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As soon as we disembarked the volunteers’ vehicle, a verdant jungle greeted us with a gentle zephyr and bird hoots. Wasting no time, the new Raleigh Committee 2012/2013 expedited what Raleigh stands for – Getting Out There - to be a bringer of
positive change to aborigines of various nations and society, exploration possibilities, an unconventional way to practice and refine our leadership skills, make new chums and bonds, to accomplish long-term improvement in the lives of the local community & not
affecting the capabilities of future generations to satisfy their own requirements. Raleigh puts that motto into action via adventure, community, and environmental local projects.
The Raleigh members and committee were wearing mainly bright leafy forest green shirts with a Capital R in front & headbands and bracelets centralized on tribal designs. One of the organizer stood out because he wore an extremely eye-catching pair of bright orange shorts.
There were basically 2 groups of people who attended July’s Monthly Meets – the novices and the “old hands” at outdoor activities. Clearly, there was a distinctinction
between the agility in movement of the old hands and the maladroit movements of novices at hiking upstream. For instance, the newcomers were seen grabbing onto
rocks for support gingerly while the more experienced outdoor enthusiasts were moving quickly and lightly, whilst jesting with one another & splashing the cool stream water at each other.
Abecedarians of outdoor activities like me were taught where to purchase waterproof bags by Marble and kampong adidas by Shen in addition to what
type of shoes to wear for water-related activities and also the funny smell kampong adidas emits if the wearer does not wear socks (Siu Hou). I learnt a new word ‘Reconnaissance’, short form being recce.
The journey uphill was thoroughly fun. Water and sweat can be seen trickling down everyone’s faces. As we clamber up the stream, everyone contributed in ‘breaking the ice’ and soon everyone’s mouth was displaying white flashy grins and smiles, and
there were also numerous short intervals of laugh eruptions and jokes & funny stories were shared. The banter among July Monthly Meets participants and friends reach my ears like music.
Sunlight percolated via the top tree branches were seen reflected on the stream and boulder’s surface looked pretty surreal, and inspirits the participants to continue river-wading through the water, sand, and boulders. Dozens of insects darted on the surface of water.
Throughout the hike upwards, everyone can be seen wreathed in smiles, enjoying themselves; albeit the occasional frown of concentration when participants faced a mini obstacle like fallen tree trunks and long bamboos, scary-
looking rushing water, and “sticky-outy” branches and long tree vines along the trail, as well as the loose and slippy rocks
covered in emerald coloured moss that seemed to beembedded within the river bed.
A written thank you should be extended to Marble, who used his multi-purpose machete to cut away the layer at the bottom of my sports shoes as it was flapping about, causing difficulty in trekking, and annoying.
Throughout the hike upstream, one of the organizers dad volunteered to be
our ‘water photographer’. Uncle’s camera was waterproofed in an adorable clear
plastic cover with bright yellow, pink and blue with a neck strap and he photographed
us in candid shots – mostly when we are facing a not-so-easy or deep section of the
waterfall.
After the fantastic scrambling uphill, despite being thoroughly soaked and dirty, the rush of adrenalin and endorphins, plus the achievement of reaching the peak of the waterfall makes it worthwhile.
Lunch at the waterfall area was a double decker sandwich consisting of button mushrooms, smashed peppered hard boiled eggs, round red tomato, chopped green capsicum, crisp lettuce slices, chicken sausages and crackers. The Raleigh-ians cooked for us using mini stoves (the rectangular thing that you turn on to get fire) and mess tins. Newcomers mostly chat and got to know each other better while being served lunch and resting on large rocks.
At the peak of the waterfall, there was the tall wall made out of multiple layers
of brown smooth stones that glimmer in the sunlight. Those more experienced could climb up the brown smooth stones without difficulty and rested on them like benches.The lion-hearted dare devils hiked a step further than the mostly outdoor adventures newcomers.
They did crazy stunts jumped into copious rumbling water at their own
risk and had a thoroughly good time doing so. The brown smooth stones forming the waterfall provided a natural water slide. Note: Jumping off rocks (at your own risk).
What makes this trip even more wondrous are the random kind acts by new acquaintances. The warm-hearted gestures can be exemplified particularly by 2 Raleigh-ians (Siu Hou & Shen) when they offered my friend Doris their kampong adidas shoes to wear when 2 layers of her shoe base literally torn apart due to ‘old age’ and would not mind wearing the remnants of her shoes. Besides that, Yen Kit was also so thoughtful to volunteer to pick tree vines to tie up Doris’s broken shoes together.
Soon, it was time to go home and the trek down was relatively easier as we don’t have to balance ourselves as much as river wading. Everyone changed to dry clothes – some in a sarung, some in the trees and in the bushes or behind tents.
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| July Monthly Meet - River Wading |
Anyhow, I’m glad to be a part of it and I look forward seeing those cute, button-shaped,
fungi in the shade of dark chocolate and those tiny, silvery, white, umbrella-shaped
mushroom again.
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Written by a fellow Raleigh-ian who chose to be anonymous. Anyways, thank you Anonymous Person.
Stay tuned for August Monthly Meet.
Raleigh KL
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