Gunung Gading National Park (16 June 2024)
Why Gunung Gading National Park?
I have been planning where to go next after the Kubah National Park visit. And I always thought, it will be such a waste if I drive alone for a long distance to Batang Ai, or Lubok Antu (Maludam National Park). Gunung Gading is one of the 14 National Parks in Sarawak. It is not far from Kuching, and making it a day trip is definitely possible. Hence, with little planning, I decided to make it Gunung Gading on the 7 July 2024. Knowing that it is at Lundu, I knew upfront that I can also visit to the western tip of Sarawak when I am there.
The trip highlights
Big stretch of the road drive is very scenic, even though the mountain range is not covered by white snow top. I started my drive at 6.30am. The road to Bau was misty, as if I was driving in a fairy land.
I grabbed my breakfast at Bau town before continuing the trip to Lundu. The sight from CENTEX training centre is magnificent, overseeing the mountain range.
Upon arriving at the national park office, I quickly paid for my entry, and asked the ranger if there’s any other people in the park. Lucky for me, there were 2 groups ahead of it. That would mean I am not hiking alone in the park. There are few trails in this park, with 2 of the trails leading to water fall 1, 3, 7, and water fall 2, 4, 5, and 6. The latter was closed due to on going maintenance. That left me with only 1 choice, i.e. hiking the trail that connects to water fall 1, 3, 7.
The hike was pleasant. It took me slightly more than 1 hour to reach water fall 3. I spent a couple of hours there, enjoying the moment of frogs sighting and doing nothing but just listening to the water splashing sound, and breathing in fresh air in the middle of the forest.
Water fall 3 comes with a mythos. The mythos say that “This water fall was in the past frequented by 3 princesses (beautiful one I presume). The princesses planted memory bamboo at this area. Whoever that is able to obtain the bamboo will be blessed with good luck, and 10 wives”. I know this sounds sexist, but hey I was not the one who came out with this story yeah…. 😊 Though I didn’t look for the bamboo, I feel contented spending 2 hours there.
Conserving some time for the subsequent road trip, I decided not to proceed to Water fall 7. Instead, I descended back to the National park office. Before reaching the office, I stopped by Water fall 1. It was just so-so compared to Water fall 3.
Upon leaving the national park, I made my way to Sematan town. Clearly the river mouth is clean and not muddy, likely the result of thick mangroves along the river before it reaches the open sea.
I further drove to Telok Melano, i.e. the famous KM 0.0, the western tip of Sarawak. Compared with Damai beach, Telok Melano beach is definitely a more beautiful one. The sand is whiter and finer, and the sea is blue. However, of all these beautiful nature, I am disturbed by the fact that there are many businessmen renting out ATV at the beach area. I am afraid without a proper control, this ATV activities on the beach is going to ruin the beauty.
My transports, accommodation, and F&B
- Self drive to Gunung Gading National park, taking about an hour and a half from Kuching city.
- Accommodation: Though there are hostels and chalets in the park, I made it day trip only
My 3 Plus and 2 Minus:-
3 things I like about this trip:
- Scenic road trip
- The secluded water fall in the Gunung Gading national park
- The trip to Telok Melano
2 thing I would do differently if I can turn back the clock:
- I know I have shared this after my trip to Kubah. But I would bring a thermos with hot tea/ coffee, so that I could sip some good drink while listening to the splashing sound at the water fall.
- Combine this trip with a visit to Tanjung Datu national park, as it is located at Telok Melano area.
A surprise learning from the trip
I spent a long time observing few frogs at the water fall big rock area, the place where I just napped and enjoyed the splashing sound. From the photo, we can clearly see, the frog is looking forward, and ponder if he should make the jump/leap, as he couldn’t see what is beyond the rock that blocks his vision.
Isn’t this the same as what we are in sometimes? We are presented with a situation/ choice, without knowing if we make that leap, would us get something better, or something worse. But without the leap, how are we to find out? And without that leap, would us all regret at older age not attempting when we could still. What’s important though, is to own the decision to leap/not to leap, and blame no one. In retrospect, sometimes we do make poor decision, but should we continue to let the poor decision weigh us down? Or should we move on, and turn it around? Again, the choice is entirely our own one.
