Ansara Seremban 77-81 Gunung Ledang Expedition

Pre-Expedition

Last Sunday (06th April, 2008), I had a chance to visit Asahan, located at the foot of Gunung Ledang. The purpose was to survey the area for the upcoming event organized for our MRSM alumni association, Ansara Seremban 77-81. As high school kids, we went up Gunung Ledang in 1979 and this trip is organized as a way to gather old friends and do again what we did 30 years ago. It will be a kind of nostalgic event which is going t0 mean a lot to most of us.

At first, we plan to carry out the expedition in April but the rainy whether leaves us no choice but to postpone it to a later date. After having breakfast at Madi's house, we took off in my car at around 9:00am via the PLUS North-South highway from Bangi toll. We exited on Jasin Toll and turn left to Jasin and Chinchin. After several calls to Jasni and with the guide of road signs, we arrived at a warong in Asahan which is about 20 minutes from Jasin toll. There we met Jasni and his 3 sons, who came from Muar.

We passed by PLKN camp and a government run resort (Majlis Sukan Negara), Saujana Asahan on the way to the foot of Gunung Ledang. What was used to be an vacant land right in from of the Asahan dam is now the resort and the dam is now fenced, not like what it was 30 years ago. There was this Ladang Petola nearby. We searched and found the site where we camped and it looked almost the same as it did 30 years ago. See pic.


Signboards were placed to remind visitors that they should check and get the permission from the Perbadanan Taman Negara before climbing up the mountain. The whether was good, so we decided to climb the entrance to Gunung Ledang just to get the feel. While Jasni was busy taking photos, me and Madi checked our phone signals - not bad coverage for Celcom. 10 minutes up and it looked very tempting and climbable.

As our mission that day was not to climb all the way up, we decided to turn back and headed to the camp site by crossing the river. We got so annoyed looking at rubbish left behind by irresponsible people. We saw bottles, plastic bags, diapers, you name it, which suggested those were from a family. Too bad. Malaysians should be tought how to throw rubbish properly first before everyone can talk about environment this, environment that as what Jas, our safety expert put it.

On the way back, we stopped by Saujana Asahan to ask for rates and the availibility. The only available dates were 7th and 8th June. The rest of the weekends were fully booked. We were shown by a resort staff, one the chalets they were offering at RM50 a night. It was new, clean, with TV, hot shower and for the price we thought it was excellent.

So, our expedition is going to take place on 7th and 8th June. It's going to be 7th, climbing up and going down, putting up a night at the resort in chalets and on 8th check out and back for home.

On the way back, we stopped by Bukit Katil to have lunch. At around 4pm, we headed home.

Facts that may help if you are doing research on climbing Gunung Ledang from Asahan, Melaka:

• From PLUS North-South highway, exit on Jasin
  
• Follow signboards to Jasin and Chinchin and after Jasin, follow signboards to Asahan. It's about 20 minutes.
  
• You will pass by PLKN camp and Saujana Asahan
  
• An Army camp is nearby
  
• The foot of Gunung Ledang is called Taman Rekreasi Hutan Asahan. Follow the sign board
  
• There's a dam neaby the resort
  
• Camp site can accomodate about 50 people
  
• Gunung Ledang is administered by Perbadanan Taman Negara Johor
  --Tel. (07) 223 7471 or (07) 224 2525
  -- Visitors are required to call 7 days in advance

Facts about Saujana Asahan:

• Not affiliated to Perbadanan Taman Negara Johor
  
• Run by Majlis Sukan Negara
  
• Does not organize trips to Gunung Ledang
  
• Address: Saujana Asahan, Jalan Kolam Air, 77100 Asahan, Melaka. Tel: (06) 523 5849
  
• Rates (subject to change):
  -- Standard Room RM50/night
  -- Dorm RM15/bed/night
  -- Chalet RM80/night
  -- Main Hall RM100/day
  -- Camping RM10/night/lot
  
• Organize outdoor activities
  -- High rope course
  -- Obstacle course

Direction by Rahim Rahman, 23rd May, 2008:

MOUNT OPHIR - HERE WE COME

For those uninformed, Mount Ophir is what outsiders called Gunung Ledang. And those who are aware and insist on referring it as Gunung Ledang, I salute you! So, you know it by name and roughly know where it is located but somehow kindda not sure your way there. Fret no more; if the direction described below fails you, others are phone calls away. (Not to mention that I need my bearing straighten up!)

From Bangi, drive south on PLUS highway to Jasin exit. If you drove somewhere between 100-110 km/hrs, it shall take you around 1 hrs 15 mins to speed across the 119km stretch. Fork-out RM16.10 to gain exit. Drive on for another 8km to a T-junction. Left will take you to Jasin and right will lead you to Merlimau. Unless you want to drop relatives a visit, I suggest you take left. Move along. You shall pass an incoming left from MRSM Jasin. Straight up, you’ll meet another T-junction. Left to Bemban and Melaka town; right to Chinchin/Tangkak. Right it is! Soon you’ll notice a right turn to Tangkak. Ignore it. (BTW if you took Tangkak exit, this is the meeting junction) Drive on. So far you have driven no more than 25km from Jasin toll booth.

Seterusnya, selepas pemanduan sejauh 5km, saudara akan bertemu dengan cabang umpama Y bentuknya. Ambil kanan ke Asahan. Hah! Dah dekat dah! Selepas Kampung Asahan, perlahankan pemanduan saudara. Kawasan kampong, jalan sempit, lagipun dah nak sampai. Agak-agak dalam 4km akan ketemulah Saujana Asahan di sebelah kanan bertentangan dengan PLKN. (sebelah kirilah tu!) Tak tahu nak belok kanan? Pandai-pandailah cari yang lain. Sampai dah! All in, lebih-kurang 33km daripada toll Jasin.

Jumpa disana!

The Expedition

Coming up...07th June, 2008