DO: Left high and wet

2009/11/07

ANUSHA K

ANUSHA K. overcomes her fear of ferocious rapids and heights by going white-water rafting and abseiling down a waterfall cliff. IT was a scenic route to Gopeng, Perak one Sunday morning, a two and a half hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur where my adventure-packed weekend was to start.

First up was white-water rafting. With an inflatable raft and oars to navigate the river, I was set to go.

The river was Sungai Kampar (or Sungai Itik to locals), a 30-minute drive from the Gopeng exit (guides will direct you to the exact location). Before we began, we were briefed on such matters as paddling commands and skills; and actions to take if the raft capsizes.

The rafting team also explained what to do if the raft flips, and how to help each other out of the water and negotiate the rapids.

It is also important to hold the paddle securely, with a rope around the raft also to hold on to when currents are strong and rapids huge.

With the present rainy season, the rapids here are between levels one and three, depending on the day’s weather. The rule of thumb is not to panic as the experienced guides are there to ensure your safety.

There are altogether 14 rapids to watch out for, with varying intensity.

Fierce rapids mean huge waves and the possibility of crashing into large rocks or other hazards.

Be prepared to get wet and dirty as you go along. The adrenalin rush of speeding down a slope is exhilarating.

A huge rapid made us all lose balance.

Use the paddle to move forward and have fun as you go along.

I fell out of the raft and those still in it stretched out their paddles for those like me to come back into the raft. But I still had difficulty getting back into the raft.

After gulping much water, having it gushing at my face and me looking like a bedraggled rat, the guide eventually managed to pull me back into the raft (thank God, I was wearing a life jacket!). Now that I was safe and sound, I actually think falling into the river is part of the fun! The next few rapids were thrilling and two hours later, the ride was over. Sungai Kampar is beautiful, clean, and surrounded by lush rainforest. It was such a treat to enjoy unpolluted air for once.

After the gruelling experience, it was time for lunch at the waterfalls. Do’s and dont’s 1. Life jackets and helmets must be worn throughout white-water rafting and not removed at anytime.

2. Wear proper shoes, preferably rubber ones and comfortable clothing. Also bring a change of clothes as you are bound to get wet and muddy.

3. If you fall out of the raft, do not use the paddle as a lever against rocks as you risk getting hit by them.

4. It is better to wear spectacles instead of contact lenses to reduce the risk of getting your lenses contaminated by the water.

5. Preferably, do not wear any jewellery because if you lose them, it will be impossible to find them in the rushing waters.

6. It is essential to bring plenty of enthusiasm with you! Extreme sports its speciality MM Adventure Services specialises in all types of extreme sports from caving, jungle trekking and camping to canoeing and many more. Founder Michael Manivanan has been involved in outdoor activities for more than 20 years. He insists on safety procedures and ensures all professional guides adhere to safety guidelines to avoid any mishaps.

It costs RM150 for white-water rafting while abseiling costs RM80 per person. Discounts are available for big groups (10 and above).

For personalised adventure tours, visit www.mmadventure.com or e-mail mmadventure@gmail.com.

Abseiling down a waterfall cliff

TRANSPORTED back to Ulu Geruntum in a lorry, we were all soaking wet but happy.
The delicious packed lunch was quickly gobbled down with a hot drink. The waters at the fall were clean and icy cold for some, but that did not deter us from the next challenge — abseiling.
Again, we were we briefed first on how to abseil down the waterfall safely.
The professional abseilers helped us with our harness and showed us how to use our Stops (gadgets used to stop the ropes) as we descended.

As the harness is strapped on, it is important to let go of the rope in front of you, while pulling the rope below you. It’s a skill that needs to be acquired as you go along.
Unlike rock climbing, this looked scary in the beginning. But it was not that frightening after all — provided the right steps are followed.
I had to muster the courage for the first few steps to the edge of the waterfall, but after that the way down was thrilling.

With water splashing on my face throughout my baby steps down the 18-metre waterfall cliff, I was disappointed when it was all over in just 10 minutes!
So, as soon as the guide unhooked me from the safety rope, I was up again for my second attempt abseiling down.
Practice makes perfect, and the next climb down proved to be more enjoyable as I conquered my fears.
After a few dips under the waterfall, I retired to my bed exhausted but contented.