Spinning at Bukit Gasing

Sometimes it is good to revisit the old flame. And I mean, the old flame of your training grounds (Don’t get excited yet 😂)

So with the hopes of breaking-in my new hiking boots and introducing a newbie to the world of greenery, “tangga penyesalan” as well as rewarding a summit attack with scrumptious food, I agreed to join The Weekday Hiker Geng once more for a trekking at Bukit Gasing, Petaling Jaya.

Nostalgic mode on:

A lot has been changed since 2016, there is a sign to encourage hikers to park at the other 2 entrances : Bukit Kerinchi Forest Park and Lembah Pantai Community Center. The dilapidated wooden lookout platform which my friends and I used to climb (despite rusty nails and lack of stairs) is gone. The trail seems to be better maintained.

Nostalgic mode will self destruct in 5…4…3…2…1

Our goal is to checkout the 5 landmarks in Bukit Gasing. For the first pitstop, we followed K Nurul and marched straight to the Hindu Temple. From the Pintu Gerbang (Entrance Arch) at Jalan Tanjung 5/4, walk along the stream until you see a signboard, climb up for 5 minutes and you’ll cross a stream.

Not a mannequin challenge. But this is what you’ll see if there is a 3G reception in the trekking area

Climb and climb until you reach a tarred road with a construction in front of you.

Reminds me a little bit of Gunung Angsi

We immediately took the stairs to reach a long walk-away. On our left is the view of Kuala Lumpur and to our right is a big boulder, rife with possibility of artwork and declaration of amore.

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We took a number of steps before reaching the temple. There are a number of high-rise apartment in front of us. The smell of someone’s cooking emanated from the apartments, prompting us to play a quick game of “What’s that food?”

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We met with a group of veterans who hiked their way up to the temple. Impressive, Very impressive indeed. They are very jovial, and considering they managed to complete the near vertical climb, I think they are bunch of awesome old people.

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Trekking onwards, we tried to find Jambatan Gantung San Francisco (Golden Gate Bridge).From a steep incline, we crossed several streams and go up again to reach another road. Then we sighted the biggest beehive in KL.

Bee careful!

The path to San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge is a perilous one, my friend. You need to walk (press 🔺) a few steps ahead to see a small opening of a gentle slope. Go down that slope and you’ll pass a Muslim cemetery. Hike up (repeatedly tap ❌) a bit to get to a nice clearing and you’ll see the suspension bridge.

Tadaaaaaaaaaaaa 🙌 The slightly Golden Gate Bridge

We had our brunch here and naturally, a couple of photo sessions (if you are the only guy in the group, accept your fate by pressing ⭕️ on that iPhone as sincerely as you can) Since one of our members need to go back to her office, we decided to return to the starting point, and not without taking a short detour to visit the abandoned houses along Laluan Denai.

We are glad the nature takes over

We know we didn’t cover the other part of Bukit Gasing, perhaps next time Lara Croft. However, from my observation although you are here for a 1-2 hour hike or nature walk please do the following: 1) Go with friends who know the trails well

2) Don’t go in at night or during bad weather. Be a responsible hiker

3) Bring the essentials: water, first aid kit, poncho, and snacks. Especially when you are with kids.

4) Pace yourself. This is more like a training ground, and the Stairs of Mordor (or Tangga Penyesalan) can make you feel breathless, but follow your own pace. There’s no point over-exerting yourself to the level that paramedics need to go in and tend to you.

5) Enjoy the social aspects of the hike; reply the greetings from your fellow urbanites with the same level of enthusiasm.

One of the rewards: The view of Kuala Lumpur

This ends my Tomb Raider: Spinning in Bukit Gasing walkthrough notes of Bukit Gasing short trek with amazing Fath, K Nurul, Cikgu Fiza, K Safura and Yun. I am just grateful that this “Green Lung of Kuala Lumpur” is still here, unscathed. To future visitors, have fun and please park at Bukit Kerinchi or Lembah Pantai entrance! (Can’t blame a girl for keep trying!)