Pantai Kerachut & Meromictic Lake

djspinnet · 2nd Jan 2006, 10:18 PM

Hmmm.... so I went forest trekking

The place is the Penang National Park, 10 minutes drive from my house, near the famous End of the World cafe in Teluk Bahang.

My intention today was to trek from Teluk Bahang all the way to Pantai Kerachut where the meromictic lake is. For the uninitiated, a meromictic lake is a rare natural lake which is permanently stratified (having layers of water of different densities). It only fills up during spring tides - right now it's the low tide season.

Anyway, the trek was 2km long, and it's a hilly trek to boot, with hill gradients as steep as 18º. It took me 1 hour 15 minutes to make my way through the forest, and I had to climb over 4 fallen trees too which were blocking my way

But well, the 3 hours of trekking in and out was well worth it - Pantai Kerachut is amazing! So... armed with a camera and a makeshift polarizer (my sunglasses!! hehe..) here are some of the pics, in order:

1) The Pantai Kerachut Jetty
2) The shore of the Teluk Bahang fishing village...
3) A view thru the trees in the forest
4) The smallest of the 4 trees I had to climb over
5) Stilts at the edge of the fishing village

And it wouldn't be complete without panoramics....

Panorama of Pantai Kerachut
Panorama of the Stream
Full Gallery

All said and done, my legs are officially tired!

djspinnet · 2nd Jan 2006, 10:28 PM

More pictures...

1) Meromictic lake on low tide
2) Zig-zaggy edge of the lake
3) A mini delta
4) Colourful granite rocks. Look how clear the water is
5) The stream leading into the lake

djspinnet · 2nd Jan 2006, 10:32 PM

And finally, Pantai Kerachut..
1) Clean golden sand! A rarity nowadays
2) The inlet
3) Pantai Kerachut's shoreline

zy · 3rd Jan 2006, 12:22 AM

wtf ... i never been to pantai kerachut ... i dont even know how to go there

peaz · 3rd Jan 2006, 09:56 AM

Hmmm let's try to plan a photography trip there in the near future.. anyone up to it? Even I don't know about the place until recently...

djspinnet · 3rd Jan 2006, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peaz

Hmmm let's try to plan a photography trip there in the near future.. anyone up to it? Even I don't know about the place until recently...

Photography trip... if you plan to just go to Pantai Kerachut, it would be better to hire a speedboat to take you there. The only other way to access PK is to trek through the forest like I did... and it's rather dangerous, there's a lot of steep hills and narrow paths, and even huge trees to climb over, while some are rather small, there are about two which I had difficulty climbing over.

And you really need to use your two hands to grip the edges, slide down, jump here and there, and it's while it took me 1 hour 15 mins, most people need 2 hours to trek

Quote:

Originally Posted by zy

wtf ... i never been to pantai kerachut ... i dont even know how to go there

From Golden Sands, drive straight on, till you reach the Teluk Bahang roundabout, go straight on till you see End of The World, go straight on till you see a fishing village and a little hut on your right - the Penang National Park's security and information office. It's rather direct. The path entrance is to your left, just walk straight in and follow the paths and markers thru the forest

Or, take a speedboat there. Mind you, they may charge exorbitantly. And there's not so much fun anymore, because the thrill is getting the reward of a beautiful beach after trekking so far.

Chai · 3rd Jan 2006, 12:56 PM

Hmm, looks like we may need a backpack like Lowepro Computrekker!

doraemon · 3rd Jan 2006, 04:38 PM

i will be there by 21st Jan 06 for day trip

i'hv been there for many time already, day trip and even camp there, during nite time that place is nice, ever seen a sea fire flies?

djspinnet, i heard they start to selling drink and food already, is that true?

seem like they rebuild the jetty....tat time we went b4 tsunami the jetty is like going to break anytime...and i dunno how bad is tat place during the tsunami

zy · 3rd Jan 2006, 07:19 PM

maybe during the sem break i shall go explore .. haha

djspinnet · 3rd Jan 2006, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doraemon

i'hv been there for many time already, day trip and even camp there, during nite time that place is nice, ever seen a sea fire flies?

And turtles! Hehe..

Quote:

Originally Posted by doraemon

djspinnet, i heard they start to selling drink and food already, is that true?

Hmm... you mean where? Pantai Kerachut itself, or the fishing village? In either case, no, didn't see any food and drinks stall.

Quote:

Originally Posted by doraemon

seem like they rebuild the jetty....tat time we went b4 tsunami the jetty is like going to break anytime...and i dunno how bad is tat place during the tsunami

Not sure about that either, but I suppose it should be rather bad, considering that Pantai Kerachut is facing Indonesia directly.

3rd Jan 2006, 12:22 AM	#4 (permalink)
zy Dead Join Date: 16 Dec 2002 Location: Penang,Malaysia - Buffalo,New York Posts: 12,834 Reputation: 1998 Rep Power: 37	wtf ... i never been to pantai kerachut ... i dont even know how to go there __________________ current: P4-3.2\|P4P800-Deluxe\|512x4-DDR\|NV6600 WD2500KS\|WD5000AAKS\|AD-7191A\|1860NX\|Z2300\|MP470 home (malaysia): P4C-2.6@3.1-StockHSF\|AI7\|256x2-BT-D43\|512x2-DT-D43\|A9600XT-VIVO WD1200JB\|2xWD2500KS\|DRU-800A\|DVD-E616P\|LTR-52327S\|152x\|V.S.4121\|iP1500 laptop: M1210\|T7200\|2GBDDR667\|160GB5K160\|GO7400

3rd Jan 2006, 09:56 AM	#5 (permalink)
peaz ARP Webmaster Join Date: 13 Oct 2002 Location: http://atpeaz.placidthoughts.com/ Posts: 8,500 Reputation: 1633 Rep Power: 31	Hmmm let's try to plan a photography trip there in the near future.. anyone up to it? Even I don't know about the place until recently... __________________ Ken Ng Tech ARP Visit my web gallery - Ken's Digital Canvas Shoot and Earn Money from Stock Photography Sterling@PJ Community Forums

3rd Jan 2006, 12:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
Chai Administrator Join Date: 6 Oct 2002 Location: Maranello Posts: 26,662 Reputation: 3984 Rep Power: 72	Hmm, looks like we may need a backpack like Lowepro Computrekker! __________________ Chai (Contributor & Forum Admin) http://www.techarp.com/

3rd Jan 2006, 04:38 PM	#8 (permalink)
doraemon Hyperactive Join Date: 18 Jun 2004 Location: 22ndCentury Posts: 3,087 Reputation: 724 Rep Power: 15	i will be there by 21st Jan 06 for day trip i'hv been there for many time already, day trip and even camp there, during nite time that place is nice, ever seen a sea fire flies? djspinnet, i heard they start to selling drink and food already, is that true? seem like they rebuild the jetty....tat time we went b4 tsunami the jetty is like going to break anytime...and i dunno how bad is tat place during the tsunami __________________

3rd Jan 2006, 07:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
zy Dead Join Date: 16 Dec 2002 Location: Penang,Malaysia - Buffalo,New York Posts: 12,834 Reputation: 1998 Rep Power: 37	maybe during the sem break i shall go explore .. haha __________________ current: P4-3.2\|P4P800-Deluxe\|512x4-DDR\|NV6600 WD2500KS\|WD5000AAKS\|AD-7191A\|1860NX\|Z2300\|MP470 home (malaysia): P4C-2.6@3.1-StockHSF\|AI7\|256x2-BT-D43\|512x2-DT-D43\|A9600XT-VIVO WD1200JB\|2xWD2500KS\|DRU-800A\|DVD-E616P\|LTR-52327S\|152x\|V.S.4121\|iP1500 laptop: M1210\|T7200\|2GBDDR667\|160GB5K160\|GO7400