+on the train-day 2+
OK , I simply MUST mention this! During our tranisition from the S'pore-Johore to Johore-Dabong train, we had some time at a shopping complex. So picture this: a group of 22 people carrying gigantic backpacks on their backs, all geared up in track pants, walking, or should I say, 'trekking' into a city shopping mall. We really looked out of place there. That's an understatement. But I would admit that as much as it felt strange, what with so many heads turning and eyes on you, it was thrilling at the same time. We were like walking slogans, bringing the outdoors indoors..haha...maybe that would be a good way to promote the outdoors here in Singapore. The whole experience made me feel so...suave aka 'seh'..heez.

We arrived at Dabong Village abt one hour late. The train was delayed along the way. I was quite surprised that there wasn't really a train station at the village there. The railway tracks were located just BESIDE some coffee shop. When there was no train occupying the track, the villagers would just cross the track to get to the other side of the road.

We had our breakfast at the coffee shop beside the railway-nasi lemak and milo. The milo rocks my world man. It was warm enough to 'defrost' me from the chilly train ride the night before ( and also to wake me up from my dreamy state:P), and boy was it THICK, and not too sweet-there was sufficient MiLO powder and condensed milk! YuMMY..The Nasi lemak had a generous serving of cocnut rice, few pieces of cucumber, one piece of chicken and lotsa sambal! I didn't dare add too much of the sambal chilli into my rice for fear of having the runs up the mountain! haha....oh, just a tiny comment here. It was really quite an unique breakfast experience for me too. I ate with cats and flies. The cats were constantly eyeing your food and lingering around your feet, underneath the table and around it, and some were as daring as to venture UP the table and JumP on YOU to get satisfy their craving for human food. FUnny that they didn't have the usual small piece of fried fish inside the nasi lemak. The cats here at dabong live on chicken instead.

After our breakfast, we sat a lorry to go to the caves at the area. What struck me when I first went up the lorry was the unique nauseating smell, of probaby, chicken poo. the situation was made worse what with 22 humans packed into the limited space behind the lorry. Fortunately, as soon as the vehicle started moving, the smell was gone. Instead, most of us were enjoying the windy and bumpy ride, at the same time, taking in the fantastic view of the surrounding mountains!

The caves were beautiful! There was Gua Ikan, Gua Kris and two others of which my memory fails me. haha...anyway, I got to see the staglamites and staglacites ( is this how you spell it?) that I've always wanted to see from my geography text in secondary school.. haha...yay..they were shiny and all, looked so magical! And I learnt that they take abt a hundred years to form one inch! And there was this cave which had a little corner for religious purposes. Seems that the muslims go there to pray during the full moon period. So cool man! Haha...It was really thrilling to be in a place where there once used to be an ocean and due to erosion and all, viola! You get the limestone caves

After caving, we made our way back to the village and here's where the real show begins. We walked for abt ten minutes to reach the jetty and took this long boat aross the Negeri River followed by a short bus ride to the foot of the mountain.

Our trek started from the stong resort to the base camp at 450m high. Along the way, we scaled along the side, up the waterfall by holding on to metallic chains and my was that ardrenlin pumping! The base camp was more civilised than I expected. There was this hut with tables and chairs and tiny guitars hanging around and two makeshift toilets set up for you. By the way, the base camp was located at the TOP of the waterfall..and the view was, QUITE fantastic...the sad thing was, I didn't manage to see the sun rise from there:( BUT! i did get to see some nice stars at night and clouds in the early morning though! Heeheez...