Just Jerangkang

Jerangkang Waterfalls and Berkelah Waterfalls are next to each other. I have been to the latter and have proclaimed it the most dramatic waterfall in Malaysia. It truly is because I have been to numerous waterfalls and I can't find any waterfalls as close to being dramatic as Berkelah's.

Berkelah Waterfall - Oh So Dramatic

I have no idea what kind of vehicle that can be used to access this waterfall but I was told that a normal kereta is impossible. Hence, my Boneshaker was ruled out. FYI, "Boneshaker" is referring to my old Proton Iswara Aeroback. I once dated this stewardess and took her out with my Proton Iswara Aeroback. She dubbed it the Boneshaker after our date was over : (

My Boneshaker

Anyway, I chucked my mountain bike into my Boneshaker and drove all the way to Maran, parked at the roadside, reassembled my MTB and put on my back pack. My back pack consisted of my Coleman tent and food supplies. With enthusiasm and a heavy backpack, I jumped on the seat of my MTB and rode away. The iPod blared the song “Nobody But Me”, adrenalin rushed through my entire body like a bat out of hell and it was like the last scene from the movie "City Of Angels"

FREEDOM !!!!!!

30 minutes into MTB ride, I stopped and puked !!

Backpack in the background
Reason : Fatigue, a heavy backpack and lack of MTB training.

You see, I have been diving a lot and waterfalls have pretty much taken a back seat. Don’t get me wrong. I still love my waterfalls but for the time being, the underwater world is my passion. With the MTB by the side of the road, I waited for a 4WD with an open cabin to drive by. How do I know there will be one? I just know. And true enough after 10 minutes, a 4WD with an open cabin drove by. The driver is a Chinese man who manages a timber camp further down the route to Jerangkang. And funnily enough, he said he has never been to Jerangkang despite passing by the Jerangkang entrance so many times.

Prior to puking my guts out, I was already pushing my bike and three cars drove by. They asked me the direction to Jerangkang and never even offered me a lift. Their 4WD had no open cabins but a courteous gesture warms the weary heart don’t you think?

The old uncle dropped me off and I thanked him because he had the courtesy to give me a ride since I was in a remote and desolute place.

I was happy I had reached Jerangkang but I sighed when I saw six to seven 4WDs. Also, the three cars that did not offer me a ride just arrived and I rode pass them and said “ Thanks for offering me a ride”. They looked confused from my statement.

Crowds are my kryptonite so I locked my bike and trekked further up to look for a suitable place to camp. As usual, my requirements for a camp site :

1. Open Space - I’m a bit claustrophobic

2. Water nearby

And this is the spot I chose.

All by myself Along the way to my campsite, there were numerous emerald jade color pools which made me jumped in over and over again. Who could resist these pools?

After setting up camp,

I decided to trek further up. In the beginning, I used the jungle trail and I hate...just hate canopies. Then, I came to a section where the inclination was very steep and decided to use the sides of the waterfall for an easier route albeit, a deadly one. One slip and …......

After one gruelling hour and having tonnes of confidence in my Teva’s,

I reached the top and was rewarded with an infinity pool. Love love love natural infinity pools. My last natural infinity pool was at Jangkar Falls with Michael Lo.

Such a coincidence that both Jangkar and Jerangkang Falls had an infinity pool and they share the same J, A, N, G and K alphabets !

Mucking around the infinity pool and feeling a little hungry and tired, I decided to swim to the other end of the pool before going back to my campsite. When I reached the other end, to my astonishment, there was another mega waterfall and rightfully so, the Jerangkang Waterfall.

The Jerangkang Waterfall

The Jerangkang Waterfall..Wonder what's beyond?

Coming down, I used the jungle trail because coming down via the sides of the waterfall would be suicidial. The time clocked at 5pm and I did absolutely nothing but swim, sat by the rocks admiring the waterfall, admiring the clear river water, admiring my tent and also admiring the feat of getting there by myself with all my gear. Good classic outdoor stuff.

Being alone once in a while is like refueling

Jeram Penitih

As I have been travelling quite regularly to the East Coast, I decided to make quick stop at Jeram Penitih which was first explored by our Godfather Of Waterfalls, Mr Jan Stuivenberg.
Using Jan's info as a guide, I also obtained info from www.kemamanguide.com and called up the number to ask for general directions since it's a kampung road. Iinitially just wanted to meet up with the guide and have him point out to me the direction but he vehemently insisted that if I went on my own, I would not find the falls. Sigh, little did he know, he was talking to Malaysia's No.3 ranking waterfall hunter. When I asked for payment, he said I could give him any amount I liked but usually he charges RM180 per person. Sigh, again, little did he know, I have a waterfall named after me.

We went in 2 cars as he has his plantation and fish farm inside. At the beginning of the road going into the plantation, I suddenly braked because the road ahead was filled with huge potholes. To those who has driven into Lata Kijang, the road leading into Jeram Penitih is 10 times worst and I've driven a couple of times into Lata Kijang with my Proton Boneshaker. So , go figure.

Like Jan's picture depicts, you can see the border between palm oil plantation and pure virgin jungle. The fine line between safety and lawlessness. Halfway in the jungle, the guide stopped his car and got out to show me tapir footprints. I'm not an expert in tapirs so I just accepted what he said and truth be told, I got a little excited.

We stopped and crossed the stream. Super duper clear. Like Ayer Hitam kind of clarity.

Along the way, he pointed out to numerous herbs and even memorized their scientific names. Very impressed. My initial token of payment went from RM30 to RM50 now. He also showed me that if someone is lost, they should use the back of a parang and knock on the giant tree root and when he did so, the sound resonated throughout the whole jungle. He said this is the way to be found. RM70 now. Right before we reached the first fall, he asked me to find my bearings - North, South, etc. I couldn't tell because the sun was covered by the canopy above. He said all I have to do is ask the trees. Just ask the trees. So we went closer to one tree and he gestured me to come to the other side. I could see moss growing only on one side and the other side had no moss whatsoever. He explained that the side that had no moss is the side where the sun shines, therefore, that is your East. Wow...increased to RM120.
First Fall
The first fall was not tall nor impressive but the the water was magnificently clear. The pool could fit at least 4 people and it was deep too. From the starting point to the first fall took half an hour. First Fall
If the guide did not stop every 5 minutes to inform me that a labisa pumila could enhance the penile function, we would have made it in 10 minutes.Kacip fatima?
OUr journey continued to the 2nd level which was a cascade and reached the 3rd level in 5 minutes. The 3rd level was more impressive. Slightly higher falls but no pool.

According to the guide, there are probably 30 more falls above but level 5 was the limit. I wanted to continue but he said it may take some time and looking at my schedule, I agreed and we turned back. On the way, he showed me his fish farm and how he would like to turn it into a homestay complete with fishing, waterfall and jungle trekking. Currently, his fish ponds and shack are extremely basic but he has already hired 3 security guards Security
to protect his property. I gave him a few advice like to add in night walk services, etc and wished him luck. He sent me back to my car and I bid him adieu. All in all, it was a very informative trek seeing that I always trek alone and he went out of his way to accomodate me. At the end, I gave him RM100 for his effort.

Petra

If you are in the Jordan, do one thing and one thing only and that is to visit the enchanting and imposing facades of Petra. I’m not talking about the Malaysian company , the Petra Perdana Group of Companies which was sued by Bruce Willis. I’m talking about Petra – one of the recently nominated 7 new wonders of the world which was famously shown during the final scene of Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade. Petra can stir up some raw emotions I tell you. IMG Skip Amman, the capital city of Jordan if you have to. Every foreigner tells you so at the bus station and they were right. Cairo and Damascus trumps Amman any given day. Imagine Amman as Seremban. Exactly, nobody goes to Seremban.

It takes 5 hours by bus from Amman to Wadi Musa, the village surrounding Petra. Riding on a somewhat shabby bus, it is hard to ignore the merciless sun searing through the thin black curtains hung by the window. It is also hard to overlook the sight of countless discarded mineral water bottles strewn along the highway throughout the journey. PLUS Highway, we are not worthy. Not only that, the endless desert landscape was too much to bear. There was sand everywhere. Not a single blade of grass. You see, I've been in the Middle East at that time for 3 weeks already and I’ve ooo-ed and aaaah-ed at the dramatic desert landscapes, jagged mountains and endless spaces in Syria and Lebanon. So yes, I was a bit sick of the scenery. Just like visiting the temples in Thailand. Gung ho and filled with zeal while at the first two temples but by the third temple, one will heave a sigh so loud that it can be heard all the way to Sungai Golok.

I arrived at Wadi Musa and as with all backpackers, headed to Valentine’s Inn. The worst part about Valentine’s Inn is that the proprietor replays the above said Indiana Jones movie on an everyday basis just to emphasize the obvious. But the pleasant part of Valentine’s Inn is that you get this sunset view everyday.

Glorious Sunset

If you like me and this blog and you’re going to Petra, trust me with this advice: be at the gates of the Petra ticketing office by 6am. The ticket for a one day entrance is JD50 which converts to RM215.00(It is expensive but worth it). Locals pay JD1. So, be there at 6am and try to be first person to walk into Petra.

Medang Falls

It's been so hot these days during the afternoons that one shouldn't waste the glorious sunshine at home. I made the effort to explore a recently discovered waterfall nearby Selangor. Besides the enigmatic Chilling Waterfalls in Kuala Kubu Bahru, there were no other dramatic waterfalls left in the Selangor region. So, finding this waterfall was necessary for a salubrious mind.

Cascades along the way
Green pools

Practising my macro photography skills
The journey was fairly easy I might say except for a section where the ascend lasted for a good 30 minutes. Once I surmounted that labourous task, I was greeted by a charming mini waterfall with a mini pool surrounded by crsytal clear mountain water.

A Waterfall To Call My Own