Bah Butong Tea Plantation & Parapat, Danau Toba (Part I)

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South Toba Lake Part I : Bah Butong Tea Plantation & Parapat
South Toba Lake Part II : Tarabunga Beach
South Toba Lake Part III : Dolok Tolong
South Toba Lake Part IV : Huta Ginjang
South Toba Lake Part V : Alam Bakara
South Toba Lake Part VI : Tele
South Toba Lake Part VII : Sipiso-piso
South Toba Lake Part VIII :Mount Sibayak & Berastagi

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Bah Butong Tea Plantation is located at Kecamatan Sidamanik, Kabupaten Simalungun, Sumatera Utara. Bah Butong is one of the four plantation located within this area. The others are Toba Sari, Bah Birong Ulu and Sidamanik. This plantation area is accessible from Pematang Siantar (the last major city before reaching Danau Toba).

This plantation is our first stop during the EXPAT (extraordinaire photography travel) South Danau Toba in Jun 2010. Guided by doc budie, the excellent host and photographer friend from Medan. This trip is the follow-up to the first edition is in October 2009 where Malaysian photographer and fellow Indonesian photographer from Medan combined to do photography hunting around Danau Toba area.

Some of the landscape photograph taken there (i did'nt bring my normal camera during this trip as it is still under service at Canon Centre.. all picture taken using Visible IR).. will update with picture taken with goldie IR later..

Me @ Kebun Teh Bah Butong


The blue sky at Bah Butong Tea Plantation, Sidamanik


Interesting earth shape at Bah Butong Tea Plantation, Sidamanik

Leading line

We then proceed toward Parapat. Parapat only served as our pit stop location for Zuhr & Asar prayer as we were heading towards Balige. Parapat is famous as it is the main location for people heading towards Samosir Island by ferry.

Few picture from Parapat, Danau Toba


Samosir Island view from land, Danau Toba (near Parapat)


Danau Toba view from Parapat

Glossary
Kecamatan - district
Kabupaten - regency

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Discovering Kemensah Waterfall, Kg Kemensah

Kemensah Waterfall is my first photography outing that require me to trek a bit before reaching it. And that time i'll never guess that later it would be the most easiest one compared to other remote/high places that i went for my hobby.

The waterfall's name is not Kemensah. We named it as Kemensah as the nearest village is Kampung Kemensah. A local people once told me its real name but i forgot it. I'll update this blog entry later when i found out its real name.



After a mere 45 brisk walking through ATV road, passing through bamboo jungle you will reach the first waterfall. If you hike further up the stream, there is a lot more waterfall to be found. I remember hiking until 6th level (and few fren went for the 7th level).

I already went to this waterfall for three times. At one occasion we manage to catch a very good ray of light at this waterfall. Really miss this waterfall and hope to repeat visiting it with fellow friends.








Some macro photos from this location

How to get here - Kemensah Waterfall

Find your way to Zoo Negara. Follow the road by the Zoo Negara side. After few kilometers you will reach Kampung Kemensah,drive straight. After the village area the road will be a bit windy You will pass the fishing pond (on your left) and a chalet on your left.(Do not turn left at the Kolam Memancing Junction). After few kilometers you will pass another fish pond (on your left) and then you will found an entrance to a construction site on your right. At your left is the starting trail to this waterfall. The trail is also used by the ATV operator so it is wide enough for a small ATV.

Safety Note Please take note that the place at the start of the trail doesn't seem safe to park your vehicle (since it is deep inside and out of nowhere) but that is your only choice if you want to start track immediately. Alternatively you might park your cark at the Chalet (pay RM2) and then walk for few kilometers to the starting trail.

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Swimming with the kelah at Air Terjun Sg Chilling, Kuala Kubu Bharu

Arey @ Chilling Waterfall

Lineup
emran, arey & butet

Kelah (Malaysian Red Mahseer) is one of Malaysia’s precious ecological heritage. This fish is unique to our region. Chilling River is one of the Kelah Sanctuary which is near to the Klang Valley. For an hour of journey from Kuala Lumpur would drive you to the entrance of this sanctuary. No need to go to deeper forest such as the Endau-Rompin National Park to enjoy swimming with this fish.



Buttet swimming with the Kelah

Another attraction here is the Chilling Waterfall. The waterfall height is about 60m height which would dwarfed any human being. The journey itself is very rewarding. As we trek along the river, we need to cross the river for a total of six times. The first crossing is via a suspension bridge. But you'll get yourself wet for the other crossing. At some crossing the water height is at your half thigh level so you need to be very careful with your camera equipment (if you bring any). Bringing a small child is possible but you should always be extra careful. You should also always alert for "kepala air" sign as the were cases in the past that some camper were drowned due to this nature phenomenon here. (normal tips is never trek whenever you suspect there is heavy raining at upstream(hulu) of the river, watch the sky).



Chilling Waterfall in IR spectrum

How to get here - Chilling River Waterfall, KKB

Drive to Kuala Kubu Bharu town. From there go towards Fraser Hill. You will drive by the dam side. After about 15 minutes, you will pass an old small bridge (folks at KKB called it as 'jambatan kombat') at a corner bend, immediately after this bridge you can park your vehicle on the left side. The entrance to the Sungai Chilling Kelah Sanctuary is on the right clearly stated with a gate. You need to trek for about 10 minutes to reach the Chalet/Office compound. Register there (pay RM1 fee) and you can proceed to the waterfall afterwards. (The ranger office only open at 8:30am - a total letdown for those who wish to arrive early and take slow shutter picture especially during weekend where you want to avoid the crowd to get a good picture)Map board available at the compound if you need to get yourself familiar with the trek first. From here you will need about an hour to reach the waterfall.

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