we assembled 7am at the regular spot in woodlands mrt and waited for the merry holidays bus. sucan, the host from adventures unlimited, updated that today's bus driver is a noob and got a bit lost so we left quite late, around 7:45.
this hike is on a saturday, and the following tuesday is a holiday in singapore, and it is typical for working folks to take monday off to have an extended holiday, so that was probably the reason why our bus was hardly moving from woodlands towards the checkpoint that the driver decided to detour to tuas instead.
from tuas checkpoint, kota tinggi is a mere 72km drive away. without accounting for traffic, google maps indicate that the drive would take only about 90 minutes. it was a big fat lie! we got delayed so badly we all had to take our lunch while on the bus so we could get started hiking as soon as we arrived there.
and we did only around 12:30pm. we got dropped off near kota tinggi waterfalls resort and started walking immediately. as soon as we got off the concrete road we had to cross a shallow river. then we walked past a palm plantation.
the scale of deforestation that happens to allow the planting of palm trees was not obvious until we got to the vista point. on the one side where the plantation is, there's a lot of cleared area.
luckily the other side towards bukit sisek is still full of green. if not for that big patch of brown, everything else was beautiful.
this group is comprised of only 22 trekkers and 4 guides, so it's a relatively small group. most notable in the group was that brave 9-year-old who came to trek with his dad. the trek to the summit of this hill was slightly harder than gunung arong. in fact, it's quite ironic since bukit sisek is considered a hill vs. arong which is a mountain, even though it is shorter. but we'll leave that argument to the experts.
there were a few cases where we had to use ropes to pull us up/down and it didn't help that it was muddy and slippery.
along the way we saw some wild flora like the carnivorous pitcher plant and this spiky-stemmed plant that seems suitable as an apocalyptic, zombie weapon. and of course, the jolly ol' leeches. but unlike in the previous hike, the ones here seem to be bigger. definitely more creepy.
it took us about 2 hours to reach the peak. the weather was not on our side and there had been short stints of sudden downpour throughout our hike. it was pouring when we reached the peak, so we only managed a quick groufie before we decided to head towards the waterfalls. since it was raining, the guides decided we were going to descend the same way we went up, as the alternate route to the waterfalls via the rivers may not be safe when it rains as the water rises.
now the real adventure started once we took on the path towards the waterfall. if getting to the summit was physically taxing because of the steep, slippery slopes, it was a different ball game to cross the river and walk on the rocks, and across the rocks.
it started out okay, with just the shallow waters and the small rocks.
then the rocks became wider and more slippery.
then the rocks became bigger that we had to use ropes to keep our balance as we walk over them.
then there were areas where the water is too deep for crossing but there's no defined path to walk, so we had to kinda walk across boulders. what's more, the whole time that we were traversing towards the waterfall, it was raining.
miraculously, we made it. a group of us 4 were ahead of the others who needed some break. we wanted to reach the waterfall quickly because it was already past 4 and it was getting dark. it must have been past 5 when we got there.
honestly when i saw the waterfall, i got a bit dismayed. sure it was nice, but it didn't seem worth dying for. the trek was quite perilous for the reward. nevertheless, perhaps it was the badge of accomplishment that we actually pushed through. the others settled to chill on the river a few meters away.
i was really concerned about the time at this point. it's very cloudy as the rain had been on and off, and it will get dark really soon. imagine having to trek back into that danger zone in the dark? that would be a big no-no. i convinced jamie (as pictured) that we should head back. she agreed, so the guide had no choice but to make a move with us. the others followed suit.
the rain was getting harder at this point and it was really hard to focus with water dripping from my face. luckily i was right behind the guide, and he helped by pointing to the spots where i should step on.
it was a routine of crossing the river where the water was now waist-level, then walking up the muddy track, then using ropes to walk across rocks. there was a particularly difficult obstacle which didn't seem too hard as we were coming in, but was a lot worse heading back. going towards, we had to use this rope with knots to somewhat do a short rappel across this giant rock to head on lower ground to keep moving. going back, we have to use this rope to pull ourselves up, and basically plant a good foot and walk up to the path on higher ground. as i was right behind the guide, i had to mimic what he did. so i tried.
while attempting to cross, i did an INVOLUNTARY tarzan-style, rope-grabbing, water plunge but not after i hit the said boulder and got a lime-sized bruise! it all happened so fast it didn't really sink in on me how bad it could have turned out to be. had i fell into the more shallow part of the river, or worse, where the rocks were exposed, it would have been a terrible ending.
now in the water, which was luckily only neck deep, i quickly realized that i had to look around and find my flip-flop (i lost one) and to get off the water before the current pushes me. i lost my mi-fit band (thankfully it's cheap) and i realized how smart it was that i put all of my valuables and clothes inside the waterproof bag, which is inside my not-waterproof backpack that is now soaking wet. jamie looked at me, not knowing what to say, and i immediately just made it sound like no big deal and laughed it off, so as not to worry the rest who were gonna make that same pass. they all took their time and nobody got as unlucky as i did.
everybody made it back alive, albeit bruised and bleeding from leech bites. while waiting for the bus driver to show up so we could get our stuff from the bus, i realized i had unwanted company. yes, a leech. damn, i really got the best of luck that day.
the driver opened the bus and everybody was looking forward to a nice shower at the resort. but then a couple of the trekkers came back with bad news: the resort was now closed (?) and we were not allowed to use the bathroom, even if we pay. great. we then decided to just change clothes in the bus, with the ladies going in first. then we drove to a familiar restaurant for redemption dinner, and back in singapore by midnight.
i am torn between deciding if this trip was a great adventure or a dangerous misadventure that should not be repeated. but i know that i will do it all over again. besides, my bruise looks kinda cute. i'm thinking MIFFY. 😆
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malaysia unlimited: bukit sisek and pelepah waterfalls
organized by adventures unlimited
may 26, 2018
some photos and all videos borrowed from sucan of adventures unlimited and other members of the group.
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