Gunung Yellow 1,667m

Date: 16 Aug 2008 - 17 Aug 2008 [2D/1N]
Location: Gunung Yellow, Gunung Pass - Cameron Highlands
Altitude: 1,667m ASL
Difficulty: 4.9/10 (http://danlow.multiply.com/journal/item/50)
Trail length: 5.8km
Camera: Canon EOS 350D
Lens: Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DCFilter: none
Post editing: PS CS3
Organizer: Lucy
Members: Doreen, Lucy, Uncle Yong, MC, Dan, Kah Fai and Khai Chern. 
My reason to go there: Gunung Yellow is beautiful….

Mountains reached:
Gunung Yellow/大黃山峰 （1667m）
Gunung Pass/柏士山峰 （1587m）

Journey 
16 Aug 08
12:30 - 4wd pick up at Guan Di temple at Kg Rajah.
13:30 - Start from Simpang Pulai-Cameron highway Perak/Pahang border
18:00 – Reach Gunung Yellow/大黄山

17 Aug 08
10:00 - Leave Gunung Yellow/大黄山 
13:45 - Exit to Simpang Pulai-Cameron highway Perak/Pahang border
4wd pick back to Kg Rajah Guan Di temple.

Rewards of this trip 
- We saw the Luna eclipse - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_2008_lunar_eclipse
- Clear sky, beautiful morning view
- Nice camp site at Gunung Yellow
- Lots of White moss/Club moss [lichen] at Gunung Yellow
- Water point has clear and clean water this time

I could clearly see Gunung Suku(left) and Gunung Chabang(right) from Gunung Yellow

Challenges of this trip 
- Some sandfly at the campsite of Gunung Yellow
- A few leeches, very few…
- It rained on day 1
- My tom yam soup failed 

Cost 
- Guide: NIL
- 4WD Fees: RM20/pax
- Entrance fees: NIL
- Camp site fees: NIL
- Food: I think it was RM27.00/person
- Transport: RM150 x 2 cars (Passengers AA share petrol + tol cost - Drivers don't pay)

Summary 
- I love it … easy trail + beautiful scenery = 2 thumbs up!

SLIDESHOW

Pantai Mas

Date: 13 Jul 08 [Day trip]

Location: Pantai Mas, Penang

Difficulty: 0.8/10

Trail: from Kampung Pantai Acheh to Pantai Mas, takes approximately 1 hour slow walk to reach Pantai Mas.

Camera: Canon EOS 350D

Lens: Tokina AT-X 124 AF Pro DX 12-24mm f/4

Lens: Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC

Filter: none

Post editing: PS CS3
Organizer: Forest Ang
Members: Dan, KL Tan and 10 others
My reason to go there: Have not join Forest's hike for a long time ... also a new trail to me, looking for a new experience...

Albums from other cameras:
http://forestexplorers.multiply.com/photos/album/10
http://powerofnature.multiply.com/photos/album/122

SLIDESHOW

Gunung Bujang Melaka 1,234m

Group picture at the submit of Bujang Melaka

Date: 28 June 08 - 29 June 08 [2D/1N]
Location: Gunung Bujang Melaka, Kampar, Perak
Altitude: 1,234m ASL
Difficulty: 5.0/10 (http://danlow.multiply.com/journal/item/50)
Trail length: 8.2km
Camera: Canon EOS 350D
Lens: Tokina AT-X 124 AF Pro DX 12-24mm f/4
Lens: Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC
Filter: none
Post editing: PS CS3
Organizer: Doreen
Members: Uncle Yong, Dan, KL Tan, EC and Lucy
Drivers: Doreen and KL
Guide: Uncle Yong
My reason to go there: heard that the waterfalls are superb and felt like hiking that weekend.

one of my favorite camp site lies here at Bujang Melaka

Journey 
Day 1: 4.5 hrs from starting point(Batu Berangkai Falls) to campsite
Day 2: 1.15 hrs from campsite to summit
Day 2: 1 hr from summit to camp site
Day 2: <4 hrs down to waterfall and car park

one of the few mountains I would hike with slippers

Rewards of this trip 
- Huge and flat campsite
- Lots of streams along the trail, very clean water
- There is a stream beside that campsite
- Relaxing hike, short trail, moderately easy hike
- Not too cold, very nice temperature during the day and night
- Very nice waterfalls - Batu Berangkai Falls

Challenges of this trip 
- There were a lot of leeches, especially on day 2
- It rained very heavily in the morning, fortunately it stopped when we got to the summit
- It drizzled a bit at night
- We were lost at the beginning, couldn’t find the correct path. About an hour wasted.

Cost 
- Guide Fees: NIL
- 4WD: NIL
- Entrance fees: NIL
- Camp site fees: NIL
- Food: approx. RM18.60 
- Transport: Passangers AA share petrol + tol cost - Drivers don't pay

The Very nice waterfall - Batu Berangkai Falls at the foot of Bujang Melaka

Summary 
- 2 days / 1 nights
- Camped 1 night at campsite 1 hour before the summit
- 6 team members 
- No guide, uncle Yong knew the trail
- Started from Batu Berangkai Falls, Kampar
- 3rd time there for Uncle Yong
- There were leeches all the way
- Temperature at campsite (24°c before bed time, possibly <20°c after 3:00am)
- Big camp sites and pretty clean

SLIDESHOW

Gunung Tahan 2,187m

Date: 07 June 08 - 11 June 08 [5D/4N]
Location: Gunung Tahan
Altitude: 2,187m ASL
Difficulty: 7.0/10 (http://danlow.multiply.com/journal/item/50)
From: Kuala Betis, Gua Musang
Hike duration: 5D/4N
A.K.A.: G1 of Semenanjung Malaysia
A.K.A.: G6 of Malaysia
Camera: Canon EOS 350D
Lens: Tokina AT-X 124 AF Pro DX 12-24mm f/4
Filter: none
Post editing: PS CS3
Organizer: Lucy
Assistant(Equipment): Kean
Assistants(Menu and Food): Dan and Doreen
Cooks: Uncle Yong, Dan and Doreen
Kitchen helper: Lynn, Wan Lin, Khai Chern, CS, Andrew and Lucy
Drivers: Lynn, Kean and CS
Guide: Zul (Taman Negara)
My reason to go there: Long waited hiking trip, curious to see what Gunung Tahan is like and love to photograph Gunung Tahan – add into to my collection.

SLIDESHOW

With the completion of his trip I have completed the "Peninsular Malaysia G7", but the Peninsular Malaysia G7 is not what I’m looking for .. coz my quest is to complete the "Malaysian G12".
I have completed 9 `G`s out of the 12, so 3 more to go. They are Tambuyukon, Murud and Mulu.

Malaysia G List / Name / Meters / Date
G1 /         Gunung Kinabalu / 4095 / 28 Mar 06 - 29 Mar 06 ~ Done ~
G2 /         Gunung Trusmadi / 2642 / 2 May 07 - 6 May 07 ~ Done ~
G3 /         Gunung Tambuyukon / 2579 / [Q1-Q2 2009] ~ Planning ~
G4 /         Gunung Murud / 2423 / [Q1-Q4 2010] ~ Planning ~
G5 /          Gunung Mulu / 2376 / [Q3-Q4 2009] ~ Planning ~
G6 /          Gunung Tahan / 2187 / 07 Jun 08 - 10 Jun 08 ~ Done ~
G7 /          Gunung Korbu / 2183 / 10 Feb 08 ~ Done ~
G8 /          Gunung Yong Belar / 2181 / 08 Feb 08 - 09 Feb 08 ~ Done ~
G9 /          Gunung Gayong / 2173 / 09 Feb 08 - 10 Feb 08 ~ Done ~
G10 / Gunung Chamah / 2171 / 19 Jan 08 - 21 Jan 08 ~ Done ~
G11 / Gunung Yong Yap / 2168 / 03 Mar 07 - 04 Mar 07 ~ Done ~
G12 / Gunung Ulu Sepat / 2160 / 31 Aug 07 - 02 Sep 07 ~ Done ~
**************************************
G13 / Gunung Batu Putih / 2131 / [Q4 2008] ~ Planning ~
G14 / Gunung Tama Abu / 2113 / ~ No Plans in the near future ~
G15 / Gunung Irau / 2110 / x4 2005-2008 ~ Done ~
G16 / Gunung Benum/Benom / 2107 / [Q1-Q4 2009] ~ Planning ~
G17 / Gunung Apd Runan / 2103 / ~ No Plans in the near future ~
G18 / Gunung Gerah / 2103 / [Q1-Q4 2009] ~ Planning ~
G19 / Puncak 6850 / 2088 / 09 Feb 08 ~ Done ~
G20 / Gunung Batu Buli / 2082 / ~ No Plans in the near future ~
G21 / Gunung Tumang Batak / 2080 / ~ No Plans in the near future ~
G22 / Gunung Bilah / 2076 / ~ No Plans in the near future ~
G23 / Gunung Berembun(Wray’s) / 2075 / ~ No Plans in the near future ~
G24 / Gunung Belatok / 2073 / ~ No Plans in the near future ~
G25 / Gunung Junction / 2071 / 09 Feb 08 ~ Done ~

The Journey 
Day 1: 1/2 hour of 4WD ride from Sungai Relau to Kuala Juram. 4-5 hours hike - Kuala Juram to Kem Kor - Camp at Kem Kor
Day 2: 8-9 hours - Kem Kor to Kem Botak - Camp at Kem Botak
Day 3: 8-9 hours - Kem Botak to the Summit, then to G. Gedung and back to Kem Botak (day pack only), Camp at Kem Botak
Day 4: 7.5-8.5 hours - Kem Botak to Kem Kor - 4th night camp at Kem Kor
Day 5: 3.5-4 hours - Kem Kor to Kuala Juram - then took 4WD to Sungai Relau, stopping at Menara Bukit Seraya for a great view of the Tahan Range.

Rewards of this trip 
- Breath taking view from Kem Bonsai to Kem Botak
- Breath taking view from Kem Botak to the summit of Gunung Tahan
- Breath taking view from the summit of Gunung Tahan to Gedung
- Relaxing hike with sunny sky during the day
- Not sunny from Kem Bonsai to Kem Botak, so no sun burn
- Not sunny from the summit of Gunung Tahan to Gedung, so no sun burn
- Rained at night after dinner for 30mins-1 hour on 3 nights, so there were not water supply shortage at Kem Botak
- There were leeches, but not many
- Clear sky all the way
- Excellent team work, great hiking gang

Challenges of this trip 
- There were some sand-flies at Kem Botak’s water point, I got >20 bites, itched for 1 week.
- It rained for 30mins – 1 hour after dinner on 3 nights, tent got flooded, flysheets survived.
- Very muddy trail from Kem Bonsai to Kem Botak.
- Very muddy trail from the summit of Gunung Tahan to Gedung.
- Lynn’s car broke down before Kuala Betis-Gua Musang’s junction, it had to be towed away for repair, fortunately we had time to waste on day one.
- Uncle Yong had a 3cm cut on the palm(on day 3), was treated at Gua Musang’s hospital after the hike. Fortunately it was not a serious injury.

Cost 
Overall cost per person was RM146.00(driver) + RM112.00(for passenger)
- Guide Fees 5D4N: RM1,100.00/10pax
- 4WD from Sungai Relau to Kuala Juram (to and fro): RM24.00/pax
- Entrance fees: RM1.00/pax
- Camp site fees: RM4.00/pax for 4 nights
- Camera: RM5.00/each
- Food: RM47.00/pax
- Transport: Passangers AA share petrol + tol cost - Drivers don't pay - RM112.00 each passanger
- 2 person pulled out, so deposit of RM200.00 x 2 have been used to cover the group cost.

Summary 
- 5 days / 4 nights
- Camped 2 nights at Kem Botak (day 2 and 3)
- Camped 2 nights at Kem Koh (day 1 and 4)
- 11 team members + 1 guide from Taman Negara
- Trekking time was 4-9 hours daily
- Started from Kuala Juram, Merapoh
- Ended at Kuala Juram, Merapoh
- Lucy and Dan completed G7
- 2nd time for Doreen
- 3rd time for Uncle Yong and Wan Lin
- Some sandflies at Kem Botak(water point)
- Some bees and butterflies at Kuala Juram
- Some leeches between Kuala Juram to Kem Permatang
- Nice bonsai garden after Kem Bonsai to Kem Botak, all the way to Gedung
- Very muddy trail from Kem Bonsai to Kem Botak
- Very muddy trail from the summit of Gunung Tahan to Gedung
- Dry trails at all other places
- Met several other groups from Penang, S’pore, Perak, Johor and KL
- Temperature at Kem Botak (19°c before bed time, possibly <15°c after 3:00am)
- Temperature at Kem Koh (24°c before bed time, possibly <20°c after 3:00am)
- Big camp sites and well managed by Taman Negara, only 2 groups at a camp site at any one time.

Bukit Tabur 450m 2008

Date: 18 May 2008 - 19 May 2008 [2D/1N]
Location: Bukit Tabur, Melawati, Selangor
Altitude: 450m ASL
Difficulty: 1.5/10 (http://danlow.multiply.com/journal/item/50)
Camera: Canon EOS 350D
Lens: Tokina AT-X 124 AF Pro DX 12-24mm f/4 [for all wide angle shots]
Lens: Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC [for tele shots and night shots]
Filter: none
Post editing: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.0
Post editing: Adobe Photoshop CS3
Guide: Lilian
Members: Dan, KL, EC, Judy, CS and Khai Chern
My reason to go there: Wanna take sunset and sunrise shots + wanna camp there for a night.
Remark: Kuala Lumpur cityscape was taken from Bukit Tabur at night.

SLIDESHOW

Bunaken Island, Sulawesi

Date: 26 Apr 08 - 27 Apr 08 [2D/1N]
Location: Bunaken Island, Sulawesi, Indonesia
No. of dives: 3
Accessibility to dive sites: 8.5
Marine Animal Density: 7.5
Dive site terrain Quality: 9.0
Marine Animal Diversity: 7.7
Visibility: 8.5
Overall Score: 8.2
Entry: Boat
Difficulty: OW-AOW
Dive Sites: Walls/Fringing reefs
Camera: Canon Powershot A80
Underwater casing: Canon Waterproof Case WP-DC900 for Powershot A80 by Canon
Strobe: NIL
Oraganizer: Dan
Members: Lilian, Sam, KL Tan, Choon Wai, Kok Leong, CS Law, Doreen, Lucy and Kiki

Remark: We were there for only 2 days, we did just 3 dives before leaving for Lembeh Island on the other side(East) of North Sulawesi. Wall diving is the main attraction of Bunaken with many vertical cracks and canyons. Reef top sheltered from waves, with many differently shaped hard corals. I find diving at Bunaken pleasant. However our main purpose there was Lembeh straits, so without wasting to much time there, we headed for Lembeh Straits on the afternoon of day 2.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bunaken is part of the Bunaken National Marine Park, which has some of the highest levels of marine biodiversity in the world. Scuba diving attracts many visitors to the island. Bunaken is located at the north of the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. It belongs administratively to the municipality of Manado.
The Bunaken National Marine Park was formally established in 1991 and is among the first of Indonesia's growing system of marine parks. The park covers a total surface area of 890.65 km², 97% of which is overlain by sparkling clear, warm tropical water. The remaining 3% of the park is terrestrial, including the five islands of Bunaken, Manado Tua, Mantehage, Nain and Siladen. Although each of these islands has a special character, it is the aquatic ecosystem that attracts most naturalists.
The waters of Bunaken National Marine Park are extremely deep (1566 m in Manado Bay), clear (up to 35-40 m visibility), refreshing in temperature (27 to 29 °C) Pick any of group of interest - corals, fish, echinoderms or sponges - and the number of families, genera or species is bound to be astonishingly high. For example, 7 of the 8 species of giant clams that occur in the world, occur in Bunaken. The park has around 70 genera of corals; compare this to a mere 10 in Hawaii. Although the exact number of fish species is unknown, it may be slightly higher than in the Philippines, where 2,500 species, or nearly 70% of all fish species known to the Indo-western Pacific, are found.

Other sides of Bunaken.Oceanic currents may explain, in part, why Bunaken National Marine Park is such a treasure trove of biodiversity. Northeasternly currents generally sweep through the park but abundant counter currents and gyros related to lunar cycles are believed to be a trap for free swimming larvae. This is particularly true on the south side of the crescent-shaped Bunaken Island, lying in the heart of the park. A snorkler or diver in the vicinity of Lekuan or Fukui may spot over 33 species of butterfly fish and numerous types of groupers, damsels, wrasses and gobies. The gobies, smallish fish with bulging eyes and modified fins that allow them to attach to hard surfaces, are the most diverse but least known group of fish in the park.
Biologists believe that the abundance of hard corals is crucial in maintaining the high levels of diversity in the park. Hard corals are the architects of the reefs, without them, numerous marine organisms would be homeless and hungry. Many species of fish are closely associated with particular types of corals (folious, branching, massives, etc.) for shelter and egg-laying. Others, like the enormous Bumphead Parrotfish, Balbometopon muricatum, are "coralivores" and depend on hard corals for their sustenance. Bony mouth parts fused into an impressive "beak" allow these gregarious fish to crunch corals like roasted peanuts.
Some 20,000 people live on the natural resources of Bunaken National Marine Park. Although there are inevitable conflicts between resource protection and use by people, the Indonesian government is taking a fairly unusual and pragmatic approach to park management. The idea is to promote wise resource use while preventing overexploitation. Local communities, government officials, dive resort operators, local nature groups, tourists and scientists have played an active role in developing exclusive zones for diving, wood collection, fishing and other forms of utilization. Bunaken Marine Park has become an important example of how Sulawesi, and the rest of Indonesia, can work to protect its natural resources.

SLIDESHOW

 

 

 

Lembeh

Date: 26 Apr 08 - 03 May 08 [8D/7N]
Location: Lembeh Strait, Sulawesi, Indonesia
No. of dives: 15
Accessibility to dive sites: 8.5
Marine Animal Density: 8.8
Dive site terrain Quality: 8.8
Marine Animal Diversity: 9.5
Visibility: 7.0
Overall Score: 8.5
Entry: Boat
Difficulty: OW
Dive Sites: Muck/Rubble bottoms

Camera: Canon Powershot A80
Underwater casing: Canon Waterproof Case WP-DC900 for Powershot A80 by Canon
Strobe: NIL
Oraganizer: Dan
Members: Lilian, Sam, KL Tan, Choon Wai, Kok Leong, CS Law, Doreen, Lucy and Kiki

There are over 30 dive sites around the Lembeh strait, most of them are either sandy areas or small reefs. Don't expect spectacular walls or huge reefs, here you are doing so called muck diving - searching for the rare and the unusual.
We did 15 dives in Lembeh Strait. Almost all my dive bottom time were >80 mins, a few even went way over 90mins hehehe … well as long we don’t go too deep, do multi level, maintain long de-com period at the shallow end, it will be just fine.
I have so many favorite dive sites I cannot remember them all, to name a few;

Nudi Retreat - is very nice coz it has lots of nudibranch, an electric scallop, frogfish, coral reef, pygmy seahorses and sandy muck bottom where flying gurnards and seamoths move around freely.

Hairball I & II – coz I saw the black hairy frog fish, coconut octopus, Mimic octopus, wonderpus, stargazer, etc. It is gentle slope covered with black sand and algae. Since most of the dive is sand you need a bit of patience, you might dive for a couple minutes and not find anything and then you get surprised by truely rare animals. There are occasional patch of sponges - those are the places to look for hidden animals.

Police pier I & II – coz I got lost and found a shipwreck together with Swiss – Mischa, This dive site is a real muck dive! There is a lot of garbage lying around, but among this garbage are real treasures.

Jahir I & II - A dive site with a large sandy area and coral blocks, calm and protected. I like this dive site coz I never know what I’m going to find here…. It is just a huge area with black sandy bottom.

Teluk Kembahu TK I & II – same as Jahir, same impression…lots to see.

Air Perang – I think this site is superb for night dives, lots of coral blocks.

Tanduk Rusa – This is another garbage dive site, there is a lot of garbage lying around, plastic bags, tin cans, tires, dead fish parts from the market. But among this garbage are little little surprises …. Such as the snake eels, stargazers, pipefish, sea horses…

Magic rock – can be done together with Nudi retreat when the current flow south, lots of healthy nice corals here..

I have so many good picture from this trip I had to split them into several albums...

SLIDESHOW - Critters

 

 

SLIDESHOW - Fishes

 

 

SLIDESHOW - Nudibranch

 

 

SLIDESHOW - Shipwreck