With the Aunties to Mt Ophir: Day 2

The driver picked us up at 6am. He said that he knows of a kopitiam that opens early. We took turns to wake up but were all up by 5.30am. I even had time to make a coffee and munch on bread. 

Bye to the homestay. 

We bought bread for bfast but nothing beats a warm bfast before a long hike and we were grateful for the warm tummies.

We arrived at the base of the mountain at 7ish. Then it was a long registration and collection of deposit, in case we anyhow throw rubbish on the mountain. The process was so slow and took so long. I don’t understand; count $$ also took so long. Haiz. There were quite a few other groups, but they came earlier and set off once they were done with the procedures.

After paying $$, we have to declare all the food and toiletries and clothings and almost everything that we brought up the mountain. That took another good 15 mins. Finally, we were ready to hike. 

1st of all, a safety briefing by Saiful, our guide. Every group needs a guide and we paid for the guide when applying for a hiking permit. 

We were told that the journey up is 6.5km and 6km to descend. The evaluation is about 1,276m. There are a total of 8 checkpoints and cut off time (COT) at some of the checkpoints. If we miss the COT, then we have to turn back to ensure safety. 

There were low steps leading to the start of the hike. 

Then, 700 steps right at the beginning. The steps are thankfully not steep like some other hikes that I had experienced. I thought the steps were very manageable. 

Along the way, other groups overtook us. It is ok, we are a group of aunties, of which, 3 of them had knee pain. Lol. 

Checkpoint 1! 

Checkpoint 2! 

On the way to CP3, at 450m evaluation. 

CP3!

CP4 is at the campsite, which is a detour and we headed straight to CP5. The intersection between the campsite and CP5. Saiful told us that the campsite had been closed since a year back and the management hasn’t decided if they should reopen it. 

CP5! 

Next we came to the KFC - Killing Fitness Center. Hoho. I dun feel that the KFC is particularly more challenging; the hike is generally physically demanding throughout. The KFC is the start of almost vertical ladder (real ladder) climb and some rope climb (easier option available) as well. The rope climb looks damn scary but with the right technique, it isn’t that difficult. 

Completing the KFC, but in actual fact, the KFC is the entire stretch between CP5 and CP7. This signboard is merely for photo taking purposes. Look at that ladder behind us. 

CP6!

At CP6, we were already high up in the mountain. 

On the way to CP7, Saiful pointed to somewhere up there and told us that that is the summit. It looked very far away. #nervouslaughs

It started to drizzle. CP7!

We arrived at CP7 at about 1.15pm, slightly later than then 1pm COT. The guide gave us a choice - proceed or descend using a shortcut. While he thinks that we could still achieved a summit, we would likely take longer than usual group having witnessed our pace. What he wanted to avoid was for us to descend after the sun sets as it increases the difficulty and danger. To discourage that, groups that return to the base and checkout after 7pm will also be fine RM50 per group. Unfortunately, the group cannot be split as there was only 1 guide with us. 

Auntie SL and Auntie S with the most severe (knee) pain among us made the call to descend. We all agreed and proceeded with the shortcut. Along the way to the shelter for linch, some hikers who did the summit overtook us and mentioned that the bad weather made visibility limited and there was no view to speak of.

Lunch! We were cold and munching on bread, energy bars and chocolate.

Saiful brought heating wares and made us kopi o, which was to die for in that cold weather. 

That breakpoint was the only venue with basic toilet facilities. The toilets were very clean. There were also taps with running water and it is supposed to be drinkable but at own risk and not for weak tummies. We didn’t dare risk it. 

After the lunch and toilet break, we officially started our descend. The groups who made the summit started arriving at the lunch shelter. 

We isn’t take any pictures on the way down. Saiful said that normally, descent takes about 4 to 5 hours. Auntie SL was hoping to do it in 4 hours. Auntie SL and R went ahead of us and arrived at the base at about 6.30pm. Auntie S’ knee (and also everywhere else) pain was so bad that every step was in agony. Towards the end, her legs looked like they would give way anytime. We had to stop every 20 steps for her to rest. 

We made it back at 7pm and weren’t fined. After declaring the anount of rubbish, and taking back the deposit, we took a quick rinse in the cold water and changed out. I smelled so bad. 

Mission accomplished!

The driver said that he came early. He thought too highly of us; he thought that we would finish the hike early. He brought us to a nearby eating place. We were so hungry. 

Then, it was a long drive back to the custom. There was a bad jam on the road. I was dozing off while Auntie H and R were chatting away. Then I found that I could lie down on the seats and I slept most of the way to the custom. While the custom was smooth, it was already past midnight when the drive dropped us at Sixth Avenue and 1ish when I finally reached home. 

I was so exhausted that I couldn’t care to unpack. I just needed to shower properly and sleep. I was so glad that I was working from home the next day. 

It was a good choice not to try for the summit. If we did, we wouldn’t make it back in time and I don’t fancy walking on the trail in the dark. I am not sure if I would try Mt Ophir again, at least not in the near future. I was telling the kids that the hike was so fun. They were envious. Hohoho. 

I haven’t washed my shoes. Zzzz. Roarrrr…

Mummy Lim

With the Aunties to Mt Ophir, Day 0 and 1

For a long time, especially after Daddy Lim’s knee surrendered at the Bali Mt Batur sunrise hike in September 2023, I had been wanting to go for a hike. We have stopped hiking on our holidays after Mt Batur. What a shame. 

Without Daddy Lim for companion, I turned to the aunties. This thought was further fueled by Auntie H’s Mt Fuji summit. I want to do that too! 

However, we are a group of aunties, who either didn’t have enough leave from kids/ hubby/ work or enough energy and decided that we would start with a nearby mountain. Somebody suggested Mt Ophir that is near to Malacca. Let’s go! 

We 敢敢 attempt the hike without training. Ok, I did a Bukit Timah Reserve hike with Auntie S more than a month back. Is that counted? Hoho. Just last week, I was reading up and found out that Mt Ophir is the 6th most difficult hike in Malaysia. Somebody on trip adviser warned that one should not attempt if not physically fit. I shall not tell Auntie S. Lol. 

Logistically, we booked with Iwannatravel. The agency took care of everything and we paid S$310 per pax. Auntie S, SL and R came to our place to “sleepover” on Friday night and Daddy Lim kindly sent us to the pickup place near Auntie H’s place on Saturday morning, so that we can all save on cab fare. Nana was very tickled that the aunties came over for “sleepover”. Nope, we didn’t chat through the night, there was also none of the heart to heart talks that the kids do on sleepover. We were very disciplined - sleep bcos we have an early morning on Saturday. Nana kindly gave up her room and bunked in with Zaky.

We were all up by 4.45am and left the house by 5.20am for the 5.45am pick up. Along the way, we picked Auntie H up from her place and met the driver at the Sixth Avenue MRT. The van was already parked one side, waiting for us. 

We took the Causeway and saw long Q for the cars. Thankfully, the van took the bus lane and there weren’t many buses at 6.30am. We sailed smoothly, including past the immigration. We had to alight the van at both customs to clear immigration but that was nothing compared to custom jam. 

Looking very alive at 6.30am! 

The driver drove us to the usual 24 hrs massage place. We all opted for 1.5 hrs of massage. Very nice. All the aunties agreed that the massage was very good. I am so glad that I found this place. 

Then, we had bfast at the same tim sum place.

 

The driver then sent us to Southkey for shopping! 

We shopped and snacked and did grocery shopping for the next 5 hours. We needed water and food for the next day’s bfast and lunch. By 2pm, we were all exhausted and happy to hang around, chi chat and wait for time to past. 

The driver was waiting somewhere while we shopped and ready to pick us at 3pm.

Mt Ophir is somewhere near to Malacca. It was a 2 over car ride and most of us knocked out from the early morning. I think most of us didn’t sleep well. I actually toss and turn in bed for over an hour on Friday night. That is so rare, I must be too excited. The 3 aunties had to squeeze in Nana’s room and Auntie R had to entertain Mochi in the middle of the night bcos he kept following her after she visited the toilet. Lol. 

It was 5ish when we arrived at Tangkak Town, which a small town near to Mt Ophir. The driver dropped us for dinner before to the homestay. We weren’t hungry but better to eat something than to go hungry later.

We have no idea how this “homestay” really looked like. It turned out to be a 民宿.

There were other guests but they were all hiding in their rooms and we saw none of them. Auntie R and SL shared a room on level 1 bcos they are both quiet sleepers. The rest of us took a bigger room on level 2 bcos we either snore or grind teeth. Lol. We played scissor, paper, stone. I won and got the single bed. 

The homestay was simple but comfortable enough. We chit chat in the living room until 8ish. The 3 of us continued chatting in the room until almost 11pm. I tossed and turned again. The pillow was too high. Auntie H said that she heard me snored quickly. Really meh? I think that was Auntie S. Otherwise, the pillow must be too high. Lol. 

Good night!

Mummy Lim