Pos Kuala Mu On Nature Lovers’ Bucket List

By Nurqalby Mohd Reda

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) – Nature lovers are always on the lookout for a haven in the heart of a cooling tropical rainforest where the air is cool and fresh, the environment is tranquil and the surroundings boast greenery with pristine rivers.

There are many ecotourism gems in the country that are just waiting to be discovered. In the travel bucket list of those seeking the solace of nature especially post-Movement Control Order (MCO) is Pos Kuala Mu in Sungai Siput, Perak.

Sited on elevated terrain in the Titiwangsa mountain range, Pos Kuala Mu is well preserved by the Orang Asli community from the Temiar tribe.

Driven by a colleague’s own story during her stay at a chalet in Pos Kuala Mu, this writer recently decided to make a trip with three other friends for a first-hand experience of the place.

Our journey from Kuala Lumpur took nearly four hours and another two hours from Sungai Siput town, albeit the challenges of a rocky and slippery road due to the heavy rain as we proceeded with our trek uphill to  the village.

The long and tiring road trip to the Orang Asli village proved worthwhile as we were greeted by the breathtaking landscape and fresh, cool mountain air in the surrounding areas as we reached our destination.

UNIQUE CHALET, PONDOK  

Every chalet and pondok can last up to three to four years and will be demolished after a certain period to make way for a new unit.

One unique point about Pos Kuala Mu is the fact that it is located along the downstream banks of Sungai Mu.

Located about 600 to 700 metres above sea level, Pos Kuala Mu houses three other chalet villages namely Kampung Bersah, Gapeh and Dusun, which had been operating since 2017.

Of the three, we picked Kampung Dusun as it is located at the extreme end of Pos Kuala Mu compared to the other two.

At Kampung Dusun, there are about 20 chalets including Orang Asli-designed pondoks (wooden huts) for visitors to stay.

Local villagers from the Orang Asli Temiar ethnic group were fully tapped as workers for the construction of chalets and pondoks at the ecotourism area.

A simple yet unique architecture, the chalets are entirely developed from forest resources.

According to Kampung Dusun chalet manager Jalizam Azwan, 32, materials for the chalet and pondok are based on bamboo and bertam leaves acquired from nearby forests.

“I took over as manager in February this year from my uncle who did not have the time to run the chalet as he had to focus on his actual job.

“For outsiders (visitors), the chalet has its own uniqueness as it is made of various types of forest bamboo including thick and thin bamboo and the rooftop is made and installed using bertam leaves from the forest in the surrounding areas,” he added.

MANPOWER FROM THE VILLAGE

Jalizam Azwan.

Every chalet and pondok can last up to three to four years and will be demolished after a certain period to make way for a new unit.

Jalizam, who is born and bred from Kampung Dusun said, the process of building each chalet and pondok only takes one to two weeks, depending on its size.

“Building a chalet or pondok is not difficult as it only takes about three to four days to have it completed. The only problem is to look for bamboo and bertam trees in the wilderness... there were times we had to go deeper into the jungle in search of the right type of bamboo.

“For example, solid bamboo is used for the wall of a room (chalet) given its resilience while thin and small bamboo is used to tie up the poles at the staircase area,” he said.

Jalizam said local villagers from the Orang Asli Temiar ethnic group were fully tapped as workers for the construction of chalets and pondoks at the ecotourism area.

In addition, they are also hired for housekeeping to ensure that each area is clean for the comfort of visitors.

The scenery at Kampung Dusun.

Every chalet, which is equipped with lights, beds, mattresses, pillows and blankets, can accommodate between three to 10 guests at a time.  In addition, the pondok is equipped with a sink, dining table and a kitchen.

“There’s a difference between a chalet and pondok...chalets are closed such as for the room, and for this service, we provide beds and pillows for visitors spending the night here while pondoks are more open. Most visitors such as motorbike riders on convoy prefer the pondok to break their journey.

“Some visitors rented our pondok and later fixed their tent on top of the pondok if they choose to spend the night here to enjoy the magical scenery of the rainforest and rivers, “said Jalizam adding that the price offered to visitors are reasonable from RM80 to RM150 a night.

VIRAL AFTER THE MCO

A simple yet unique architecture, the chalets are entirely developed from forest resources.

According to Jalizam, ecotourism activities in the village were also affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

However, with the reopening of the economic sectors last year, the ecotourism sector in this village saw a rebound with tourist figures double that of previous years.

“When the nation’s tourism industry came to a complete halt following the MCO which was enforced to curb the spread of COVID-19, our village was also immobilised. Our operations were completely closed.

“Our Orang Asli community who managed and worked at these chalets were forced to reinvent themselves by shifting to other economic activities such as catching and selling fish from the river and selling forest products such as Tongkat Ali and Kacip Fatimah to outsiders to generate income,” he said.

However, with the nation’s transition to the endemic phase from April 1, 2022, this place was abuzz with activities, drawing visitors especially fishing enthusiasts and campers.

“During that time, this place became very popular especially after a viral on the social media. Someone shared information about Pos Kuala Mu through a video uploaded on Facebook and Youtube, and from there, visitors kept pouring in to this village till today.

“At the Dusun chalet alone, we used to receive more than 100 guests at one time and during this period, we had our hands full. Hence, we had to hire additional workers on weekends to cope with the large number of guests,” said Jalizam, who is supported by 10 permanent staff.

VARIOUS ACTIVITIES

The clean and clear river water at chalets in Pos Kuala Mu.

A visitor named Lee said, he discovered Pos Kuala Mu as an ecotourism centre after watching several photos uploaded by his friend on the social media.

Lee who hails from Butterworth, Penang said he was drawn to the pictures portraying the scenic landscape of Pos Kuala Mu, hence decided to have it on his travel bucket list.

“After the government relaxed interstate travel restrictions, I gathered more information on this village after browsing through the photos shared by a friend who came for a camping trip here.

“I later decided to come here with my wife. We chose to stay at Kampung Dusun chalet as this is a suitable location for setting up tents and the best part is, it is only a few steps away from the river,” he added.

Despite our one-night stay here, this writer and friends managed to spend the vacation on other leisure activities.

This writer took the opportunity to bathe in the river and joined other guests for a barbeque event, which was compulsory for all guests here. Other programmes for visitors included fishing in the river, which is a popular spot for catching tengas fish.

Adventure lovers can opt for a hiking trip to a waterfall which is about 50 minutes away from Kampung Dusun chalet.

“Fishing, cooking during camping and hiking to a waterfall are very popular among holiday-makers.

“The clean and clear river water is also a pull factor for many visitors who choose to spend their holidays here, plus, this place is safe for family vacations,” added Jalizam.

Translated by Salbiah Said

BERNAMA