Water tubing at Endau-Rompin (Selai) Johor National Park

 
I missed the Rawa and Sibu Island Media Trip earlier and I told them organizer that if Johor trip comes about, please oh please include me in (waima gi JB sekali pun).
 
You see, I don’t have that many blog entries on Johor, and despite I know there’s a lot out there for me to write (don’t even get me started… the culture, food, historical places and all the national parks – both sea and land). When I heard there’s gonna be another one, I told them to include me in and I will fled even if my boss said no (cos she said requested I cancel the earlier one, she kinda owe me one). So the drama begins when I got to know the trip will be covering Johor National Parks. *gulp*. Me and park are not actually the best of friends, am sure you readers out there know me by know *eyes rolling*. But since I made a vow to myself (not that smart now huh), I am gonna honour my own vow. Die die I will.
 
I saw the itinerary and my worst nightmare flooded my brain cell…. P.A.C.A.T (for those that don’t know, tropical rain forest is famous for leeches of which feared by many, aside from well… tigers, snakes, wild boars and etc). Calm down I told myself, there’s a solution to everything kan. First thing first, let’s make a list (i) insect repellent, (ii) minyak angin, (iii) insect repellent, plaster, (iv) insect repellent, (v) Panadol and more (vi) insect repellant. That should cover the 3d2n trip right *smirk*. (Just so you know, I bought this leech stoking that looks really avant garde at the Endau Rompin National Park office.)

There’s a few activities that enveloped our fam trip. And I personally think it was a cool idea having an event that rides on another event that rides on another event… One can reangle many a times. They organized a CSR activity in collaboration with Regency Hospital Johor for the Kampung Orang Asli Selai, which includes giving away sanitisers and educating them on the importance of hygiene especially during the pandemic. Nonperishable foods were part of item given, books and colour pencils were also given to the kids. In order to bring these foods from the city to Selai, Tourism Johor join forces with Johor Trucks, a 4x4 truck club that act as the main transporter. To top things up, they also teamed up Kelab Basikal Johor (Johor Bicycle Club) to do an off road/mountain-biking from town right up to Endau Rompin and Gunung Ledang National Park. This is to encourage off road biking as one of the activities and also promotes nature to the younger generation. And media is to cover and rediscover the beauty of both national parks that are often overlooked. A good 360 marketing tactics, great job guys!

Check out Fahmi's video taken at Endau Rompin - Kampung Orang Asli Selai.

Many might not know about this, Johor to boast to have the most National Parks in Peninsular Malaysia and that Endau-Rompin (Johor) National Park is the largest protected area in the southern half of Peninsular Malaysia. Established in 1993, this ancient rainforest is a protected tropical rainforest covering south of the state of Pahang and northeast of Johor. Thus making it the second-largest national park in Peninsular Malaysia after Taman Negara.
 
There are 3 official entry points to Endau-Rompin National Park, whereby 2 of them are in Johor.
 
1. Peta
- Via Kumpung Peta, Kahang (Johor)
- Entrance located along the eastern boundary in the district of Mersing
 
2. Selai 
- Via Selai, Bekok (Johor)
- The Western boundary in the district of Segamat
 
 
Below are the activities that are being offered at Endau-Rompin (Selai) Johor National Park, I can proudly say we managed to do 3 out of the 6 below.
 
1. White water tube rafting
2. Orang Asli (Aborigines) Village (to learn on custom/culture/handicraft)
3. Trekking to waterfalls
4. Bird watching
5. Mountain climbing
6. Mountain biking
 
📸 : @picturesquephotostudio
 
We were briefed on safety on how to handle the tube prior to us wiggled waggled ourselves into the tube (it ain’t easy I tell you that). Life vest and helmet are a crucial gear in this (or most) extreme sport, we were also told how the course would be and what to expect. Instructor is with us managing each cluster and that JPAM will be at the disembarkation point. Yes, I do feel safe. By the way, JPAM was with us the whole trip on special request as it involves a few extreme sports.

If you have experienced Kuala Kubu Bharu white water rafting on water level 3 before then tubing in Endau Rompin is similar. Very technical as you need to ‘bump bump bump’ on your own *eyes rolling* and maneuver the tube a lot. It’s tough because the tube is round hence it kept twirling when we bump on the he rocks.

Towards the end I fell off… noticed by many (masa tuh lah nak jatuh pun, tempat dalam pulak tuh. Nasib baik ada life vest. Hilang glams). 
Verdict : Challenging? Yes, Fun? Super yes, it was WORTH IT.

Will share on where to stay in my next blog post.

Majestic Johor Eco Adventure Media Trip 2020 is in collaboration with Tourism Johor and all its sponsors with #GayaTravel Magazine as media coordinator.

3 MUST do things – From Hulu Selangor to Kuala Selangor

 
Why 3 things?
Takkan lah 3 things jeeeerrrr?
 
Well, I have been to Hulu Selangor and Kuala Selangor many a times but these 3 things are fairly new to me hence I think I should share the new stuff that you can add to your current/existing list lah kan.
 
We were told that Kuala Kubu Bharu (KKB) was used be called Ampang Pecah back in 1925. It was a mining town was originally located between two Selangor rivers. It was also the fort for Raja Mahadi and Syed Mashor when they fought against Tengku Kudin's during the Selangor Civil War from 1867 to 1874. The kubu or fortress was constructed before the British colonial powers took over the town.
 
The township Ampang Pecah was washed away in 1883 flood and approximately 1500 people were involved and 35 people died. Sir Cecil Ranking, the District Officer at the time was also killed. Local superstition said that the flood/his death might be due to him shooting a white crocodile that was regarded as the river guardian. Only a Buddhist temple and a mosque survived the flood though. From then onward, the town is known as Ampang Pecah (translated in Malay language as Broken Dam). Kuala Kubu Bharu (KKB) was built right after on a higher ground where plenty of gardens located all over town. KKB has been gazetted as a garden city.
 
 
Hulu Selangor

1. Kuala Kubu Bharu Heritage Trail.

Yup! I never knew they has one (duh Lily!), there are 8 points of which you can do it on foot starting with the clock tower that was commemorating the coronation of King George VI & Queen Elizabeth in 1937, Kuala Kubu Bharu Post Office, Old Fire Station, Shop house No 1 and 2, Jalan Dato Tabal, Hulu Selangor Traffic Police Headquarters and Hulu Selangor District/Land Office Building. You can cover all these places on foot.
 
2. Paragliding

They offer tandem paragliding where your flight starts from Bukit Batu Pahat, about 20-30mins ride from Taman Millenium; where you’ll touch down. The flight site is 1,400 feet above the sea level.
 
Price : RM350 p/pax (+video -bring own micro SD card)
Duration : 1 hour (8-15mins flight time)
 
Operational hours
Daily : 9:30am – 3:00pm (last admission at 14:00)
High Seasons (Jan, Feb, Apr, June, July, Aug, Oct) : 9:30am - 4:00pm (last admission at 14:00)
*Closed on major public holidays
 
Booking : https://www.paraglidinginmalaysia.com/paragliding-near-kuala-lumpur.html

Kuala Selangor
 
3. Cycling at Paddy Field

Been seeing people cycling at the paddy field the last few trips I was here and I have always wanted to experience it myself but somehow never got around it. This time around I get to experience cycling around the paddy field… BEST GILER! A must try tau.
 
AMG Bicycle Renting
No 8-C, Jalan Menteri
Sekinchan Selangor.
 
Tel: 0192416045 (Mr.Foo) / 016347121 (Ms.Lee)
 
Operation Hours
Weekday : 5:00pm – 12:00am
Weekend : 3:00pm – 12:00am
 

4. Punten, Getok and Ketiwol – Javanese Delicacies in Selangor
 
To know more on Javanese delicacies in Kuala Selangor aswell as its history, click HERE.

Eat Travel Write 11 Hulu ke Kuala Media Fam Trip 2020 is in collaboration with Unit Perancang Ekonomi Negeri (UPEN) Selangor and all its sponsors with #GayaTravel Magazine as media coordinator.

Nasi Kluban in Kuala Selangor, A Javanese deliciacy

First time hearing and didn’t have time to google before I join this trip, hence I have minimal to almost no expectation of Nasi Kluban. And if you read this entry of mine, my only (sincere) advice to you is, go try eat…. SUMPAH SEDAP GILER.

But I heard it is not sold everywhere, so I foresee this will be a challenge.

Similar to Nasi Ambeng (write about it earlier, click HERE to read), Nasi Kluban originated from Java Island in Indonesia, and is usually served during festivities such as thanksgivings (majlis kesyukuran) such as kid birthdays and aqiqah. It is frequently served during majlis melenggang perut (baby shower) which is usually at the 7th month of the pregnancy.
 
Nasi Kluban too is presented in a large tray or ‘dulang’ and enjoyed by a group of 4 to 5 people. It signifies unity and togetherness also encourages the act of caring and sharing among family members, friends and fellow villagers just like Nasi Ambeng. It is also said that the food is to be divided equally and guest to bring it home and share it with family members.
 
As I love the kluban (kerabu) so much, I shall share the recipe here. It is pretty easy to make… nanti nak buat lah.

The decor ingredient, make sure you have all these read (goreng-goreng jer)

Ingredients to make the kluban (kerabu)

How to make the coconut floss (serunding kelapa)

1. Fry the blended ingredient

To blend :

Onion
Chili (birds eye chili and fresh chili)
Ginger
Garlic
Aromatic/sand ginger or cutcherry (kencur)
+ add salt to taste (abit of palm sugar if need be)

2. Add grated coconut - only the white ones (kelapa parut - yang putih)

Fry till dry and golden brown

3. Mix the coconut floss with sliced vegetables

Remove from wok and add sliced vegetable

Sliced vegetables :

Bean sprout (tauge)

Winged bean (kacang botol)

Long bean (kacang panjang)

King's salad (ulam raja)

Brazillian spinach (bayam Brazil)

+ Mix and marry the coconut floss and all the thinly sliced vegetables well

4. Ready to be served

To be served in a large tray (dulang) with :

Rice (4-5 pax portion)

Salted egg

Cucumber

Fried fish

Fried fermented soyabean (tempe)

Sometimes Nasi Kluban when served during melenggang perut (baby shower), is paired with 7 type of vegetables or 7 types rojak (pickled fruits). The number 7 signifies the 7th month of the pregnancy. This custom is is till being practice in Kuala Selangor.

If you want to try the Kluban dish (kerabu), just head over to :

D’ Bagan Awang Restaurant

Jalan Pawang Ghaffar

Kampung Bagan Sungai Buloh

Jeram, Selangor

Mobile : 011 - 14337866

Eat Travel Write 11 Hulu ke Kuala Media Fam Trip 2020 is in collaboration with Unit Perancang Ekonomi Negeri (UPEN) Selangor and all its sponsors with #GayaTravel Magazine as media coordinator.

Menggagau ikan keli di bendang (Catfish catching with bare hand in paddy field)

 
I have seen this activity so so many times, but nothing could prepare me for this.
Super fun, super funny, with super-duper sporting folks.
When Della said jump, they’ll ask how high?
When Della said sing, they say ‘how many songs?’ #eh
When Della said catch the catfish in the muddy paddy filed with your bare hands, the ask how many?
YUP! Sporting media folks this time around.
I have nothing but respect. Respect. Respect.

One of the many activities we did here is ‘menggagau ikan’, literally translated as ‘to catch the catfish in the muddy paddy filed with your bare hands’… I kid you not. This is not a joke.
So what else that is not a joke? The fish. Cos it’s a catfish!
For those lot that don’t know what catfish is (ikan keli for us Malaysians), below is a snippet on catfish :
The spines contained in the dorsal and pectoral fin contain a venom that causes edema (swelling) and a hemolytic (causes increased blood flow in the area of the injury) if these spines puncture the skin.
Or what we’d say ‘ikan keli ni boleh ‘sengat’, nanti sakit.’ (Taken from : https://www.catfishedge.com/how-to-hold-catfish/)

Click HERE to view the video

 
I’ve guessed as much that under female category, Ayue will win tanpa bertanding when it comes to tangkap anak ikan #eh. Hahhahahhaha… Joke aside, this girl got some guts hokkay. I traveled with her before, I know her drive and motivation. As predicted, she won! Caught 6 catfishes.
Before I go on sharing on how the male faired. I am indebted to mankind in telling some interesting characters that I’ve observed.
 
The ‘tuh-tuh and nih nih’ gagau-er
There are 2 that were caught on my phone. All they did was pointing finger on where they ‘think’ the fishes are while yelling ‘tuh tuh and nih nih’ (while taking 1-2 step back from the fishes).

Click HERE to view the video

The photo-opp with fish that is caught by me gagau-er
There’s one (on my Instagram video, click HERE to view), someone presented (sedekah) the fish for this person to ‘catch’ it and have a ‘Hey! I caught an ikan keli’ moment photo-opp. (Petai tembikai lah ni)
 
The I must WIN even though I’ve won earlier gagau-er
The type that was declared the winner 30 mins ago but then organizer decided to extended 1 more ekor to break the non-existent tie. He then jumped back in and caught the next winning fish, and the decides yet again to extended 1 more ekor. He gagau-ed a total of 8 catfishes altogether.
 
The all-scream-but no-fish-caught gagau-er
Need I say more?!?

Click HERE for more videos

 

The if-I-can’t-beat-them-I-join-them gagau-er

One decides to be the catfish instead. Well played young man, well played (rubbing jambang yang tak wujud).
 
The pretend to be the photographer so that tak payah gagau ikan gagau-er
I lah tuh. But I blog, post on Instagram and stories, as well as Twitter tau… Kira macam over deliver giler kan kan kan.
 
The worked so hard yet did not catch any fish gagau-er
I don’t know what to say lah… kira gagal with flying colours gitew. But effort counts.

 
The city-boys/girls that can turn padang and get dirrrrty gagau-er
Kudos to all of you. Attitude WIN!
 
 
For those wondering, this is one of the activities that is being offered if you choose to stay with the locals (homestay package). You’ll get to experience the kampung lifestyle in Sabah Bernam; a 2 hours drive or so from Kuala Lumpur, try your hand at planting/harvesting the paddy (depending on the season you are visiting), sample fresh seafood dishes, scarecrow making, local delicacies cooking demo and many more. If you don’t know where to go or what to do, I highly recommend kampung stay (kampung = village) as one of your options. I bet you are gonna like it.
 

 

Kita Ke Kampung Volume 2 Media Fam Trip 202 is in collaboration with Unit Perancang Ekonomi Negeri (UPEN) Selangor and all its sponsors with #GayaTravel Magazine as media coordinator.

Corn Field in Sabak Bernam, Selangor!

 
Corn juice, lepat jagung (Malay pancake made of corn), grilled corn, corn fritters…. Boy! I can easily name a handful snack/food made from corn.

I recently experience kampong life during my Ke Kampung Kita trip (‘To the village we go’ Media Trip), and it was fantastic. One of the highlights that caught me by surprise is the corn field (can it even be called a field? It was small [yet they make sure it is informative, I guess size doesn’t matter]), we not only learnt about the snack/food made from corn but also about the plant itself. Educational and fun, trust me!

If you want to know how the lepat jagung looks like, quickily click HERE.

Some of the stuff we learnt :
1. Jagung susu (Cameron white sweet corn) is whiter/lighter in colour versus jagung manis (sweet corn)
2. We can eat ripened raw corn – freshly sweet (tested and approved!)
3. The corn seeds used by the kampong (villages) here are came from Thailand, China and Taiwan.
4. The leaves can be used as animal food
5. How to identify a ripen corn that is ready to be plucked. If the janggut jagung (corn silks) have turned brown and the ears have entirely filled out, it’s time to harvest. Click here for video.
6. The corn planted here are for human consumption, and not animal

 
Other un fact that I’ve gathered :
7. Corn is called maize in some countries
8. The corn field here are planted/harvested twice a year
9. Approximately 100 acres of corn field in Sabak Bernam (1-3 acres per each individual)
10. It takes 60-70 days for it to mature/ripen
11. Corn is the same family as cereal grasses, paddy, wheat, oats, and barley i.e grains
12. Corn ear or cob is part of the flower and an individual kernel is a seed
13. An ear of corn has 800 kernels in 16 rows, at average
14. Most interesting fact:- there are over 3,5k different uses for corn products such as fireworks, rust preventatives, glue, paint, detergent, soap, antibiotics, paint, cosmetics and many more
 

To view the video, click HERE.

I would like to recommend/suggest for the locals there to start a ’A-corn Café’ selling food/snack/dessert/drinks made from corn. Add edu-tourism as well, brief introduction about corn, the plant, its benefits, and etc. I can see potential here.

Wouldn't that be cool.

Kita Ke Kampung Volume 2 Media Fam Trip 202 is in collaboration with Unit Perancang Ekonomi Negeri (UPEN) Selangor and all its sponsors with #GayaTravel Magazine as media coordinator.