Fujisan 富士山🗻

Another epic climb of 2017 added to my climbing bucket list - Mt Fuji, Japan!

Mt Fuji is very popular in Japan, with both foreigners as well as locals. There are 4 different trail options you may choose from before you decide which to go for. Quick key info that tells the different:

Fujinomiya Trail: starts at 2,400masl (has a total of approximate 260mins climbing time) - steepest

Gotemba Trail: starts at 1,450masl (has a total of approximate 520mins climbing time) - longest

Subashiri Trail: starts at 2,000masl (has a total of approximate 310mins climbing time)

Yoshida Trail: starts at 2,305masl (has a total of approximate 350mins climbing time)

Here's our climbing itinerary, we first went on a 3hrs warm up hike at Mt Ashigara aka Mt Kintoki at 1,212masl from approximately 650masl the day before. This is because our group lead wanted to access how we cope with climbing. 

The next day, we commence our Mt Fuji ascend from Gotemba trail head 5th station at approximately 1,450masl to the 7.9 station at 3,290masl to rest before ascending to the peak for sunrise the next morning. Ascend from the 7.9 station to summit takes approximately 90mins and most people start climbing at 2.30am.

The descend was then from Mt Fuji peak via Fujinomiya trail detour to Mt Hoei at 2,693masl reconnecting to descend to bus station via Gotemba trail head.

Mt Ashigara/Kintoki at 1,212masl

Mt Fuji at 3776masl in the land of the rising sun!

Hollow rainbow in the land of the rising sun!

Mt Hoei at 2,693masl on a very wet morning

Mulu Pinnacles view point

I finally did Pinnacles! Yes it was one of those few finally kind of trip, I favour adventure, any kind of adventures or outdoors; hence the Pinnacles view point at Mulu National Park has long catches my attention.

After a 2-year delay, here I am, standing in awe admiring God's majestic creation. But hey, my new friend took 10-year to finally climb up this infamous Pinnacles in Mulu National Park, Sarawak. I didn't wait that long after all.

So, the climb typically can be completed in a 4 days 3 nights trip from KL, Malaysia:

Day 1 - travel into Mulu National Park via MASwings

Day 2 - Long boat ride to Long Litut then a 9km walk in the forest on very flat terrain to Camp 5.
Day 3 - ascend of 2.4km to the Pinnacles view point takes approximately 3.5hrs, then another 3hrs descent to Camp 5. The terrain is mostly very steep.

Day 4 - depart camp 5 to Long Litut, then hop onto the long boat ride out to the National Park, loiter in the park till flight home!

A 4 days 3 nights trip will also give you some opportunity to explore some of the caving adventure. If you are extreme caving adventure, do not missed explore Mulu caving, heard it has not disappoint any caving enthusiast.I did not do any caving, instead manage to squeeze in a 10km run near the homestay in the park, plus manage to swim at the Çlearwater cave hut which I missed during my first trip to Mulu many years ago.

Shot during the run

at camp 5, a very wet 9km walk from Long Litut

less than 100m to the peak - last ladder I think

Panorama shot from my phone

Next, Mount Mulu !

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.

Baduy - the self devided group

Baduy people (pronounce as Badui) who often call themselves in Indonesia language 'urang kanekes' is a tribe that lives 6 hours away by car from the extreme hust and bustle of Jakarta. The village is located in the western Indonesia, in the province of Banten.

The current population of the tribe has an apapproximate number of 7,000 people. The tribe is currently devided into 2 groups - inner baduy (4 villages) and outer baduy (63 villages). Majority of the tribe are scattered in the outer baduy and a very small percentage married people from outside these 2 groups.

Inner baduy is the group that still vigorously inssist to follow their ancient ways of life where else outer are opening up slowly bit by bit.

The Baduy people ethnically belongs to the Sudanese, the thing that separate baduy from thus ethnic group is the way of life where baduy people resist or rather block themselves out from any foreign wisdom but to live their life in the ancient way which mainly what I see or heard is that they refuse anything made fom the factory. For example, no nails are  allowed when building houses/bridges, all metal/plastic cooking utensils, plates/bowls, cup etc are forbidden.

The people of baduy basically told the outside world to leave them alone, they want to be isolated from civilization. The baduy people are lead by a religious head whom they call him Pu'un, this person has the power to confront any of the baduy people who do not abide to their tradition.

Now, let me show you in picture few differences between inner and outer baduy:

The roof with a round hood used by the inner Baduy people - this symbolize the home owner still follow traditional Baduy's way of life. It seems although you are out of the inner compound, some still ressist the outside influnces.

Contrary to the inner baduy, the outer people build their houses with an 'X' roof which implying they welcome outside influences

Costume of the inner baduy people - white top, black botom (sarong) and white head scarf

Costume of the outer baduy people

Rice storage hut used by the inner baduy, round shape on each corner of the hut is done in purpose to prevent rats from entering the storage room

Hut for the outer baduy village - unfortunately although from the same tribe, outer village is forbidden to use inner's design. I'm guessing if the Pu'un find out, he would tear them down without any hesitation.

Some other characteristics are such as baduy people do not have money neither they want any. So I was told that baduy people always gets free ride if they are out in the civilization. The people of this tribe also do not have any identity card, children will not be allowed to go to school. No lights are allowed as well.

All the many restriction past down from their ancestors was believe to have their people's mind free of complicated worries because they believe the stress of civilization is not necessary nor is good for an individual. Besides, inner baduy peoole are also forbidden to receive foreigners/chinese guest freely, one will need to go through a very conplicated rituals ceremony if they insist to enter the inner area. 

Listening to baduy stories makes me think of the time of Adam and Eve, time without any advance technology or fancy fashions.

Do come back later as I'll share with you, my short adventure into the village.

Itinerary to Annapurna Base Camp

This is rather a long overdue post, been distracted by many things. Anyway, let me go back to approximately 6months ago.

It was a total 8 days trek, we return to Nepal for the second time and did the exact trekking route we embark in October 2012. The different was, we extended the trip to see their base camp at 4310m high and instead of autum it was spring this time.

It was a better prepared trip, whether mentally or physically except we have gone on the trip without buying any travel insurance! Honestly, I was quite nervous during the trek that I might fall sick in the mountain, but thank God we were both very healthy except was having a bit of altitude sickness towards the peak of the base camp where we both was struggling to swallow in the little cup of muslee at approximately 3800m.

The brief itinerary of the adventure:

Day 1: Pokhara > Nayapul > Birethanti > Hille > Ulleri 1960m (3hrs 15min)

Day 2: Ulleri > Banthani > Upper Ghorepani 2860m (3hrs 15mins)

Day 3:  Ghorepani > Deurali > Benthanti > Tadapani 2660m (4hrs)
Day 4: Tadapani > Chulie > Gurjubg > Upper Chomrong > Upper Sinowa 2300m (6hrs 20mins)
Day 5: Upper Sinowa > Bamboo > Dovan > Himalaya > Deurali 3200m (5hrs 40mins)
Day 6: Deurali > MBC > ABC 4130m > MBC 3700m (6hrs 30mins)
Day 7: MBC > Deurali > Himalaya > Dovan > Bamboo > Sinowa > Upper Chomrong 2170m (7hrs)

Day 8: Upper Chomrong > Jhindudnda > Siwy > Nayapul by local bus (5hrs)

The total walking/climbIng/crawling hours was 37hrs 40min, sounds like a lot hey.  If you average it with 8 days trip then is not too bad.

The best road map we saw from Tadapani