Gunung Ledang (Mt Ophir) Johor Malaysia (5 Nov - 7 Nov 2011): A trip to nature

Tips:

• You can contact Rangers' Station via these mediaContact: 06-9631030 / 019-7772057Blog: http://tamanhutanlagenda.blogspot.com/Email Address: tamanhutanlagenda@yahoo.comAddress: TAMAN HUTAN LAGENDA
                P.O Box 77, Batu 26, Jln Segamat,
                84020 Sagil, Ledang, Johor
• It's possible to arrange transportation with Rangers' Station at a reasonable price.

On the way from Larkin Station at JB to GL

Standing at 1,276 m, Gunung Ledang (GL) is the highest mountain in Johor state. After a while visiting many beaches, this time we decided to explore a place with height, lush green and let our body sweat ;))...


Just a quick fact, Gunung Ledang is now taken over by National Park (NP). If you want to climb up the mountain, you need to register with them, pay fee for guide (RM140/group of 10 persons) and permit. Most importantly, trail at Gunung Ledang Resort (right behind Puteri Ledang Waterfall camp site) has been closed for many years and only when we reached there did we know about that.


Shocking enough, parks under NP in Malaysia close on public holiday also. All the articles we read  do not mention all these. Our plan to visit Endau Rompin National Park after trekking at Gunung Ledang fell apart. Luckily, the camp site near Puteri Ledang Waterfall is still amazing for a “jungle night” : ))

Reach Gunung Ledang HQ compound

Our guys in front of the Gunung Ledang HQ

500+ Staircase to the camp site :))

Overview of the jungle- near our camp

We managed to find dry branches to set up the bonfire and cooked some stuff. 

BBQ Hot dog :))

After having some food, we made our way to the waterfall. Most visitors had descended, leaving the place such lovely peace. We swam in the chilly water and enjoyed fresh air that is hard to find elsewhere. 

Night came at last. It was sweet and thrilling to camp overnight in a jungle and be friends with the dark. In a night of November, by the warm bonfire, we ate hot noodle, drank tea and talked all the stuff. The jungle was bathed in the silver moonlight. The roaring sound of the waterfall floated in the air. It is like an image you wanna keep after years later to remind yourrself of 'those days"... ;)) 

Interestingly, around midnight, we heard a strange noise beside the tent and I felt like breathless. We did not know what it was, and that was the moment I felt scared indeed :)) We kept silent, waiting to see what happened next. It went away after searching for food, and we realized it could be a PAW coming for the cone beef we put outside. God bless us :)). So a piece of advice: consume all ur food and clear all thrash before going to sleep. We cannot deny it is a big risk to camp in a jungle :))

Some first sun lights of a beautiful morning woke us up. There was that sudden chill of cold, clean air striking as I walked out of tent. Drinking some hot coffee in such great atmosphere was sth really enjoyable. 

On 2nd day, our 2 guys decided to follow the long- closed trail near Gunung Ledang Resort to any place it can lead to :)) I did not join them due to the super difficulty of no-maintained trail . Instead, I lay by the waterfall, read my "The lost continent" book, and sleep in the sunshine. Feel calm and relaxed. 

What about our 2 guys? The track they went is super difficult as it has not been maintained for 3-4 years and no one really trekked there. It requires a lot of strength, but looks really awarding. Before they went up, the message was clear: Report the Gunung Ledang Resort if I do not see them descend. Luckily, they were back safe and sound with truely nice photos as you can see :)) 

Our 3rd day is an "official" trekking day. The trail is not easy at all. 

And we reached Check Point 4 after 3.5 hours. 

Shoals of little fish were swimming around us at CP4, sth beautiful we did not expect in the first place :))

We have 7 CPs before reaching the summit . Really want to be there, but realized we cannot due to the fact that we need to catch the last bus to JB then Singapore, 3 of us decided to try to reach CP5 . While being en route, there is one feeling engraved in my mind, the feeling of the mountain breeze sweep your face in the glorious sunshine, the feeling of joy indeed :xxx

After all up and down, we reached CP 5 in the next 1.5 hour I guess. 

We are at CP5, and 2 more CPs for our next time :))

We made our way down quite fast and managed to take a photo in front of the Gunung Ledang HQ. 3 days with lots of unexpected things happened but we did enjoy our best. And a promise to say hi to the summit is still there. Will make it real soon :))

(We reached Singapore at 2am Tuesday after a lot of hassles with 170 bus from JB. More tips on all these will be shared soon. Sunday today, enjoy ;)))