Gunung Baling Hiking - How To Go

It is crazy that I need to wake up at 4:30am.

We depart from Bukit Mertajam at 5am, and reach Gunung Baling at 6am. So estimate at least 1 hour from mainland to Baling and at least 1.5 hour from Penang Island.

The entire journey took us around 2 hours to peak.
First 30 minutes is a very muddy steep slope, go slow, follow your own pace, not your friends'. Beginner K.O. at this stage.
The next 30 minutes is less muddy but still steep with more tree roots and steps.

The last hours are all rocky and you need to use a lot of hand. There are quite a lot of hikers, so there is plenty of rest time at some of the difficult part while waiting others to pass thru.

For those who follow my blog before, you will know my stamina is really bad. :p
So you will know when I tell you it is OK, that is definitely an OK.

For stamina wise, it is totally OK (Just need to go slow on the first 30 minutes).
But the rocky place is dangerous and slippery which I do not recommend for kids less than 12 year-old.

We reach the peak at 8am, missed the sunrise. However, the view is still, SPECTACULAR. it is definitely worth waking up at 4:30am. I feel it even nicer than Lembing Hill.

If you are from Penang Island, go towards Alor Setar direction after edit from bridge. Go straight until you see the BKE Expressway exit (To Grik/Kulim Hi-Tech Park).
Follow the highway to Grik, drive straight and you will need to pay two RM1.60 toll. Please make sure you have a touch n' go card in hand. After you pass through 2 tolls, go straight until u see exit to Baling on your left.  Follow the sign to Baling. After you slightly pass through Baling Town, you will see a Chinese cave temple on your left, and after awhile you will see a small road on your left with signboard Pendakian Gunung Baling.

Location: 5°41'13.3" N 100°54'53.6" E


Things you might need:
Headlight (if hike early)
Long pants (avoid cratching on rocks)
Kampung Adidas is the best

Loft 67 Cafe Kulim 居林

居林, 2009年, 我來到北方第一個居住的, 山邊小鎮.
人家說, 它甚麼都沒有.

然而我卻從它身上, 看到我所嚮往的點點滴滴.

住在居林, 到Hi-Tech Park上班, 用時七分鐘.
一路鳥語花香, 偶爾可見薄霧籠罩著山頭. 早上常看到摩多騎士在餵食路邊的猴子.

不遠處, 是綠油油的稻田. 開著車從居林來回大山腳, 一年里看著稻田耕種的變換,灌溉,插秧,青綠到橙黃...

食物便宜好吃. 餐室沒有華麗的衣裳, 但該有的都有.
購物中心, 是15年前峇株的The Store. 日常用品, 一樣不缺.

我愛上了居林.

在居林住了三年, 我離開了, 來到了槟城工作. 時時仍然想起居林的這些那些.

這幾年里, 居林發展了許多. 從原本新開的Giant, 到有了Tesco和McDonald.
雖然我並沒有喜歡, 卻深深地知道那是必然的變遷.

還住在居林的舊同事告知, 市區開了一間咖啡廳 - Loft 67. 於是, 我以咖啡廳之名, 回到了居林.

Loft 67, 開在舊市區, 老舊的房子.
整修了的老屋, 風格與槟城喬治市的許多Cafe相似. 在居林, 卻是十分突兀, 和難能可貴的. 欽佩店主的勇氣和熱血.

Loft 67 的食物主打是自制漢堡. 由麵包到肉餅, 都由他們自己製做 (當然蔬菜不是自己種). 味道是獨特, 並且好吃的, 份量也不吝嗇.

Various burger in chicken, lamb & beef to choose from. Generous portion and delicious to my liking.

 
我們也試了它的白醬義大利麵, 沒有一般義大利麵的沉悶和奶膩, 有著一種我很喜歡卻吃不出是甚麼食材的味道 (好想跟他要recipe!).
在居林有這樣素質的食物, 它得到的絕對是滿分.

White sauce spaghetti with its unique taste. Despite the presentation, it tasted really good!

Bruschetta on a Masimo bread? Nice but not much surprise. 

餐厅里的特调 Mocktail 以各种 Monin Syrup 配制， 味道清爽。

Hot chocolate, one of my favourite.

壓軸來到了咖啡廳裡的, 咖啡.

Americano

咖啡師是老闆的弟弟, 他是否也是老闆之一, 不太清楚. 但言談間, 可知他比定是愛咖啡之人.
在咖啡師的誘惑下, 不能喝咖啡的我, 點了Latte, 據說有著最mild的咖啡元素, 適合不善於喝咖啡的我.

咖啡, 我不懂. 但卻喜歡這Latte, 奶多咖啡少的搭配. 我這才了解, 原來這就是人家所說的, 層次感.

My First Latte

 喝了咖啡會頭暈想吐的我和V, 非常雀躍我們喝了的確沒事. 這杯Latte, 更是又多加了幾分.

能在居林, 找到一間好的Cafe, 喝到一杯好的咖啡. 真是幸福之事.

Loft 67 Contact
Loft 67 located after the right bend of road after kulim old town police station/Nasi Kandar Pelita. Go straight and search for the blue house on left.
Address: 67-F Jalan Raya, 09000 Kulim
Opening Hours:
Mon - Tue: 12:00 pm - 10:30 pm
Thu - Sun: 12:00 pm - 10:30 pm
Phone: 04-490 5541
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/loft67
GPS Coordinate: N 5 22.050    E 100 33.283

Fun At Langkawi - Landcons-Orkid Ria-Eagle Feeding-Dayang Bunting

A long waited gathering with my pals was held in Langkawi at Jan 2011.
We depart from penang to Kuala Kedah, we drive for about 1 hour plus taking north-south highway. Finally we reach Kuala Kedah jetty, parking fee at RM15 per night, 3 days for RM40 (because 3rd day consider half day).

Bought the earliest ferry ticket that we could get, which is 1 hour later at RM23 per pax. The ferry are fully aircon, we are not allow to go outside of ferry... T_T Only very loud movie was play in the ferry, nothing else can do and I couldn't sleep either. It took us about 2 hours to reach Langkawi Island. I start getting excited when I saw the sea is green and much clearer than before!! Last time when I was here, it was like... 10 years ago? wow~ 

We already had our rented car pre-booked from my friend as he got friend doing the business over there. Advice from locals is that, do not take any offer from Kuala Kedah's Jetty, the price will be much cheaper at Langkawi Jetty. We stay in Hotel Landcons at Pantai Cenang, paid upon check-in, no deposit needed. After check-in, we strike straight to the sky bridge. Been wanting to check it out as seen so many people shoot it before. Sky Bridge cable car ticket cost RM30, very pricey, luckily half price - RM15 with Malaysian ID, MyKad present!

waiting to hop on cable car

 

sky bridge

We then had our dinner at Orkid Ria Seafood Restaurant 真浪花园, although the seafood is not as nice as in Penang, I think it is the best on Pantai Cenang, don't go anywhere else! Hehe... but do try other and let me know if you found a better one. The price is reasonable at RM245 for 12 of us. We had fish, soft shell crab, fried squid, fried egg, vege, hotplate beancurd and soup.

Dinner at Orkid Ria

How can we leave langkawi without having the f*cking cheap beer?? The beer priced ranging from RM1.50 - RM4, you can get them from mini market along Pantai Cenang. Do buy it earlier as they are not 24 hours mostly. 

Landcons hotel is within 5 mins walking distance to the beach. We bring the beer and had it on the sandy beach beside Langkapuri Resort...

Next morning, we took the island hopping package at RM30-40 per pax from our hotel with 3 destination - Eagle Feeding, Pulau Beras Basah snokelling and Pulau Dayang Bunting.
The eagle feeding is indeed worth to have a look, although they are feed by the boatman but not us, it is not 2 or 3 eagles that they are feeding. There are uncountable eagles flying around you waiting for the food!

The beach they took us are not good to swim. Too many stones (or dead coral, I'm not sure), they cut our feet whenever we stop swimmming... T_T

Pulau Dayang Bunting is famous with a freshwater lake in middle of the sea which legend told us that you will get pregnant if you drank the lake's water. Grab a life jacket from your boat if you are allow to do so. You will need it to swim in the lake unless you are a really good swimmer. Rental of life jacket is available at RM5-RM10 on the lake platform.

sc showing off his tricking

pretty gals at the lake

After came back from the tour, we had our lunch at Kampung Siam Restaurant（暹罗村海鲜餐厅）, Thai food beside Underwater World. It's expensive and the food is not nice at all. It cost us RM333 for 12 and I don't bother to mention what food we had ordered.
We had a nap the rest of the afternoon and had our dinner at Kuah Town for steamboat. The shop is behind Hotel Bella Vista, can't remember the name. The steamboat tasted so so as well.

Except for the bad food we had on second day, everything else is fun for us. Don't forget to have a shopping at Duty Free shop before leaving Langkawi. They are located next to Underwater World. 

My true pals always

Accomodation In Langkawi:
Hotel Landcons
Lot 2616,Persiaran Pantai Cenang
Mukim Kedawang,
07000 Langkawi,
Kedah Darul Aman.
Tel : 04-9531101
Quad Room (2 Double Bed for 4 pax): RM150
Note: Some room do not have window and the bathroom is a bit dark. But still consider quite clean for a budget stay. Check out my review on TripAdvisor.

Transportation/Rent a Car In Langkawi:
5 seater car (Hyundai): RM50
7 seater car: RM80
We had them at RM260 for 2 days. Probably the best price in Langkawi since it's from friend.

How to go Langkawi Sky Bridge:
Grab a map from the information counter at Jetty or the Tourist Information Center across the road (beside KFC).
Drive along Pantai Cenang toward Airport, and towards Telaga Tujuh, should have signboard along the way.
Cable car: RM30 (Foreigner)/ RM15 (Malaysian)

Orkid Ria Seafood Restaurant:
Lot 1225, Pantai Cenang
Mukim Kedawang, 07100 Langkawi, Kedah
04-955-4128

Gunung Jerai, Kedah

I had my birthday at Gunung Jerai, Kedah in February 2010. Special day with special person...

There is only one accomodation you can find in Gunung Jerai - The Regency (formerly known as Peranginan Gunung Jerai Resort). It was renovated and reopen in 2010.

We had ourselves a standard twin bed room. The view from balcony is awesome as we can see the long stretches of paddy field which you can't even see the edge of it. Unfortunately, the time that we went there, the paddy was harvested and field burning was in progress. So, do check the season before your visit.

The room is not very big, but clean and new with balcony, all facilties work well. As a RM180 standard room, I think it's how it should be. For chalet in Jerai, I think the view is surprisingly not as good as the standard room.

separated toilet and bathroom

The restaurant in The Regency is the one and only one restaurant in Gunung Jerai. The food is expensive and tasted so-so, cost around RM10-RM30, not worth for a try I can say. 

Not sure chalet allow to cook, do check it with the management.

It was funny as things really really did not go well in this trip. There were 2 attractions in our list for Gunung Jerai, waterfall and museum.

On the day we reached there, we found that the Forestry Museum was closed down for quite some times already. It was kinda disappointed. And then we went to waterfall, the entrance located opposite the museum, short trek down hill. We saw the waterfall....but... without water on it.... =.=!! There's a season for waterfall too??

We walk further down and came to the recreation park, it was abandoned and scary. We didn't walk further as it felt unsafe.

There's another waterfall nearby the hotel, but it only allow to go with the tour guide from the hotel. As we only have two person, we gave up that plan eventually. There are several trails which we not manage to try out too.

However, I still enjoy my trip very much. There are so much more than a trip.



overlooking a nearby secret island



How to get there:

Drive along North-South Highway heading to Alor Setar. Exit at Gurun.

After exit you will see signboard along the way that took around 10-15 minutes lead you to the foot of Gunung Jerai. Drive less than 30 minutes then you will come to the resorts' doorstep.

My Proton Saga BLM 1.3 enough to handle the sloop.

Weather:
Daytime: Casual without sweater
Nighttime: Light sweater might needed at outdoor