Gunung Banang Hiking Trip (14th March 2020) & Gunung Banang Song.

Gunung Banang is located in Batu Pahat, Johor.
The peak is about 430 metre in height.

To climb this mountain, you can follow the paved road built by Telekom Malaysia to access its telecommunication tower. The distance to the top is about 2.9 km. You can read this blog on this hiker's experience in hiking up this paved road.

However, we did not take this paved road. We took the more adventurous route to climb this mountain. This jungle trail is more challenging and I have to admit, I almost gave up. While the hike is not the highest I have ever climbed, this is the most challenging as the trail was very steep all the way; between 60 to 80 deg steepness all the way.
(Google map video of the route that we took.)

But I made it in the end.

View of Selat Melaka, Batu Pahat River and Minyak Beku.

 

 

Batu Pahat town.

Dari secawan kopi aku belajar erti
pahit manisnya sebuah kehidupan
(and the bittersweet success of hiking up a mountain).

Batu Belah Batu Bertangkup.

Batu Gajah.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gunung Banang is also immortalised in a classic Malay Asli song, titled, "Gunung Banang", of course.

Enjoy the song.

Lyrics:
Gununglah Banang,
Gunung Banang,
Tinggilah menawan,
Ahai...
Tinggi menawan,
Nampaklah lagi
Gununglah Soga
Ahai...
Gununglah Soga
2X

Bila ku pandang
Wajahmu Puan
Bagai ku pandang
Pintunya syurga
Ahai...
Pintunya syurga
2X
Selat Melaka
Selat Melaka
Airnya tenang
Ahai...
Airnya tenangBanyaklah perahu
Perahu Bugis
Ahai...
Perahu Bugis
 
 
Bila terpandang
Wajahmu Puan
Hati yang sedih
Terus menangis
Ahai...
Terus menangis
 

 

Trans Arong, Mersing Hiking Trip: Second Hiking Trip 2020 (15th Feb 2020).

Gunung Arong is located in Mersing, Johor.
It is part of the "Hutan Taman Negeri Gunung Arong" (Gunung Arong Recreational Forest).

The hiking trek started at Masjid Tg Resang, traversing the forested rocky hilltop along the coast, towards Pantai Rekreasi Mersing, to the south.

The trek is easy for seasoned hikers, and the view is breath taking, especially on a clear sunny day, just like on the day of the hike.

The waters simmered from light emerald green to minty lime to sapphire green to blue azure, aquamarine and turquoise.

The white cotton candy cloud that seems glued to the deep blue sky made the view even more perfect.

The tiredness from the steep climb were forgotten when we encountered the view. The half heart-shaped bay was a sight to behold.

 

The highest point of the climb provided us with a 360 degree view of the bay and the forest.

All in all, it was a rewarding hike.
A definite recommendation to all hikers and nature lovers.

The hike started at dawn.

Sunrise over Arong.

Sunrise silhouette.

Half heart shaped bay.

Full heart bay now after some edit.

Fajar menyinsing...

 

Gunung Arong elevation 240 metre.

  

Blue & green.

 

"De Hemel Is Dichtbij"

 

Enjoying the view...

 

Breath taking...!

 

Cotton...

 

...candy...

  



...cloud.



 

Peace...

 

...and quiet.

 

The twig and the horizon.

 

Not for the faint-hearted.

 

Top of the world...(almost).

 

Where the sea meets the land...

 

At the beach after the descent.

Resting the feet.

 

View at the finish line.

Relic.

  

YOU DID IT!

 

 

 

Nature's beauty to rejuvenate the soul. (Bukit Capal, Parit Sulong: 18th January, first hiking trip for 2020).

 

When life becomes a messy knot.

When life throws thorns in your path.

 

When you are burdened with
the weight of everything.

When life squeezes you hard...

 

...and harder.

When you feel drained, lifeless,
like a dead tree trunk...

...and you just want
to lie down like a dead log.

Take a break & enjoy the beauty around you.

 Look at the big picture.

See the order in chaos & untangle the mess.

Remember your roots.
Your foundation.
Your values.

See the inner beauty & strength in your core.

Stand tall & strong and
reach for greater height.

 

Above all else,
remember to go hiking once in a while.
See you next time Mother Nature!

 

Photos taken during hiking trip at Bukit Capal, Parit Sulong, Batu Pahat, Johor.
Elevation is about 250+ metre.
Hiking difficulty is easy for seasoned hikers to moderate for beginners.