XPDC Gunung Stong (2)

When I reached Seremban Train Station almost everybody was there except for Haniza and Norly. I could hear them talking loudly and they sounded elated.

At 8.51pm the train arrived and we alighted coach F2 hurriedly. After ensuring everyone got their seats, I took the last seat meant for our group. I could see and hear almost everyone was on the phone talikng to their love ones. Telling them our their train rides and consoling theirkids or meybe their spouses.

The train ride was a slow one - from Seremban to Gemas where the train will chainge its engine. I commented to Hjh Hamidah about the coach. When I was in Melaka Hospital and went out for any expedition, we would go by the second class coach and not a third class one. I was not happy with this arrangement. But I did not want to cause any ruckus then. Especially when the group from Melaka alighted at Tampin station.

Inspite of not being comfortable, I managed to doze off for quite sometime, unaware of the stop at Gemas, so I missed my late supper there.

We were expected to reach Dabong at 8 am. So we had to say our Subuh prayers on the train. It was an interesting experience then - with the train wobbling and unsteady. We laughed about it. I noticed almost everybody prayed.

As expected we reached Dabong at 7.45 am. I noticed that Dabong had not changed since the last time I was there - in 2004. The same warong with almost the same menu. After taking some snapshots, I took breakfast with the whole group. I tried the local food, ie pulut with kelapa and ikan kering. To get more oomph, I ate some cili padi jeruk. That wa really delicious and hot.

After breakfast, we set out to venture into the caves in Dabong, namely Gua Gelap and Gua Keris. We went there by 2 vans. While waiting for the second van, I tried another local delicacy - fried tapai ubi. Yum yum it was fantastic.. After a short briefing by Odie, our chief guide, we walked to the caves....

Taklimat by Odie
This is Odie Baha
Gua Gelap

... to be continued ....

XPDC Gubung Stong (1)

It has been quite sometine that I ventured into the deep jungle or scale any mountain. The last outdoor adventure that I was involved was at Endau Rompin, Selai in mid April 2005 - emmm the place where I nearly lost my life.

I had been wanting to go back to the jungle ever since then but fear and knowing my inabilities prevented me from doing it. But I made a promise to myself that before end of 2008, I must go for at least 1 expedition into the jungle. Indeed I was surprised when my wife allowed to lead this expedition. With that approval, I made plans with friends from Melaka and Kuala Lumpur.

I managed to gahter a group of 13 staff from N9 and 9 from Melaka. A small group but good enough to expose staff in N9 on adventures into deep jungles. I could see most of them were excited for many reasons - some had never had train rides before, almost all had not climbed any mountain, some had not been away from family that long, some are afraid of heights, some fear leeches, and the list goes on and on. When I met a few of them a week before the expedition, they were all geared for the occasion inspite of the fears.

As for me, I had to buy new shoes, bag and other assessories. My previous jungle assessories / gears were all gone. The excitement grew everyday. However, I had my own fears - I am afraid I would be a nuisance and hindrance to the team. Not only I cannot see the tracks clearly, I was afraid that I could not proceed climbing because of my back. But the driving force within me is that I want to check & assess the extence of my incapabilities.

13 Novenmber 2008 was the date I was looking forward to. I did a last minute shopping for the bag and later did a frenzied packing about 2 hours before leaving for the train station in Seremban

... to be continued ....