SUNGAI SINJU FALLS

First of all I would like to clarify that this is the "real" Lata Sinju not the one that located nearby the trunk road from Simpang Pulai to Cameron Highlands near OA village of Kampung Lalang. Second of all not many knows that Sungai Sinju is the same river that flows into so called "Lubuk Timah" falls, a large mademade waterfall near Simpang Pulai, so that is two facts that I want to share in this post. Semai village of Sinju lies at the bank of Sungai Sinju which consist not more than 20 houses, one of the closest OA village to Simpang Pulai and some of traditional ways of living had been gradually lost it bites and modernization seems begin to occupy some parts of their life. My initial effort to rediscover this waterfall is began with the help of my fellow photographer buddy Syed Hishamudin during our first ever photo trip where we also visit Sg. Lu Falls (mistakenly described as Sg. Juang Falls due to some misinterpretation by the durian farm owner who also possessed the land surrounding the fall) a tributary of Sungai Sinju which also accessible using Simpang Pulai - Cameron Highlands road. This among the friendliest Semai village that I've ever encountered, we have been guided for free by the Semai's village head son to the upper fall as the trail is a bit confusing where you need to cross OA farms. This trip also made possible by the help of my regular waterfall photography buddy Yarn the admin for Belajar HDR one of the HDR photographic group in facebook.

ULU PEROH FALLS

Unknown to many, beside famous waterfall in Ulu Chepor lies several waterfall cascading from Titiwangsa Range lies in Chemor, the exact location is Ulu Chemor, home to Malays and Orang Asal community living side by side. All the rivers within this area is a tributary of Sg. Pari accept for Sg. Kerdah which flow into Sg. Perlus and the area itself is a valley that two mountain range, Kledang Saiong and Titiwangsa stood side by side. I obtained the information and name of the river from Orang Asal that I met during my first visit and contrary to what has been told by few Malay guys that I met saying that the river itself is Sg. Chemor, Sg. Chemor itself flows from Orang Asal village of Sg. Baduk and Sg. Peroh is a tributary of Sg. Chemor. This revisit trip was accompanied by Yarn and during the first visit I was accompanied by my LAP connection, Shahbuddin. 5 tiers all together and you can climb up to the top without hassle as the rock surface is not too steep.

SUNGAI ANJING FALLS

Sungai Anjing had become a permanent water resource for Semai's village of Sg. Budak and for Che Moon family, I would like to dedicate this post to Che Moon, the story of him and the small water intake that naturally serve the purpose of giving back to the community that appreciate it. Sungai Anjing is a tributary of Sg. Gapis, can consider as "suak' due it size but upstream near the intake area lies the pristine waterfall, not huge but tall in size and to go to each tier you need to climb the waterfall itself. Abang Rosli, Cikgu Mat and Che Moon really helpful especially bring my tripod to the top tier. Lies within Titiwangsa Range and some moderate trekking required to reach this spot. 

SUNGAI GAPIS FALLS

Some general knowledge shared a bit... There is a secluded village located in some peaceful narrow valley called Kampung Sahom, this where 4 major races live together along side peacefully, Malays, Chinese, Indians and Orang Asal (Indigenous people) shared few common things here especially the lush rainforest of Bujang Melaka and Titiwangsa Mountain Range, I think this a few area in Peninsular Malaysia per square KM that we could found abundant of streams and river which some of it lies pristine waterfall that only knew by the locals. But now some of the area in the brink of being threaten to be wiped out permanently from this earth. This is due to logging and quarry activities where it caused a famous inland mud tsunamis in 1996 Pos Dipang tragedy and just this year area nearby Bertam Valley in Cameron Highland received the same fate. On the recent development, the state forestry office had approved new compartment for logging which part of it is a reservoir for Kampung Sahom located in Sg. Serokai Falls (or Lata Jemuk known by the locals), due to steep slope, the villagers afraid that the next Pos Dipang and Bertam Valley could happen here since the village lies in a very narrow valley and this location located in Northern Malaysia maybe it would received the same fate like Kampung Belum in Gerik, where it become flooded for massive dam construction. I began to mesmerized by this area with some highlight by Meor Razak from Sahabat Alam Malaysia on the campaign to halt the logging activities within the compartment of Sg. Serokai Falls because 80% of the villagers relying on the source of water from this intake and to prevent this area become the next victim like Pos Dipang. Apart from inspiring effort, the most important part is take the villagers formed a joint action committee for this campaign and now serious effort had been done by several NGO to push several agencies and state government in reversing the decision that had been made earlier, from my observation the action still in diplomacy stages and several community effort had been planned which one of it is Lata Jemuk Community Hiking scheduled on December 2013. Same goes for the plight of Penans in Burum, it also goes for all the Sahom population that share the common perspective which is forest is not just the profit of several group but a benefit to the whole community. I would like to thank Cikgu Mat, Abang Rosli, Che Moon who accompanied me during the 1st ever Kampung Sahum's waterfall trip and the "Orang Kampung Sahom" that welcome me warmly, here is the trip report of the waterfall (we visited Sg. Anjing Falls earlier and this waterfall is not expected which Sg. Anjing is a tributary for this river) that lies in Titiwangsa Range and we cancelled the trip to Lata Kura and Lata Kundur due to cloudy whether.

TROLAK TIMUR FALLS

On the next day after a visit to Bukit Belacan Falls in Gunung Besout we visit another waterfall which I visited with my friend Adi few months ago. Also a secluded waterfall that only known to the locals, I asked the villagers on the river name but they said don't know the exact name but they name is Sg. Trolak Timur, maybe one of the tributary of Sg. Trolak visibly seen when you pass small town of Trolak using Federal Road. This also the first time ever female joining my waterfall trip and two new kakis Yarn and Saiful. This waterfall is one of the easiest access, park on the road side and just walking 5 minutes there, but during our visit there is a heavy rain the night before so the water a bit murky but the spectacular of the waterfall is still prominent among all.

SUNGAI KUNCHA FALLS

This is our first time venturing into Titiwangsa Range and we decided to unveil the secret that lies in the area of Sungai Siput and surrounding. We manage to gather information from locals and few avid hunters in order to track this vertical waterfall near Terkok PLKN camp. When you drive from Sungai Siput towards Lintang using Pulau Kemiri route, you will cross a small bridge located 1 KM from Lintang, the river is Sungai Kuncha the tributary of Sungai Pelus that flows into Sungai Perak near Karai. For most of the locals the downstream area is known as Lata Durian or Lata Puteri, nice and pleasant picnic area situated along the road towards Terkok PLKN camp. We managed to reach the waterfall by trekking 2 hours inside the dense forest that I would confess full of biodiversity in term of flora and fauna, like what Asmidi told me when we entering the jungle he said "Semuanya Ada", from Elephant dung that scattered along the logging trail, Reflessia bud, sound of primates and not forgotten some trace of cat species left its mark on the trees, guide are highly recommended as there is no visible trail from the abandon logging trail to the waterfall where you required to trek along the river and this area is rarely entered accept for locals Orang Asal and avid tengas anglers.