Back to Nature Endau Rompin I

Hi to whoever read my blog....

My second trip for this year so much challenging, not really tired though and definitely having fun. ENdau Rompin camping trip 4d3n was our activity. We had several weeks kind of training at Bukit Gasing....jogs and swimming as much as possible just to make sure we are all up to it. (Believe me, it was so tough....at least for me)

Thinking of everyone will get exhausted after the trip, so we decided to take a train ride KL-Kluang-KL.

29th May....(Wed)

Senandung malam train at 9.30pm. We meet up at KL sentral at 8.30pm(I told everybody the train at 9pm just to make sure everybody arrive on time...)

this is the bunk option. RM36 for lower beth,RM31 for upper. We took out 3 lower, 3 upper... Even in train, funny things begins..Well, I havent ride a train since I was 16 years old (and I am now 31 years old),just imagine how jakun I can be..hahahahahh...1st time naik Bunk pulak tu..

the "bunkface"

When we board into a train....there was an automatic door to go to the cabin...Nizam first enter followed by Ome, no problem. Me the third follow...and the door close. try to figure out how to open ,tak dapat jugak and entah mcm mana, the door open. so, we enter one by one and beg Dilla pulak tersepit....at last , all manage to get into cabin safely.(still do not know how the door work)

not finish only there...Mia n Dilla went to canteen to have dinner. On the way back to cabin...the train was stopped at one of the station to pick up passenger. So , these two ladies brilliantly decided to go out side....walk along the train and get back to our coach. Suddenly, the coach door cannot open and the train started moving....panic attack, both run as fast as they could to other coach...lucky enough to get back into the train.

Now..the automatic door....it was open when they arrived.The moment Dilla enter it, its close and Dilla tersepit in between...Mia,again panic..do what ever she can and finally manage to open it......then we really try to figure out how this door works...where's the sensor. We finally found out. The door sensor is at the top of ur head. u have to stand at the mark on the floor and the sensor will sense u there thus the door open. The ONLY problem is that, u have to be tall enough for the sensor to sense and being 4 cute ladies...the sensor fail to sense our present. we actually have to raise up our hand to be near to the sensor...then the door open......

Then we all sleep on our journey to Kluang.....

30th May...(Thurs)
Arrive Kluang Station at 4.00am..
The pick up will only come the earliest is 9.30am. So basically we have to be creative enough to waste 5.5 hours...one of the option, of course...continue sleeping...
Can u see those shoes..I was lay down and the cameraman was behind me....

At about 6am, we heard AZAN...ohh dah subuh ni. So all wakes up, siap2 apa yg patut and heading to one of the coffee shop so called for b/fast and hang out for another 3 hours. As Kluang kopitiam being so famous, we cant wait to have b/fast at the original Kluang station Kopitiam...unfortunately of all days we have in a week..they close on Thursday. No choice, pergilah ke warung2 berdekatan...

Went to this warung Ujang...obviously we are the 1st customer. orderlah roti canai, nasi lemak,air sorang segelas....chatting...gelak2..excited ni nak masuk hutan. Time flies, we order more drinks tapi kita tak order serentak cos, yelah we are so used of budaya mamak yang u boleh order bila2 masa je kan.Sekali abang amik order ni hangin pasal we all kejap2 order. Dia siap sound lepas ni tak de ek pasal dia sibuk...(I cannot relate his extremely busy tu pasal in KL if we are busy mmg busy lah kan...I tgk dia mcm boleh je managed. And Abang ni buat lawak yg we all tak faham and we just smile and ignore) so , Nizam pun kata, tahap busy sini and KL mmg jauh berbeza.....;-) ...tapi Air limau ais the best...

At 9.30am almost sharp, our picj up arrived....finally, we get into this 4wd van and off to Endau Rompin (Kg Peta). For the first 30 min, the road all ok, smooth, still town area. Then the driver name Kevin or Calvin...stop at Shell Kahang. "Sapa nak pergi toilet, pergi skrg ye....another 1.5hours takde toilet.."
continue our journey from Kahang and yes..its bumpy road....kelapa sawit kiri kanan...tanah merah berlubang2...mmg boleh terkencing if tak ke toilet tadi. but still me and Dilla boleh je lelap kjp....

Then after almost 2 hours bumpy rides...we arrived Kg Peta. Thats where the real trip is all about. We welcome by numbers of dogs but behave...the owner of the house(org asli) went to very basic toilet(belasah jelah and this is when wet tissue become valueable item). Had our first lunch. At first, mmg mcm tak lalu, tgk surroundings and all but we really dont care and mentally ready for the worst...boleh je makan lunch tu dgn jaya nye....
Done Lunch....ready to start GENG PENGEMBARAAN. yang baju hitam tu our guide..Eddy nama nye...tgh pakai kasut tu Ubai/cameraman ..tu pasal gambar dia kurang.

Boat ride to Kuala Jasin

suka....;-)

sefamily gajah yg anak2 nye sudah ke depan

berehat sebentar after 15 min treks..baru 15 min tapi dah berpeluh giler

across the woods....

Across the hanging bridge

Across the river

All of this trek consider easy ..... to get us to Kuala Marong where our Campsite will be...after 1.5 hours trekking +- lah kan..we arrive Kuala Marong.

Kuala Marong campsite

Tapi our tent not in here...little bit further on the right....secluded and riverfront

tgk ikan Kelah kat bawah tu...byk giler. if tangkap satu kena denda RM5k and 6 months jail

Freshen up at Upih Guling...sambil2 scrub lah konon..hahahahah

enjoy the moment...

....Our tough guys in the group....sibuk jaga rambut je diorang ni..

our dinner....nampak sempoi kan tapi layannnn lepak2 jap minum petang

in our tent..get ready to sleep on 1st night in the woods

its the end of 1st day in the jungle...I continue on next episode..Trek to Buaya Sangkut

My 1st vacation year 2009

Me and my travel buddies...

Starting year 2009 not as good as previous years..Bad Economy in 2009 is the hottest topic to be discuss among us wherever we go, in whatever we do. Since the plan to Hanoi, yes thats the destination of my 1st vacation this year has been arranged last year, Sept 2008 if i recall well. So we proceed as planned.

Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam (I was just know this) is very much alive city which you can hear the most famous sound around the city almost 24/7..the horn...its like ur alarm in the morning, the Hello greeting to tourist, excuse me, hey!! I'm here..what ever u want to put it. its every where and non stop. Other than that Hanoi is a charming city in its own way.

We select all our trip upon our arrival. As a result, our trip is accompanied with various nationality from all over country in the world. We had Cute, Pretty and Handsome Japanese, gorgoeous Aussie,weird Gay Couple (not because they are Gay, but they are weird themselves),Alaskan couple, Beautiful Holland couple,American mother and Son, Indonesian Father & daughter, Israel and us weirdo Malaysian( yes, we were also weird in our very own way...heheheh)

Lets start with our 1st day.....(21/2/2009)

Upon touch down the weather was just nice. With temperature 20 deg Celcius, we love it. We've been told its winter season now but hey, its southeast asia, how cold it can be (thats where we underestimate,later you will know what happen) check in to Aptguesthouse in Old Quater, we started plan out our excursion trip for 6d5n holiday. We choose Halong Bay trip, Tam Coc and Perfume Pagoda

http://www.aptguesthouse.com/. Recommended to those who wanna visit Hanoi as backpacker.Cheap, convenient, clean, hot/cold shower,attached bathroom, kettle in the room, walking distance to all shopping street, Hoan Kiem Lake and friendly staff. Very affordable excursion trip package.

After had an instant noodle lunch in our room (still trying to read the map where to go and all), we started survey the area. Try to locate which street to go again for shopping. Make a list in our own head what to buy and how to bargain....then we took a cab to Ho Chi Minh Maussoleum..nearby the place, also can cover One Pillar Pagoda, House of Stilt & Presedential Palace, Ho Chi Minh Museum and Temple of Literature. All within walking distance. Some apply entrance fee but so cheap. (USD1-2)

P/S : beware of Taxi driver ..negotiate the price b4 hop into cab eventho the cab got meter. we've lost 300,000 Dong(USD17) bcos of bad taxi driver...(it should be only USD2-3 per trip)However,we manage to get 80,000 Dong(USD4) for the return trip.
Back to Old Quarter, almost dark..and getting colder. Heading to Nisa Restaurant. As the name sound, its a malaysian restaurant and definitely HALAL. Savour our Dinner with these Vietnam meal... A must try meal , Pho Bo

Our night continue with Water Puppet near Hoan Kiem Lake. The visit to Hanoi is incomplete if u miss the show. Thats what everyone keep saying and eventho some of my friends slept from mid show till the end, we do enjoy it..its different and YES, A Must See Show. A night at Hoan Kiem Lake

Nisa Restaurant, 90A Nguyen Hu Huan Street, Hoan Kiem Dist (its in Old Quarter Area, can ask the receptionist where the exact location. Its also has the room to be rent. Can call Mr Ben Taat,+84 912040537)

End of 1st day with not so much to do but we did cover all interesting places in Hanoi City only in half a day....By the way, towards the end of the day, we got immuned of this Horn sound, its become a music for our ears....;-)

2nd Day (22/2/2009)

Started our day as early as 7.00am. Halong Bay is our next destination. 2d1n package, sleep on boat,seafood lunch and dinner(Delicious, fresh and HALAL), breakfast included for sure,kayaking, cave exploration and all for only USD60 per pax. Just one thing to be remind....eventho they serve delicious dinner/Lunch with 8 different meal with rice at one time, you have to pay for your drink...drink not included at all except for breakfast. And thats only tea/coffee..

The room based on twin sharing. with aircond, fan ,attach bathroom. The temperature during our arrival in Halong Bay still ok. manage to wear sleeveless and short but it getting colder and colder when night approaching. The place has certainly rejuvenated us....

There are almost 3000 small island around it. Magnificient view, no word to described it. Except you've been there then you can feel it. Most of the time we were just speechless and be in our own world..Halong Bay has been chosen as one of the UNESCO World Heritage. COmpulsory to be here if u have trip to Hanoi.....HIghly recommended and its affordable trip... Submerged in her own emotion..

some of the view

In the cave

Smile....u r in wonderful place

Moment to be all by myself...Sunset

In my cabin

If we want to talk about Halong bay, the beauty of it, the splendid view around it, it will become never ending story. We slept in peace in our cabin, just a little bit sound of generator, overall so peacefull....the most important,no more horn sound...what a relive..Well, we had finally immuned to it but still...

Next Morning. (23/2/2009)..

at 8am, we get ready for 1 hour kayaking activity. get into kayak, paddle for one hour ......capture the glittering moment and kept all oustanding view in owns memory. Its cold while paddlling , Yes but its all worth it.

After kayaking, clean up, packing, check out from our cabin but still on boat...heading to the port. It is sad to think that our wonderful time on boat and this brilliant place come to the ending. The memory remains and some of us including myself have no hesitation to return to this place....The place I want to revisit...

All of us slept along the journey and suddenly we heard very familiar but irritating sound...HORN..Yep, we arrived Hanoi at 7pm. The indicator of Hanoi city was so obvious...

4th day in Hanoi (24/2/2009)

Same as 2 days before , we get ready as early as 7am. We always have to be early becos the van/vehicle for our trip will fetch us first and drop us last. So, apparently the trip journey started at about 8-8.30am. Today destination....Tam Coc.(no idea what will be expected but I know its going to be fun bcos I'm with my friends and we always make it fun..;-D )

This is the time when we realised that we had underestimate the weather in Hanoi.

REMEMBER : NOV-FEB IS WINTER AND TEMPERATURE CAN DROP TILL 8-10 DEG.

We only equip with our normal jacket, not even for spring,let alone winter. No glove, luckily I was just bought new muffler at night market after arriving from Halong Bay. Didnt expect the temperature will drop to 10 deg..we frozen but still enjoy each and every moment in Tam Coc. Just imagine, in that 10 deg, we decided to cycle around the village in Tam Coc. Crazy but we did it...Its about 45 min cycling trip....enjoy the scenery which also known as Halong Bay in Paddy field.Ready to cycle...

the journey begins

Entering the village

The route that we took is apparently heading to restaurant which we going to have our lunch. Its a buffet with various food including seafood, vege's, pork , beef and all. So , just choose what u like to eat..and as usual, pay for ur drink (every trip package includes lunch but not drink, kind of funny actually,eat all u can but buy your own drink)

Lunch done. I ate a lot of egg fried rice, vege's, fish fillet...really stuff my stomach after 45 min cycling in very cold weather. Next activity, get on boat ride..its better to call paddle sampan ride..its all in the package.

Boat ride...bon voyage

Can u figure out how cold it is..

the journey

everywhere can shop

4th day trip done when we arrive Hanoi at about 6pm. Already dark, again we had our dinner at Nisa. Then we proceed to some street to buy some souvenirs...linger around night market, bought glove for each one of us(prepare for 2moro trip,another boat ride)

process of choosing the painting

Process of choosing the silk

late at night, we got back to our room..without word...sleeppppppp well...i think I heard someone bargaining in her sleeping...really wanna get a good price perhaps... ;-D

5th day (25/2/2009)

On the 5th day, we proceed to another province. This place called Perfume Pagoda. Its been called as such because, during spring, all the flower blossom and produce a fragrance. This sweet fragrance will be smelt around the area of Pagoda. SInce we were there during winter, no fragrance smell but no bad smell either. This pagoda will be visited by most buddhist few days after Lunar festival to pray for good thing to happen throughout the year.

the boat ride

still long way to go


inside the cable car


Take a boat ride for about 1 hour before start the trekking.THere are 2 ways to go up to this pagoda. (this pagoda located at the cave on the hill..) 1. going up by foot..2.going up by cable car. We opt 2nd option but we went down by foot just to save time and have diffrent exeprience.

this is perfume pagoda..after going up, the pagoda is down there

trek going down..long way



our lunch for a day...just leave anything u cant eat to others. there's vege's and sweet sour fish.everything here eat with sticky rice...so, for those who really worried what to eat, just eat rice then..

Later, we took our ride back to the port(so called), get into our van...back to Hanoi. Arrive Hanoi about 7.30pm. little bit late for shopping.(shop close early due to Lunar festival eve). we decided to celebrate the eve later, so have some rest at room, trying to finish up all food in the room(we dont want to take it back to KL)....and we actully slept till 11pm. 11.30pm, we started walked heading to Hoan Kiem Lake to celebrate the festival together with local....

5 of us bought a kind of lantern, burn it and let it fly to the sky. its kind of tradition so we tried it. its fun. 12 mdnite sharp, fireworks begin dancing in the sky.....so beautiful and feel like part of the locals. Next trip ,we wanna plan to celebrate CNy at Laos...

final day (26/02/2009)

Our return flight will be in the evening...cab will come and fetch us at 4pm. So we decided to walk around the lake , make some final shopping and of course photo session.


local come here to pray..we come here to pose

the art by the lake

aiming for cheap Deuter and North Face. Every body finally bought one for themselves except me and Shida..not much choice on Deuter

our last lunch at Hanoi..we had tuna sandwich afterwards. So juicy and the bread so rich..i love it..

Time to go home.....

We arrived KL at almost mdnite. Splendid vacation ever, with same companion, will go to Laos next year...

Whoever wants to know more about my trip , can simply email mailto:me....runiz_zul@yahoo.co.uk..

I welcome question but cant promise the answer will satisfy you...;-D

Places I wanna be before 40 ...

I have 9 years before i reach 40 years old. I have a list of place to go before I 40 yrs old. Those places not in the list, doesnt mean I'm not interested to go but these are countries I give priority ....

2011 : Australia tour. My cousin will graduate this year and we plan to spend maybe 2 weeks to cover as much as we can...

no target date for this country yet. NOt all places I wanna go either. Beijing, Shanghai, HK..thats all.

Target year 2012....Europe Tour in conjuction with Olympic London....probably try to spend 16-20 days and cover as much as possible..need to priorities the country.

Italy...no target date as yet.....wanna go MIlan, Florence, Pisa, Venice and Rome...maybe honeymoon destination...mamma mia

yes.....India, taj mahal. definitely not so soon...let the political issue stabile and my safety is a promised.


can go this country end of year..maybe after europe....Bungee jumping? dont think i have enuf guts to try .....

LAst but not least..USA....backpackers USA tour....LA, MIAMI,New York, Las Vegas to name a few places.....

the question is????Can i achieve it? YES....its me who determine my life.....of course with God Bless...Amin..

Anyone who intersted to join my lovely adventure life????

Holiday..vacation..

how many holidays u take per year? 1,2,3,4 or non? come on, cannot be none. We are human being who need rest, need to have fun, need to relax our mind . Dont stress up our life just for not going holiday because
1) I dont earn much
holiday means we go somewhre other than our kampung, our home..can be local and oversea. depends on out budget. can just go camping at recreational park, can go picnic at one of our beautiful beaches,can go jln2 visit Melaka, penang, any historical place we do have in Malaysia. SO many places we can go.....and still affordable
2) I dont have fren to go
really......no person in this world has no fren. at least have hamster..hahahaahha
3) i'm not interested in travelling (got such ppl??)
travellling will enhance our ability to interact wt diff ppl in diff world
4) too many things to consider, my kids, accomodation..malas lah
come on...dont give such excuses
5) cannot take leave ( yeah right...)
u will not get promotion just because u never take leave but u will definitely become overstress if u didnt take leave.

so guys...lets go holiday....