Taman Negara Malaysia - A quick trip

[geckoadventure]

XMAS to new year compulsory for me to take a break as I had 4 days leave left. 1st day taken with going back to work to fix a urgent friggin problem god I hate computers.

so we had 29-31st left a quick trip to the southern border track of Taman NEgara (Taman Negara is MAlaysia's world listed national park home to Elephants, Tigers and Black Pantherrs etc) was organised, While sitting in the workshop waiting for RED to have minor adjustments done to it the Angry Hornet (Wild Bill) owner turns up. Where ya going and when? We left 4 hours ago in case you have not noticed for Taman Negara. Ohhhh neat can I come. He races off home in his luxury BMW and ses he will be in my place in 1 hour - yeah right. I finally wrest RED out of the workshop and also head home terrorizing all cars around me with REDs massive grunty engine. We arrive at home in time to meet the Angry hornet coming down the other way to my house. We are off. 3 trusty Toyota's RED, GREEN (the Mardi Gra Float) and The Angry Hornet. 3 Westerners (Peter, Robert, Me and Wild Bill brings Raymond) the "BIG DANE" from the workshop (Indian fellow speaks Tamil, Bahasa, English and fluent cantonese and also effluent cantonese if he gets pissed with you and several other dialects including some hokkien) handy chap to have around when things break here. Wow 3pm and we are leaving 5+ hours late. Its gonna be a nite drive in the jungle.



Soon we are terrorizing the traffic on the way to GENTING highlands a 750meter climb. The little GREEN 1KZ powers up and along with Rob and Peter giving it stick. THe Angry hornet with its 320hp 7M howls along behind it and I just lope along in RED trying to keep up without the EGT going off the scale. Bugger it we just muscle our way throught the 3 lanes on the climb.



Soon we are on the flat and cruising at 80k and only 120k to go to Jerantut and the edge of Taman Negara. Not sure what happens but it takes us forever and we arrive at Jerantut at 7pm. Refuelling is fun Angry Hornet take 25.999 liters for 165k, GREEN takes 21 liters and the monster 3.4l Diesel a massive 16 liters and they was over filled. HAHAHA I win.



MArdi Gra wagon and the "ANGRY HORNET" face off at the final coffee shop on the way in.



Coffee break is required a quick snack before the rest of the 50k+ to the camp.



The jungle arrives man it stinks the black top/trailhead area has been turned into a unofficial rubbish dump. Lights blazing we are on the trail with LORRI hantu's around even at nite (then we meet one) it's going to be dangerous. Damn I get stuck in RED trying to go uphill in 2WD on a muddy climb hilarious even with the locker on in 2WD it would not move - hilarious. Wow we soon arrive at a sign the NUSA turnoff after a short 10k eventful trip. Its 10pm so we elect to stay at the camp since the restaurant is now closed they give us permission to drive down to the river bank and cook dinner on the river bed. Little do they know we have a crap load of beer and food. We party the massive stero in the "Angry Hornet" is put to use as is all the kitchen kit in RED and the cold food from GREENs fridge. I cook up a little treat of hot Chicken Curry and vegtables and entree. Meantime the party area is lit up with a variety of LED lights including a nice blue one tossed in the river.



Camp NUSA turnoff somewhere after 10.00pm




Mardi Gra Wagon struggling over the big rocks below camp NUSA going to the RIver Bed for Dinner.








Some of the best brains in Malaysia hahahaha





The gourmet chef at work.






At 2am and we decide sleep is in order else we will be here till sunrise.



Morning view of Sg Tembling from camp NUSA restaurant.





and the rapids




And yes passenger ferries run up/down the river.



Everyone is up late for breakfast and finally we get moving object 1/2 way out towards Mat Darling - wherever that is some 100+k away and back on the dirt road so we are back by sunset for dinner.



First obstacle and its mobile a empty LORRI HANTU (Ghost in Bahasa) (or San Tai WOng in cantonse).








Sneaker wash the only one for the day.









Road works.





I have lost the video clip (lost camera) but we ended up down several dead ends one being a little tricky and we finally decide on Kuala Sat a village on the river.



Soon we are following the Angry Hornet and I round a corner and there is the direction marker parked as only the Angry Hornet can.



Bridge in the middle of nowhere.

[geckoadventure]

The view from the lookout. LIttle did we know RED would break its DIFF here later.



After 4-5k Kuala Sat appears and we meet some of the locals lounging around




After which the GREEN mardi Gra catches up the two occupants deciding the GREEN truck is the most boring vehicle they have ever driven. It doesn;t get stuck it dosn;t need gears changed you put your foot down its cool and the power is adequate and never steps out of line "HOW BORING".



We decide lunch on the River is going to be good.

White buffalo altert at the river.


watch out ferry a White buffalo is in the river.


The food vultures waiting for lunch (little do they know its two minute noodles and suasages and yes pitta bread toast).




The beach camp.


On the way out the Angry Hornet needs fuel real bad so the folks at Kuala Sat have a fuel store in 200 liter drums at $3rm a liter $1rm over petrol station price. He buys 20 liters.


We fly literally "Angry Hornet" in the lead RED chasing hard we do more than 15k a crazy speeds sliding and wheelspinning 2 poweful engines singing hard. RED has no trouble keeping up with the Hornet he is in 4WDLO and im 2WD hi. Wild Bill decides to slow down when Raymond puts on his helmet and does up the harness. We wait for the royalty wagon. We reach the top of the lookout and stop for a break and I whack RED into reverse and 2 clunks are heard and will not move anyway. Wild Bill knows and stops and grins. I put it in 4WD low and reverse out it sounds terrible. 4WD drive forward and 20 meters later we decide the REAR DIFF has gone and it off with the long shaft.

Raymond with his saftey hat.


Suddenly im a mechnik or should I say car dismantler.





and I emerge with the violent criminal resisting arrest and we toss it in the back of the RED paddy wagon to be restrained bewtween the xfer case and the differential later.


Off I go ahead the other following some distance behind. The sneaker water wash proves almost impossible to climb out of. THen I stop at this the LORRI HANTu as it intrigues me how much does it weigh? Before O know it i am called over by the Logging Kongsi guys he gweilo come over. So what else do I do drove over and say hello. They are all over RED a couple speak english then the others turn up in Angry Hornet and GREEN they think I have busted the pother shaft. No No I just wanted a pic of the EXCAVATOR. THey want us to stay and offer us accomodation and beer and food. We politely decline but we will return on another trip to here. Just to show them we take off RED tearing up teh track and Angrey Hornet just behind it with the Regal Mardi Gra wagon sedately cruising behind. Soon its dark and its pitch black no moon tonite.




Well wadda ya know a pink LORRRI HANTU.


Then suddenly on the steepest hill near CAMP NUSA im stuck I slow down the bucking and weaving RED to preserve the front DIFF fatal mistake and RED stop dead front wheels spinning going nowhere. No matter what I try reversing and having a run up im stuck until Angrry Hornet appears and gives me a tow for the last 50 meters up the hill. Soon its CAMP NUSA and dinner itsa fine multicourse dinner at the restaurant lotsa bullcrap and its time for bed as tomorrow is new years eve. Since we cannot drink inside we go outside the camp to the cars and drink beer from the fridge in GREEN.


Morning more ferries


We decide RED needs a mechanik to remove the DIFF as the noise is not good. INto JERANTUT on the way home.

We find a workshop and they offer to remove the DIFF and change the OIL for $150rm ok go for it.

[geckoadventure]

Makan time


Never let an IBM project manager loose with tools in a workshop.


The DIFF oil its got a silver tint in it meaning the DIFF is totally destroyed inside.


Next door is a angle parked ZOOK.




Soon the DIFF is out.


The remains of the main bearing.


The ruined pinion.


The totally destroyed CROWN and not one tooth left.


The outer bearing race is split.


They have a spare DIFF for sale $700RM we elect to install it. However it is a 9/41 (4.55) and RED runs 8/39's (4.88)




Bill has to leave he has a wedding dinner in 4 hours. They do the 160k to KL in under 1.5 hours - eeek the Angry Hornet reaches 160k+ on 36"s sneakers.

Soon we cruise off and RED is fine and i'm home safely or am I oil is everywhere underneath due to a missing diff bolt.

Later we discover the DIFF is not genuine rebuilt JAPANESE but rebuilt in CHINA with CHEAP small bearings in it. However, as a spare it will be invaluable to get me home in future and we can share it amongst any vehicle in the LC II group.

RED was finished last friday with two new DIFFS 9/41's (LSD front and LOCKER REAR) from Ah Hoe's Angry Hornet as he went lockers front and rear.

As for me and new years eve I missed it I fell asleep exhausted at around 8pm and awoke at 8am the next day the 1st of Jan 2010.