Endau - Rompin (Selai) Johor National Park, 14 Feb - 16 Feb 2010

In conjunction with the chinese new year holiday, my family & I travelled to Endau-Rompin(Selai) Johor National Park for a 3 days 2 nights jungle adventure. The journey took approximately 4 hours from our place at Bangi to the campsite in Selai. We met up with Jazrin & family at the Management Office in Bekok, Segamat and other friends who were waiting to bring us to the campsite.
After registration, the four 4x4 vehicles, led by Jasin an Orang Asli, convoy to Lubuk Merekek Campsite located 26km from the office. The road is ok but very dusty due to the dry weather spell. The road will take you through the oil palm estate and re-settled orang asli villages.








Upon arrival, we saw other groups were already there but the campsite is big enough to accomodate all the vehicles. As usual, we setup our camp and relaxed as it was only about 4.00pm. The campsite is equipped with 2 cooking areas, a dining area complete with log tables and benches, separate common bathroom and a praying area. When we saw the river, certain part had a depth as it looked dark green and a shallow part for children to play in the river.









Pak Tunku arrived later in the evening, followed by another 5 more 4x4 vehicles and by nightfall, the campsite was like a festival. It was pure relaxation after dinner, talking and visiting friends at the other campsites. By chance we met our old friends 9W2JM - Pak Jani and his XYL 9W2ENA - Ena and their children.

Next morning after breakfast, my daughter and I along with Jazrin's family trekked to Lubuk Tapah Base Camp which is only 500 meter from our campsite. The Base Camp is also equipped with wooden huts, separate common bathrooms, kitchen and dining area.
We scout around and admire the surroundings. Jazrin and my daughter were busy taking photographs and found a suspended bridge. It was unfortunate that the bridge was out of bound for the public as it is faulty. By the time we walked back it was nearly time for lunch.









After a simple lunch, the children and families were lazing around and playing in the river. I went around the campsite and chatted with the crowd. Most of the groups left the campsite and by evening fall there were only 7 vehicles left. After dinner, we celebrated Jazrin's son birthday, complete with 2 cakes, ballons and even invited a chinese family to the party... The night went by quickly and we had a good night sleep.









Morning breakfast was heavy, my wife cooked nasi lemak and had french toast courtesy of Datin Gee. After breakfast, we cleaned, started packing and loaded our things into our vehicles. We convoy out of the campsite and headed straight to Jasin's village. When we arrived there, we saw ladies playing card while the men were welcomed us. We were given the honor to write in their guest book and each family pen a few words. We went round and at the back of one house, we saw a monkey and musang in a cage! Orang Asli gave Pak Tunku a fox (kept in cage) for him to bring back to JB. The kids were so thrilled to see the animals and they had a good time.
We said our departures with 4 vehicles heading back to JB and the other 2 vehicles back to Kuala Lumpur. I'm glad we made the trip and definitely will organize future trips to Selai. Appended below is the information on Selai with its tagline "Beyond The Ordinary."



please view ........
http://picasaweb.google.com/pakmid/ENDAUROMPINSELAI14th16thJAN2010
Selai is the western gateway to the Endau-Rompin, Johor National Park and has an area of 29,343 hectares from the total area of 48,905 hectares. Selai is the land of countless waterfalls, great and small are found inside the park and visitors will be amazed by their magnificence and get to enjoy nature at its best. Selai is special, there is a sense of adventure in the air, exploring a country as yet unexploited. It is a place where the spirit of wilderness thrives-where the forbidding becomes the beautiful. Best time to visit is between February and October. The park is opened daily and entry is strictly by prior booking only and certain fees to be paid. For more info, please contact the Management Site Office as follows;

Endau-Rompin (Selai)Johor National Park
No.8 Jalan Satria 1, Taman Berjaya
86500 Bekok, Segamat
Tel : +607-9222875
Fax : +607-9222576
email : enquiry@johorparks.com.my
website : www.johorparks.com.my

Kerling 16 Jan - 17 Jan 2010

I brought friends, this time, to Kerling for the weekend with Jazreen leading a convoy of 10 vehicles. The weather was fine and the road trail was alright with no obstacles even with 2 river crossings.


























My daughter droved the whole journey and tested her skill crossing the river and meandering the corners and she did pretty well. We had 2 choices whether to camp at Camp Aircond or go further up, a new spot founded by Jazreen. After recee, we found the new spot unsuitable and a bit cramp for the whole group and decided to camped out at Camp Aircond. We started unpacking and as usual setup the base camp first, followed by the kitchen area. This time around, we used 5 stoves to cook dinner and usually dinner time is always the best.



































The weather is cool and by no time most of us were asleep EXCEPT for a select 2 who began talking until the wee hours of the morning and someone else joined them.. hem..hem wonder who? The kids were already swimming and had to be called for breakfast. After breakfast, we cleared the kitchen and packed the balance breakfast into plastic wares for consumption after swimming. With the packing done and loaded into the vehicles, we braved ourselves for a dip in the river. The water is cold and could see the kids trembling in the water but they are having so much fun and could not care less about the coldness. The adult males bathed vigourously and avoided staying longer in the river.



































The trip down was easy but we stopped at Kolam Air Panas for Suhaimi to check his vehicle. The problem was detected and he will stop at the nearest available workshop, for re-checking. We headed to Batang Kali for lunch but Suhaimi went straight to the workshop. After lunch, we break convoy and said our departures to all and thanked everyone for the trip.



http://picasaweb.google.com/pakmid/Kerling1617Jan2010

Ulu Tamu Feast 1 Jan- 2 Jan 2010

It's been a while since we have gone off-roading and during the recent new year holiday, we decided to camp out at one of our favorite spots, Kem Hamzah at Ulu Tamu. Our two friends Nordin & gang, Jazreen & family went there earlier to set up base camp and block the campsite. We reached the campsite in the evening, the males setup tents and females setup their kitchen area. After setup, we chatted with our old friend 'Bear' coincidently relaxing at the same place. Nordin, sponsored a whole lamb and brought Omar, the Chef, to specially cook beriani gam for lunch the next day.










My wife cooked my favorite dishes - asam pedas daging cincang and rojak tahu for dinner. We invited a family (they arrived quite late and was setting up camp) for dinner as they camped next to us. It was a simple meal, steaming rice with spicy asam pedas and rojak tahu, the ambience - cool and slight drizzle....imagine! After dinner the ladies peeled and sliced the onions, some cut the vegetables, others assisted Omar with the misc-en-place and frying. First, we cooked the lamb beriani and while its cooking, we cooked the dalca. When Omar sauted the ingredients for the rice (washed and drained), the smell engulfed the whole campsite - it was nearly 0130hrs. Omar showed the method of underlining a cloth (preferably muslin cloth) to separate the rice and the lamb beriani. After that we had to seal the pot circumference with dough (ensure that it is sealed properly) and let it cooked with low/small flame. By the time we did that, it was already near 2.00am....! I very glad that my wife managed to learn from Omar on the preparations and method of cooking beriani gam and would want her to try it out one day.









For morning breakfast, we had fried rice, bread, omellete with sausages. After breakfast, the kids had fun swimming in the river, while the men did some off roading to Kem Dubai. After all the excitement, the kids and adults enjoyed the balance of the breakfast spread. Everyone lazed and waited eagerly for lunch - nasi beriani gam with lamb beriani, dalca and ala minute fried chicken. Everyone commended Omar for the beriani gam and will always remember the wonderful hearty lunch.! After lunch we cleared the campsite and started packing our things. After enjoying ourselves in the river, we called it a day and set out home, the smell of beriaini still lingered at the fingertips.....









For more pictures, please view .......

http://picasaweb.google.com/pakmid/UluTamuFeast1110