"Dimensions are extrapolated from slides taken in the cave I just borrowed Leow Kon Fah's tripod and set up my camera next to Cheang Kum Seng's cameras. I just followed the shutter settings as directed by the si-foo and my slides turned out very nicely. It would not be possible for my camera and my puny flash to record these sort of cave pictures without the help of Cheang.

Caving Group Co-ordinator, Chang Kok Kai, led a 30-strong group of novice and veteran cavers to Gua Kanthan, about 4 km north of Chemor. The cave system is located in the second limestone hill that is visible from the old highway, just before the cement factory in Kanthan.

The trail runs along a fish pond before continuing northwards up a steep slope of loose soil, then limestone rock for a height of about 20 metres, before dipping gently to the cave entrance. Just before the entrance the trail skirts a vertical limestone wall. Encountered were epiphytic ferns and succulents like begonias perched precariously and relishing the shady and damp environment of narrow limestone niches. One of the 2 varieties of begonias seen has a tortoise shell pattern1.

At the entrance the high-pitch squeaks of cave bats and strong ammonical odour from their guano greet the visitors. A 10-metre descent down a slope of loose limestone rocks leads to a narrow ledge just above the exposed part of a subterranean river. After a short stretch of stooping, crawling and waddling like a duck it was a welcomed relief to walk erect. A short narrow steep slope had to be negotiated with the help of a rope brought by Kok Kai. Soon the main cave chamber was in sight.

The chamber, aligned in a north-south direction, is about 80 metres long and 20 metres wide. The ceiling is about 30 metres high and the interesting feature is the 3 x 4 metre opening that admits a shaft of light to illuminate the chamber. It is possible to photograph this cave with the available natural light.

The south wall of the chamber is graced with a pure white limestone formation resembling a giant jellyfish. It has a 3 metre-wide medusa with 10 metre-long tentacles. In the northern part of the chamber the merger of a stalactite and stalagmite has resulted in a 2-metre diameter calcite column. The northern end of the cave tapers towards a narrow exit.

Below the jellyfish formation is an auxiliary cave about 5 metres long and 3 metres wide. There is just enough room for one person standing up on one side before the roof slopes down to the subterranean river on the other side. This small cave can only be accessed by crawling through one of two openings connected to the main chamber. On the walls are found the trapdoor spiders (Liphistidae species). These trapdoors are well camouflaged � the only tell-tale signs being dark brownish fine "trip wires" radiating from the trapdoor. They signal to the owner that dinner is coming when a victim touches any of the wires! According to our veteran cave photographer, Cheang Kum Seng, who came along to take pictures, long-legged cave centipedes (Scutigeridae species) and the cave racer snake can be found in this cave.

The best time to enjoy this cave is at about 12.30 pm when the shaft of bright sunbeam comes down vertically to the floor. Those with the proper equipment had a fine time recording this on film. Our past Chairman, Leow Kon Fah condescendingly posed for the photographers. Bathed in the beam of light, he looked like a virgin being offered as a sacrifice to the giant jellyfish looming above him!"

[1 Begonia kingiana is normally found growing on limestone with two distinct varieties. One has a marked tortoise-shell patterned leaves with red petioles and pink flowers while the other has plain all green leaves, light green petioles and white flowers. H.M Cheaw]