Last Friday we rode to a campsite on the riverbank of Sungai
Kelemin, which is about 18km north of the peak of Gunung Berembun, Hulu Dungun
Terengganu. The river flows from the same mountain range that supplied water to
Kenyir dam and Sungai Tembeling. Although there are active
logging activities, the water remains clear and cold with lovely jungle chime
at night.
My tip for this campsite came from Mr. Asmazi Omar, who have
been there on both his bike and on 4wd vehicle before which led me to our
local guide Mr. Zaki & Mr. Lan Bro. These two locals are pivotal to our
trip as they helped us to our feet when we fall as well as being our guidance
into this campsite. The plan is to ride through ECE all the way to Paka as we planned to arrive there as early as we can before meeting our local guide in Pasir Raja.
Joining me and Syahril on this ride are Mr. Lester Liew and
Mr. Jason Lee. This is Lester’s first off road experience while Jason have been
to Mat Daling prior to this ride. All of us planned to meet at BHP fuel station
just after Gombak toll but a heavy downpour that Friday morning changed it.
Syahril is the first on scene while I arrived 10 minutes to 8 am and Lester
arrived half past 8.
We decided to start without Jason around 8.45am. The rain subsided just after Karak and its
clear all the way to Terengganu. We arrived at Temerloh rest area around
10.16am and met Jason shortly after that. After a quick refill and rest, we
continued towards Paka.
When we passed Perasing rest area, our fuel is still enough
to make it to Paka. However we arrived at Paka rest area, we didn’t know that
fuel station is unavailable there and fuel for all the bikes are critically
low. Lucky we made it to Felda Kerteh for fuel refill and revert back to east-coast
expressway. We arrived at Bukit Besi around 12.41pm and have lunch at Bukit
Besi Simpang Tiga rest area.
We contacted our local guide Mr. Zaki there and agreed to
meet in Pasir Raja. This is my first time in this area and we got lost when we
stopped at Kampung Minda instead of Pasir Raja. We are about 30km north of
Pasir Raja and we have to ride back about 20 minutes before we finally arrived
at Pasir Raja. Mr. Zaki invited us to his house and we meet his family.
A bit of crowd gathered outside his house to welcome us. Sometimes a little hospitality is all it need to make you feel warm & welcomed. We had cold drinks and keropok.
Pasir Raja is a well-known transit point for adventurers as
it is the last village before you go hiking into the jungle heading to Pahang
towards Kuala Tahan. We make a move from Mr. Zaki’s house around 3pm towards
Pokok Chengal Besar road.
Off road trail head GPS Coordinate: 4.71121, 103.02923
We begin offroading around 3.30pm and we stopped to reduce
our tire pressure and checking our straps and equipment. The route is nice
compacted red soil surface with rocks and road tires have no issue at all going
on it.
Photo Credit to Syahril Zulkifli
Lester slipped his front wheel and fall. His side pannier was detached in the process. I am glad he is still smiling!
Photo Credit to Syahril Zulkifli
Jason was next as he made a turn too small and lost footing.
One small river crossing about 2 feet deep and 12 feet wide with sandy bottom.
Versys on bottom mounted standard exhaust muffler? No problem at all!
Photo Credit to Jason Lee
Photo Credit to Jason Lee
Photo Credit to Jason Lee
The last section into the riverbank has a soft mud pool. It is soft mud about 1.5ft deep.
Photo Credit to Syahril Zulkifli
Photo Credit to Syahril Zulkifli
After almost 11km of off road we arrived safely at the
campsite around 4.30pm. For the last section with soft sand and medium sized bedrocks, I have to ride both Lester’s and Jason’s bike into the
campsite as both riders are exhausted.
Photo Credit to Syahril Zulkifli
Campsite Sungai Kelemin, Dungun GPS 4.78993, 103.03072
Facility: Clear and cold river water
Note: According to our guide, this area still has some wild animals like wild pigs, beruang matahari (Ursus malayanus), Elephant & others. Elephant droppings are seen nearby and the next morning I saw beruang's footprint crossing the river about 200m away from this campsite. Please be advised
Zaki & Lah set up our common area and by 6pm all tents
were erected. Syahril prepared rending ayam and chicken curry with rice for dinner
Photo Credit to Syahril Zulkifli
After a long and hot ride, we cool ourselves in the crystal clear
and cold water
Photo Credit to Jason Lee
It is raining around dusk and we sat under a flysheet having
dinner and getting to know each other. What happens in camp stays in camp!!
Photo Credit to Syahril Zulkifli
Lan Bro & Zaki brought some anchovies and budu
Photo Credit to Syahril Zulkifli
Lester's sleepy eyes (that is before lamb slices made it appearance)
Photo Credit to Syahril Zulkifli
Around 10pm I began putting lamb slice on the pan... and it brought the heat back to the sleepy camp.
Photo Credit to Jason Lee
Photo Credit to Jason Lee
By 11pm the mist began to fill the river and its surrounding
area and it is bright as it is a full moon night.
We chatted through midnight and everyone retrieve to their
tents soon afterwards.
The next day begin early as Lester began preparing
breakfast. We had tomyam instant noodles with eggs and canned mackerel. Total of 12 packets of instant noodles has been consumed by 6 men that morning.
Photo Credit to Lester Liew
We took our time to chill and only began packing around
11pm. By noon we have cleared the campsite and began our journey out.
Photo Credit to Lester Liew
I fell on one of the climbing section as my bike is rear-end
heavy and the front wheel is lifted as I tried to get out from a hole.
Photo Credit to Syahril Zulkifli
Photo Credit to Syahril Zulkifli
Lester did very well on the way out and we made it under 50
minutes. Last night's rain has turned some sections into muddy surface.
Photo Credit to Jason Lee
Photo Credit to Jason Lee
Zaki & Lan Bro
Photo Credit to Jason Lee
We stopped to increase our tire pressure and took some photos.
Photo Credit to Syahril Zulkifli
We said goodbye to Zaki & Lah Bro and continued towards
Kuala Kemaman for lunch.
Photo Credit to Syahril Zulkifli
We went through Kampung Durian Takilan E124 and
turning right to Padang Kubu. We make a quick stop at Shell Bandi for refueling
before heading towards Kampung Ibok.
We arrived at Otak-Otak Che Wan in Kuala Kemaman around 2.40pm and have lunch there.
Syahril said his goodbye there as he is heading to his
sister house in Kuantan and the rest of us continued towards Jabor and entered
East-Coast Expressway to Karak. Traffic was bad from Bentong towards Genting
Sempah as people are coming back from their school holiday and long weekend.
We arrived at Gombak toll around 7.05pm and said goodbye to
each other.
This has been an interesting ride as the campsite is very refreshing and the river is very clean & cold. Thank you to Lester and Jason for joining us and making this ride more fun. Zaki & Lan Bro also has been entertaining host and we may return next year?
Photo credit to Lester Liew
Photo credit to Lester Liew
One advice for future riders planning for the same route is to keep the place clean and preserve our environment!
Ride snippets
Rider:
Lester Liew V650
Jason Lee Vstrom 1000
Mr. Syahril Zulkifli V650
Myself V650
Distance: 944km
Duration: 2 days
Petrol: RM120
Date: 16th - 17th September 2016
Our guide:
Zaki +6 017 9440803
Lan Bro +6011 3917 9443
