My Expedition Trip To Gunung Mulu National Park (Day 6)

We woke up late the next morning and accepted the tragic fact that the night trekking isn't a dream. After a quick breakfast, we continued the 8.8km Kuala Berar trail to go back to Benarat Lodge. Our new schedule today is Camp 5 --> Benarat Lodge --> Miri --> Kuala Lumpur --> School --> Home...

careful dudes! don't fall off! XD

We reached Benarat Lodge at 1.30pm, had our lunch and bathed before rushing to Mulu Airport. Our flight is at 3.00pm back to Miri, so everything is so rushing! We managed to reach there early and took some pictures with who ever non-domestic tourist we met there. A flick of an eye, and there we were, back to Miri.

we just LOVE to take group photos everywhere we went...

actually we met him already at Camp 5 but man, what a coincident! =D

aww... ain't she pretty? she's a year younger than us you know? XD

another coincident!! we've met at Camp 5 too.. Haha!

bye bye Mulu~ wont forget you...

We spent our time visiting Miri Oil Museum. Well we never really go into the muzium, just hanging around outside having silly photo sessions. There stood a life size replica of the actual Borneo 1st oil pumper named The Grand Old Lady and amazingly, it stood on the very place too! We guys had a funny idea taking the photos of the " 'Same' Gang" before we pulled off from there.

push harder!! it's a great workout.. LOL!!

meet The Guys Group

a picture of 1 Malaysia pointing up high... XD


The "Same" Gang

same trek bottoms..

same flip-flops...

same wrist bands...

same wind breakers...

a scenic Miri town view from the Oil Museum...

Our trip organizer (I forgotten his name) brought us to try some local foods there. So we chose to go to have a Ais Batu Campur a.k.a ABC a.k.a Ais Kacang (Malaysian shaved ice with sweet red beans, corns, syrup and almost anything else). After that we went to souvenir shop to buy something memorable. Although it was just a small shop, we spent quite some time in there because everything there were so pretty! Everything there are hand made and you can see those details perfections. Can't imagine how much time the workers need to make one simple necklace. We had our best meal as our last day's dinner in a restaurant. The food served are quite expensive, i guess. We had a great big toast for our great achievement that scrapped a deep mark in our school's achievement history at the end of the meal.

this is the ABC or Ais Kacang of Malaysia...

nice porcelains made in traditional style..

Malaysian Next Top Model??! @.@

the great BIG toast!! look at the happy faces..

We got back to Miri Airport to get ready for our flight back to Kuala Lumpur after dinner. Mr. Nagaya gave some touching speech before we boarded. He congratulated everyone of us for our victory and that we had created 3 new records in the Gunung Mulu National Park history! We boarded our flight and just fell asleep like a pig in it as soon as we sat down. My friend jerked me from my sleep after some time. As I opened my eyes, wow, we've landed on LCCT again! Amazing! The last thing I remembered was before the plane even took its flight! Guess I did slept like a pig. We reached back school save and sound with a brand new personality and matured virtue at 1.00am, And that marks the perfect full stop to the history of SMJK Yu Hua 2010 Expedition to Mulu Caves and The Pinnacles.

getting ready.. changing our flip-flops to sport shoes actually...


all on board!! bye bye Miri!!


the poise-ture of an exhausting pig... sorry dude! Haha!! XD

Through this expedition, I've learned that nothing is impossible if you have the will. Plus, I've become more appreciate to the nature realizing that it is humankind's most basic wealth, not money. I will not forget what Richard told me since the very first day of this expedition - To achieve is hard, but once you've achieved it, it'll always be in your heart.

.,;:* THE END *:;,.

Here are some extra to this post!

Records we've made in Gunung Mulu National Park:
1. The biggest student team to hiked up The Pinnacles (26 members).
2. The 1st student team that every team member successfully finish hiking The Pinnacles.
3. The first tourists to experience a night walk in the Head-Hunters Trail.

Leaches bite counts throughout the whole trip:
1st Prize: Thivenesh with 27 bites.
2nd prize: Ooi Cheng Sheng with 21 bites.

by Masqueradez...14th May 2010...

My Expedition Trip To Gunung Mulu National Park (Day 5)

We woke up a bit late today, with aches and soars flinches in every inch of our limbs. Luckily we've finished packing the night before, or we'll be busy in and out. Still, we've buckled up to continue our last trek - The Head-Hunters Trail.

we didn't took picture of this notice board so i downloaded it from internet... LOL!

The Head-Hunters Trail is a 11.3km trail. The journey starts from the "mysterious" suspension bridge I mentioned in the last part of the 3rd Day post and ends at Terikan River bank. Tourists then have to take a 3 hour longtail boat ride to Bala Losong Longhouse to proceed their activities there.

behold, the "mysterious" suspended bridge of Camp5...

The 1st few kilometers of the trail was lead by pebbles path so that tourists wouldn't get lost. We were asked to be very silent and respect every native rules in the jungle as it is belief that this trail was haunted by the spirits in it. We were so silence that we can hear some indistinct animals such as the sound of the flapping wings of hornbills. We've came to the mid of the trail that we have to cross the scariest suspended bridge of all - Monkey Bridge (a type of suspension bridge that made out of ropes only).

step by step, safety first...

isn't it scary? we have no insurance on this~

After crossing the Monkey Bridge, we rested in a foyer known as Lubang Cina (Chinese Cave). Lubang Cina gets its name way back about 3 centuries ago. When Chinese traders stops here to trade, unfortunately they get involved in the most fierce Headhunters war. They ran into a cave to hide, carrying their boats and all valuables such as china vases. But in all a sudden, rains start pouring non stop until it flooded the cave entirely. Non had survived then, and since they were all innocents, it is said that the traders' spirits are still wandering around. I actually find it a bit creepy resting at the foyer there.

welcome to Lubang Cina checkpoint... Muahahaha!!!

We continued the rest of the trail as quick as possible as we were off schedule. We have finished this exhausting trail before the longtail boats arrived. We hung around Terikan River bank to wait for the arrival of the boats. Some of us chatted in the foyer and others had a dip in the icy river.

tada~ the foyer of Terikan River bank...

nice body!! girls, don't get fainted.. =P

3 hours had passed but we've waited for nothing. There was no connection in the middle of the jungle, not even the tour guide's walkie-talkie! In the end the adults made up a stunning decision that we have to return to our base camp, Camp5! This is where our nightmare starts. It is time for us to pack up our naive behaviours and mentally prepare as we knew that we'll spend some longest 5 hours of our lives trailing back in total darkness, which had never happened before since this place was opened for visitors.

just look at the expressions and you'll know how shocked we were...

Our priority target was to cross over the Monkey Bridge before dark. We've formed into a line and moved as fast as we can. We managed to cross the bridge just a twitch second before it turned totally dark in the jungle. It was then that the Nature entirely came alive. This is where the real expedition begins. With only the little light source from out torch lights, we have to finish the rest of 6km trail. Owls start hooting, apes start chipper-chapering, bats flocking around, cicadas start screeching, but the worse is yet to be awaited. 30 minutes after thee dark, rains start pouring down heavily without mercy. Some of us were terrified and petrified with this unprepared challenge. In this situation, only the strongest team with strongest spirit could get through it and proudly, we're those!

We managed to reach back Camp5 before midnight but everyone was tired. Despite that we've only took breakfast and some snacks throughout the whole day, still we've walked a total of 22.6km! I'm totally amazed even I was one of the team. We've all dipped in the now freezing river without concerning the coldness of it. It was the feeling of angel approach when diner served, even it is only an instant noodle meal. But now we face 3 major problems - we have to rewalk the 8.8km Kuala Berar trail back the next day, we'll not be able to take the flight in the morning and we were all damn exhausted! We checked-in to the dormitories for the night and fell asleep before we could even think of the aches and cramps that we had. It was one of the best sleep that I've ever had!



by Masqueradez... 14 May 2010...

My Expedition Trip To Gunung Mulu National Park (Day 4)

some wild plants at Camp5.. noticed the weird white dots on the leaves?

I opened my eyes, searching for my spects. I rubbed my eyes feeling odd, I was alone in the dorm. I look at my watch, oh NO! I'm 10 minutes late for breakfast! What a funny kick-start of the day. Today is the day, where all the trainings paid up, just to challenge this hike to witness the triumph of Mother Nature - The Pinnacles. The Pinnacle Summit Trek begins at 6.30am, covering a 2400m steep and slippery trek elevating from 60 degrees to 90 degrees and ends with a rocky viewpoint at 1750m above sea level; 2400m trek distance from Camp5.

another pretty flower along the trek...

Along the trek is a shrub forest and mossy moist path. The mountain is 90% limestone resulting a slippery trek caused by the humidity as we climbed. The first 2000m is the hardest part. We have to stretch our legs up high and wide across to follow friends in front us. Although we're gasping for air while some urging and even craving for it, we helped each other up, hand-in-hand, hearts-to-hearts, revealing the true leadership in yonder soul, twas, "no one ever left behind or to be forgotten".

take a break, you've made it to the 900m checkpoint!!

My asthma kicks in as soon as I reached the 400m checkpoint. I was really spongy that time. Its wrong to not to inform my teachers that I have minor asthma, but this is a once in a life time experience!! I just took the risks but who knows it really happened up there. Thanks to encouragements from my buddies, I've made up to the 2000m checkpoint, palely. But I was the 5th to reach that checkpoint!!

they say the pretty ones are the poisonous ones... Haha!

The following 400m is the most exiting experience. It was like flashing back into childhood where we have a board on the floor with some pawns and a dice to play with, the board was printed with number blocks and snakes and ladders. Nostalgic... Well, I'm serious here, it's as though as we're playing Snakes and Ladders, but a real life one! This is the part that the elevation comes to an extreme 90 degrees. We have to stretch more here, like Spiderman actually, and the stones are spiky and slippery!

scary enough? try free climbing it!

two Spidermen... watch out your step!

well of course we have aids at some dangerous parts...

you're almost there man! keep it up!

wanna see some magic? Alakazoom!!!

there you go, another Spiderman!! applause...

Another hour hiking and we've finally reached the viewpoint. It has been a rough hike but as we stepped into the viewpoint, every pain in our limbs "poofs" away and all we can concentrate is indulging in the breathtaking scenery of The Pinnacles.

what a relief to see this little pole... this is the last checkpoint!!


..:;* The Mighty Pinnacles *;:..

The Pinnacles is a series of razor-sharp limestone piercing out from beneath the slopes of Gunung Api (Api Mountain) 45m up high, trying to escape the boundaries below it. This magnificent view of Nature hides a story behind it - as earth crust moves colliding each other, tensions and pressures built up. Just like human, the weaker ones, or the softer layer in this case, couldn't withstand these pressures. In result, they snapped into 2, piercing out from the crust, triumphantly standing out shining from the others. The razor-sharp peaks of the Pinnacles showed us the toughest time they've been through some million years ago. Picturing it into real life, while you faces hard times, if we just hold a breath and walk away, who knows you'll be the one who shines up to the world while the others still competing within each others.

Photo Sessions

this group photo actually get published in the local papers... Wakakaka!!

from the left, 1st row: Rizal, Mr. Hashim, Richard
from the left, 2nd row: Mr. Nagaya, Mdm. Ng, Mdm. Yean

The Boy Scout Representatives

The Girl Guide Representatives

The St. John Ambulance Representatives

The Boy Police Cadet Representatives

The Girl Police Cadet Representatives

The Teenager Cadet (KRS) Representatives

left: President of Chinese Culture Club
right: School Band Representative


left: President of Photography Club
right: President of St. John Ambulance

After a whole lot of photo sessions, we descend the mountain. Just as we've been told, descending is much harder and takes longer time than ascending. I reached back at Camp5 around 5pm, being the 4th to finish the hike. A dip in the breezing river with a hot cup of instant noodle, and I called that a day with a victory in my heart.

we actually "broke" into Ryan's (left) dorm to take picture with him... Haha!!

the actual footage of the group conference.. it is classified.. just kidding! this is our night briefing..

by Masqueradez... 14th May 2010...