Trekking trip @ Banjaran Bungo

[kuching]

Nov 15, 2008. I joined a group of outdoor people to go back to the village I visited before: Kampung Semban. The main reason I returned to this remote area is because everything will be gone in the future because they are building dam in that area. Before saying good bye to this piece of paradise on earth, I took as many pictures as possible to show them to my next generation that we used to have a lot of beautiful places but no more in the future.





Banjaran Bungo (Bungo range) is located in the western part of Kuching.






Part of trail is blocked, so we have no choice to walk on the newly constructed dirt road under the scorching sun.





One of our porters is carrying our stuff.





Two female porters are wearing brass (made of copper):

[kuching]

The beautiful river became a muddy river after the rain.





A storage hut on a hill paddy field.





Hill paddy field:




Bamboo bridge crossing:

[kuching]

On the first day, we had to trek 9 km from Kampung Bangoh (the place we parked our car) to Kampung Semban. It took us about 4 - 5 hours to reach our destination.

Suspension bridge:





Hill paddy field. The whole place will be gone (except the higher altitude mountain range), so the villagers are "asked" to move out to "outside world" in the near future.





The trail.




....to be continued.

[kuching]

After arriving at Semban village, we took an hour rest and then started to hike again to Susung waterfall. It took one hour to reach the waterfall. There is another beautiful waterfall which the water falling down like a row of curtain about few km below susung waterfall, but we're exhausted at that time, so we didn't visit the second waterfall.


Crossing a stream:





Susung waterfall:

[kuching]

A tree at Susung waterfall






Susung waterfall is one of the biggest waterfalls in Kuching division.





The humidity is very high in this area:





....to be continued.

[kuching]

Flora of Bungo range:

Inflorescence of a ginger, Etlingera coccinea:




Inflorescence of banana, Musa sp.





Orchid, Aerides odorata




Pineapple, Ananas comosus

[kuching]

Some shots on the evening of Day 1:

hill paddy field






Eating durian in the jungle:





Dinner at our host's house:





Our sleeping place:

[kuching]

On the 2nd day, we woke up as early as 6am because we have to leave by 7.30am. Another long hike: 6 to 9 hours hike!

The baskets in the kitchen:






A bidayuh lady





A Bidayuh lady posing for us:








Eating breakfast:




Group photo:





....to be continued.

[richmoon34]

These are great pictures, thanks for sharing them. If there is a project to build a dam in this area you should post this journal and pictures on another forum that will reach a wider audience and hopefully raise awareness to the dam's impacts and perhaps stop it from being built.

[kuching]

These are great pictures, thanks for sharing them. If there is a project to build a dam in this area you should post this journal and pictures on another forum that will reach a wider audience and hopefully raise awareness to the dam's impacts and perhaps stop it from being built.

Rich & powerful people control everything here. You can't stop them but they will stop anyone who is trying to stop them. I can't explain lot of things here cos it is sensitive issue & corruption is always the problem in 3rd world country.

[kuching]

On the 2nd day, the trail on the way back was very interesting & we could see the sea of cloud on the valley. We feel very sad that the whole valley will be submerged into water few years later.


Weevil. Never seen this species before...










Unidentified species of wild orchid:

[kuching]

The maize field (Zea mais)




Descending...





Sea of cloud is covered the whole valley.





descending.





The pepper (Piper nigrum ) field covered by the mist:

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A small river at the valley. Puntius kuchingensis (local T barb) found swimming in the river.




Hill paddy field (Oryza sp.)




Say goodbye to all the pitcher plants in this area because the valley will be flooded with water once the dam is completed. Below is Nepenthes ampullaria :






A football field at Kampung Rejoi. Behind is the mountain range called Banjaran Bungo.




There are a lot of bamboo bridges to cross near Kpg Rejoi:

[kuching]

Rest stop:




Bamboo bridge ...again:




Hiking pass the belukar (disturbed / secondary forest):





Trekking pass the bamboo forest.





So many bamboo bridges to cross......

[kuching]

The trail.




A bidayuh village (Kampung Taba Sait)





Again...bamboo bridge.





Say goodbye to Sungai Embahn.




THE END.

[flybaits]

its really sad to see all these n more going...........
thanks for sharing.

[luenny]

Hi Mike,
Nice pictures. So sad they'll be gone soon. Very tempting to go Sarawak, if only I have free time.

[Aquaculture]

Beautiful pics bro.

[kuching]

Thanks all...