Trip to Imbak Canyon Day 3

Day 3 (25 March) in Imbak Canyon

I woke up at 5am in the dark and took shower then proceed with breakfast at 6am.

I couldn't slept well, I woke up several times due to my problem to sleep in new places.

As soon as I woke up, first thing came up in my mind, where should I go today either Kuli Falls or Maya Falls.

I'm not considering myself as hardcore hikers although I enjoy hiking more than jogging. But I love diving more than everything.

Back to decision I made, although I think I can't make it within cut off time but I decided to join Kuli Fall team.

Start our day with big smile..excited before hiking

There were 10 of us media and Petronas staff plus 2 ranjers. Kudos to Petronas staff for accompanied us throughout the trekking to thr falls. I think for the staff, they have to be fit as most of their projects located in rural areas like this.

Kuli Falls is 2.3km away. We start our journey by climb up the hilly trail.

Trekking for around 500m climb the hilly trail in early morning not a good idea. My body not ready for heavy workout plus its only 7am.

Along the way up, I feel dizzy till I thought I almost faint. Once I breath slowly, my heartbeat back to normal and we continue the journey slowly.

We stop for several times to take a break and for photo session. The forest itself look amazing so, its require times to capture beauty of the forest.

curvy tree in our way to Kuli Falls

pose at a big tree, forgot the name of this tree species

holding the rope to descend

We walk at the same pace to ensure nobody left behind. Its a small group so better to reach the falls together.

One of my team keep fell due to slippery trail but no one get injured during the trekking. Certain part of the trail have a rope to hold. We have to be very careful and ascend & descend the trail by holding the rope provided one by one.

We reach Kuli Falls at 9.30am. We arrive early than we expected. We arrive within cut off time (11am).

Deep inside my heart, I feel proud with myself as I continue the journey by not giving up half way.

Our 2 hour 30 minutes of trekking really worth it when I saw amazing scenary at the falls.

Kuli Falls -pics courtesy of Information Department,Sabah

The ranjer said during rainy season this waterfall have more tiers. During our visit it was only 2 tiers but the breathtaking view still amazed me.

Since we arrive early, we have plenty of time to take photo, enjoying the view and had our lunch pack without a need to rush.

simple food with great ambience

barefoot to blend well with nature

this tree located strategically for people to pose there

At 11am, we start our journey back to the research station.

Surprisingly when we go back, it took around 1 hour 30 minute to the research station because we didn't take stop for photo session.

One by one we reach the station with a big round of applause fron other group.

After take a break and had our lunch. I went back the our room for shower then pack my back. We were told to leave the research station at 2pm.

During the lunch, I felt itcy and notice something in my stomach. The leech manage to go up till my upper body. I spray it with vinegar spray brought by my friend. They said vinegar or salt the most effective way to stop the leech sucking our blood and fall by itself.

Journey to come out from the station begin. I walk fast to be in the front. See...I take a good advice seriously.

Without stop, we come out from the forest within 45 minutes. It was much faster than when we going in that took almost 3 hours to reach the station.

Back to ICSC, we had our dinner. Very tiring day most of us sleep early as the next day, we havr to do coverage for an official launching of the Imbak Canyon Study Centre (ICSC) by Chief Minister of Sabah.

Trip to Imbak Canyon Day 2

DAY 2-Imbak Canyon Study Centre (ICSC)


We start our day in this beauty place with a morning tour in ICSC that build on 27 hectare of land.

This study centre provide all facilities for research purpose including research lab, conference room, accomodation, hostel etc.

 group of media & Petronas staff

Research Lab in ICSC

The tour led by Manager of Environment & Conservation, Yayasan Sabah Dr Yap Sau Wai ends around 9.30am. Finish with the tour, we proceed to visit Imbak Falls which located 1.5km from study centre.

The journey to the waterfall by 4WD took us around 5-10 minutes.

Imbak Watefall is a must visit attraction for those who come to ICCA. The waterfall is about 30m wide that formed by 750m carving of Sungai Imbak (River).

one with the pretty boy of Petronas Sabah

Imbak Falls -picture courtesy of Yayasan Sabah

We spent almost one hour for photo session in this particular area including do our work by interviewing the ranjers who led and guide us during the trip.

Then, we continue our visit to Big Belian Tree (huge Ironwood) that includes 100m of trekking. This giant tree is a 1,000 year old tree that stand tall at more than 250 feet. To measure diameter of this giant tree, it need around 6-7 people about my size to hugs the tree. We did try measure the tree by hugging it ourselves.

Once the tour to Belian Tree complete, we proceed with lunch at ICSC & pack our bag for overnight trip to Gunung Kuli Research Station that situated in the middle of the forest.

Our ride to the starting point of Gunung Kuli Research Station begun at 2pm and we arrive there around 3.30pm. It took us almost 2 hours from ICSC due to gravel road. Our car driver drove slowly around 30-50km/h.

When we almost reach the starting point, the convoy leader inform all the drivers to stop at certain point due to limited parking space down the hills. So, only 3-4 vehicles allowed to go down the hilly route.  They need to go up for several times to fetch and send us to the starting point.

The process to going up and down took times. So our trekking begun at 4pm for 2km. The trail ups and down the hill. We cross 3 small streams. Adidas kampung is a right shoes for trekking in Kuli Station. I didn't bought Adidas kampung so I just using my standard sport shoes for jogging.

Oh ya..my car driver advise me to stay in front or at the back when trekking to avoid leech (pacat). Dont stay in the middle. I think its a good advice since he was a ranjer in Danum Valley before. I'm not sue how its related..but since I try to stay at the front all the time, its work. No leech on my feet and body in this first day of trekking. The next day the leech climb up to my upper body and suck my blood till its full.

Although I'm not phobia with leech like how I traumatize with cockroach but I don't want to take a risk till its going up to my upper body.

Start trekking with big smile

Since I took the advice seriously, I stay at the front, I walk faster than other media friends. At that time, I told myself I want to arrive at the reseach station before dawn. I don't want trekking in the dark.

Good for us because all of us reach the station before dawn. Me and other 5 media friends were the first team to arrive. We reach Gunung Kuli Research Station around 5.30pm, after 1 hour 30 minutes of trekking.

After we arrive, we took a break for minutes before jump to the Kengkawat River to refresh ourselves with cold water. Our tiring body feel fresh after staying in the river for almost 30 minutes while waiting for last group to arrive.

Kengkawat River..less water sue to dry season

The best part after long journey of trekking

couldn't dive more for #mayakarinchallenge

The facilities in Gunung Kuli Research Station complete with proper accomodation in rooms, surau, dining hall and toilet.

We were informed only two research station in ICCA complete with proper accomodation while other 4 stations didn't have basic accomodation, just a shelter and hammock to sleep. At the moment Gunung Kuli and Batu Timbang research station have the basic facilities.

A power source in Kuli station is using generator that operate for few hours. They shut it down at 12.30pm so, we use our own torch or handphone light when go to the toilet in the middle of the night.

During room distribution, me and other 6 female media friends took a small accomodation while other female friends took the nearest accomodation next to dining hall. Our accomodation is a house with 3 bedrooms for 8 people with 1 shower & 1 toilet. It was 6pm when we started bring our back to the house. Power not yet on.

After rest and shower, all of us gathered at dinning hall waiting for dinner. It took sometimes for them cook the rice by using cooking gas. They try cook it with electrical rice cooker at first but energy power can't support the rice cooker.

While waiting for dinner, discussion on the next day trekking took place.

Due to exhausting and tiring journey to enter the research station, most of us don't have enough mental and physical strength to continue the trekking to Kuli Falls.

According to the ranjer, difficulty level of the trail to Kuli Falls is 3 out of 5. It take 3-4 hours of trekking for one way trip.

So, Yayasan Sabah and Petronas staff had tough job to decide whether or not we proceed to Kuli Falls when there is an option going to Maya Falls where the trail more easy and it take less than 1 hour to reach at the waterfall.

They named it Maya Fall when actress cum WWF ambassador Maya Karin took part in expedition and discover the waterfall in 2013.

After hours of discussion during dinner, the organizer YS-Petronas decided give 2 option for Kuli and Maya Falls. Voting session begin and only 10 out of 35 participants willing to go Kuli Falls.

For Kuli Fall, ranjer set cut off time at 11am and the trekking start at 7am sharp.

Which trail did I took? Kuli or Maya Fall? Read in my next entry on Imbak Canyon.

Trip to Imbak Canyon

Living in Sabah is a blessed as we have an oppurtunity to visit island, beach, mountain, hills & waterfall within few kilometers from city centre.

However, it's not easy go to the gazetted areas like forest or Island due to the certain permit we have to obtained.

For Imbak Canyon Conservation Area,it was gazetted as Total Protected Area (TPA) in 2009.

With an opportunity given by Yayasan Sabah dan Petronas for media visit to Imbak Canyon, I would definitely say YES for the invitation.

For me its one in a lifetime chance to visit our First Class Forest cum last virigin forest gazetted as TPA in Sabah.

The media trip held on 23-26 March in conjunction with the launching of Imbak Canyon Study Centre (ICSC).

Before heading to ICCA, Tongod -picture courtesy of Information Department, Sabah

It was my first time in Imbak Canyon. With a little information I know about this pristine forest that located in area of 27,599 hectare, this place really worth for visit. Even for short vacation to be away from city. Its located in a sub-district of Tongod, Kinabatangan.

Our journey to Imbak start from Kota Kinabalu with a team of 35 people including staff from Yayasan Sabah dan Petronas.

The convoy from Kota Kinabalu begun at 9.30am by using 4 Wheel Drive (4WD) vehicles. The distance is about 300km from the capital city.

Along the way, the journey was smooth untill we enter gravel & muddy road where 2 of the vehicles stucked.

I think it's normal for vehicle to get stuck in muddy road esp when its a raining season. Although our visit to Imbak Canyon during dry season but a day before our trip was raining.

Imbak Canyon Study Centre -picture courtesy of Yayasan Sabah

We arrive in ICSC at 6pm and straight for registration procedure, take key of our sharing room. We divided into 2 house for men and women. There are 8 rooms for 2-3 people. We stay at Doringin 2.

At night after dinner, we attended a briefing on Imbak Canyon Conservation Area (ICCA) by Acting Manager of Environment & Conservation, Yayasan Sabah, Dr Hamzah Tangki.

According to him, ICCA is a home for 600 species of tree, 82 mammals, 26 endangered species and 242 species of birds.

A lot of tthings and information we learn during the briefing but I don't have to eleborate more since information on ICCA can be found in their website.

-ends Day 1 in Imbak Canyon.