Article Preview
Somewhere in Bishop trail, I bumped into a small snake (about 50 cm long). At first, I thought the snake was molting skin. But, upon closer inspection, I noticed the snake was actually devouring another snake. It was surreal! I tried to get as close as possible to snap a decent picture. But, I was scarred to hell. I don't want to be bitten by a venomous snake and die in a jungle!
Beside that, there were loads of fungi on tree trunks and the forest floor. Along the trail, I saw a cluster of gigantic mushrooms. These fungi are HUGE! Some of them were bigger than my face! These cute little fellas look like mini umbrella :)
Overall, it was a refreshing trip back to Fraser's Hill. The best thing? No leech bites at all! OH YEAH!
Title: BEHOLD!!!!
Location: Fraser's Hill, Pahang, Malaysia
Date: 17 September 2009, 12:54pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.0, ISO Equiv.: 220
A mushroom as big as my face! Diameter around 28 cm. Check out my YouTube video below.
Title: Gentle Does It
Location: Fraser's Hill, Pahang, Malaysia
Date: 17 September 2009, 12:54pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.0, ISO Equiv.: 250
Remember to handle with care. Like pitcher plants, these mushrooms are very fragile. The mushroom's stem or stalk breaks easily.
Title: Protect Mother Earth
Location: Fraser's Hill, Pahang, Malaysia
Date: 17 September 2009, 12:24pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 200
WWF Malaysia and Pahang State Forestry Department did a great job protecting and conserving the thick forest in Fraser's Hill. Thumbs up for excellent work in making the forest trails safer with loads of signboards and labeling. By far, Fraser's Hill is the BEST place in Malaysia for jungle trekking (from moderate to extreme level).
Refer to the sign/tag. BIS-3 stands for Bishop Sign 3, T8 stands for tree number 8.
Title: Drop Dead Gorgeous
Location: Fraser's Hill, Pahang, Malaysia
Date: 17 September 2009, 2:10pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.2, ISO Equiv.: 200
A fallen beauty. Take your time and scan the forest floor for some real goodies.
Title: A Growing G.I.A.N.T
Location: Fraser's Hill, Pahang, Malaysia
Date: 17 September 2009, 12:57pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.3, ISO Equiv.: 360
Another cute mushroom but smaller in size. Diameter around 12 cm. The 'umbrella' is top part of a mushroom; best known as cap or pileus. Spores are located on the mushroom gills or lamellae (underside the cap). I LOVE fungi/mushroom - whether edible or not :)
Title: Fallen Trees
Location: Fraser's Hill, Pahang, Malaysia
Date: 17 September 2009, 1:06pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.0, ISO Equiv.: 200
Halfway trekking in Bishop's trail, I was blocked by a huge fallen gigantic tree. I miscalculated my next step and climbed up that trunk to crossover. It was the wrong path. The top end of the trunk was rotted and gave way easily - DEATHTRAP!!! Fortunately, I managed to grab hold some plants and find my way safely to back to the trail. I should have informed the forestry official.
Giant Mushrooms 'captured' with my phone
Next...Post 155th - The Grand Palace พระบรมมหาราชวัง or Phra Borom Maha Ratcha Wangin in Bangkok.
Fraser's Hill (Bukit Fraser) - Getting There:
Car
The journey takes approximately two hours from KL and is only accessible by road. Take the North-South Highway towards north, take the Rawang exit from the highway and drive further north to Kuala Kubu Bahru (KKB) and up to Fraser's Hill.
From KKB take the easterly road past the police station all the way along the winding roads to the Gap rest house. There is a one way up and one way down road system now at Fraser's Hill.
Bus
All public transportation to Fraser's Hill has been suspended since 1st January 2008. To get to Fraser's Hill, take the KTM Komuter from KL Sentral Station all the way to Kuala Kubu Baru station and from there catch a taxi (not really a taxi but normally they are private owners who want to make a few Ringgit pocket money) all the way to Frasers. The fare is between RM50 - RM70 per way.
For the komuter KTM schedule, please go to: www.ktmb.com.my . From KL Sentral (timetable Seremban - Rawang route) take the komuter to Rawang and then change trains at Rawang station for Kuala Kubu Bahru (timetable = Rawang - KKB)
Taxi
From Kuala Lumpur to Fraser's Hill the estimated fare is from RM160 to RM180 per way per taxi.
Fraser's Hill (Bukit Fraser) - Things to Do/See:
a) Bird Watching
b) Jungle Trekking. Eight well marked jungle trails.
Hemmant Trail - An easy 20-minute trail along the north side of the golf course.
Bishop's Trail - Effectively a continuation of the Hemmant Trail, this is a slightly more challenging half-hour track through the jungle. Slippery when wet.
Pine Tree Trail - A challenging 6 kilometer trail up and down hills to the eponymous Pine Tree Hill, and you'll have to return the way you came to boot. This is a full-day hike that will take 7-8 hours at a moderate pace.
c) Golfing & Tennis - Not my taste
7 Days Weather Forecast for Fraser's Hill (Bukit Fraser):
Check the weather outlook in Fraser's Hill before you plan your trekking trip. Click this link to visit Malaysia Meteorologial Department:
http://tinyurl.com/kr4fsh
Fraser's Hill (Bukit Fraser) - More info:
a) http://www.journeymalaysia.com/MH_fraser.htm
b) http://www.nature-escapes-kuala-lumpur.com/Frasers-Hill.html
c) http://wikitravel.org/en/Fraser's_Hill
Fraser's Hill (Bukit Fraser) Map & Guide:
The mushroom is indeed big. Wow! You're lucky to have spotted them. I agree with your view that Fraser's Hill is the best for trekking though my friend from Taiping would dispute that! I love Fraser's Hill. (BTW, do you know if Nikon D-40 is available in KL?)
@Roger,
Let me asnwer your question first. I don't think shops are stocking or selling Nikon D40, anymore Even D60 is being phased out. You may want to check out these specialised shops in Sg. Wang @ Bukit Bintang or Campbell Shopping Complex in Jalan Dang Wangi. Also, you may want to check out second hand D40s, D60s and D90s sold online at:
a) http://tinyurl.com/nyjuac (lowyat Garage Sales Subforums)
b) http://tinyurl.com/lsq8ue (shuttersia wanted to sell forum)
There were loads of mushroom in Bishop trail. I guess I was lucky! Roger, can you tell me the best trekking spot as mentioned by your Taiping friend. Got to try it out.
Cheers!
mylo
wow... mr loke... why you didnt tell me you are going to fraser hill? i love hiking/jungle trekking/mountain climbing one you know?? and most important is i miss nature too after the mount kinabalu trip!!!
anyway a huge mushroom!! yeah i heard normally you could see mushrooms everywhere in the jungle after a quick rain or what... is that true?
@fufu,
Call me Alex or mylo. That 'MR' title sounds so odd and funny. The idea of hiking just pop up in my mind. Jungle trekking in Fraser's Hill is AWESOME. Form easiest to the toughest trails. Will invite fufu for next trip.
That's very true. Rain triggered better propagation of spores. So, mushroom galore after rain!!
Cheers!
mylo
Time for you to have a flutter on Toto or something as the mushroom may bring you luck. I'm not familiar with KL shops so thanks for the info, Alex. I read on your blog about your trek in Maxwell Hill so probably it's the same one.
OK,if I do go to KL let's have kopi at your favourite sarabat stall.
i also want satu kopi ping =p
@Roger,
Mushroom luck? First time hearing that. My father used to say...good luck when a stray dog come and stay at your place. I'm no good in TOTO or lottery stuff. But, hope the luck will translate into greater and happier days for me.
Yep, it's the same post about Maxwell trail :) I put it there as an additional read/reference.
Roger, perhaps you can invest a li' bit in Nikon D90. With video capture as well. I think it's a bit cheaper now.
@fufu,
OK Roger & fufu, will see you in KL! I'll belanja :)
Cheers!
mylo