Camping in Paradise - Jerangkang waterfalls

Date : 21 and 22 May 2011

50 of us signed up for the trip but at the end 39 turned up for the trip. Although some pullouts were last minute, the group was still considered big! I am sure everyone had a great time (that's an understatement? a HELLUVA time is more like it) and we scaled till about Teir 30.... (according to our waterfall king , Harry) It was a great trip for me, everyone was great, all cooperated in terms of timing and a special thanks to the group from Johor who started their journey at 2am. Its quite an effort I must say and kudos to the drivers!

For us from KL we started our journey at about 4am, a relaxing drive to Sri Jaya exit. We rested at Temerloh R&R and grabbed a quick bite. The journey from KL to Sri Jaya tol exit takes about 2 hours. After the exit, turn left and head towards Kuantan. Follow the road until you see Hutan Lipur Jerangkang, where you turn in if you are driving a 4WD.
Otherwise, pre-arrangements will need to be made to hire a 4WD to take you in. The drive is 13km right to the recreational park. (about 1 hour drive)

There are various campsites available depending on the size of one's group:
1. Right where the 4WD drops you, can accomodate 80-100 pax easily with washroom facilities
2. 15 minutes walk, 5 minutes inclined can accomodate 50 pax (beside the river)
3. 1 hour walk in (or maybe more) following a clear trail can acccomodate 8-10 pax (beside the river at about Teir 30)

Trekking time and terrain :

On moderate speed with some photography - An hour walk (maybe more if you are the type to jump into every pool that you can see) Easy trekking, clear trails every fall/cascade there is a pool to dive in. Water crystal clear, sandy base.

The pools have fishes in them, small but plentiful. The lower teir fishes are a little afraid while the upper teir ones will swim all around you! Of course you need to be feeding them :) 

Trekking bags also need space in the 4WD and lorry!

We camped near to this fall

Looking back

Merman in an infinity pool

This was where most of us stopped. Some scaled up the upper falls

Vanilla orchid (not that I know.....) I was informed by the botanist in our group!

Looks a little like Kedondong

Hiking up Gunung Berembun, Jasar and Perdah all in one day!

Date climbed : 17 May 2011

How to get there :

Travel time : 4 hours to Cameron Highlands

On Monday night, 16 May 2011, we departed to Cameron Highlands after work. I was in Alvin's car and we left from Bangsar at about 8.10pm. We arrive at the Tapah R&R at 10pm and waited for the rest to arrive. We finally departed from Tapah R&R at 11pm and headed towards Simpang Pulai on route to Cameron. The reason that we use Simpang Pulai is because we are spending a night in a temple in Kampung Raja. We arrived at about 1am.

At the temple:

We slept in the open (with roof cover) in the temple's stage. The floor is made from cement and can be cold! One would need a sleeping mat and sleeping bag to sleep comfortably at this place. There is proper shower and toilet facilities in the temple to wash up/clean up.

Our plan was to wake up at 7am the next day but most were awake by 6+ or so... some because of the cold, some because of mosquitoes, some not used to sleeping on the floor..... I had a good solid 3.5 hours sleep, from about 1.30am to 5am. After a quick clean up, we walked to the nearby shops for breakfast and packed lunch.

Gunung Berembun

We started at 9.10 walking through the gates of MARDI Centre heading towards jungle route 5. From the starting point of Jungle Route 5, we took 1.5 hours to arrive to the peak. The terrain is first 45 mins fairly flat and balance 45 mins about 50 degrees gradient (like Angsi). The return is the same way, taking only 45 mins to the starting point of the trek.

The starting point of the trail

 

Mid way. After this is when the ascend starts

 

Gunung Irau and Gunung Brinchang from the peak

 

After the trek, we stopped by Lord's Cafe (above Marry Brown) to have scones.... the strawberry cheesecake was YUMMY too..... and after all the fattening stuffs, we headed on to Jasar. (It already rained and stopped a few times while we were eating and some were contemplating if we should still go to Jasar)

Gunung Jasar

We got to Tan's Camelia Garden at about 3.30pm and with the photographers present, some surely had to spend some time photographing the gardens.... Mrs. Tan's garden is beautiful - full of flowers and herbs. Its a beautiful sight and nice feeling just to be in her garden.

We started at about 3.45pm and got to Jasar peak at about 4.35pm. The trek is not tough with some gentle slopes. One will come through a "lalang" space (like Broga) and you know you are on the right trek. Nice view at the peak and along the way.

Orchids at Tan's garden

 

Almost at the peak

 

Final stretch before the peak

 

View at the peak

 

Gunung Perdah

We headed on to Perdah at about 5pm after checking that we all have sufficient headlamps as it would surely be dark by the time we get out from the jungle. Facing the rock (as above) this way, the route to Perdah is at 1o'clock. Take that path and just follow it. It is a descending path all the way until almost at the peak a slight uphill for about 5 minutes. The hike into Perdah peak took about 30 minutes with several forks along the way. Follow the right path until the uphill hike which is on the left. At the top, there is another fork, take the right one. There are NO signboards along the way, so please be careful. We were lucky as we were approaching the peak, we heard a lot of voices and we just followed the voices to the peak. There was a very big group of students at the peak and they came up from the Kampung Ruil way. (only 15 mins from the Kampung)

It was raining pretty heavily and only the waterproof cameras can be used

 

As we took a short cut out into this Kampung (we felt it was safer than to back trek as it was getting dark) - we had to walk 4.5km from Kg Ruil into Tanah Rata. This took us another 1 hour to get back to Tan's Camelia Garden. I tried to hitch hike but no one would stop except a nice gentleman but then his pick up truck was covered. We wanted to get on to the back portion so that we would not dirty the person's car. So at the end we all walked all the way and then cleaned up at the garden. There is a bath/washroom for us to use at a donation.

We finished cleaning up at about 7.30pm and proceeded to Brinchang for organic vege steamboat.

We finished dinner at 9pm and left for home via the Tapah way.
I got back to Bangsar at 12.15am, all in all a great day of achievement. For all of us, its our first time doing 3 mountains in a day and then had to drive all the way back and work the next day! Special thanks to Alvin who arranged the trip and to all the drivers, you were all great!