adventure except that it is quite challenging. I soon discovered that it is between Level 4 to 5, depending on the season. The previous two outings for me (one at Jeram Besu and the other at Bali) were Level 3s and thus this one is definitely more challenging. In the words of Len’s son, you ‘will’ get the rush.We woke up early, so as to be at the Kuala Kubu Baru meeting point at about 8.15am. Here we were introduced to the expedition leader Mr Yoo, who made us comply with basic formalities (like filling in of our personal particulars and signing disclaimer of indemnity form). From the town we then drove to the starting point just before the dam. After waiting for our drivers to park their cars at the finishing point, we were given a briefing concerning safety precautions. We were given a life jacket each (professionally called
personal flotation device [in short PFD], a device designed to keep the wearers afloat and their head above water), an oar and a safety helmet. After posing for a group photograph, we eagerly descended to our rafts (everyone was in high spirit). These are inflatable rubber dinghies that can seat about 8 people and are suited to the rough water terrain.
The adventure started at about 10 am in relatively shallow water. The recent low rainfall has taken a toll on the water level of Sungai Selangor (this river feeds into the larger Sungei Selangor, famous for its fireflies at Kuala Selangor near Kampung Kuantan). After the construction of a dam, the river water level is controlled by overflow or releases
from the dam. Despite the low water level, we went for it. The fun started almost immediately with all of us happily rowing over the many rapids along the river. After a couple of interesting small falls, we came to calm water where we were taught some basic skills in maneuvering of the dinghies. Then it was off to more adventure.There was a captain and helper in every dinghy with the captain seated at the back. He shouted commands to row forward and backward, moving to either sides or to either ends of the dinghy. The helper at the front steered the boat. When we approached a steep fall, they recced the site and then allowed us to proceed if deemed safe. The leader will station himself at a vantage position to survey the site and also to take photographs of the actions. Despite the precautions, we had a victim in the person of Leong who was tossed into the fast moving water when his raft hit one of the charging rapids. Those of us in the first raft waiting downstream were able to
throw him a line and brought him into our raft about 50 metres away. He emerged unscathed but quite shocked from the fall.The conquest of each fall brought the adrenalin ‘rush’. The greater the difficulty we encountered, the more we enjoyed it. The first of such falls was the ‘Chicken Drop’ fall which saw the river falling several feet in a rather steep manner. We braced ourselves and held the oars high as we approached the edge; and soon we were in the thick of it, plunging into troubled water. Water rushed into the dinghy from all sides and we were swung left and right but it was over rather fast; we overcome and emerged the victor.
There were several more of such falls and some were quite treacherous and difficult to maneuver (we were practically at the mercy of nature) and the shallowness of the water made the rocks appeared ominous. The normal time taken for such a journey of two and a half hour was extended to 3 + hours as a result of the lower water level. At one point the organizers had to carry the dinghy over shallow water.
Along the journey, we stop at a small waterfall for some light refreshment and snack plus a shoulder massage from the rushing water from above. The water was clean which was not quite what I expected. This wonderful stretch of clear water is a rare find so near to KL, almost in our
backyard. Many of us took the opportunity to float on a stretch of calm water along the way, looking upwards at the sky and the trees lining the shores. A certain calm was about us as we move effortlessly downstream, a great stress reliever.At the end of the adventure we had a good shower, a simple lunch and some time to fellowship. It was all in all a good healthy family outing. And we look forward to the next adventure, the ultimate white water adventure in Malaysia – Sungai Singor in Grik, Perak.
26th May 2008
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