4X4 Matang-Rayu Off Road

On Saturday 10 December 2011 at about 1:10PM eight 4WD vehicles left MJC Batu Kawah New Township in an open convoy for Sungai Rayu in Matang. 

KN1439 the first vehicle to take off

Stopped at Sungai Cina to get into proper convoy

We were supposed to cross Sungai Rayu and camped somewhere near a stream  in the jungle off Sungai Rayu. But after we crossed Sungai Rayu, the road leading to the jungle was blocked that we could not enter without removing the barricade that blocked the entrance. The team, led by SAKTA's President, Mr Joe Bladae, decided not to engage in unnecessary confrontation; so we decided to turn or cross back and camped at the other side of the Rayu River and would take Plan B (i.e. to use alternative route, which we did the following day).

 Crossing back the Rayu River 

Setting up tents at camp site

Inflating the mattress

We got ourselves entertained with guitar and songs

The food session

The humour session

The scenery when we woke up the next morning 

The crystal clear river

The shower/bathing session

The following day via different route we were joined by tens of other 4WD vehicles. The real and exciting episode was about to begin. But the part about participants was that each and every participant was selfless. Nobody was left to face problem alone. Every hand was a helping hand.

Some of the 4WD vehicles that joined us on the 2nd Day

Some needed to be winched to get to the top of the hill

Some made it without the aid of the winch

Getting back into good shape again

By about 3PM Sunday 11 December we were back to the city again. The peace and tranquility of the forest was replaced by the busy city life. 

As this would be the last activity of the club for this year, we are hoping to see everyone again next year with greater spirit. Merry Christmas to those who are celebrating and a Happy New Year 2012 to all.  

Wong Rembai/Bukit Lesong Expedition @ Jamboree

Participants's vehicles assembled at Simpang Ubah

5 November 2011 @ 8.47AM we left MJC Batu Kawah New Township in an open convoy. Participants from Sri Aman went straight to the entry point at Simpang Ubah some two kilometers from Sungai Tenggang Bazaar. After a brief stop and also second briefing at Sungai Tenggang Bazaar we proceeded to the entry point at Simpang Ubah. There were 44 off road vehicles assembled here with @ Marshall or lead vehicle QKR 9578 driven by Dixion Kuyor. The event's sweeper was Meek Mape in his yellow BJ60.  Among the forty-four off road 4X4WD we also had Eight (8) motor cycles.

Group Photo Session After Tree/Fruit Trees Planting at SK Kranggas

After tree/fruit trees planting at SK Kranggas, the convoy continued the expedition to Wong Rembai

Some of the tents at the camp site

Having shower at the foot of Rembai Waterfall

The cool and refreshing water from the mountain

Trying some stunts but it didn't work hence the winch became useful

Crossing Radak Waterfall on the way home

One of the route that participants have to go through

Participants in motorcycles stopped at Siburan to refuel

Group photo at the exit point after a tough and  challenging terrain

At about 9.00AM on 6 November we left Wong Rembai for home but via a different route. At noon we stopped and had lunch at Radak Waterfall. We exited through Simunjan junction via Sungai Indai junction, which is a shorter journey than the originally proposed Tembawai Enjur route.

Thanks God everyone was home safely, happy and satisfied and of course exhausted.  See you all at the next Rayu Jamboree on 10 December 2011.

   

2nd 4X4 Off Road Pre-Jamboree to Mount Lesong

Preclude to the actual 4X4 off road jamboree on 5th November 2011, the organiser once again took another trip to Mount Lesong on 15 October 2011 with a team of four 4WD vehicles and eleven crews. The entry and exit point was at Sungai Tenggang. But the during the actual event the exit point will be at Tembawai Enjur. 

Mount Lesong in Ulu Lingga/sebuyau

A small waterfall at the foot of Mount Lesong

Straight to the stream at the foot of Mt Lesong

Crew members relaxing while waiting for dinner to be prepared

The actual 4X4 off road jamboree on the 5th November is expected to be participated by not less than thirty 4X4WD vehicle owners.

Ist 4X4 Off Road Pre-Jamboree to Mount Lesong

Mount Lesong, sometimes also referred to as Bukit Lingga because it is located in Ulu Lingga in the Sri Aman Division. In the 1st Pre-Jamboree to Bukit Lesong, that is, on 29-30 September 2011, we didn't reach Bukit Lesong as one of our members' 4x4 vehicle broke down half way. We proceeded only up to Radak Waterfall or Wong Radak and camped there over night.

One of the mountains we passed on the way to Mt Lesong

The following day we proceeded to Keranggas and exited through Sungai Tenggang. We had earlier entered through the Simunjan Road and to a feeder road at Tembawai Enjur that that connected us with the off-road track. 

Our crew members stooped to take photo along the way

Wong Radak

Preparing dinner at the camp site

Towing back the faulty vehicle

The second pre-jamboree is scheduled on 15th October 2011, to complete the uncompleted journey made on the 29-30 September 2011.

Gathering of the Tribes

14 January was quite a memorable date for those who had taken their time to drop by the Borneo Convention Centre. In fact it runs from 14-16 January. It is about tattoo. Tattoo artists from many parts of the world: Europe, Asia-Pacific, Indonesia and Malaysia congregate at the Borneo Convention Centre exhibiting their skills in tattoo making with all kind of motifs. I spent about three hours mingling with them and reduced into photographs part of what I saw and observed.

First Day Programme

Tattoo artist at work

Another tattoo artist at work on the lady's lap

Some of the participants 

An Australian showing his Mentawai's Tribe's tattoo

A lady braving herself with hand tapping tattoo with Indigenous Dayak's motif 

Proudly showing his tattoo

The dancers performing in one of the programmes

Giving full concentration to his work

Lundu and some of its components

On 30 December 2010, I accompanied a friend who had a little bit of business to do at the Lundu District Office. I say a bit  but in fact quite a complicated matter involving the transfer of one real property. The deceased, who was the administrator of his late father's estate, did the transmission but just left it as that and did nothing to transfer the property to the beneficiary, i.e, he himself. I suspect that he must have thought the transmission would have perfected the execution of the Letter of Administration, which in the eyes of the law, has not. Later, the deceased passed on intestate. The problem now arises involving the the above property which transfer the deceased had not perfected. Surely this friend of mine would have to make a few more visits to the District office to have the matter resolved. But the reason I am writing this note is not about his problem but about my journey to Lundu and some of the pictures that I took while waiting for him to have his job done. To those of you of who live outside Kuching and have never been to Lundu but may have some business to do at the District Office in the future, I am exhibiting herein the photograph of the District Office so that it would be easy for you to locate it.

District Office building

Part of Lundu town

The water front

The District Mosque built of a former aircraft runway

Gunung Gading seen from Batang Kayan Bridge

Sarawak River Cruise on second Day of 2011

Early on the morning of 2 January, five of us, self-declared as 'Hang Lima Sekawan' [The Five Friends], assembled at Pengkalan Sapi jetty in front of the State Governor's Palace. A decent high powered boat belonged to Sarawak Rivers Board was ready to ferry us up and down the Sarawak River. The weather was gloomy but with God's grace the sky cleared the moment we took off from Pengkalan Sapi with two excellent skippers. With its twin 115 horsepower engines we chose to go upriver first. We managed to spot one alligator sunbathing on the right bank of the river. One of us managed to take the photograph of the reptile. By almost noon we reached the 'Green Astana' [our newly created terminology referring to the residence of the Chief minister, which means 'Green Palace']. By then it started to rain and we instructed the skipper to return to our original starting point.

The boat that ferried us

Part of the Sarwak River just below Batu Kawah Bridge

Also part of Sarawak River

Some anglers enjoying themselves with their hooks

Water catchment near Batu Kitang