Waterfalls at Semban; Part IV

Lunch break at Kampung Bojong waterfall

Here’s the thing, according to local guides, there are about 13 waterfalls in Semban and its surrounding areas. During this trip, we manage to visit 3 waterfalls (waterfall Bojong-Pain, waterfall Susukng and waterfall Petn). With 10 more elusive waterfalls in the area, I reckon my waterfall addict friend Jan already have Semban penned out on his to do list.

The first waterfall we visited was midway walk up to Semban. It is located near Kampung Bojong, a place ‘to rest and have lunch before the climb up stairway to heaven’ according to Danny Voon (our main organizer). It’s a rather big river with a deep pool and the swim we had on our first day was a much needed one. A few meters away upstream is Bojong village itself.

We are really happy to be able to make it together on this trip

A village boy from Bojong village on a bamboo raft

The other two waterfalls we visited on the second day at Semban. We are not hardcore waterfall fans but the opportunity to tag along Jan and Aric and the guides to walk and see more of Semban was irresistible. It was a hot hot day and as it turns out, walking to the waterfall is really a blessing in disguise. The first waterfall we went to was Susukng. This is a massive waterfall with boulders littered all over. Getting to the bottom of the waterfall was a bit tricky. We took Sagen (one of the guides) advice and enjoyed the waterfall from a distance.

Susukng waterfall with large boulders blocking the way to the bottom of the falls

Another angle of Susukng waterfall

After spending a few minutes at Susukng, we made our way to the next waterfall. It’s not really far from Susukng but already the heat from the walk to the falls has started taking its toll. I personally can’t wait to get myself into the water…need to cool down the body. Probably in under 30 minutes, we arrived at the second falls. Strangely, I am not sure what it is called. I checked my GPS and I marked it as ‘Pain’ waterfall.

Meun standing beside the falls

The area of this waterfall looks like something from a theme park. The cascades look like they were formed by huge ‘strategically’ positioned concrete boulders. In the picture above, if you look closely, there is another waterfall towards the back. And that is not all to it…just a few meters downstream, a beautiful vertical drop reveals itself. Jan calls this a curtain drop, much like the ones I’ve seen in movies where you can go behind the ‘curtain’ into a secret entrance. Parts of the waterfall reminded us of the Upih Guling waterfall in Endau Rompin National Park.

Seen similar ‘natural’ holes in Endau Rompin before

A curtain fall, we spent quite some time exploring behind the ‘curtains’

The waterfall was such a blessing on this particular hot day

Naturally, we will be spending some time exploring the waterfall and having lunch. Our packed lunch were carried by the guides and beside this beautiful waterfall, we enjoyed our scrumptious meal.

Food always taste good when you are enjoying yourself

Ah…I really enjoyed the Bidayuh’s cooking and hospitality

What comes really good naturally after lunch of course is a nap. Meun and I decided to stop exploring the area and seek refuge from the unforgiving sun underneath some nearby trees. As we rested and me almost dozing off, Meun manage to capture these butterflies feasting on the sweat on the bandana.

There were butterflies all over the place!- pic by Meun

The walk to the waterfalls at Semban weren’t as tough as I expected but the heat of the day really burnt us. By the time we got back to the village, we were all exhausted and Sagen’s offer of young coconut drinks was nothing short of God sent. In a matter of minutes, Glen and Nyun offered us coconuts to help quench our thirst and fatigue. What a way to finish a beautiful visit to Semban’s two waterfalls!

There were butterflies all over the place!- pic by Meun

Other posts/ videos on Semban:

• Part I- A visit to Semban, the village above the clouds
• Part II- The hanging bamboo bridges of Semban
• Part III- The long walk up to Semban
• Part IV- The waterfalls at Semban
• Part V1- The Bidayuh’s traditional cutting tools
• Part V2- The kitchen and bamboo blades of the Bidayuhs in Semban
• Part VI- Traditional bamboo smoking pipe and great food
• Part VII- Sunrise and morning walk around Semban
• Part VIII- Old tools used by the Bidayuhs in Semban
• Part IX- Ladies of the rings in Semban
• Video- The bidayuh’s hill paddy
• Video- The home made wooden pack that carries EVERTHING up Semban!
• Video- Bidayuh’s traditional furnace
• Video- Bidayuh’s traditional blades