Malaysia 400k Kayaking adventure along Perak River.

geckoadventure

Geckoadventure
30k into the trip the thunderstorm hits me head on, my wife is behind me struggling in the strong driving rain she refuses a tow from the support boat (then I know she is going to make the 400k journey) as a strong wind and lightening we are caught in the open 500 meters either side of safety we don jackets and continue paddling towards the safest place. Read on to find out how my wife and I paddled 170k the first part of our Traverse of Perak River 4 lakes and the river over 7 days.

Day 0

For this trip we have had some wonderful assistance. TNB offer to look after us between the dams for security reasons and give us permission to be in restricted areas. Because of my whitewater and previous trips iN Malaysia they decide we do not need to be escorted. Ufilta assist us with discounted self filtering jerry cans and drink bottles. Our employees are our rescue if we need to be transported out quickly.

Thursday night the trip starts badly we leave some 12 hours late I'm exhausted fromm the Johor 4x4 trip and get home at 1.30am in the morning. The day when I finally wake up is spent checking and buying Yokes food and checking the checklist as everything is loaded into the Trusty Blue landcruiser.

Day 1 12.00am (10 hours late) we leave Kuala Lumpur we have to meet the guide(s) 8.00am sharp some 400k away. All that came to a shuddering halt at kilometer 470.2 on the highway when BLUE blows a tire a quick call has Paul still awake and he gets a 35" tire to us in an hour. The highlift jack falls backwards as we are swapping wheels bruising my leg badly as I frantically try to hold Blue till everyone is clear. 4.30am we crawl into Gopeng load up the final Kayak and wake Kenny and Jasray to drive us the remainder of the way to Tasik (Lake) Temenggor still some 2.5 hours away. Sunrise and 50 minutes to go Kenny makes a wrong turn at Gerik it's 15k before I realise. Then he is too tired and I take over driving. 8.05am we arrive at the Jetty at Tasik Temenggor (Pulau Banding or Banding Island) and meet our guides for the next 3 days Kassim and Roshini.


Day 1 Pulau Banding to Tiang River 18.4k

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We load our kit into the guide boat and tie the Kayaks to the rear for the 90 minutes tow to the start point about 3k from the Thailand border deep in the Royal Belum Forest. But first breakfast. Finally our journey starts at 9.30am two kayaks in tow and a gentle 23k cruise north for 90+ minutes.

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First stop the military checkpoint the designated start of Royal Belum Forest Park, the soldiers want to know which country I'm from. New Zealand they nod approval as this is expected from a KIWI. Next checkpoint 500 meters around the corner is The Royal Belum Ranger Station. Then its cruising time again. The views spectactular jungle then the bank about 15 feet as the water is down then the water hot (28c+) as we wind our way with an ever narrowing waterway. 8k to go then 5 and our guide stops at a campsite he asks us start here or upstream at Kejar rapids where you want as that is a mudbath (and it's also dangerous - TIGER beach it is called for nothing). We elect to start here some 4k short of our original target. We thought we were alone up here until we run into a house boat full of fisherman all casting at obviously a big group of Tengas and another 3 or 4 in a tinnie bombarding a Toman rise (I'm then reminded how conservative fisherman I am and only cast once at a rise different fishing education). Then Kassim and Roshini inform us it's lunchtime as 11.15am we arrive at the jetty once the kayaks are prepared and we are guided to a waterfall (Lata Mas) where MAS river meets Perak river as it feeds into the lake. OK good spot to start out journey then. Lunch is prepared baung fish in sauce and RICE with vegtables. Meantime we have visited the waterfall and filled our self filtering waterbottles our only source of water for the journey its a GREEN thing and a weight issue 10 days and 5 liters a person a day minimum is over 50kg of water to haul on the kayak. The environmental savings of also not using plastic water bottles is immense. I teach Yoke how to take water from the bottles.

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Lunch is delicious as we consume the cuisine and admire the LONGNOSE (Elephant) footprints in the campground around us

Lunch being prepared
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We start here Lata Mas (Mas Waterfall)
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Fashion Police please quick Lata Mas Jetty
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In Malaysia we do not call TIGER and ELEPHANT (or any other dangerous animal) by it's name due to that it could be CALLING it to us so the name LONGNOSE and MAYBANK (The symbol of the local bank) is used instead.

Start jetty
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We are later than our planned 1pm max departure and we have 24k to paddle to get to the top of Tiang River to camp.

It's a slow start but we manage 4k an hour which is our set average for the trip. An orang asli looks like he is walking on water fishing with a net till I realise he is on a narrow bamboo raft and it's under water.

Walking on water?
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Approaching camp Day 1
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Sunset
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The guides have all our kit in their boat I only have fishing gear 2 rods and a box's of lures. Paddling along is nice and pleasant not hot or cold however it is overcast. The river slowly widens into the lake proper and we cruise past the houseboat full of fisherman still casting away. after 4.00pm the wind gets up and we find ourselves heading into a breeze. 8k to go to camp then its 1k left of this scenic paddle and the guide boat pulls into a remote village ahead of us. Wow camp no need to paddle up Sungai Tiang. Our camp and its 20 meters above the water is a surprise no power no water until they start the generator. We inspect our surroundings LONGNOSE footprints everywhere and droppings all fresh. Least the toilets are new. Yoke looks enviously at the chalets across the water with power and hot water. I erect out beds in the no walled shelter while the guides cook dinner. 9.00pm we are feed and and I need sleep the union carbide lamps are lite for us and its sleep time as we crawl into our nets in the beds.

Day 2 Tiang River to Pulau Banding - 23.5 kilometers

Bedroom view
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Heading off
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Houseboats
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We arise and it's overcast camp is packed while breakfast is cooked then we wait and wait for the clouds to clear finally 9am we hit the water our goal is to get out of Royal Belum after a map reading session last night the guides tell us 3 days we can be at the dam. We paddle off I try a few casts at toman rises in the water nothing. Soon its 11.30am and Ruok River beckons we elect to be towed up since it's not part of the trip route to save time and lunch is being cooked on the way.

Mobile Lunch kitchen
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Ruok Waterfall Entry
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This place is scenic
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Fish - smile
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The water is down and we have a short hike to Ruok waterfall while lunch is further prepared. Yoke doesn't think much of the watefall but she loves the fish in the water. Back for lunch sitting on the jetty these guys are good cooks outta the back of the boat we have fish in sauce, rice and vehtables and watermelon. I elect to paddle back down the river and fish once I get out of the sanctuary area the two guides are adamant I am not to fish in the Sanctuary area simply fantastic attitude. Yoke joins me when we get close to the end and then we see storm clouds gathering and the cross winds start.

After the storm light rain
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Then it hits I head for the nearest shelter after breaking out the jackets and Yoke tries to follow the wind drives her backwards. I turn to assist and so does the escort boat. She refuses all offers of tow and carries on soon making headway and we get to the shelter of the island and wait till the worst blows over. 3k till we are out of the park 2k further until civilasation. We check out of the park then past the smiling military checkpoint with a friendly wave. Then turn the corner and we can see Pulau Banding (Banding Island) was off in the distance. Shortly after 6pm we pull up at the jetty its rained the whole way down and tie off then the big houseboat we saw way at the start of our paddling turns up they unload one huge 7kgplus Toman and a icebox of tengas (sigh they are fishing the river out). A drink and our guides organise accommodation 500 meters away in a floating chalet - Luxury the wife likes this camping trip. Still no Toman caught :(.

Pulau Banding beckons
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geckoadventure

Geckoadventure
Day 3 Pulau Banding to the Dam - 17.5 kilometers

Breakfast arrives
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Glorious morning we are packed and ready 7.30am breakfast is delivered I cannot eat it it's way over the top in chilli padi - I chase a early morning Toman while Yoke finishes her shower. Then we are off 8.45am some 14k to the Dam wall easy - 3 hours at our rate. We paddle south down using the islands as shelter from the sun.

The morning view - lets paddle
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Telapia farms
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10.00am too perfect and the wind gets up and yup it's a headwind no matter which way we turn. 11.30am the wind is quite strong (stop paddling backwards you go) as we cruise past the really open water of the Telapia fish ponds the guides tell us lunch is at a hut on a island. Right now I want that island. It's very hard to paddle when you can smell lunch being cooked in the boat. 12.30pm the guides pull up at a point and step out. Wow FIREMANS ISLAND and in the distance I can see the dam looks like 5k away.

Lunch venue
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Lunch is delicious again chicken and rice and vegtables and watermelon. Soon it's time to be on our way. We elect to cross over into sheltered waters and a boat turns our way. TNB (Power company staff) they pull up we been waiting for you we will meet you at the dam.

Getting close to the dam
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Soon the Dam is in sight 600meters hard paddle and I step out to a welcoming committee of 6 people at exactly 3pm the time I stated we would arrive. I wait a few minutes for Yoke to paddle in.

Discussion on our plans they will not let us camp below the dam too many Longnoses down there and it's too late to start paddling Bersia Lake - so they give us the TNB houseboat sitting in the spillway for the night - our Kayaks are loaded in the truck and the truck left with us. 8.00am they will return. What a night we can see the storm coming we are thankful for the houseboat as run down as it is. Still no Toman caught :(.

Roshini and Kassim
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Our camp site at Temenggor Dam
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Yes we stayed in the jaws of the spillway
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Our cook
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Day 4 Lake Bersia - 21.5 kilometers

Arise to a glorious morning manage to catch it on video. Fed and packed we are ready to rock when TNB transport crew turns up. They drive us down to the spillway directly below the dam and want to launch us there I'm about to say yes but more worried about Yoke when the water erupts as they open another sluice to generate power the water boils in view of safety I say "no". So it's back into the vehicles and a 4k further downstream we are ready to launch for the 18k run to the next dam. Bonus they take our kit in fact they ask to take it these guys are cool. We are left with a sleeping bag and fishing kit and enough food for one meal each. A quick fish at the top of the river to chase Toman and Sebarau leaves me still fishless.

The top of Lake Bersia is so scenic
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Orang Asli village
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This river is scencic and a slight current assists us as we meander down and then past a Orang Asli village we decide to have early lunch when we find some nice shade and a dragon fly visits us. Then it's time to cruise on and we find a camp spot which can be used for other trips. 6k left and a storm passes over and misses us we jacket up and then the heavens open the the tail of the storm whips around and we are drenched we pull under overhanging trees and still in pours over us. 20 minutes later we pull out storm gone and unjacket as we dry out. I'm looking for the "badlands" area to fish an area of fallen trees total 8kg toman territory (90lb braid is the minimum here and still they snap it) but it's gone cannot find it. Soon it 3k then 2k and finally 600meters to the Dam and there they are the TNB crew waiting for us 2 hours early. Ok lets go load up the kayaks and the kit and down to below the tail race next put in point is 4k away. The putin point is a disaster both sides of the river have an excavator working building a new bridge and the river is in flood. The TNB boys decide we can be meet 4k downriver by the they will keep our gear and we can stay in that village also. We fly 3.7k in 20 minutes the water is so high and the current very fast there they are waiting for us. We are offered a pergola to sleep under and a outside toilet and clean water. Yoke cooks up dinner as the locals come around to find out about our adventure. We spend time watching a boat being repaired and several people come over to talk to me in English all Temenggor Guides and then time to cook dinner and relax before falling asleep in the camp beds to the noise of boat motors and shotguns.

Eeking out a meal using parm frons for a pole and nylon tied to it.
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The only transport
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The Bersia Dam wall on the left we cannot show it.
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Our home for the night on Day 4

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Our TNB Support these guys were fantastic.
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geckoadventure

Geckoadventure
Day 5 Lake Kenering - 21.5 kilometers

Arise again to see the river has receeded and we have two beached kayaks we pack and prepare for our first day of fully loaded kayaks and because the water is dirty the 20 liter water filter is filled (little do I know how much his slows the kayak).

Kayaks loaded mine weighs in over 140kg with gear and sits low and is slow in the water. 8.30am we paddle off and have some 25-32k to cover at least or more to find a camp site or stay at Air Ganda the only road access village on Lake Kenering.

The views
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Lunch break at a rubber tappers hut
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The cliff and views were awesome
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The first 12k is river paddling the river is slow real slow and we ground out a few times. We stop at 11.30am for a lunch break at a rubber plantation with a nice anchorage and SHADE and fresh stream water where we fill our water filter bottles. Then it's off again and we cross under a bridge which apparently is the end of the river and the start of the Lake proper. 4-5k later the river widens out and the dirty water is gone replaced by the nice clean lake water. We pull into a rubber plantation 500 meters from Air Ganda at 2:15pm and stop for a 30 minute break from the stilfing heat as my back is killing me the kayak appears to be about 2cm off balance all day (left side low). We have 3 hours to find a camp site we paddle off and then the rain clouds start gathering. Eventually we decide to keep paddling and we stop a boat. The orang asli ma points us to 2 huts and ses he will come back and make sure we are safe else he will take us to a place near his village. We check out the huts no good locked. We paddle of and now it's raining lightly and there he is returning to see if we are safe. We follow for 2k and he turns into a small plantation. A hut wow. We share a tea with him and ask him to escort us tomorrow. We agree a feee and we get a history of his village and how it's now below the dam and his new village is on the island we are on. We have a bath in the hot lake water (read 28+) as fish cruise around me pulling of dead skin. Camp is prepared and dinner cooked a nice shelter for us as we relax enjoying camping together. Tomorrrow the guide states 3 hours to the Dam we watch the nice sunset as fishing lines are layed out by fisherman.

Kenering lake just as it widens out.
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Our camp view
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Sunset
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The cook
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geckoadventure

Geckoadventure
Day 6 Lake Kenering to Dam - 14 kilometers

Our first view paddling
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Arise early the guide said he would be here but I bet after 8.00am sure enough 8.15am he putts in on the longtail. We add the military boxes to his boat and the jerry can and carry the rest on our kayaks. I spy the shotgun in his boat - whats that for - anything he replies anything which can cause us a problem - "ANYTHING". We Paddle off my my this lake is scenic and its nice and cool and the water so clear no bank just water and then jungle all as one just like the amazon. Yoke is like me she likes this lake more than Temenggor it's more scenic. I cast a bit blind try to lure out a mad snakehead but nothing.

Our camera is DEAD the Fuji waterproof camera is DEAD i'm gutted 30 seconds underwater taking a video of fish and it DIES. Its 4 months old double grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrh out with the samsung fone for the rest of the trip.

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We stop for a snack and wow a school of Sebaru go rampant on something Yoke is stunned she has never seen this before. I try and cast int it but i'm too late to get there. Lunch is to be a hut about 2k further up. Lunch hut looms up and I see splashes. Sebaru in the shallows. I cast in amd get a miss what a miss. I change lures to a Sebarau spoon and cast again. Success the line goes violent I pull it in wow a Juvenile Snakehead. Wahoo a fish is a fish. Lunch is 50 meters so off the kayak and continue fishing from the shore and I land another with some spot on casting once againa Snakehead on a spoon.

Success a juvenile Snakehead
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The lunch cook
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Nice view of the kayaks at lunch
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After lunch success again a scholl of Snakeheads and one on the end of the rod.
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Lunch macaroni and cheese is wonderful followed by hot milo. Time to go but wait more rises and as we paddle along I land 2 more Snakeheads all on spoons. The dam wall is only 20 minutes from lunch spot and we arrive at the dam wall 1 day early my whistle attracts the attention of the security guard he is stunned they were expecting us tomorrow. TNB turn up after we share a can of peaches and have a chat and goodbyes to our guide. I am when I get back to work trying to organise a Seeing is Believing Eyetest for the Orang Asli villagesHow do we get in touch with him no fone cannot read/write we just turn up to the camp spot and he will come. I decide I will bring Standard Chartered Banks Eye Test/Glasses program here to his village and some goodies for the kids. It's all I can do for his kindness to us I have s discussion with corporate on my return. So as well as donating enough funds for a person to have cataract surgery I have this to organise.

TNB turn up late and appologise why we are early. They offer us accommodation and their TNB quarters and will look after our kayaks all we have to do is take our luggage. a few hours later TNB truck turns up with our KAYAKS wow its ABU BAKAR and the other 2 from Temenggor/Bersia again. Tomorrow morning they will return at 8.00am meantime our kayaks go in the truck back up to Gerik

Dam wall and we say goodbye to our guide
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TNB give us accommodation for the night.
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geckoadventure

Geckoadventure
Day 7 Lake Chenderoh to Dam 48.5 kilometers


I'm up early 6.00am pack everything I can breakfast is cold food and hot milo we are waiting for the TNB truck to arrive. Meantime I have done a recce and decide we will start directly over the road from our TNB hut down the bank is a track and a safe point below the boiling rapids to start. There is only 3 rapids on this part of the river and the water slows 5k before Lengong giving us 20k of faster water then 28k of slow water to paddle today. TNB are wonderful they arrive LANDROVER and BOAT in tow and the truck with our KAYAKS. They are going to take our gear and meet us in the boat during the journey and escort us to the dam. 8.45am we are in the water and paddling goodbyes are said to the wonderful staff at TNB who could not do enough to assist us. Poor yoke her first rapids in a kayak 100 meters from the start she follows me like a shadow I yell advice so she understands what to do for me it's second nature for Yoke it's pure terror. Then there is more rapids wow the water is down revealing more sets of rapids.

I start casting into some of the rapids I miss a sebarau rats rats rats. 13k whizzes by in 2 hours. Then trouble i'm mucking around casting into a rapid and put the rod away too late and Yoke behind me hooks a rock and flips over as I paddle back and grab her kayak Dam then the rod hooks a low tree and 200 meters of line screams out I cut the hook off one handed as I hang onto Yoke and her kayak then the rod snaps as the line ends. Recovering she wants to kill me. Then I put my spare rod on her kayak and the next rapid the low tree I see coming I snatch my rod out of the holder and under I go Yoke doesn't react and my rod tips her KAYAK over on the tree. Crikey this one is bad stuff spills out and the pddle safety strap wraps around her leg. It's all part of kayaking I tell her. Anyway it was a nice warm bath. We drift and have a snack to recover.

Bailey Bridge
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The views are spectacular.
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Waterbuffalo herd
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No idea I think Lengong man monument.
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The river after 20k begins to slow and widen and the river bed is 12" or less under the kayaks. Lengong goes past 30k down we look for a lunch spot - a boat mooring looks good until I get off and sink up to my knees in mud. Lunch on the drift then drama Yoke has a tangle with an old sand barge. I missis it she cannot paddle out of the current. She beaches and by the time I reach her she has self rescued in the thick soft sand.

Stuck in sand
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The dreaded 4.5k straight comes up and there is a boat waving at us. TNB guys with ABU BAKAR at the helm and wouldn't ya know it we run out of deep water. I drag Yoke across the shallow water then mine until the bow strap snaps sending me tumbling into the river bed damn that's the second strap to break on this kayak this trip. Eventually I get across the river to deep water. Back in the kayak this time I have a escort - I paddle 3k flat out trying to catch Yoke she is almost a kilometer in front the TNB boat beside me I think a little stunned at the speed. I catch Yoke as she pulls over at a Jetty for a smoke break I'm relieved and have finally caught her. A Sebarau feeding frenzy sends me off paddling in pursuit. Soon its time to paddle on we have 14k to paddle and 4 hours of daylight left. We keep paddling with 5k left to paddle to Suka Suka the TNB boyz return Suka Suka is empty. I pickup the fone and chance a call I get Aznir mate where are we staying Suka Suka is closed. He replies your coming tomorrow I sent you a email this morning with change of venue where are you. I'm 5k from Suka Suka come and rescue us. We paddle off and wait at the fish farm and meet the TNB boat we wait 30 minutes and they ring - keep paddling we will meet you. Soon a boat appears its Aznir and Aziz. They tow us in after we xfer the stuff from the TNB boat and goodbyes are said to the TNB boys they were wonderful. Round the corner there is a kayak waiting Aziz's son. I drop of the tow and he introduces himself 10 years old and wonderful english I'm Azam we paddle together following the tow boat for another 2.5k.

Paddling 3 hours of sun left
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Tasik Rabin bridge
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Less than 4k to camp
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Rescue by Suka Suka Resort
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Chomel the kitten
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Arrival feast BBQ Chicken
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Soon the lights of Suka Suka alternate appear as dusk beckons. Later we find out the water level is so low Suka Suka Island is closed as the boats cannot get there. Dinner is being preapred BBQ chicken and BBQ fish all Malay style food. Then I see the banner the welcome to Suka Suka for the Sg River Paddlers. Aznir has to leave back to Kuala Lumpur he only came up to deliver the banner and make sure everything was setup. Suka Suka mainland is a delight a man made malay village from houses moved froma ll around Perak to this little hideaway. We have 5.2k to the DAM to finish Part 1 of our journey and 3 days spare we elect to stay for two days and then head for home. We have 5.2k to paddle fromt eh rescue point to the DAM.


Day 8 relax and eat and have a 5k arvo paddle just because we can


Day 9 relax morning and fish a bit

What a place to relax go for a early morning fish - I land two peacock bass then come back 8.15am grab morning tea and watch the swiflets dive bomb the water an the fisherman pull in their chances while sitting above the water in the shade. Relaxing and refreshing.

I send time with Azam correcting his casting and Toman hunting technique and peacock bass and sebarau skills.

1k to go and yes another storm.
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2013_10_12_SgPerak_01327_Yoke_IMG_1327.JPG


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Soon it's time for home well home means visiting my mum in law in IPOH and we head off pack the kayaks first we gott drain the Stealth-14 its got over 15 liters of water in it sigh. The Ocean kayak not a drop toally dry awesome. Loaded up we head off at 3.00pm and are towed to the rescue point and 100 meters beyond and cast off to be on our own 5.2k to paddle we cruise off and sure enough the arvo storm looms and we get a little wet 1k left we turn the corner and see the Dam then we paddle down and have to detour back up due to a pip across the lake and finally the landing point beckons. Yoke wanders off to organise our Taxi to get in and I unpack the kayaks. Wow 170k in 7 days she did it I had no concerns whether I would or not and what does she want - more adventure and to finish the 202k part 2 of the trip in the next 2 months.

Our overall water average was 3.9kph not bad considering it was flat water etc.

The taxi arrives all fixed brakes pads replaced and alloy window installed and we load up and head to Gopeng unlaod the kayaks and back to IPOH 30k away to see mum.

Day 10

Head off back to Gopeng grab the kayaks and clean them with a wash and a coating of armoral to keep them nice and shiney. Inpect the gear andmake a list of improvements for the next trip. We gotta cut down the size of the cooking and lighting kit and all sleeping beds and the tent need to be in a waterproof bag the Stealth-14 leaks too much.

Total distance for Part 1 was 180kilometers due to TNB cutting off some 16k for security reasons.

Day 8 of paddling is next.
 

geckoadventure

Geckoadventure
Day 8 - Chenderoh Dam to Manong - 56.5kilometers

I am doing this part SOLO before doing it with Yoke in December 2013 due to a timetable which has to be meet for Seeing is Believing charity.

We search for the suitable entry point to Sungai Perak below Chenderoh Dam. The guard at the gate of Chenderoh Dam tells us 500 meters back turn left at the sub station. Down we go a narrow goat track. We unload the kayak and I'm left alone in the dark. I find shelter under a small pergola and sleep on the concrete bench.

6.00am I'm awake and so is mother nature she pours buckets of rain on me. I have 2 cold tins of baked beans and a drink and I wait and I wait and wait for the rain to abate. Then I realise the long sleeved blue kayaking top is actually a pair of lycra shorts - oh crap. Extra sunscreen then hahaha.

8.45am I decide its not going to stop and the thunder has gone. 9.00am I slip quietly into the water kayaking solo the way I like to kayak just me against whatever is out there. Oh now a headwind and it's still its raining. Soon I have my rythym and paddle along I'm averaging 6k. The sounds of traffic from a few hundred meters north of me puntuating the ai. 30 minutes later rain abates and so does the headwind. Then my speed increases I'm no longer going backwards if I stop paddling.

I stop every 2 hours for 20 minutes break and a snack. What a day glorious for paddling not hot. Eagles with fish in their talons, an otter and water buffaloes all met in my journey so far. The test of my new self filtering water bottle is a success fill from the river squeeze (with super human strength) and suck and fresh water fills my mouth.

The Kuala Kangsar Royal Palace with the hills backdrop looks magnificient as I paddle past. 3pm I have paddled some 44k and I'm sitting under the Sungai Perak Hentian bridge and my GPS is gobbling bagtteries every 4 hours and I need a spare set. I walk up tot he petrol station and grab a set then back to the kayak and head off still no idea where I will finish up tonight.

5pm I look at the GPS and realise MANONG is only 7k away and this will do for the night. 5:51pm I pull into Manong a guy standing on the pier asks me in english where am I going? "HERE" is my response. Pull the kayak out and order all he has left FRENCH FRIES and a Milo and ICE. I have a long chat with an ex military guy about my journey and his adventures with the NZ army.

GPS ses 56.5k done 145.5K to go.


Dawn across from my miserable camp spot is this resort
20130811_072204.Day11.jpg


Chenderoh Dam is 500 meters up there
20130811_072212.Day11.jpg


Lunch break was at this spot a point on an island that is looking back up Sungai Perak
20130811_110127.Day11.jpg


Break in a narrow side channel
20130811_171804.Day11.jpg


Break in a narrow side channel
20130811_171829.Day11.jpg


Menong jetty
20130811_180154.Day11.jpg


20130811_180202.Day11.jpg


Sunset from Menong Jetty
20130811_193647.Day11.jpg


Menong fire station its all blocked off must be a safe city with no fires.
20130811_212731.Day11.jpg
 

geckoadventure

Geckoadventure
Day 9 Manong to somewhere - 54.5kilometers

In the water 8.30am after cold breakfast and sleeping on the cold concrete floor all night and a new kayak - straight from the shop it's a Ocean Kayak Prowler 4.5 fully loaded with 10 days of gear lets see what its made of. Good progress is made I pass a fish farm about 1k long and an otter racing out of a fish pen cool hahaha. I paddle well hunting currents and shade and sit mainly on the left bank. Late in the morning I pass a fish farm silently - so silent I startle a thieving otter and am reqarded with an snapshot in my brain of an otter 3 meters from my face with Telapia of about 1/2kg in his mouth as he flies out of the pen top stuff.

Lunch time and I spot an island pull up and cook up Baked Beans and corn and a hot milo. Actually for the next time here this will be the evening camp it's sheltered and sandy.

Water buffalo, eagles and otters have all been seen this morning not many monkeys and lots of people fishing the banks.

45minutes later back in the water and I regret stopping. The wind is up and its a headwind and the current slows. Looming on my left is thunderclouds. 4.30pm I loose the argument and it slams into me wind and rain and thunder and lightening. 1k away I see a JPS (water treatment plant) and a huge acacia tree to shelter under. As I close in I realise a small tiny jetty with a roof is more inviting. 12 feet above the river I find shelter with a leaky roof 6pm I have eaten 3 apples and a hot milo and 6pm (yellow brick turned off and a safe message to wifey) I fall asleep on the stretcher with the small tarp over me, the storm raging around me.

54.5k done 150k to go impossible in one day I know there will be a Day 11 just how much will be the challenge.

Dawn Menong the water tax has started check out the twin portable generators used as the engines.
20130831_073524.Day12.jpg


20130831_073536.Day12.jpg


On the water nice and cool. Check the fish farm on the right it was over 800 metres long.
20130831_090827.Day12.jpg


20130831_090832.Day12.jpg


20130831_090846.Day12.jpg


Nice views
20130831_094153.Day12.jpg


Cooling trees to paddle under
20130831_100730.Day12.jpg


Lunch spot on a small sandy island
20130831_131550.Day12.jpg


Rubbish this is what Malaysian's do to a beautiful river just toss their rubbish into it.
20130831_140908.Day12.jpg


River is wide and slow
20130831_140918.Day12.jpg


Sand sucking barges are a menace as they block most of the river
20130831_143947.Day12.jpg


Water buffalo
20130831_150240.Day12.jpg


Water buffalo
20130831_150244(0).Day12.jpg


Water buffalo
20130831_150244(1).Day12.jpg


Water buffalo
20130831_150244.Day12.jpg


Thunderstorm chasing me
20130831_162939.Day12.jpg


20130831_162949.Day12.jpg


Weeds and weeds on the river and a headwind as the storm starts
20130831_170751.Day12.jpg


My shelter now I can dry out
20130831_182300.Day12.jpg


The storm rages outside.
20130831_182406.Day12.jpg
 

geckoadventure

Geckoadventure
Day 9 Manong to somewhere - 54.5kilometers

In the water 8.30am after cold breakfast and sleeping on the cold concrete floor all night and a new kayak - straight from the shop it's a Ocean Kayak Prowler 4.5 fully loaded with 10 days of gear lets see what its made of. Good progress is made I pass a fish farm about 1k long and an otter racing out of a fish pen cool hahaha. I paddle well hunting currents and shade and sit mainly on the left bank. Late in the morning I pass a fish farm silently - so silent I startle a thieving otter and am reqarded with an snapshot in my brain of an otter 3 meters from my face with Telapia of about 1/2kg in his mouth as he flies out of the pen top stuff.

Lunch time and I spot an island pull up and cook up Baked Beans and corn and a hot milo. Actually for the next time here this will be the evening camp it's sheltered and sandy.

Water buffalo, eagles and otters have all been seen this morning not many monkeys and lots of people fishing the banks.

45minutes later back in the water and I regret stopping. The wind is up and its a headwind and the current slows. Looming on my left is thunderclouds. 4.30pm I loose the argument and it slams into me wind and rain and thunder and lightening. 1k away I see a JPS (water treatment plant) and a huge acacia tree to shelter under. As I close in I realise a small tiny jetty with a roof is more inviting. 12 feet above the river I find shelter with a leaky roof 6pm I have eaten 3 apples and a hot milo and 6pm (yellow brick turned off and a safe message to wifey) I fall asleep on the stretcher with the small tarp over me, the storm raging around me.

54.5k done 150k to go impossible in one day I know there will be a Day 14 just how much will be the challenge.



Dawn Menong the water tax has started check out the twin portable generators used as the engines.
20130831_073524.Day12.jpg


20130831_073536.Day12.jpg


On the water nice and cool. Check the fish farm on the right it was over 800 metres long.
20130831_090827.Day12.jpg


20130831_090832.Day12.jpg


20130831_090846.Day12.jpg


Nice views
20130831_094153.Day12.jpg


Cooling trees to paddle under
20130831_100730.Day12.jpg


Lunch spot on a small sandy island
20130831_131550.Day12.jpg


Rubbish this is what Malaysian's do to a beautiful river just toss their rubbish into it.
20130831_140908.Day12.jpg


River is wide and slow
20130831_140918.Day12.jpg


Sand sucking barges are a menace as they block most of the river
20130831_143947.Day12.jpg


Water buffalo
20130831_150240.Day12.jpg


Water buffalo
20130831_150244(0).Day12.jpg


Water buffalo
20130831_150244(1).Day12.jpg


Water buffalo
20130831_150244.Day12.jpg


Thunderstorm chasing me
20130831_162939.Day12.jpg


20130831_162949.Day12.jpg


Weeds and weeds on the river and a headwind as the storm starts
20130831_170751.Day12.jpg


My shelter now I can dry out
20130831_182300.Day12.jpg


The storm rages outside.
20130831_182406.Day12.jpg


Day 10 - Somewhere to Teluk Intan - 44.5 kilometers

The last planned day 5am I'm awake and starving realising I forgot to eat dinner. Dinner is cooked Pasta, tuna and a hot milo. 7.30am on the yellowbrick and do a manual update. First obstacle avoid the water intake for the water treatment plant the current is really strong.

Current is slow and I hunt it zig zag all over the river. clean water to drink is an issue clogging up my filter with muddy water is not an option so I pull into a run down resort and fill up 3 litres. Shallow water is also a problem frst you know is the paddle hits the hard ground. Monkeys not as prevalent this morning. By 11.00am I'm hot and I love heat. 12.15pm I meed a break and decide the palm oil plantation looks cool 45 minutes sleep in the shade no food only an apple. 1.00pm on my way and damn it the wind is up again and the current really slow and the rubbish everywhere plastic bottles litter the river. I drift along for a while a really nature spot monkeys troops after troop, water mintors babies and 2 meter long ones, eagles big 6 all together water bufflaloe. I startle a mother and baby as they are close to a stream so am I too close 4 of them charge me haha that wakes me up, grey cranes I get close to a few like 3-4 meters away before they see me. Not paddling allows me to get close.

Troops of monkeys do not move away if you are not paddling. The river is now wide and slow I have to tack over to the right to get outta the wind. The storm is coming fast just when will it catch me. 2.30pm I know I'm doomed the wind rises and so do the waves the little Prowler knifes throught the water hey its pretty good and I like this rudder thing. The swiftlet houseson the left are too far away. The little oil paln plantation jetty and shade looks excellent 500 meters into the storm as the rain pelts down and lightening pieces the darkening sky. I get there and grab apples, raisins and water and two GPS's and sit with 3 growling shivering puppies and a barking mum in the small shelter it's 3pm exactly. Dial the taxi as day is now ruined passing GP co-ordinates to invoke the safety plan evacuation . Gps 62 gives me better view and I'm close to better better evacuation 1.5k away - I wait and wait for the storm to abate and paddle over and pull up at a proper jetty and send new co-ords to the taxi. 2+ hours for the taxi to turn up. I have a milo and hot meal at the local restaurant. I have paddled only 44.5k today so I have 52k left of the part 2 202 kilometers and the new kayak it passed the test apart from the constant wet feet I will have to look at that issue later.

Day 11 is planned for 27/10/2013.

Dawn
20130901_064500.Day13.jpg


My overnight shelter
20130901_072449.Day13.jpg


A big bridge to cross under
20130901_094749.Day13.jpg


A wide nice beach to camp on for a return visit.
20130901_113538.Day13.jpg
 

geckoadventure

Geckoadventure
A Bubu and a fishing boat.
20130901_131318.Day13.jpg


Rubbish everywhere as the current slows.
20130901_135708.Day13.jpg


and more rubbish
20130901_135713.Day13.jpg


A rubbish island
20130901_141325.Day13.jpg


See the monkey bottom third of the picture
20130901_141655.Day13.jpg


Wonderful scenic view
20130901_142401.Day13.jpg


Damn storm coming
20130901_145259.Day13.jpg


Any shelter in a thunderstorm is good
20130901_151845.Day13.jpg


Kids playing on my kayak while waiting for the taxi.
20130901_162418.Day13.jpg


20130901_162647.Day13.jpg


20130901_162650.Day13.jpg


DAy 11 to follow tonight.
 

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