Had to post this. Just HAD to. Only 1 word to describe today: AWESOME!
Wow. My school organised a trip to Kellie's Castle, Gua Tempurung and some hot water spring in Kampar, Ipoh, Perak... something like that lah.
Kellie's Castle wasn't too bad.. would have been one beautiful castle had Kellie completed it before dying of pneumonia. Just increased my phobia of heights drastically. Lol. He died before completing the railings for the 6th floor!! I just sat down when I was on the 6th floor, open air. Didn't dare stand. Lol.
Anyway, that is well.. not very important. I've got to tell about Gua Tempurung. My family wasn't impressed with what I told them so.. I've got to tell SOMEONE.. my bloggy! =P
First off, we took the 'medium' package... labelled exciting and slightly strenous. Easiest one was 40 minutes. Ours took 1 hour 45 minutes.
First we entered on man-made platform to walk around.. that was interesting already. The guide showed us the walls of the cave.. I'm still puzzled over it actually. There were shapes of all kinds and animals and creatures! I don't know.. how did it get there?? Gold fish, cat, chicken feet, horse, jellyfish, human faces.. George W. Bush(Yes, =P), Osama.. okay fine, the last 2 were probably created by the tour guides. Lol! We climbed 680 stairs. The view from the top was fantastic. Then we began the boring journey downwards... 680 steps. Then came the exciting part.. we started entering the real cave, away from man-made lights and stairs and platforms.
To start it off, we had to slide down a 'stone wall/slide'. The guide showed us how to do it, using our hands to break at appropriate places. Then he asked for 2 guys to come down to assist the rest. These guys had to catch our feet before we landed.
Somehow I was the 1st person to go down after those 2 guys went. Some of my friends were like, "Go Joanne!" Well I wanted to do it anyway.. so I went down. I nearly didn't stop halfway down(supposed to), went down a bit too fast I think. My leg braked for me though, banged against one rougher stone and stop. I heard people behind me exclaiming, "Whoa!" Let me assure you I was slightly glad I was still alive ;-). Then I went down.. this was the steep part. Apparently my legs weren't straight, and they had no idea how to catch anyone, I was the guinea pig, remember? Well I fell down on to my hands when I landed, they caught my knees instead of my feet. Lol! People were even more, "WAH!" Okay, at this point I was glad to really be alive and well. Hahaha!
Then after waiting for 40 people to come down.. some were terrified, had to coax them down. I'm pretty sure this experience will improve many people's self-confidence. We worked as a team, coax those people afraid and generally felt we achieved something each time we past each obstacle.
We went down a 'hole' in the cave next.. the man assured us that even the fattest of us could get through it, no worry. It was narrow though. This part we had to trust people to carry us as our feet left the cave, dangling with our hands. Two guys took our feet and set us down. Not that low down though, about 4 feet down. or 3?
Then we had to go down some marble(yes, it was marble, I love it hehe) natural steps and step straight into.. water! =D
After waiting for 40 people to get down, again some were afraid of getting through the hole, we finally went on. The water was ankle high, sometimes deeper sometimes shallower. But generally about 1 feet to 1 1/2 feet. Dry season mah. The guy told us that during the wet season the cave would be filled up to the top.. *shudders*
Beginning was just walking.. then some parts we had to stoop, and later on some we had to crawl. Fortunately I'm short so I duck walked all the way. Hahaha. Badminton training is good for that! I wanted my hands free to hold my torchlight so I preferred duck walking.. hehe. One point had to lay flat to get through though. That happened only twice I think.
Well, I really enjoyed the crawling parts. Truthfully, I think I'm a nature lover. Lol. I remember enjoying the beautiful scenery at Kuantan beach.. I found myself marveling and enjoying myself in this cave.. hehe.
Then one point our guide called us all to sit down.. and turn off all our flashlights. Wow. That was really darkness. DARK. Even when we sleep at night it isn't dark.. there are lights here and there. In that cave we really couldn't see anything! Our eyes can't even 'adjust' to the darkness. I liked that experience though. Lets be honest, how many of us(apart from the blind) actually know what real darkness is? I was kinda disappointed when the flash lights were turned on again. Some people couldn't stand it, kept switching on their flashlights.
Then we went through somemore crawling places. Quite a number. Hehe. While waiting for others to crawl through a particularly long 'tunnel', I looked around the cave. I was one of the 1st mah, I followed the guide very closely to hear what he had to say. If the group had not been so big I daresay I would have asked him a number of questions. There were holes and and there, perfect round holes, some even in 1 straight line that puzzled me. There was marble mixed with granite all over. I wondered how beautiful the cave would be should the marble be polished. I think that was the original form when God created it. Wow. Shiny. Beautiful.
Anyway, after a few more crawling and stooping tunnels, the guide told me just to continue walking straight on. Somehow I was the first there. I took this opportunity to start leading the 'pack', musing to myself what would happen should I lead them wrongly. Lol. The way out was sooo far I thought I missed it at first. Lol. I just kept trudging on and on, went in semi circles just following the river. Or rather walking IN the river. This was fun.. I mean, finding my way around without the guide. He walked like he knew what it was all about.. but as for me it was a totally new experience, and I had to use my flashlight to ensure I was going correctly and not a dead end.
Well, finally we reached the platform and steps area, with lights. But I walked and walked and walked, and wondered if we were supposed to climb up the platform as the river seemed to be leading us nowhere! It even went 1 semi circle and I thought we'd be going in circles. Lol. Anyway, finally we literally saw the literal meaning of the proverb "there's a light at the end of every tunnel". There in the open air we sat down and washed our shoes and soaked ourselves etc while waiting for the rest to come.
And that was the end of my caving experience.. I'm determine to go on the hardest course the next time, supposedly takes 3 1/2 hours. Labelled 'Extremely exciting and strenous". Yep yep yep. Today's one was.. well, very exciting, but I feel could have been way more exciting. Hehe. I mean, it's not like I'm tired now after it all, and my body isn't aching, if anything my adrenaline went up up up due to the excitement!
After we changed we went to some Hot Spring in Ipoh.. that was also a new experience for me, I dipped my hands in the higher temperature water.. the normal pool for people to enjoy was kinda boring.. my room heater's temperature only mah. Infact, I nearly burned my left hand when I put it in one hot water springs. Lol. One pool even had a sulphur rock in it, coming out boiling water at 101 degrees celsius. I dipped my hand in the 40-50 degrees celsius pool.. and noticed some interesting 'texture' at the bottom of the pool. So I decided to dip further and touch it.. how was I supposed to know that it was some kind of special algae? It looked so beautiful and it looked like rock! I got a shock and jerked my hand out of the water immediately. Lol!
Before we left we went to the natural sauna that they built on top of a steaming hot water spring 'river'. There was plenty of steam but it wasn't that hot. Probably the normal air temperature cooled it down.
And finally.. we left. Arrived in school at 8.20pm.
Many friends complained of aching legs after the caving.. guess I don't train 3 times a week for nothing. My legs are rearing to go for to the Palm Oil Estate tomorrow. Hehehe.
Yes, I had a wonderful time. Who's willing to bring me to Gua Tempurung again for the best course this time? =D
Of course, when I reached home I had some bad news.. well, it wasn't exactly bad. I failed my music practical grade 6. Lol! I expected that already.. how can you NOT expect that when the examiner says, "Let's not waste time!"? HAHAHA! According to her those who got the lady examiner fared miserable, quite a number failed. Those who got the man passed with flying colours! Not that I wouldn't have failed under the man examiner.. but hey, men are so much nicer. Men examiners, that is.
Worse thing is, my teacher wants me to RESIT for grade 6!!! No WAY! Uh Uh! NEVER! Just want to get done with it and throw it faaaar away out of my window!
Oh well. Don't know what to do next. Gotta seek advice.
THANKS GOD FOR MAKING SUCH MAGNIFICENT CAVES! MORE IMPORTANTLY, THANKS FOR GIVING ME THIS ADVENTUROUS SPIRIT SO THAT I ENJOYED TODAY SOOO MUCH! =)
Those people who are afraid to try new things, afraid of roller coasters, jungle tracking, cave exploring etc. don't know what they miss out...
God bless
Joanne Lim
Webmaster@joannetmj.tk
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