Travel Experience VM Review3

Of Trials, Tribulations and Turbo Engines
18-November-2006


The first time I went on a 4WD adventure four years ago, I knew I was hooked. Since then, I’ve been on more than 30 4WD adventures in Malaysia. I’ve had so many experiences during these trips, some good and some quite nerve-wrecking. One of the latest adventures for our group of five 4WD enthusiasts turned out to be one of our most memorable - a trip to the Kerling district in Hulu Selangor.

As with our previous 4WD expeditions, our group was a mix of both experienced and new adventurers. We gathered at the ProJet station at Melati, Kuala Lumpur for a final check of our vehicles and equipment, and hold a briefing about the trip. The route was short - just about 3km long - but it was one of medium difficulty due to the mostly uphill journey, At 6pm, we reached Kerling and began our off road adventure.


At the onset, our uphill journey was relatively straightforward. The modified 4WD vehicles had no problems progressing up the slope and we allowed ourselves the privilege of enjoying the drive. But two hours later, our first trial began. Ahead of us was a path about 100m in length, littered with huge boulders and flanked by thick forests on either side. There was no way of getting around it.


Though slow in progress, the first five vehicles passed through with little problem. Ours was the second-last vehicle in the convoy. Ahead was a 3.1 D Isuzu Trooper, and behind us was another 4WD with three passengers. As we were managing our way through, the VHF radio in our car suddenly crackled to life. It was the driver behind us, “We’re stuck.


The car won’t move. Can you lend us a hand?” We stopped immediately and saw the immobilised car a few metres behind. Even with all four wheels spinning, the car couldn’t budge. It was time for a procedure most 4WD drivers are familiar with - a winch rescue. Grabbing my car’s stripe - a length of steel chain on a winch fixed to the front of the car - I wrapped it around the trunk of a relatively large tree ahead. Then I attached another length of chain to the immobilised car. Then both us of revved up. While my vehicle attempted to winch both cars forward, the other tried to heave itself out of the mud.


But after a few minutes, the other driver shouted through the radio, “It’s on fire! It’s on fire!” I instinctively looked up at my winch - the most likely equipment to catch fire under such circumstances – but there was no sign of fire. “There’s no fire here!” I radioed back, a little bewildered. The other guy yelled back, “I mean my car!” In a dash I grabbed a fire extinguisher, jumped out and ran to the other car. As I lifted the bonnet, smoke and fire licked out. The acrid smell of melted wirings was almost overpowering. Once the smoke had dissipated, we took one look at the engine and knew the car won’t be moving again that day. A small setback.


We loaded everything essential from the other car into my own and continued on our way. We weren’t too worried about leaving the damaged car behind. We’d done it before and the worst that’s happened in previous expeditions was having a group of monkeys rummaging through the car for food. We soon caught up with the rest of the convoy.


Our passage from then on was a slow but steady scramble uphill. After a couple of hours, we passed a makeshift bridge built previously by 4WD groups that had gone through the trek. We knew there was second bridge just a few hundred metres ahead. But when we got there, we found it half destroyed, perhaps by the rain or by elephants passing through. So we figured out a way to reinforce the broken bridge. About an hour later, the bridge was repaired and we were on our way. Finally, at about 2am, we reached the designated campsite. Though exhausted, we managed to pitch up our tents and have a quick snack. It had been an eventful journey, and we were ready for bed.


Our day began at 8.00 the next morning. Enjoying a light breakfast we exchanged notes about the previous day’s trip. Cracking jokes about the funny things that happen along the way make adventures like these all the more enjoyable. At the same time, the more experienced drivers also shared ideas on how to better handle or avoid mishaps that have happened. Ours was a small group, but we had a very good time chiding each other about the trip so far and joking about what might happen on the way down.


The journey downhill began at about noon after we had cleared the campsite. It’s an unspoken understanding with all 4WD enthusiasts that we leave things in exactly the same situation we found them. Needless to say, the journey down was a lot easier, though it still required solid driving skills to move down the hillside safely. We only stopped when we reached the abandoned car and spent some time manoeuvring the vehicle using our winches so it could roll back down the hill with the rest of our convoy.


Though the expedition to Kerling had its trials and tribulations, at the end of the day, our group was happy with the trip. It was a classic example of the unexpected on any 4WD adventure trip. Sometimes it can be peaceful and leisurely, especially on a straightforward trek. But other times, there’ll be obstacles and hindrances that will test your problem-solving skills and patience. But these are all part of the adventure and excitement that keep enthusiasts coming back for more.

Source/See more : http://www.virtualmalaysia.com/community/travel_experience/

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