Gopeng - whitewater rafting, playing with fire, henna art

Sungai Kampar - Perfect for whitewater rafting

All aboard!

The lorry that took the group from Earth Camp to Ulu Geroh for the Rafflesia Trail. It was a first for all on board and was very thrilling - especially at steep slopes.

While waiting for the trekkers, the rest of us relaxed by Sungai Kampar.

The boys making sandcastles

Another group with their rafts

Life vests are tricky to put on.

After lunch, JY and Cora started off with water safety tips.

If you fall overboard, stay away from the raft. Kick or push yourself away!

Hang on to my precious equipment. Don't let it float away!

Carrying the raft to the river.

The man with the blue helmet and light blue canoe is the safety marshal that followed them throughout.

JY and Cora body floated down the rapids to a sandy bank around the bend. photo by Amrita

Lie down feet first and let the current carry you away

Catch a rope that is barely visible in the water and haul yourself up.

JY didn't need the rope, all she did was reach out and she was by the bank. The advantage of having long limbs.

How to throw up?

More safety procedure followed

a few more pointers...

And they were off!

After settling in in our respective treehouses, we whiled the time away by the river located next to the Dining Hall. Dinner was a 2 hour wait, so the girls did some Henna art

Han dipped his toes into the cool water

The fathers started a fire to chase the mosquitoes away

Father on left could relive his scouting days.

Cora tried to skip stones.

The fire - mosquito deterrent but attracts children

Multilegged pet from Ulu Geroh

Rajah Brooke's Birdwing butterflies, Ulu Geroh 9thFeb2011

Ulu Geroh has much to offer. This dirt path is not just any dirt path....hundreds of Rajah Brooke's Birdwing butterflies converge here daily from dawn to dusk. The male butterflies leave at about 7pm daily. The female butterflies are never seen on the ground, only on treetops.

The butterflies are tame enough for you to pet. Our guide, Ngah, encouraged Fai and Han to gently carress their wings.

What a lovely sight,

Giant Golden Orb Spider.

Picturesque, don't you think?

Rafflesia in Ulu Geroh, Gopeng 9thFeb2011

The first few metres were easy enough starting from Dewan Rafflesia.
Walking on a dirt road. Our guide for the day, Amelia wore flipflops. So the hike must be an easy one.

We walked through an Orang Asli village. It was very scenic. The houses on stilts had a pile of firewood under each house and they had well tended lawns. Not a piece of litter was seen. No unsightly garbage bins either. It must be their way of life - green living. I must spend a night here one day, just to observe their daily life.

Newly built. The wood used is meranti. Chalets for rent?

That's me.
Trying to figure out how to carry my 2 year old through the jungle while avoiding leeches and combating fatigue. Ean didn't want walk and refused to be carried by anyone else.
He also insisted on putting on socks and when he had them one, decided that socks were not a good thing to have on and wanted them off his foot. So while I did his bidding, I amassed a collection of leeches on my feet. Leech therapy was on the house.


This is one giant leech. Our guide said that it was a 'lintah' not a 'pacat' and they go for wild pigs(babi hutan) rather than humans.

Baby durians.
It will be durian season in May/June.

This unusual flower grew from the ground with no leaves.

At last, Rafflesia!

This is its bud.

It was a short walk in. Amelia told us that we were walking through her family's land. No mosquitoes but lots of leeches looking for a meal.

The one on in the middle is beginning to bloom, whereas the one on the left and right are buds. Looked like a red cabbage.

The Rafflesias were all located on one spot, growing at the base of one tree.


This is the blooming flower. I didn't smell any foul odour. Perhaps it only emits its stench when it is in full bloom.

After the trek, the stream looked very inviting. Remember to bring along a change of clothes.

Before the trek, Dewan Rafflesia, Ulu Geroh 9Feb2011

We were led into Dewan Rafflesia for registration before our hike into the jungle.
The hall had informative posters and write-ups pasted on its walls.

The boys were full of questions about the cruelties of animal trapping.

The visit to the elephant sanctuary in Kuala Gandah gave them a glimpse into its repercussion when they saw a 3 legged elephant limping in its enclosure.

Rafflesia....I will be seeing you in 30 minutes.

Accommodation was available on the next floor. RM10/ pax. Pillows, thin blamkets and mats seen above can be utilised. Toilets/ bathrooms are not attached, you would have to walk down the stairs and to the back of the building.

Pointing to some bushes next to Dewan Rafflesia, Ngah, our Asli guide said there was a stick insect in sight. Can you spot it?


We had to be careful with the stick insect as it felt rather fragile and Ngah warned us that its limbs break off easily.

Road to Ulu Geroh, Gopeng 9Feb2011

The trip into Ulu Geroh, Gopeng deserves its on post because it was an adventure in its self.

Our Orang Asli guide, Ngah, instructed us to meet him at the Gopeng roundabout- the only one in town and hard to miss.

He said he needed to 'minum' - have a drink in Malay. So we followed his motorbike to a row of dilapidated shophouses and told us to wait for him. It is a good thing we decided to explore Gopeng town instead because 'minum' was actually 'makan' and 'minum'.

We drove slowly, admired the old shophouses and found our guide choosing yong taufu pieces for his curry mee.

So we joined him for a 'minum'.

The coffee I had in that shop was one of the best I have tasted. Perfectly brewed with just the right amount of milk and came foamy.

The museum in Gopeng was closed, unfortunately. Must be because of Chinese New Year.

Ngah told us the trip in would be about 11km and our car would have no problems but he did warn us about the bumpy road.

It was a very lengthy 11km. The car was badly rattled. The whole journey in my hubby kept talking to me in the 3rd person - "She never makes adequate research. When she wants to go....she just goes. Never checks. "

My hubby: You want MY car to go over THAT!!!!"

Next to the bridge was the site for white water rafting. Excited international school students were all geared up and ready for the wild ride down river.

The Ulu Geroh Rafflesia Conservation centre.

We got our of the car, put on socks and shoes, sprayed ourselves with insect repellent and was ready for our trek into the jungle.