Ad hoc trip to Rainbow Waterfall

Two weeks ago, I went on an ad hoc trip to the famous “Rainbow Waterfall” in Sungai Lembing, Pahang. My Mum was back in her hometown, Sungai Lembing, and a few of my aunts got together and somebody suggested a day trip to the waterfall. I was in Kemaman, my Mum called me and asked if I was interested to join them, and I thought “Why not?”

Sungai Lembing is a tin mining town 42 km northwest of Kuantan. Until the 1970s, Sungai Lembing was a major producer of underground tin. Sungai Lembing town developed in the 1880′s when the British set up the tin mining industry, although the history of mining in this area extends much further back. From 1891, the Pahang Consolidated Company Limited, (PCCL), which was under British control, had a 77-year lease to mine the area. PCCL managed the mine from 1906 until its liquidation in 1986 when world tin prices collapsed.
- Source: Sungai Lembing @ Wikipedia

My cousin brother (the one standing to my right) has a day job repairing trucks in Kuantan, but when he isn’t working on the weekends, he would morph into a tour guide, and takes tourists to the Rainbow Waterfall. He recently bought a 4WD, which he uses to drive tourists to the waterfall. He puts on a tarp sheet and installs cushioned seats onto the back of this 4WD before every trip.

We leave at about 6:30 am, in time to catch a glimpse of the sun rising on our way in. The journey to the foot of the waterfall is rather challenging. We needed to cross at least 3 rivers/streams that ordinary non-4WD cannot pass.

After 1.5 hours of a bumpy journey on the 4WD, we arrived at the end of the road. We got off the vehicle, and had to cross a river about 50 meters wide. At times, usually after a heavy rain the night before, the water level in the river rises above the chest, but there are also times when the water level is at a pretty safe hip level.

After crossing the river, we proceeded to hike towards the foot of the waterfall. The hike up takes about 45 minutes, an hour maximum if you stopped to photograph the waterfall or leaves or bugs on the way.

When we got to the top, the rainbow was beginning to rise. My cousin said we were very lucky as there are days when the rainbow isn’t visible (on cloudy days).

We spent about 2 hours at the foot of the waterfall, while my cousin brother and his other guide friend played bartenders/baristas, who only served hot Milo, hot Nescafe and Maggi in a cup :D After taking enough photographs and soaking for long enough in the cold waters, we packed up and left.

We then started descending the hill and after 45 minutes, we arrived at the river crossing. This beautiful rock arrangements were patiently put up by my cousin brother for our enjoyment. It may look like it’s an easy job, but wait till you try your hands at it! :D

Notes:
If you would like to go to the Rainbow Waterfall and would like to hire my cousin brother as your guide, please call Ah Teck (阿德) at 019 – 944 6167. He speaks only Mandarin, Hakka, Cantonese and Malay. You may tell him that you got his phone number from his cousin sister (表妹), Ah Nyok (阿玉), yeah, that’s me :D