Fifteen members turned up for this trip with a view to camping, birding, hiking and flora and entymological studies. The prospect of adventure to a new place drove a group led by Mr. Kong Ah Kwan to rent a four-wheel drive vehicle for the trip.
      I went early on Friday with Chew driving his 4WD pick-up carrying his scrambler motor bike meeting Koon Yoke and Jessie to pick up Moon for our journey to Gerik. At Gerik we had a quick high tea before checking into “our” hotel (Great Wall Hotel in Gerik has been a very good choice for us as the the RM30.00 air-con room rate includes solar-heated water for bathing and television with an Astro channel) but it was full due to the change of the pasar malam date to Friday and a tournament for some game was on in town. We had no choice but to check into another along the main road which was not very conducive for a good night sleep.
      We left for the Temenggor lake area near Bersia at about 5.30 pm. hoping to get a glimpse of hornbills and other birds returning to roost or feed in the late evening. Luck was not on our side this time as we only saw a few monkeys near the dam spillway and a few leaf birds and flowerpeckers. Leaving at almost 7.15 pm we had our dinner at the Grik Chinese new village restaurant (the one with the Carlsberg sign) which serves my favourite steamed baung fish (firm and fresh) with asam santan gravy garnished with long beans, taupok and brinjals. With other dishes it came to about RM10.00 per head.
       Early next morning we left for the PITC concession after a quick breakfast. At the Banding Island Resort we stopped to meet up with Dato’ Dr. Noramly and Datuk Lim Chong Keat. Datuk Lim had left earlier to explore the Kelantan side. After stopping to see a few blue-throated beaters and an eagle-like raptor which perched for a short while in a mist shrouded tree before flying off, we arrived at the first camp where the members left their cars to get a lift from the loggers.
       About 9 km from the first camp lies the third bridge and an airy bamboo hut built by the logging company nicknamed the Belum Hyatt. Unpacking our luggage and provisions we selected our "bed sites" which consists of split bamboo flooring – very airy. It also has “dining area” and a cooking area next to the small clear stream. The "toilet" would be constructed later.
      After a short rest some explored the surrounding area while some dipped their tired bodies in the river. While Dr. Noramly went about setting up his moth-luring equipment Kuan Yaow and I went to explore the extent of the damage caused by building of the logging track which was supposed to be co-friendly, ie causing little or no pollution of the rivers and streams. Driving to the left-hand track we saw the end of the track about to cross over a little ravine but the river was not polluted. Here we saw a few fantails and the occasional hornbill flying past.
      After a cuppa of white coffee we explored the right trail which was about 1 km long from the bridge ending abruptly at a steep slope. Slowly we birded our way back. About half way we saw a 4WD and out jumped Datuk Lim and his assistants. After the usual banter I found that he had returned from the Kelantan side and he proudly showed his collection of a bright orange-red gesneriad – an Aeschynanthus but I could be sure of the species name (my personal taxonomist, Leong Tuck Lock, did not come for this trip because he had gone to the UK for the Chelsea flower show). I photographed it as well as his other gingers. On his return Tuck Lock told me that it was the Aeschynanthus speciosa.
      While chatting with Datuk Lim, Kuan Yaow came and told me that "your things" are seen around a corner not far that spot and that "the excavators must have spared them by inches". She was referring to gesneriads and I thought that it may be the usual Henckelia crinita but walking to the spot my heart skipped a beat when I saw through my binoculars a few serrated-leaved gesneriad with deep purple flowers perched up a steep craggy slope. I almosted shouted out loud "Didymocarpus dawnii!!", the old name of the genus for the "new" species of gesneriad found by John Dawn in the first Belum expedition to the Temenggor area recorded in the MNJ and the Belum coffee table book (not named in the book). Scanning for more plants my heart beat even faster because next to it was a begonia with beautiful leaves which I initially thought was B. decora. Datuk Lim’s assistant climbed up the steep-cut slope and gingerly removed the plants as they were then exposed to the hot sun. Again I photographed them with my trusty F90 and at close quarters admired their beauty and uniqueness.
      The gesneriad laid out on the ground is now known as Henckelia dawnii and has two purple trumpet-shaped flowers about 4 cm. long slightly bent about 8 mm from the base of the tube dangling from a penduncle about 15 cm. which makes a pretty picture of a some-what dainty plant. To me this plant has horticultural value as the location was about 345 metres a.s.l. – suitable for lowland cultivation under shade. The begonia was even more interesting as it has a pink base colour – very unusual for a Malaysian begonia and very much different from all those I have seen. A young plant beside it does not show the pink xx
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colouration. Datuk Lim suggested that I conduct further research in this plant to see if it is something new. (Back home the photos turned up well and promptly sent to various local and foreign taxonomists and gesneriad experts for identification. To date the begonia is still a mystery so I shall write up something and have it published in the MN so that some begonia experts may be able to ID it or point a direction as to its identity. Watch out for it)
      When Datuk Lim had his fill of gingers and palms to meet his botanical needs he bade us farewell while we continued with our birding and other interests. Moon and Jessie went to see how the locals fish with homemade spear guns but Jessie had to turn back as she did not have proper shoes and attire. Koon Yoke, Kuan Yaow and I went birding on the right log-ging track. When I went back to look for Kuan Yaow I heard and saw a Orange-breasted Trogon settling on to a branch in full view. I observed it for about 10 minutes before it flew off as I got nearer. I was alone and was hoping for others to enjoy this beauty of nature but no one was in sight. Further towards the bridge I heard the kiek-kiek-kiek call of a woodpecker as it flew among the mid-storey foliage. I missed it the first time but further on I saw it perched on the trunk of a tall tree pecking at the bark and making the call from time to time. Checking Boonsong’s book points to a Maroon woodpecker, a lifer for me as I have seen it previously only for a fleeting moment.
      Back to the camp I caught up with Kuan Yaow and decided to drive to me up with the last group – Kong & Co (Kong Ah Kwan, Teng Eng Lim and wife and  Chong Kok Choo in a rented 4WD) while Chow Siew Fatt brought his son, Pik Yee and James Ting. On reaching the site they quickly pitched tent to camp for the night. Out came the camping gears and cooking utensils. Soon it was fun in the river and the selection of sleeping places in the Belum Hyatt by those who were not willing to pitch tents.
      Shortly afterwards the smell of James’ and other’s cooking wafted through the air which had an atmosphere of joy and liberation of the soul. Tucking into the food brought relief to the tired bodies. Kong made do with instant cup noodles. After dinner it was owling time but the night stroll did not produce a hoot or a musang so we went back to yarn and watch Dr. Noramly collect his moths and beetles for his next Ph.D. research thesis. He blew at least one mercury lamp that night.
      After a heavy breakfast we loaded up to prepare for the hike to the waterfall touted by the CEO as one with a drop of over 200 feet. Three of the workers led the way, one of them trailed at the back to make sure we were safe. Along the way we saw some birds but my spectacles kept fogging up because of the sweat and high humidity so it was difficult to identify them. Also seen were some interesting plants, particularly a white gesneriad and some flowering gingers. The last guide pointed out the carcass of a huge land tortoise which he called “banding”. The carapace was empty but later he found the head and three scaly legs. It seems it was mauled and the innards eaten by a tiger.
      Despite the few leeches we reached the waterfall safely after a 2-hour hike It looks magnificent although it was a sheer drop. It seems there is another big waterfall higher up but we did not have the time to explore it. It seems the guide was lost for 2 days in an earlier recce trip. I joined the others to dip into the cold water to cool down my body after the long and tiring hike. A unique balsam with purple flowers were seen growing around the waterfall which bathe the area with a fine mist.
      After about half an hour of dipping, photographing and food (Moon didn’t bring any because he thought it was a short hike) we hiked back using a slightly different route which required crossing the river a few times. I slipped and fell into the river twice. Fortnately my camera bag kept the water out long enough for me to regain my balance and did not seep into the film canisters. It was during the trek back along the river banks that I discovered a large colony of Henckelia dawnii and one with white serrated edges. Next to it were the beautiful H. crinita-like plants with pure white flowers and one specimen had nearly 10 flowers (photograph didn’t turn out right).
      We reached the Belum Hyatt at nearly 2.30 pm. and so lunch had to be whipped up fast and preparations made to go home. The CEO of PITC promised me earlier that it would take “only one hour” for the trek to the waterfall but it turned out to take double that time. By about 4.00 pm. we left the place for the first camp. One of the contractors invited us to have tea serving us biscuits and milo. A pair of White-rumped Shamas kept us company nearby with their lovely songs.
      On our way back we stopped at the Gerik New Village restaurant again to have dinner. Thirteen of us were famished and tucked into another round of steamed assam santan baung, fried meats and vegetables. Kong made up for his having to eat only cup noodles by having extra rice and near cleaned all the dishes. Everyone agreed it was delicious and reasonably priced before heading for home.
Report by Cheaw Hon Ming