Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Natural Wonders The Gua Datok Cave In Tambun


The Gua Datok Cave in Tambun, Perak is filled with mystery and history

By REVATHI MURUGAPPAN

THE small town of Tambun, Perak, has gotten more exciting of late. Besides its famous biscuits and juicy pomelos, the town is now also known for the Lost World Valley, nestled within the Lost World of Tambun theme park.

Since the RM60 million theme park opened in 2004, it has garnered numerous awards and has become a hot spot for tourists. The more adventurous also flock here, as they are drawn to the limestone hills and caves.

On this trip, we took the Gua Datok trail. The cave dates back 400 million years and is filled with mystery, magic and stories. Unlike some caves where you have to crawl through narrow passages or wade knee-deep in mud, Gua Datuk is huge and has three chambers.

"It's pretty easy to walk inside, and you will remain dry throughout," guide Parminder Singh a.k.a. Perry, 24 informed us.

He asked us to choose one of two routes to get to the cave. Climb the 630 steps up (taking around 15-20 minutes), or take the more challenging route of going on a "four by four" adventure (we'd have to use of both arms and legs, and ropes).

We chose to go up via the steps and hike down, to get a taste of both. We found the climb pretty mild, which impressed Perry.

"People have been praying in these caves for years, so some locals consider it sacred ground. Whatever you see inside, please don't touch it. Leave it be," Perry cautioned before we entered the first chamber called Picasso's Chamber.

Over many, many years, the lines on the granite wall at the entrance evolved, and now they look like the picture of a foetus in a woman's womb - in an abstract, Picasso kind of way.

After a quick prayer, we turned on our headlamps and went inside. The cave was huge, illuminated by natural lighting. Except for an occasional bat flying around, the place was quiet. One of the first things that came into view was a sieving basket and a wooden ladder left behind by miners believed to be from the Maidailing tribe from Java.

It is said that in 1910, a rich trader, Kulub Lembang (Tok Lembang) hired 50 Maidailings as labourers in Tambun. They worked in pomelo plantations and also collected guano and birds' nests from the top of the cave, which explains the ladder.

Perry pointed out other Picasso-like "artworks" on the walls, graffiti, stalactites and stalagmites. There were many amazing glow-in-the-dark spots, too. Certain places on the multi-level chambers emitted a neon-green glow. But if you shined your torch on the spot, the suface didn't look any different from the rest of the wall.

"Once a researcher tried to remove something, and a sound like loud gong went off. He couldn't trace where the sound came from but I'm sure he was scared out of his wits. I would have freaked out, too! He quickly put the thing back, and since then, we always tell guests not to touch anything they see," Perry related.

We walked further in, admiring the splendour of the cave when someone spotted a snake and gasped. The baby reptile was slithering its way into a crevice but when it sensed us, it stopped moving. Like the snake, we also froze. It didn't move at all. Had it died of a heart attack?

We had to go pass it to get to the next chamber, so we stepped cautiously over it, one by one, praying that it wouldn't strike. Thankfully, the little snake continued to play possum, but once the last person crossed over, it quickly disappeared. Relieved, we moved on to the last chamber and came across an old, dilapidated wooden chair.

No one dared to sit on it because it looked eerie and fragile.

Apparently, the chair was left there by Datuk Panglima Ngah Ghafar, the Lord of Kinta, circa the 1800s. Historians believe that Datuk Panglima used the chair when he came here to pray and meditate. Coincidentally, the chair faced kiblat, the direction Muslims face when praying.

Scattered around it were relics like earthern pots, a mat, a ladder, an axe, daggers and joss sticks, indicating that the Chinese too used this place to seek blessings. Another story says that the cave is conducive for both Malay and Chinese martial art devotees in search of strength and wisdom.

"The Tambun bomoh says we cannot disturb the original position of these things because there are spirits guarding them. He also believes there are two bodies in here somewhere but we haven't been able to find them," whispered our young guide.

One earthern pot was strategically positioned so that crystal-clear water flowed directly into it from the upper chamber of the cave.

"This water is considered holy and is used for drinking or washing one's face. Feel free to use it," Perry said.

Most of us did and found the water refreshing. An hour later, we were done exploring Gua Datok, and it was time to descend the steep  45° slope of the hill.

Using ropes and going down on all fours, we slowly trekked down the trail. The route was slippery and covered with leaves. At one point, I tripped on a hidden root. Perry yelled out as I went tumbling down, only to be caught by the branch of a small plant that went piercing into my palm. Ouch!

Ankle sprained, I hobbled downhill and, within 30 minutes, our group had arrived at the foot of the hill. I headed straight to the mineral hot springs to ease the swelling on my ankle.

It's always nice to go back and shower after exploring a cave, so that new hotel at the Lost World of Tambun Resort is just perfect for cave enthusiasts. The Lost World Hotel opened in April this year and is Perak's first no-frills, eco-friendly hotel with a no-smoking policy. With its 134 hotel rooms and 20 service apartments, it offers guests exotic, classical, deluxe and premier rooms.

Simple and fuss-free, the rooms offer all the basic amenities like complimentary Wi-Fi, kettle and three-in-one coffee and tea sachets. Room rates range from RM200 to RM600, inclusive of breakfast and complimentary tickets to LWT's Hot Springs & Spa by Night.


Source: The Star, 29 October 2011

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