Gunung Bunga Buah - Day Hike

My friend and I just got back from a day hike from Gunung Bunga Buah (Mount Fruits Flower), Genting Highlands.

At the start of the hike, we wasted 20mins looking for the entrance to the hill and fortunately thank God for his wisdom that we realise it didn't felt right and we thought the climb was too slippery to be a trail for hikers. With this, I thought I should post a few picture here, hopefully will be helpful for those who in need of direction.

Now, the starting point of Gunung Bunga Buah trail is located in Gohtong Jaya, 40km from Kuala Lumpur city. In the township, look for this bright yellow shoplot - Restaurant Har Wong (which mean King Prawn in Malay language) And since the entrance of the trail is located in a privately owned vegetable farm, it is advisable to park your car at the shoplot then walk.

Walk past Restaurant Har Wong

This wellness resort should be on your left as you walked in, on the left would be the first private vegetable farm (but not the farm you should walk in)

Here's the right farm house, walk along the fences

Entrance of the trail is on the left side of this picture. Walk through the visible path on the farm, but remember to be respectful because this is a private property, owner of the farm will have the right to refuse you from walking pass their farm.

Now, pay attention to where you walk, the entrance is rather small as the ribbon marking is quite tiny. Can you see the small space in between the 2 small tree, thats the right entrance. (this will be on the right side as you enter the path from above picture)

a close shot of the entrance with a tiny ribbon marking

Next, look for this, the first part of the ascend is a 45 degree uphill climb (note it is rather hidden, look for trail marking, it is there!)

after about 20 mins uphill climb, you will reach a folk road as shown in the picture, turn left walking uphill on the abandoned tarred road.

After approximately10-15mins on the tarred road, turn to the left, walk past the former quarry (a series of barren granite outcrops at the right side), look out for ribbon marking

Is a pity that Gunung Bunga Buah's peak was shrouded in mist when we arrived, there was no view. It took us approximately 4hours to reach the peak, it is quite an exhausted ascend as it has combination of up and down hill, do prepare enough water and pack your lunch. Weather wise, it is not cold nor warm. And by the way, go with a pair of shoes with good grips and you should wear long trousers if you do not want cuts on your legs.

The signage that mark the peak

Hiking Plan 2015/2016

Together with my friend, we plan to hike at least a mountain each month, leading up to our plan for EBC autumn 2016. 

Thus far, I sort of started earlier and here's what I've completed:

1. May - Rinjani (3726m)

2. June - Merbabu (3142m)
3. August - Liang (1933m)

4. October - Gunung Bunga Buah (1430m)
5. Nobember - Gunung Angsi
6. January - Bukit Apek/Putih (402m)
7. January - Bukit Kutu (1053m)

*I'll add on to the list as we make our climb.

Now, why do we climb/hike? I enjoy being in the wilderness, where everyone has no access to the virtual world that often seen these days, this is when everyone would look into each others' face and start talking. And of course I do it to keep fit physically and also for the spectacular view when you arrvive at every summit. Here's some of the pictures:

Trekking to Rinjani - what to expect

This was a long awaited trekking trip that I sign up months ago. Through an office colleague, I was introduce to Dody Adventure which I then join the group of 14 (11 Indonesian, 2 Aussie and 1 Malaysian) on a 5D4N Rinjani treks. Besides that, we also have 16 porters and 1 local guide coming with us, they are in charge of our logistics throughout the trip. Huge group hey.

The expedition was plan to start from Senaru, so all 14 of us had a night stay in Pondok Senaru, the cottage was lovely, I love how spacious the room is, and there were plenty of green around the cottage too.

Here's how our room at Pondok Senaru look like, I shared this room with a new friend, very co-incidentally we both adore cats.

Garden in front of our room, isn't it lovely?

They are plenty of monkey arpund this area, here's what happen during my 1 day at the cottage. While catching up happily outside our room's balcony, there's this wild monkey appear in front of us and suddenly started hissing at us vigorously, with those sharp teeth exposing to us, we panic. My friend automatic reaction was trying to shoo him away, however the monkey do not seems to be bothered but thank God he eventually climb away after 2 or 3 hisses. After the monkey left, we basically quickly dispersed into our room as well.

We later spent the rest of the evening in the cottage's restaurant, sipping coffee and continue our chats. 

while seated in the restaurant, a black kitty onto my lap and slept comfortably for at least 30mins, natural lap wrmer!

Let me now share on some useful info on logistic. 

Packing:  I reckon porters here prefer you pack stuff in carry bags than big backpack - this is so that they can tie your bag securely with strings, see below 2 pictures you will know why I said so. 

here's how our baggage are being pack

and this is how the porters would carry you baggage

In Rinjani national park, there is no guest houses like those in Nepal, every pit stop, you are to pitch a tent. In this trip we overnight in 3 locations:

Night 1 - Plawangan Senaru

Night 2 - Danau Segara Anak (lake side)

Night 3 - Plawangan Sembalun 

A few pictures to show you what to expect:

The interior of our tent, fits 2 person perfectly

The exterior of our tents!
Yellow - exterior of our tent from the pic above
Blue - the porters, they cook, eat and sleep in there.
Red - toilet

In case you are wondering where to bath? the answer is there is none, so prepare yourself to deal with no bathing for a few days.. Well, at least I can assure u should be able to dip your body into the hot springs near the lake side.

Now finally the most important part of the lodging - food! Don't you worry about not having enough food, with the local crew coming along, you will probably be eating none stop like I do! 

the kitchen

some of the food

I'll write about the 4D3N trek soon, stay tune.