Saturday 28 November 2009

A Foray Up Bukit Broga




As we were driving on the new LEKAS (Lebuhraya Kajang-Seremban) Expressway en-route to Melaka on Friday, Adeen pointed out Bukit Broga in the distance - a hill he had climbed twice, once with an ex-schoolmate and the other with a couple of his cadet-pilot pals.



View Casualzone Map in a larger map

LEKAS is E21 and the the 2 blobs on the extreme right are the peaks of Bukit Broga

It was an easy enough scramble uphill for him but one of his mates got pretty winded and at one point even threw up. That got hubby suggesting that we (Muni, him and I) give the bukit a try the following day as we had planned to return from Melaka later in the evening.

Alamak, suddenly I got gabrah over this Bogra.

"Can makciks do this HILL?"

"Off course..., YOU can" says Adeen, "just think of it as a cardio workout."

"OK", bravely.

How challenging is it?

Here are some facts from http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=440768

Activity: hiking
near Broga, Negeri Sembilan (Malaysia)
Trail distance: 2.68 miles
Elevation min: 276 feet, max: 1,271 feet
Accum. height uphill: 1,207 feet, downhill: 1,168 feet
Difficulty level: skill Easy
Time: 2 hours 52 minutes
Ends at start point (loop): Yes


And that was how I came to be involved in this unplanned activity, a mere two days after I was challenged to a "butt maut" session at the gym on Thursday. Friday I was OK but early Saturday morning when we got up at 4.15 am. I felt what hubby called a DOMS (delayed-onset muscle soreness) in my lower hamstrings. Well, just a teeny bit and should be ignored.

We drove to Semenyih - just outside the town we made a pit-stop at the Petronas Station for toilettes and dawn prayers. Then continued on past the University of Nottingham and stopped in front of a rabbit farm.






The beginning of the trail up is right opposite it.
(pic taken after the descent)








The starting-point through an oil-palm plantation
6.20 am, still dark









Up the trail - a glimpse of the sun-rise through the trees









Adeen helping the weakest link in the chain










Further up..... hubby and the 1st look-out in the distance










Almost there













The last few steps up to the 1st look-out are the steepest









Made it!
Resting at the 1st look-out,









notice hubby's wandering hand....

what? already?!!!!
(he was gauging my muscle tightness actually hehe)







one for the camera








A view of the first peak from the 2nd look-out point









At the second look-out point contemplating the final assault to the peak








Hubby giving me a butt-shove up and around a big boulder, hahaha











Muni's turn (on her own)











At the 3rd look-out and the peak











A joyful occasion indeed for helping mum to the top









The Rabbit Farm from the peak

















8.45 am
Back down - stopping for some petai and starfruits.












It was a good climb. We thoroughly enjoyed it!

Thanks very much to hubby, Muni and Adeen for your help and patience.

Now to deal with the hamstring DOMS...

Some scenic views



















_______________________________________________

29 comments:

a.j. said...

wow ! exciting ... of course u can auntie! ibu panjat bukit at borneo rainforest pakai hush puppies and kain ... inginkan auntie!

Zendra-Maria said...

woii yub terer gak ibu awak hehe

Tommy Yewfigure said...

Aiyah, this one only a molehill compared to Mt Kinabalu, where got shiok one...heheh.

Cheers,
Tommy

P/S - RA, not in front of the children, please :). Nasib baik only hamstring not groin strain.

Zendra-Maria said...

Tommy, 2 AM? "Worked" into the early hours didn't you now?

Molehill also shiok ler, Kinabalu can make you much too breathless at your age lah!

Hahaha ya lucky not groin strain!

Capt's Longhouse said...

Zendra & RA plus family members,

,,,again congratulations ! good job.
,,,pls dont just ignore any form of muscle injuries, massage them with minyak gamat, it makes them even stronger plus healthier yaa.
,,,family bonding and these kind of activities are really healthy both physically & mentally too..reminds me of my early days with my daddy and other family members, we still talk about our early adventures even till today hahaha during family gathering yaa.
,,,good preparation indeed for kinabalu, getting a feel of it hehehe. yoo. Tommy dia TV type of climber jaa memandai hehehe guess pot/piggy belly dah kot ??..baru dia sedar bila dia jumpa kita orang yang fit fit hahaha jeles tak guna nanti Tok Mee..you better start working on yourself too, we are way ahead of you !! don't play catch-up, it might be too bloody late buddy. jgn marah yaa but get off yr butt/ass n start to sweat it out man !!ha.ha.ha. "wealth is health"
cheers keep it up Zendra/RA & kiddos.
Tok Uban Yoohohoo dari Kapas.

Naz in Norway said...

Broga today, Everest tomorrow!
Go, Zen, Go!!!!!

mamasita said...

Wow Zen..you're amazing..so very energetic. Daya lagi hiking and all..kalau I takut sesak napas!
Gunung Kinabalu welcomes our blogger hiker of the decade!!

tireless mom said...

Hi Zendra,

Memang fascinating. Your knees can tahan the climb! Healthy you! Congratulations.

Tommy Yewfigure said...

Hey Zee, u only got your butt shoved up, me? My butt got kicked big time that's why gotta retired early b4 2am; badly bruised & still sulking :(( Chinese says 'Shi toh foo lat'.

Ahem, Capt doesn't understand our 'Zen Spik'...hahaha, Mt K will leaves me breathless; Everest? OMG have mercy, sure die one leh!!!

Zee, I think our Capt is like that Mark Wahlberg character in 'The Shooter' one fine day he'll come out of Kapas to blow them 'baddies' all up!

Capt, Tok Mee macam tu Susahnakeja character in Commando, u know kah. Fit & strong.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, then it's back to Monday, Tuesday, W.T.F....hahaha.

NanaDJ said...

Zendra,
Congratulations!!! I told you 'young' people like you can do anything. I wouldn't dare attempt to climb anything - dahlah vertigo nanti sakit kaki, belakang etc susah pula. Almaklum machine dah berkarat.
Is this part of your training for Mount Kinabalu?

Capt's Longhouse said...

Tok Mee, just for you hehehe!..after getting that kick on your ass ??.

,,,AWAKE! arise! the hour is late!
Angels are knocking at thy door!
They are in haste and cannot wait,
And once departed come no more.

,,,Awake! arise! the athlete's arm
Loses its strength by too much rest;
The fallow land, the untilled farm
Produces only weeds at best.

..(RA how's the grass - dah potong. hehe ??)

Tok Uban

Zendra-Maria said...

Hey Captain, thanks. I was quite relieved that I made it up to the 1st peak because I was really panchit. But Adeen kept urging me on "sikit lagi, sikit lagi", and so I just put one foot after another, and wallah there I was!

Poor Tommy got an earful from you. Merajuk dah dia, kesian hehe

Zendra-Maria said...

Naz, thank you. You're always such a cheerleader. Everest??? I should take EVE's own advice... REST ;)

Zendra-Maria said...

Oii mamasita, aerobicians mana boleh sesak nafas? Breathing gets a little hard due to exertion, that's all. When I felt panchit, I stopped to catch my breath, minum setegok dua and yakkity- yak with the other climbers, before proceeding. It wasn't a competition anyway. So try hill-climbing, mamasita, you'll like it I'm sure.

Zendra-Maria said...

Hey TM, alhamdulillah so far so good where my knees are concerned. I've been spending time at the gym doing various strengthening exercises, probably the muscles in my knee area got some help too. Thanks TM, bet you have a lot of stamina yourself .... being tireless and all that hehehe

Zendra-Maria said...

Dear dear Tommy, sulking like a little boy. Actually Capt knows exactly what you meant - and gave you his version of red card!!! HAHAHAHA

If he shoots all the baddies, would that include YOU?

But seriously, everyone needs his butt kicked every now and again. Lucky for me I'm surrounded by kickers and shovers hehe

Zendra-Maria said...

NanaDJ, I'm only slightly "younger" than you, and that doesn't mean I'm less "berkarat" though. What with your ball-room dancing and taichi, your joints I'm sure are as well-greased as anyone half your age hehehe.

Capt's Longhouse said...

Zendra,

,,,just Challenge oneself !!. Nothing is impossible to the person who has the “DESIRE” to succeed…!!.... ”where there’s a will, there’s a way”…..hahaha !!
,,,Achievers are dreamers and DOERS. Take small steps and you’ll find that one step leads to another, then the next.
......“Mt. Kinabalu here I come !!"

DrSam said...

Congratulation kanda! Orang lama with the spirit (and energy) of Orang muda. This thing did cross my mind though, had you eaten that gastronomic petai earlier would kanda RA has the gut of shoving up your butt :)

Tommy Yewfigure said...

Oh hahaha Zen, u had become the butt of all shoving & kicking joke now. Dr Sam, u might like to know that as husbands, it's our sanctimonious duty to put up with the missus s**t or farts at all cost to keep the harmony :))

Tommy,

P/S - So u c me as one of the 'baddies'...mmmm interesting!

Zendra-Maria said...

Capt Sir, Kinabalu YESSIR!

gulppp :{

Zendra-Maria said...

Dinda Doc, orang lama ni tak sedar dia dah tua lah.... gagah jugak nak try hill-climbing

HAHAHAHA about the petai, you crack (pun intended) me up with your imagination

But this old hen is practised in the art of self-control, so no worries lah hehe

Zendra-Maria said...

Eh Tommy, for a moment there I thought you were Tommy Cooper hehe but he's a lot more classier definitely


You baddie? No lah, just afraid Tok Uban might mistake you for one...

Capt's Longhouse said...

Guys,

,,,Don't under estimate our local "petai", its the best source of energy in the jungle and our orang asli can just survive on it plus work bloody hard without anything else !! Learn this secret from them and its medicinal herbal value is really just too fantastic. Better than all the modern medicine you/I can think of !.wow.
,,,The knowledge of herbs is an art and should be protected, shared and preserved. From the beginning of time, herbalists have conducted history's longest study on the effectiveness of herbs.
,,,I will be honored to revere/share this knowledge..if you guys are really interested ?. hehehe.

Zendra-Maria said...

Tok Uban, do enlighten us with your ilmu-ilmu herba - I take it that petai has other goodness apart from the typical awet muda and tenaga batin?

Capt's Longhouse said...

Little did you know ...... after reading THIS, you'll NEVER look at petai in the same way again!

Petai contains three natural sugars -sucrose, fructose and glucose. Combined with fiber, petai gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proved that just two servings of petai provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder petai is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way petai can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.


Depression:
According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND among people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating petai. This is because petai contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.


PMS(premenstrual syndrome):
Forget the pills - eat petai. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.


Anaemia:
High in iron, petai can stimulate the production of haemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anaemia.


Blood Pressure:
This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the petai industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.


Brain Power :
200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating petai at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.


Constipation:
High in fiber, including petai in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.


Hangovers:
One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a petai milkshake, sweetened with honey. The petai calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.


Heartburn:
Petai has a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating petai for soothing relief.


Morning Sickness :
Snacking on petai between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.


Mosquito bites :
Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of the petai skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.


Nerves:
Petai is high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.


Overweight:
to be cont.

Capt's Longhouse said...

cont.

Overweight:
Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.


Ulcers:
Petai is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.


Temperature control :
Many other cultures see petai as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In hoiland, for example, pregnant women eat petai to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.


Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) :
Petai can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer, tryptophan.


Smoking:
Petai can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.


Stress:
Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium petai snack.


Strokes:
According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine, " eating petai as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%".


Warts:
Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of petai and place it on the wart. Carefully hold the petai in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, as you can see, petai really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A Petai a day keeps the doctor away".

Zendra-Maria said...

Thanks Tok Uban, very useful information befitting of an entry by itself. Hope you don't mind me lifting it off from here into a new post :)

Thanks

shamyheart said...

very nice entry.

it's give me a basic-depth about hiking Bogra Hill.