A trip to Mulu Cave (Mohd Zulfadli bin Khalip)

To get yourself to Mulu Cave, a flight from Miri is needed because it’s the only airport that are close to Mulu’s little airport. For your information, only a small-sized plane can land and take off from Mulu Airport, and the airport itself, did not seem to be exactly like an airport. More to a market and some markets, are even bigger than this airport. From Miri, it only take us about 20 minutes flight. But if car is the option you take to get to Mulu, most people would consider it twice since the roads are a little bit extreme.

Now, talking about getting to the cave itself. When I was on the trip to Mulu Cave, me and my family stayed at my father’s quarters house. If my father didn’t work there, we’ll be paying for the chalet provided by the organization that arranged everything for people who want to get to the cave. Either from my father’s place or the chalet, everyone will take a boat, cruising through the clear river water of the Melinau River. It’s a really nice nature view everywhere during the journey with the boat.

When we are about to enter the cave, a guider will guide us because the road to the cave is quite adventurous, tiring, lots of sweat and maybe tears for someone! Imagine that! Mulu cave is divided into sections of caves. For us back then, we’ll only travel to the Wind Cave and the Clearwater Cave. The trip that took us to these two caves demanded a lot of sweat and honestly, it’s really, really, goddamn tired. The most adventurous road between these two is the road to the Clearwater Cave. We need to walk down from a hill because the cave located lower and within it, is a river in the cave! It’s really nice. When you are on the top of the hill, and you are looking down, you might say ‘I’m a dead man if a fall from this height!’. The river was really nice, and for some Penan people, there believe in something about the river because to them, it is rare to see a river flowing inside a cave.

For the Wind Cave, it is named because the windy condition in the cave itself. It is cool, it feels like you are on a highland like Cameron Highland and Kundasang, except for the fact that you are not in an actual highland. Inside the cave, I’ve seen a lot of weird looking stalagmite. Even for some, it looks like a woman wearing a scarf! Some are shaping like the World Cup (I mean the football World Cup). The guider told us to be really silence, so that we can hear the sound of the wind (according to him and that is true). I felt the wind touches me with its cool hands. Some say, the Wind Cave at night is another story. I guess, I won’t be telling the story here. There’s a lot of story about this Mulu Cave, and it is fun to hear them.

Finally, our journey was done. We take some relaxing moments near a little natural swimming pool nearby the cave. The guider told me that the water in the pool, is from the Clearwater Cave’s river. I don’t care about that, as long as it is nice for me to swim, it is considered as okay!

Clearwater Cave, the water makes you wanna jump!

Left or right? Both are awesome!

The majestic scene in Wind Cave

Get to this cave! You’ll see what the nature offers to us. The journey was unforgettable. In the near future, I’ll come again because there are still caves that waiting for my return to Mulu.

Mother nature gave us her bless with this wonderful panorama.

Fishing at The Sibuti River, Miri (Mohd Zulfadli bin Khalip)

Fishing at the Sibuti River, Miri.

            Yes, Sarawak’s rivers are famous with the crocs, the modern Malaysian man-eater. For some people, who are hungry for prawn fishing, it is not a big deal. Locals used to say, where there are crocs, there are big prizes awaits.

            For me, prawn fishing at the Sibuti River, which is located in Miri, Sarawak (approximately an hour drive from the city) is one of the best experiences I have ever had. I’ve came in many occasions when I am free from any kind of works. During the last semester break, me and some other friends set up a day where we will be gone into the boat for the whole day.

            Once we are in the boat, we row the boat that we have borrowed from my friend there. And of course, when you come to a place where there are motorbike-sized crocs, everyone must be alert to the surrounding. We set up the boat under a tree, so the sun’s heat would not burn us all.

I got some!

            Sibuti River also becomes the passage that connects some small village that still use the river as their main ‘road’ for communication. While we are fishing, some boats passed. The people are kind of friendly. Even if you are a complete stranger, they still smile towards you. Most of the people who lived nearby the river are the Kedayans, the Mirieks and Malay.

A local fisherman passed our boat.

We fished the whole day, from morning until the evening. Since we came by riding motorcycle, we really wish to get back home before it is night (we are hungry and tired too!). The whole trip was amazing, as each of us managed to get at least 20 plus of multi-sized prawns. Some are only as big as our finger, some are big enough that are qualified enough to be called the Prawn Father (because of its head is almost as the same size of my wrist, quite big for river prawn).

These can make RM100 for you.

Wanted and captured!

Weekend at Sungai Chiling (Khairil Asyraf bon Roslan)

   My trip to Sungai Chiling last November was probably one off the most memorable time in my life. I was joined by another 24 student from Kolej Pendeta Za'ba, UPM. We were on a trip organized by The Recreational and Rakan Muda Exco of Kolej Pendeta Za'ba.

   Our journey begin at Kolej Pendata Za'ba office where all the participant were gathering. Before the trip, we were brief by the organizer about the trip. After the briefing, each one of us were given orders to carry each item that we were going to need during the trip. Among the item that we need during the trip were tents, parang and others. 

   We departed from Kolej Pendeta Za'ba at noon and arrive at Sungai Chiling at 4 pm. On the way to Sungai Chiling we went by the Selangor Dam, the scenery was amazing. As we arrived there, we have to register at the station there. We were told to pay RM200.00 as a deposit to rent the camp site. The deposit will act as a leverage so that we will not make any mess at the camp site. The money will be returned once we check out of Sungai Chiling. 

  

   The entrance to Sungai Chiling

  We set up our camp site after registering. There were two large tent for the boys and 3 cube tent for the girls. After setting up our camp, we begin preparation for dinner, the boys were ask to find fire wood and setting up the stove while the girls were ask to prepare the meal. Our dinner that night was chicken barbeque and several other dish. After dinner we all go to sleep.

   On the next morning, after subuh prayer and breakfast, we were getting ready for our trip. Our journey to Sungai Chiling was going to take about 1 hour trekking. All of the participant were given life jacket because the track require us to cross the river 5 times. 

 The participant preparing the tent

The participant preparing dinner

 The participant crossing the river

The second crossing

 The third crossing

    The fourth crossing

The final crossing

After five crossing we finally arrive at Sungai Chiling waterfall. After an hour of challenging trekking, the journey was worth it. the view of the waterfall was spectacular and beautiful. 

Some of the image of the waterfall

the view was breathtaking 

Bukit Lepoh Waterfall - A Hidden Panoramic Waterfall (Ahmad Rusidy bin Rosli)

Nature’s Beauty

We look around at nature’s beauty 

whose harvest is bounty full. 

The mellow green of the trees 

in which small birds make their home. 

The multi-shades of blue of the sea 

where beneath the fishes live. 

Everywhere you look, 

we see something of nature’s beauty 

that surrounds you and me. 

Even the grotesque 

have a beauty of their own. 

Nature’s beauty surrounds us 

and all we have to do 

is stop a while to see 

all the beauty 

that surrounds you and me.

David Harris

Bukit Lepoh Waterfall, a hidden, scenic and a breath-taking nature deep inside the jungle of Bukit Lepoh, Hulu Langat. Located deep in the jungle and miles to hike made it almost unreachable for everyone especially for those who could not handle extreme activities. It may take an hour or more to reach the waterfall, depending how tough the visitors are. The trails are ascending with roots appear like stairs and it takes large amount of energy making way up. However, for nature lovers, nothing would stop them to fill their passion.

The journey to the waterfall took us an hour from Universiti Putra Malaysia. With highways and roads making it accessable and reachable. In addition, on our way to Bukit Lepoh, there are a few other natural attractions nearby such as Sungai Congkak, Sungai Gabai waterfall and hot springs. Bukit Lepoh, meanwhile took us deeper into Hulu Langat into village areas. 

At the foothill, there a few facilities like chalets, shops and stalls for visitors where they enjoy swimming in the river flowing from the hill. We parked there and there are few aborigines would claim the parking fees which is RM3 per car. When everything was done, we were ready to take down the hill.

Before the journey up to the waterfall

The Waterfall

Unexpected meeting with foreign tourists, Dave from California and Ron from Ireland 

Tengas fish that we managed to catch in the pool

Apart from that, the visitors also could slide on the waterfall making it more exciting for the visitors

Here are some videos that we took during our visit to Bukit Lepoh waterfall

Bukit Lepoh waterfall is surely a must-go for nature lovers. With its challenging trails on the way up, it is a complete place to visit for eco-tourists. Never miss the hidden nature wonder.

There are a few suggestions for those who want to visit Bukit Lepoh waterfall.

• Do not make too much noise while hiking the hill.
• Do not bring too much loads. They might become a burden once we are tired.
• Beware of leeches. 
• Prepare some protection in case of wild animal attack.
• Do not take any strange fruits. Might be poisonous. 
• Do not litter in the jungle.
• Bring first aid kit in case of emergency. 
• Wear proper shoes or sandals. Trails might be slippery during rain.
• Enjoying the waterfall during rain is not advisable. 
• Take none, left none. Protect nature.

ENJOY!