If anyone ever suggests going over the Causeway on a long weekend, I am seriously considering giving it a miss. The crowds are horrendous. The customs (Malaysian side) are sauna-like. You see faces of frustration and impatience everywhere. You may even get to see very rude people pushing and shoving their way through the queues. The queues are amazingly complicated with merging and splitting of out nowhere. The return trip is only slightly better because we came back in a car driven by a professional who knew where and when to cut in and out. Ok, enough about the horrors. Now back to the trip proper.
This trip was organised by Team Spreo, a new startup to the adventure business. This happened to be its inaugural trip. Gunung Panti is a rather small hill ~ 517 m high. Everyone who went there previously said it was a relaxing climb. I guess "everyone" is really a hard-core trekker because on our trip, 1 lady participant had to drop out early on as she had just recovered from flu. For safety reasons, a guy accompanied her at the foot of the hill while the rest of us carried on.
In short time, another participant had a cramp in her calf. The team spent some time fixing up her calf before proceeding. Of course, many things do not happen singly. Her other calf also became cramped. Some actually heaved a sigh of relief as this means more rest for the others.
As for me, I think this climb was a good workout which cannot be found in Singapore. I mean, how many times are you going to go around Bt Timah to get the same level of workout? As a reward, the team had a very fresh seafood dinner at Pasir Gudang nearby.
L: All packed and ready to go at the beginning of the climb
R: A rest stop
L: The final ascent up a 30 m rock wall to reach the summit. Good thing ropes are provided
R: View from the summit
L: Another view from the summit
R: Everyone looking fresh for the Group photo on the summit.
L: The real situation. Candid shot on the summit
R: Climbing down is harder than up as you need to constant look down at where you are stepping.
L: Toxic black sap of the Rengas Tree. People have documented to get blisters upon touching the sap.
R: Jungle Ixora
L: Pasir Gudand seafood restaurant. You get to see the staff removing the seafood from the sea and sending them straight to the kitchen
R: One of the sea basses that will end up in our bellies
While waiting for our food, why not take a few pics? What good is a digital camera if you don't use it?