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| Jubilated for reaching the peak of Machincang |
I have never heard of Mount Machincang in Langkawi until Seok Wan and I visited Telaga Tujuh Resort. It is really a spur of the moment decision to hike until the peak of Mount Machincang at a height of 701 metre above sea level because our initial plan was just climbing the long flight of concrete steps to reach the waterfalls.
We visited Langkawi Island after running the Kangar City Half Marathon in Kangar with the aim of just relaxing at Chenang Beach for two days before we headed home. After one day at the beach we decided we should venture out to explore the lush green forest of Langkawi Island. We have heard about the beautiful waterfalls and pools at Telaga Tujuh Resort or Seven wells Resort and decided that we should not miss it. We drove from our hotel at Chenang beach after taking a heavy breakfast provided by the hotel to Telaga Tujuh Resort about 18 km away. We arrived at the resort around 11:00 am and would have ample time to see all the waterfalls and pools in the resort. At the car park the parking attendance told us that we should be able to see all the waterfalls in the Park within 2 to 3 hours including a swim in one of the pools. We asked the car park attendance about the signboard showing the route to Mount Machincang and were told that we might need a jungle guide if we wished to climb until the peak of Mount Machincang. So we are contented with just visiting the waterfalls. We had to pay RM 5 to enter the park and registered online to sign in while entering and sign out when leaving the resort. The ascending route is marked from level one to level seven with waterfall at level 3, 4,5 and 6. The waterfall at the lowest level is only 15 minutes of walk on concrete stair from the registration counter. The waterfall at level 3 is the tallest with water dropping from a height of roughly 10 m followed by a smaller waterfall which flows into a small pool suitable for swimming. As it is raining season the waterfall is quite powerful and poses a real stunning sight. There are many big boulders at the base of waterfall and very slippery. So it is pertinent to be careful while walking on the big boulders.
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| Magnificent two tiers waterfall at level 3 |
We spent about 10 minutes at level 3 just admiring the beautiful waterfall without swimming before we walked back to the registration counter to ascend the concrete stairs to the campsite at level 4. The campsite is complete with toilet and changing room and few huts. There is a small waterfall with water flowing on smooth boulder into a nice pool. This is the pool where most picnickers will have a dip in it. Beside the pool there is another pool resembling a well but not suitable for swimming. The river basin here can be seen more clearly from higher ground by walking up to the bridge-like iron platform above the river or observation bridge.
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| The observation bridge |
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| Long pool and the natural well |
The concrete stair ends here at the campsite and the pools at level 5 and 6 can only be reached by walking the jungle trail. As the trail to the pool at level 5 known as the Green Pool is not clearly marked, we decided to skip it and proceeded to the pool at level 6 known as the Blue Pool. We have to cross the shallow stream on to the jungle trail leading to the Blue Pool. After 25 minutes walk we saw a blue Pool signboard. Blue pool consists of a small waterfall with a small pool. The water is crystal clear with light blue colour and some small fish can be seen swimming in the water. This is the most popular spot for hikers to have a cool dip or swim but the pool is too small to accommodate more than 5 people. When we arrived there were a group of young foreign tourists in the pool and an Indian couple are waiting for their turn to go into the pool. We just walked into the shallow part of the pool to have a feel of the chilling water before we settled down at the pool side for some snack which is also our lunch. I am not really a good photographer but were asked to help taking photographs for the Indian couple and later on two young European girls in their bikini in the pool.
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| The pool and observation bridge at the campsite |
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| Blue pool with has light bluish water |
After we finished our lunch it was only 12:30 pm and we decided to walk for another hour uphill before we turn back. The trail was easy to track and before long we reached Kem Saintis ( scientists’ camp) which is just a hut for hikers to take a rest. The hut is not well maintained as evident from its broken roof.
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| The height of the peak of Telaga Tujuh should be 106 m above sea level as measured by garmin watch |
We were not feeling tired as the trail is not steep and we continued on until we reached Camp Tok Ayah. Further on we saw a signboard stating that we are 30 m to the peak and we thought perhaps the peak is near though definitely not 701 m above sea level. We were quite excited that we are going to conquer Mount Machincang very soon but totally bewildered when we reached a spot with a signboard stating that we are at the peak of Tenaga Tujuh. We met a middle age Russian Couple there and they too did not believe that they had reached the peak of Mount Machincang. Later I saw a small direction marker on the ground directing us to turn left which is going downhill. So after more than one hour of hiking I guessed we only managed to reached the peak of the seven wells waterfall or the source of the river to the waterfall which flows downhill to seven pools below totalling 91 m in height. I might be wrong because there is absolutely no water source to be seen or heard. Perhaps the resort authority should improve on the signboard by explaining a bit more about this location. Besides that there is another signboard asking the hikers to make a U-turn downhill because hiking further uphill by turning left required an experienced jungle guide. As it is only 1:30 pm we together with the Russian couple turned left in our attempt to reach the peak of Mount Machincang totally ignoring the requirement of a jungle guide. Actually it is not necessary to have a jungle guide as the trail is clearly marked with long rope all way to the peak. The trail is going downhill in the beginning and before long we had to ascend with steep climb. The Russian couple decided to give up when they are not confident to climb up a steep section on the trail as they are not wearing sports shoes. I had difficulty climbing that section too and had to climb up from the side so as to cross over into the original trail.
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At the Peak of Telaga Tujuh , 91 m from the base
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We bid goodbye to our new acquaintances and continue on with our hike uphill. The trail along this trail is very challenging with a lot of climbing on rocks and sometimes squeezing ourself through the narrow gap between rocks. Luckily there is rope along the trail to help us in our ascend and descend.
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| A very challenging climb |
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| Walked past this beautiful solitary hill |
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| The most scenic spot with strong wind |
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| The sea and sky bridge could be seen |
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| On the Peak of Mount Machincang |
On our way up we saw a giant rocky cliff in front of us and we had to climb on the trail by the side of cliff to ascend. This part of the trail is quite scary with strong wind but there is a particular spot where we could see the cable cars and sky bridge on the distance hill. Besides that we could see the sea and some small islands below. After 1.5 hours of gruelling hike we finally reached the Peak of Machincang. The peak is just a small patch of flat land. In fine weather we should be able to have a 360 degrees panoramic view of the sea and islands below . Unfortunately we are unable to see anything downhill as the peak is enveloped by thick mist . We did not stay long at the peak as it already 3 pm as we did not want to descend the hill in the dark.
The descent was more difficult because we need to be very careful with our steps and we had to keep holding on to the rope for own safety. We were very lucky there is no rain on the steepest part of our descent as the trail and rocks would be slippery and risky. Furthermore we were only wearing our jogging shoes which may not have enough grip. We only encountered the rain when we had passed the peak of Telaga Tujuh where the trail can be descended with normal walking. When we reached the entrance of the resort it was almost 6 pm . We spent almost 7 hours in our hike to the peak of Machincang which normally only takes about 6 hours for most hikers. Total distance covered was 10.5 km according to my Garmin watch.
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| elevation of our hike |
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| Route of our hike |
We are glad that we managed to conquer another mountain after Bukit Pantu in Lambir National Park in Miri. This is really the toughest climb ever for us in our hiking adventure. We managed to see some rare flora but hardly any fauna except the leeches which had given both my legs several bites . I only realised it after we had reached the foothill. We are totally satisfied with our visit to Telaga Tujuh Resort and our only regret is not able to visit the green pool at level 5.
Mount Machincang is only the second highest mountain in Langkawi and if we were to visit langkawi again we will definitely go for the highest mountain , Mount Raya where there is no jungle trail but walking up 4287 concrete steps known as Thousand memories eagle stairs ( Tangga Helang Seribu Kenangan) to the peak.
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| The three highest mountains in Langkawi |
