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While we were still in Long Pasia last July, Nooh, our forest trekking guide and the ‘King of Forest’ was constantly mentioning about a hidden lake someway in the forest. For years he was trying to find it. “How do you know there is a lake?” I asked. People saw the lake from the plane… a long time ago 3 villagers found the lake but it disappear for 4 generations. He answered. “Nowadays there are devices called GPS can help to track the location of the lake.” I suggested. Nooh against the idea of using modern devices. As a MAN (human) he should find it himself using his bare instinct and knowledge of the forest. Wow! I respect that.
Colleen’s recent email brought us great news!!! They finally found the lake!! It is now called, ‘Senipung Lake’.
‘I drink the water of the Senipung Lake, fresh and smelless, clear and no fish. Next time I will bath in the lake ;P’ She wrote on her email. Yaaaaaaa! I can’t wait to visit the place!!! Ultimately, I am still a Sabahan and I am proud of the new finding. Thanks Colleen for contributing photos of Senipung Lake.
Jing
(See other Long Pasia related posts on category: Malaysia – Sabah – Long Pasia)
This morning, out of boredom Alex and I decided to indulge ourselves in the expansive Internet Cafe in Pokhara. Guess what! Colleen’s email sends us back to Long Pasia in my hometown Sabah. It was a pleasant surprise!!! While seeking Colleen’s approval, we decided to post it on our blog!!!
Hello Jing,
Yesterday, have a good chat with Nooh Dawa in KK. He told me about his traininig for the Raleigh International Group ( around 14-30 persons in different group). They learn trekking in the jungle Long Pasia-Kalimantan, building camp, fire making, everything about “how to survive in the jungle” most of them were foreigner age 17-25 student.
The group leader, a foreigner from England shown to Nooh about an article about Long Pasia and Nooh’s story together with Nooh’s photo which was printed from the internet. The leader just wanted to confirm if the photo was NOOH……… guess what?? the moment Nooh shown me the article, I was so happy when seeing the title “LIVE IN TIME, LIVE IN SPACE !” Nooh is wellknown and people came to see him in Long Pasia through your website.
Nooh told them you guy was the first group from Bukit Rimau to Maga Waterfall ( your photo in the website leh !! the one clear with leaches socks ). And I & Felicia was the second group trekking from Bukit Rimau to Maga Waterfall. I drink the water of the Senipung Lake, fresh and smelless, clear and no fish. Next time I will bath in the lake ;P
Nooh is very happy and warmest regards from him to you and he is waiting for you to be backed again to Long Pasia, this time the hidden lake calling…………123
Thank v v v much my dear friend, write more about Long Pasia.
Best Regards,
Colleen
English/Englisch… I am deeply impressed to learn how much one person can make a difference.
The man I am talking about and I had the pleasure to meet is Nooh Dawa 53 years old from Long Pasia. Jing and I went from the 6th to 11th July to Long Pasia a hidden village on the border between Sarawak and Sabah. We wanted to experience the untouched rainforest and be as close as possible with nature. That we were able to see the beauty of the forest we have to thank this man who dedicated his life for now 27 years to protect this piece of heaven on earth.
1979 the logging in Sabah went deeper and higher into the mountains in search for the hunderts of years old oak trees. This is were Nooh’s storey begins. He told us that he always felt close to nature and he liked to trek days to the woods. On one of these trips he visited a cave and he saw a snake, a serpent. At night he in his dream the spitit or power of the woods appeared in form of a person and asked him to protect this area.
Most of us would wake up the next morning and put the dream aside us pure illusion. Here the people think different. Nooh follow the call and protect this little piece of land. It is a fight along a thin line in dependancy to the Malysian Goverment but for now 4 years with support from WWF. At the moment there seams safe but Nooh is still around. When he is gone I guess the forest will be gone too.
To meet Nooh was inspiring and maked me understand that we should not underestimate our power. Once we are doing something with all our heart we will make a difference.
German/Deutsch… Ich habe erfahren wieviel eine Person veraendern kann und bin zu tiefst beeindruckt.
Die Person ueber die ich sprechen moechte und das Vergnuegen hatte zu treffen ist Nooh Dawa 53 Jahre alt von Long Pasia. Jing und ich resiten vom 6. zum 11. July nach Long Pasia einem versteckten Dorf an der Grenze zwichen Sarawak und Sabah. Wir wollten der Natur so nahe wie moeglich kommen und den unberuehrten Regenwalt Sabah’s erleben. Das wir die Schoenheit des Waldes sehen konnten haben wir diesem Mann zu verdanken der sein Leben seit 27 Jahren dem Schutz dieses Stuecken Himmel auf Erden widmet.
1979 kroch die Abholzung immer tiefer und hoeher in die Bergregionen Sabah’s auf der Suche nach den Jahrhunder alten Eichenbaeumen. Dies ist die Zeit in der Nooh’s Geschichte seinen Anfang nimmt. Er erzaehlte uns, dass er schon immer der Natur sehr nahe war und es liebte tagelang durch die Waelder zu wandern. Auf einem dieser Trip’s besuchte er eine Hoehle in der er ein Schlange sah, was eine spirituelle Bedeutung hat als Symbol fuer Gott. In der kommenden Nacht hatte er einen Traum in dem ihm der Geist oder Kraft des Waldes erschien in Gestalt eines Menschen und ihm auftrug dieses Gebiet zu beschuetzten.
Die meisten von uns wuerden am naechsten Morgen aufwachen und diese Traum als Illusion beiseite schieben. Hier denken die Menschen anders. Nooh ist dem Ruf gefolgt und hat dieses Land beschuetzt. Dies ist ein Drahtseilakt in Abhaengigkeit von der Gnade der Malaisischen Regierung aber seit 4 Jahren wird er in diesem Kampf von WWF unterstuetzt. Im moment scheint Frieden eingekehrt zu sein aber der Schein truegt. Solange Nooh hier ist wird der Wald weiterleben aber ich denke sowie er fort ist werden die Baeume auch verschwinden.
Nooh zu treffen war inspirierend und hat mir klar gemacht das wir unsere Kraft nicht unterschaetzten sollten. Wenn wir etwas mit all unserem Herzen tun werden wir einen Unterschied machen in dieser Welt.
Alex
A wide variety of Pitcher plants can be found at Payeh Maga, on road from Bt. Rimau to Mega Fall…
Pictures contributed by Colleen, who first sent us as first timer on this part of forest and later followed our footsteps to Bt. Rimau…
I came to understand why it calls, ‘Mega Fall’. True enough, the water fall occurs in between miles of huge rock formation, creating several small falls as well as some better ones.
Unfortunately we didn’t spend long enough time here as we were heading back to the village shortly after breakfast…
The road back to the village was mainly walking along the old logging trail…
This morning we had a quick breakfast, packed up and started walking shortly after sunrise. Nooh expressed concern if we would made it to Mega Fall. On our itinerary sheet, it supposed to take us 5 hours. But, yesterday schedule was written 3 hours ended up 7.5 hours. Today it might take us 10 hours getting to Mega Fall… This thought made me chill. ‘Don’t think too much, just walk!’ I told myself.
Walking through the woods felt cooling. Stepping onto the slippery soft ground which filled with falling tropical leaves lighten our load. Crossing rivers, occasionally took a stop and refreshing ourselves with the red water. In fact, ‘Long Pasia’ in Lundayeh langauge stands for ‘The Red River’ in English. Therefore, the river water here appears in dark red. Sometimes, Nooh led us through paths which were overgrown by tree branches and leaves. This answered my initial question why he brought along a big Barang knife. He practically cutting down branches which stood on our way, or instantly building temporary bridges while crossing rivers. He curved several walking trail for us.
However, after 2 hours hiked, my leg started to hurt. Obviously the old ache from trekking on Himalayas (2002) hasn´t been completely healed. It was still a long day ahead, I forced myself to keep up with the speed with my peers. Luckily Nooh made frequent stops to make sure we were alright…
The highlight of today’s trail was the giant pitcher plant. I’d never seen such a huge species and all gathered around one area. We spent sometime taking photographs as well as video. We missed another highlight – wild orchid. The blooming seasons start only in August, one month later…
When the day was ending, sun was setting, we were dragging our bodies moving onto hard rocks formation when we were closer to Mega Fall. By this time my leg was severely in pain, every step caused severe pain from my right knee and I started to limb. Nooh sent the porter rushing to our camp tonight to prepare food, and he walked closely with us and maintained ‘walk and stop’ on every 45 min-1 hour. When we finally arrived to the campside by the river, the surrounding was so dark that we can hardly see anything besides the sound of water rushing through the river. We were rewarded by our favorite ‘Soup tomato’, some stir fried veggie and rice of course…
Jing
On our itenery sheet, it writes, “Puncak Bukit Rimau Senippong, Bukit
Rimau – 3 hours walk in the jungle, stay at campsite overnight…” It
is hardly a challenge for me, 3 hours! No sweat! In fact, we were the
first group of travellers who was signed up to trek on this trail. 3
hours was the estimated trekking time for the local guides.
Unfortunately we took 7.5 hours.
The second day morning after arrival to Long Pasia, Noor (our guide)
and James (our porter) packed total of 3 days food supplies, and Alex,
Kok Fui and myself cheerfully put on smart looking gears, we were all
set and ready around 9am. Led by Noor, James tailed end, we heading
off to the jungle. Oh yes! How can I forget to mention Noor little
well behaved doggy Muntal, who followed us all 3 days in the jungle…
I am proud to be in the first group who trekked into this nearly
untouched jungle, located south of Sabah, border of Kalimantan. Though
the walking trail in the jungle was barely seen, most of it relied on
Noor to ‘curve’ a path out by using his ‘barang’ knife.
The journey was great, highly oxygenated air in the jungle was
refreshing and energising. Along the path, we encountered a wide
varieties of vegetation, fungus on rotten wood, ferns crow madly on
old orks, herbs etc. It was indeed the heaven for naturalist.
We were also constantly attacked by another blood sucking creature
other than mosqito – the mountain leeches.
We finally arrived the campsite at 4.30pm. The dark falls quite early
in the jungle. Noor and James immediately cleaning the sleeping
quarter and started cooking tomato soup and vegetables. Tomato soup
has become our favourite dish during the jungle trek. While the two
were busy settled in, Alex, Kok Fui and myself slowly setting our foot free…
took off Adidas Kampong, leech socks, then socks and revealing
our aching toes…
I was amazed by how Noor and James substitute the daily equipment with
everything they found in the jungle… With Noor around, nothing is
impossible. Beneath the big rock you see in the photo is our kitchen,
and we rested in the little wooden house at night.
This night, when the flame of the last candle subsided, the forest
became completely pitch black. We were lying flat in one row on the
wooden plank, fully cocooned in our sleeping bags respectively,
accompanied by the orchestrated sound of nature – hum, peep, buzz,
murmur, bell, boom, hoot, snort, cuckoo, moan, chirp, scream, scram,
squeal, gibber, pipe, bark, jug-jug, drone, woof, whistle, bellow, and
snore, of course.
I thought I heard telephone rang as well… what a city folk I am.
Jing
“Ulu Padas is one of the richest plant diversity sites in Borneo, and
it is especially known for its abundance of orchids, rhododendrons and
pitcher plants. Ulu Padas is also the home to the Lundayeh people…”
A brochure wrote!
I came to know about Long Pasia from my brother Chyau, who is going to
visit this place by end of July and asks us to join. Unfortunately we
have arranged an appointment in Bangkok in mid July. I was a little
disappointed for not being able to participate on this trip. Later,
his friend Colleen made the trip possible for us.
Without learning more about Long Pasia and Lundayeh people, my first
instint says, “this is a chance which I shouldn’t miss. It has proven
100% correct! They are some places I would like to go back after my
first visit. Long Pasia is certainly one of them.
Thanks Colleen for helping us to organise the trip. On Thursday 6 July
2006, we finally arrived to our destinated homestay in Long Pasia
after a long road journey. We were hosted by Noor Dawa – papa on the
rock. His house is a raised wooden house with a large balcony. Its
structure is simple but spacial and extremely clean. There are touches
of design elements, things are properly in place and looks very well
organised.
Just after we settled in, our driver Richard told us that no one is
cooking dinner, as Noor’s wife is out of town. So, I volunteered
cooking simple vegetarian dishes for ourselves plus the host – Noor
Dawa. Noor had done the rice. With help from Alex, within half an hour
dinner was ready, and Richard made a very nice ‘Lundayeh mushroom
soup’ for us. Sometime if you want to know which dish is the best?
Answer can be found from only watching Alex eats. This time, Alex
finished the soup!!!
After dinner, a short chit chat, and we all went to bed, preserving
energy for trekking the next day… Till then, I didn’t really know
who we were staying with! Lundayeh tribe were once fiece head hunters.
Thanks God the headhunters’ time has long gone and today they are
mainly a Christian community.
To date, in my opinion, Long Pasia is still very well preserved and
remain untouched as her most natural stage. There is no electricity
supplies from the government at the moment. Some households use solar
systems (free supply from the government) and other rely on
generators. Misty morning air came from the nearly untouch forest…
Backpack
- Small bag or waist pouch (for important belongings such as camera etc.
- Money belt – optional (for $, ID card and Passport)
Clothing
- Dry-fit shirt (if available) otherwise, any quick drying shirts, prefers long sleeves (2-3 pieces)
- Long pants (2 pieces)
- Underwear (paper or textile)
- Socks (essential – make sure you bring enough)
- Shoes – highly recommented *Adidas Kampong
- Belt (can be used to tie thing together)
- Raincoat
- Extra warmth fleece or wool
- Hat/caps
- Hand towel
- Leech socks
Toiletaries
- Dental Care
- Shampoo and soap (option: all in 1)
- Toilet paper (essential item)
Medicine/Supplement
- Fever tablets
- Cold tablets or Antihistamine
- Antibiotic
- Painkiller
- Charcoal tablets
Gadget
A good handphone with relatively good camera + video capture features.
Importance
- Passport
- Identification Card
- Cash – US$ or local currency
Miscellaneous
- First Aid kit (very very Important)
- Insect repellent
- Sun screen (max. SPF)
- Swiss Army Knife
- Torch
- Sun glasses
- Zip bags
- Sleeping bag
* Adidas Kampung: for sale in Malaysia around RM5 (US$2++), recommended black with yellow strips, made in China. The whole shoe is made of rubber, very soft and perfect for slipery jungle trial.
Tip: To water proof your essential items, use cling wrap.
The journey from Kota Kinabalu to Long Pasia (a hiden village of
Lundayeh tribe), took total of 9 hours car ride, including a lunch
break at Sipitang (a small town at the South Western coast of Sabah).
Our journey started at 10am on a sunny Thursday morning.
The trip up to Sipitang was fine. However, our real pain started after
lunch. Part of the road after Sipitang was under massive construction
of a highway, cutting across the jungle between Sipitang and Tenom.
Trees were cut, replaced by yellow mud. We went through all ups and
downs, bumps and humps on this dusty road. Thank God we were on a
4-wheel drive and an experient driver. Otherwise, we would either
stuck in the mud or throw our stomach out like nobody business. The
road continued to a logging road, which seems still madly in use. It
was horrifying to see poor old orks lying flat on loads of logging
trucks, helplessly being transported and waiting to be transformed…
We stopped over at an organic farm to topped up some vegetable supplies…
The arrival of Long Pasia village was like reaching an oasis in the
desert. Immediately after entered her gate, in the misty glimpse of
dusk ray, the heaven of green grassland lies beneath us. It was
shortly after 7pm.
Long Pasia village’s air was fresh, calm and peaceful. She was quietly
welcoming us.
Jing
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