Saturday, October 10, 2009

Rafting @ Ulu Slim...

Okays... finally, after a long hiatus from rafting, I finally went back to it last last weekend (about the first weekend of Sept) with Ivy, Fipink, Kenny and Kevin. We rafted at Ulu Slim this time, as KKB dam was closed during the drought and the water level there was pretty low. But after a week of planning, emails and FB-ing.. the plan was finally set and hopefully casted in stone.
 
I was down in KL on Friday, the day before, and had a scrumptious pan mee (with some soybean soup) meal with the ppeps, after which we went to watch UP.. non-3D la. It was cute and fun... and we found out that Kevin, was a girl after all. I liked that movie... and the dogs... hahaha.. ok.. after tt, went back to zzz and prep our mind and body for the next day.
 
Saturday finally came and we were off to Tanjung Malim exit meeting point to meet up with Bai and Surin, then to the the rafting storehouse where all the equipments were kept. We met another group of rafters ( 7 of them) who would be joining us... most of them were first timers as well but they weren't exactly the friendliest bunch i've been with. OK.. each of us collected out life vest and on we were to the truck.

The 'before' shot

The ride to the start point was on a logging track, and somehow reminded me of the track to Singor (in January 2009). There was one point where we had to squeeze in with a HUGE logging truck gg in the opposite direction... The truck driver was real gooood... RESPECT RESPECT!!

Well.. anyways.. arrived at the starting point safe and sound. Bai gave the ever loooooong lecture on rafting while I chatted with the guides.. missed them lots and well, updated myself with the gossips flying arn ... hehe...
Cikgu Yap... fokus sikit!!


And I helped to pump a bit....

Next, we split into 3 groups and I joined the other group while the Ivy, Fipink, Kenny and Kevin formed a group on their own. Got into the raft.. and hey, the journey starts. 

Ulu Slim has mainly grade 2-3 rapids with one Grade 3 rapid. It was fun again to be in the waters, paddling my heart out.. but this time.. sitting in the front, I tried to understand the water flow. Same as every other rivers I've been into, the trick is to keep the raft/kayak with the front pointing forward as much as possible.. Also played photographer and videographer this time with my Olympus SW1030 which so far hasn't disappoint me ...yet. 

The Grade 3 rapid


Rafting lasted about an hour and at the end of it, was playing time.. we all jumped into the river.. and went water boarding... including making a water boarding train.. hehe...tore my shorts there, dunno how tho.
Everybody wanted to pee...

Picked up by the same truck and returned to the storehouse.. had a quick shower and lunch there. Everyone was happy in the end and all agreed that rafting was fun. Even, the girls were keen on gg for more in soon, and am aiming for KKB already when it opens.. hehe.. Will try to arrange again in the future.. and ?? Singor again in January.. hmm.. oh well, till then.. later peeps.. :)
The 'after' shot...
Trudge on... and Raft on...