BACK FOR AN UPDATE

Hmmphh...not too sure where to start ......

Been into hiking, camping and running craze lately. Participated in the Penang Bridge International Marathon on July 30th. Joined the Women's Open half marathon category. My first half marathon in 24 yrs. Friends been calling me crazy...  Had always wanted to joined the event but never did, so this year I told myself that I will join even though I couldn't convince anyone to join with me. Finally I did! In order to qualify for the Certificate of Participation and the Finisher's Medal I need to complete 22.3km within 3 hours. After huff and puff for 2 hrs 28 mins, I managed to get to the finishing line. Thank God I survived the run...hahah ..If there was a spa pool at the finishing line I would have just jump straight into it!. Was having some luck on that day too - won myself a SmartTAG for the lucky draw. ( for those wondering what is a SmartTAG - it is an onboard unit vehicle based device used as an electronic toll collection) It caused around RM250 for the device.

 This is how the SmartTAG device look like

  Gunung Ledang trail map

For the next 2 days after the run my legs were like sooo stiff, was so worried that it couldn't recover in time for the weekend camp+hike trip to Mt Ophir - known to the locals as Gunung Ledang at 1726m - the highest point in the souther state, Johor. Its the 6th highest moutain in Malaysia. Phew...luckily the legs got better on the 3rd day. Took a day off on 4th Aug as we wanted to travel down a day earlier to Johore ( around 6 hours drive from Penang). Kuan Ling (KL) drove Andrew, Kean and myself there. We camped a day at the recreational park of G. Ledang before the actual hike up. The 2D/1N event was organized by MMG group( Malaysia Moutain Goal Adventure Consultant). Day 1 We started our hike up from the resort the next day around 9.30am. The trail starts with a long walk alongside the beautiful waterfalls, to a stretch of stairs. Some parts were steep, some parts were jagged stony paths and a bit of rope climbing (I LOVE this part). We reached CP4 (Base 4) around noon and setup our tents. Rest for about 1-2 hrs before we proceed to the summit(CP 8). We reached the summit at around 5pm. When we went back to Base 4 it was already 8pm. We took our bath at the riverside, had our dinner and went to bed around 10pm.  Day 2  Rose to a fine weather day...Pak our camp coordinator from MMG prepared breakfast for all the us but I choosed just to take my own bread and a cup of hot milo. After all of us satisfied our own stomachs, we cleared and make our way down. The journey down seemed to be faster and easier...stopped by few waterfalls to take pictures in between.....Overall it was a fun weekend...Looking forward to go back there again...

Before the hike up

The trail painted on the wall                                                 The waterfall along the trail

Along the way...... Mua, Kean, KL                                              River crossing .

More waterfall along the way....                                             Spot me???

We made it to the top...

Picture taken during the hike down                     Nice waterfall scenery.........

More pictures - http://www.esnips.com/web/mtophir-gledang