograph us for some nice pictures. We took several nice pictures before we continue walking.

There was also a small campsite area and water point with a clear signboard available an hour from the peak.
My left knee suddenly feels pain and I had to walk slowly and let the rest of us walk first while Zamri stays behind me.
We finally made our way to the famous vertical rocky section where we had to use the fixed rope to climb up with a steady foothold required. Linda, Khairul, Intan and Liza were waiting at the bottom of rope section.
I look up and remembered my first time on this rope section, I wasn’t able to go up alone.. lucky one of our hiking buddy always surprised us with his gears. I smiled and reach for the rope.

We finally standing on the summit at around 12.45pm and joined other hikers in the solitude of nature. We are infiltrated with a sense of satisfaction.
The peak is surrounded by beautiful mossy trees, the weather felt great although the view wasn’t that clear due to haze. We decided not to proceed to another peak known as twin peak but took out our food supply and filled our hungry tummy. I recommend you to bring enough drinking water.

After resting and enjoying the cool air at the top of the peak, we took our group pictures and decent at 2.30pm as we decided earlier.
Walking back in a slow pace with the pain in my knee made the trail seemed never to end. I gathered all my strength and tried to forget my pain, Linda was patiently watching my back while we let others walking in front of us. I keep talking to her to distract my pain. The sounds of leaves and the feeling of wind blowing my face helped easy my pain too. In my mind, I said to my self “Oh I want to come back here again... I love the trail”..
We finally reach the entrance at 7.30pm, exhausted, hungry and in pain… all I can think is a bowl of soup with rice!


Picture credit to: Intan Baizura & Zamri Mustafa

Essential make-up components when traveling

                    One of the most exciting parts when planning for travel is packing. Packing means not only considering your travel outfit, but also the right toiletries bag including a few make-up components especially for women is an essential.

Weather you heading for a short weekend or a long adventure trip and carrying more than 20 kg backpack, you don’t need to lose your feminity. You are going to meet new people daily and you certainly want to look good and received a good impression.

You don’t have to bring your whole make up case, as with every other packing list when you are thinking thought what makeup to bring, start with the basics and build your essential beauty kit like the sunscreen, tinted moisturizer, lip color, mascara and eye liner, invest in a set of travel make-up brushes and consider products that multi-task. 

Don’t forget nail clippers and tweezers. Plan your make-up kit packing according to your packing goal and destination: checked or carry-on.   

You can also just pop into the nearest drug store to get your travel make up kit that you need. Apart from the essentials skincare in a handy cosmetic care, as low as RM100 there’s more brands that offering travel-size version for make-up like compact palettes which is incredibly convenience for travel.

Brands like cover girl & Revlon do the job well and won’t break your wallet. In practice you can or will be able to buy any make up supplies you need while traveling. This makes even more sense if you plan to take your bag as carry-on when taking flights as regulations are in force limiting you to 100ml of liquid or cream per item.

Aside from the make up, you also might need a headband and bobby pins which can give you a different look without much effort. Don’t forget your travel first-aid kit, just what you need to get through any emergencies until you next get to pharmacy. It should include something for the sore throat, adhesive tape, gauze pads, aspirin, antiseptic wipes, antiseptic cream or some ointment.

Make your trial pack to ensure your toiletries and make-up travel bag is the correct size for your intended packing goal. You’d be surprised what you can fit into a smaller bag!