Climb, Chill and Clean! Preserve Waterfalls The Fun Way

April 13, 2010 by admin
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It all started on a sunny July in 2008. Joe Yap wanted to take her four -year old daughter on a family trip and could not decide on where to go. She was bored of the same old shopping complexes when suddenly she remembered a trip she had taken as a kid to the waterfalls.

“I had only been to the waterfalls once as a kid with my parents. It was Templer’s Park, I think. So, I thought, why not take my daughter there,” reminisced Joe.
She surfed the net to check out the waterfalls in Malaysia through a website by Jan Stuivenberg, a Dutch expatriate with a passion for waterfalls in Malaysia. The family ended up at Kanching Waterfalls in Rawang, Selangor. According to Joe, the waterfall was beautiful. The water was cool and the paved walkway pushed her into taking the jungle trail which she said was breathtaking yet fun. For Joe, the fun didn’t end there. There was something endearing about the waterfall and she wanted to go to another. The following weekend, she trekked up Chiling Waterfalls in Kuala Kubu Bahru with a friend. “It was a killer, one hour hike. We were panting all the way but upon reaching the top, we were amazed. It was worth the hike as the air was so fresh, the water so clear and the lush greenery was a feast to the eye,” she claimed.

Joe knew that this was her calling when she got the urge to trek another waterfall, the next week. This time her friend refused to follow her so Joe used her Facebook access to send invitation to anyone who wanted to join her and surprisingly, she got six waterfall lovers who joined her. Joe knew there and then that this was a life-long addiction and thus brought upon the birth of Waterfall Survivors. Her love for the waterfalls was so great that she quit her job as a banker to do this full-time.

“I was very scared at first but the support I got from the members was so overwhelming that I knew I had made the right choice,” she said.

Waterfall Survivors is a social group managed by Waterfall Explorers Sdn Bhd founded on Facebook, the most popular online social networking service. The Facebook group was created by Joe Yap, with an aim to meet others who get the same kick and excitement at the thunderous sound of crashing waters in the tranquil setting of the rainforests like she does. The group has been actively organising regular waterfall expeditions ever since where they trek the jungle trail, clean up the waterfall and have fun in the water.

Guided by Stuivenberg website’s well- documented information on the country’s waterfalls, Joe started to organising trips for Waterfall Survivors’ members. To get clearer directions for waterfall expeditions, she began to communicate with Stuivenberg. Waterfall Survivors organises regular waterfall exploration trips which can be a day-tripper or an over-night excursion.

Waterfall Survivors aims to explore the unknown and unexplored waterfalls in Malaysia. Besides that, it also creates awareness on preserving nature for the next generation. It educates Malaysians to preserve the cleanliness of waterfalls and safety awareness when enjoying the waterfalls. Waterfall Survivors also promotes healthy lifestyle among Malaysians while appreciating the beautiful nature.
“Our long-term plan is to adopt waterfalls in Malaysia,” said Joe.

To date, Waterfall Survivors has left footprints at over 70 waterfalls in Malaysia such as Jeram Perlus at Ulu Langat, Seminyang Falls at Karak, Buaya Sangkut at Endau Rompin, Johor, Berkelah at Maran and many more. There has been a total of about 130 trips done.
“ We have 16 committees and we organise a trip every weekend. Our members are all equipped with first-aid, wilderness and swift water courses. We also have all safety equipments required for trekking. We welcome everyone. Come join us and have loads of fun enjoying nature our way,” ended Joe with a bubbly laugh.

Selangor Shines at Chiling Waterfalls on 10th April 2010

Tourism Selangor was launching the Selangor Shine Squad and the Kuala Kubu 4x4 Challenge at Kuala Kubu Bharu Town today. To promote the Eco-Tourism for Selangor, Tourism Selangor have also arranged a Day Trip to Chiling Waterfalls coordinated by Waterfall Survivors. Thanks to Tourism Selangor for giving Waterfall Survivors the opportunity to coordinate this event for them.

2 coaches was arranged at Mutiara Damansara Tesco at 9am to pick up all the participants to proceed to the launching of Selangor Shine Squad and Kuala Kubu Bharu 4x4 Challenge.

It was raining non stop in Klang Valley. Many was late at the meeting up point. We started off our journey around 9am plus..

A terrible traffic at the Rawang Town and slow drive along the old road to Kuala Kubu Bharu as there’s a group from a corporate was having a treasure hunt which slowed down the traffic.

We reached Kuala Kubu Bharu at 11.15am. We were late. The launching was over… The 4WDs already started to tour around the town…WOW… So many 4WDs…

We then proceeded to the Chiling Falls after the registration.There were a total number of 88 pax to this trip.

After distributing the lunch that was provided, all the participants started their lunch at the campsite near the entrance.

Joe did a safety briefing after everyone is finish with their lunch.

The hike started at 1pm as scheduled. A hugeeeeeeeeeeee group…. started their hike to the waterfalls. The youngest was 3 years old. But he made it all the way to the waterfalls. What a strong boy. With 6rivers crossings.. the hike took about 1 hours and 15 mins.

The view of the falls from far..

Everyone enjoyed so much at the falls. Swimming,… taking pictures..

We reached the trail head at 4.30pm and try to get some food from the stall infront of the ranger office. After a quick tea break, we had some games.. 

First was the passing game. A ping-pong ball was given to each group. The group that managed to pass the ball the the last person and first to pass the ping pong ball to Joe will win. The winning group got a nice Water Bottle from Waterfall Survivors.

Next was QUIZ session.. well.. We wanted to give away all the pressies that we brought… so the Quiz was just good… Some questions was throw to the participants. The fastest person to answer will get something from us. And the kids.. of course.. we gave them some stationeries a compliment from us..

Everyone had so much fun… and was really successful…

A BIG HUGE THANK YOU TO TOURISM SELANGOR for sponsoring and all the participants for coming..

~Waterfalls are BEAUTIFUL but DANGEROUS. Take Safety Precautions at Waterfalls~

The Lata Puteh Falls 4th April 2010

There’s 3 waterfalls that are claiming themselves as the highest Waterfall in Malaysia. First is the Stong Waterfalls a.k.a. Jelawang Waterfalls in Kelantan, followed by Lata Cemerong in Terengganu and Lata Puteh in Perak. I asked my mentor Jan Stuivenberg from Waterfalls of Malaysia this.. “Sifu.. which one do you think is the tallest?”… “I have not been to Stong Waterfalls remember? But the other 2, visually I would say it’s Lata Cemerong” he replied. As for myself, I’ve seen this 3 waterfalls with my own eyes but I’m not experience enough to tell which is the highest. But my comment would be, Lata Puteh is definitely not the highest. As for Lata Cemerong and Stong Falls.. hmm… good question. Both waterfalls are different…. one is cascading down… and another an almost vertical drop… Anyone wants to comment on this?

The Stong Falls, a.k.a. Jelawang Falls in Kelantan

Lata Cemerong, Terengganu.. (can you see the human there?) Lata Puteh from the main road (Photo by Janine Foo)

Waterfall Survivors has been to Lata Puteh for 4 times. This round we will try to make the way up to the upper falls… beautiful and pristine according to our recce team Siang Hui and Harry who went for a recce to the upper falls sometime back.

Waterfall Survivors members started a very early drive to Lata Puteh as the hike is going to take whole day.

one of the falls on the way up (Photo by Janine Foo)

Reached Lata Puteh around 9.30am. Started a short hike but no trails to the Main Curtain Falls. 

Group Picture at the Curtain Falls (Pic by Janine Foo)

A beautiful fall that is a triple wow to members that is here for the first time.

The Curtain Falls (Pic by Janine Foo)

After taking some pictures, without wasting more time, the group split in 2 groups. One group will stay at the Curtain Falls and another group who are much more hardcore hikers will proceed to the upper falls.

There were basically no trail like earlier. A lot of trees with thorns.. and steep climb.

Reached another level of the waterfalls. The water are strong which is good for a hard hydro massage.

One of the Upper Falls (Pic by Janine Foo)

A rock that they have to climb up.. It looks easy.. but in actual fact it’s TOUGH!

Pic by Vivien Koay

After continuing, somewhere, they took the wrong trail. Did not manage to get to the twin falls and the last falls but it was a nice and adventurous hike.

They then rested at this small falls.

Back track to the Curtain falls to join others.

This picture is taken at 5.45pm another kind of feeling..

Pic by Vivien Koay

They then proceeded back to the carpark after joining back with the other group who were waiting at the Curtain Falls.

Waterfall Survivors will organize another trip to the Lata Puteh Upper Falls again…

~Waterfalls are BEAUTIFUL but DANGEROUS. Take Safety Precautions at Waterfalls~