The Sedim forest reserve in Kulim

Sungei Sedim is a river flowing down from the nearby Gunong Bintang. This mountain range, with the same name, Bintang is also where G. Inas is located. The names of places and mountains may sounds remote, as there were virtually no recognizable town whose names that we town folks, have heard off. But after having traveled here and having seen the country side, these long stretches of slopes were not that deserted. It was filled with rubber and Palm Oil plantations. Other smaller plots filled with orchards.

So traveling to Sedim was like driving through kilometers of Palm Oil roads. When you emerges from this monotonous landscapes, you would see Durian trees.

To reach Sedim Park we had to tackle the many signs, large road signs and smaller boards. Leaving the well paved State roads, we weaved our way through similarly surfaced but extremely narrow kampong roads. In fact, these roads serving the local communities, were not meant for the influx of "outsiders". Unfortunately with its rising popularity of the picnic area in Sedim Park, the increase in volume of traffic was unbelievable. To illustrate the severity of the situation. On my way out of the Park just after lunch time, I had to stop no less than 5 times for the seeming endless convoy of incoming cars. I parked on the grass filled road kerb allowing the convoy to clear before I could proceed. That was through the Kampongs and orchard. Rather surprised that a place so far from Kulim sprung up such densely populated.

All road journey must end and Hey Presto! into a huge car park

From the presence of the many hawkers and the large space provided, it was easy to deduce the place patronage.

Another view of the car park. See the number of visitors. That was the scene at 9.30 am. Later on, during the peak hours at noon , you should see the size of the crowd.

Seeing this picture and the sight for the first time, I was under the impression of "that's it". The picnic area where everybody comes to Sedim for. Wrong! This was only the lower Park area. Unknown to me at that time, some hundred meters away, there was Park and Car park area No.2. Just get out of this picnic area and backtrack to the approach road, then continue up the slope through a short forest road.

This was a much more civilized park. With a proper shed, such as canteen and a lone hamburger stall, this place looked good.

Looking at the ambience and set-up of the 2 picnic areas. I would say that the first stop could be the original picnic areas. Adopted by the locals for ages. This second rest and recreation area was newly prepared by the State Government as an authentic park. The board above, still new, tells all about this destination. However those mentioned were the facilities in the planning stage. As development continued, more were thought of and added. At the time of writing most facilities were almost in place.

Not mentioned are the chalets, the 2 stretches of paved walkways into the forest. Then the fact that they are preparing the world's longest canopy walk.

Back to the scenes at the park, the way I saw them. This was the last part of the rapids, where the white water trip would end.

Just preceding that - large pool. The river had reached less gradient stretches now.

Now the rapids itself.

On this level platform of land where the park was created, this was not the ending part of a valley. Beyond the area of the park, there were still thriving orchards and kampongs. Their access was another dirt road from the national road. However, villagers has created a short cut through the Park. This tiny plot of land between the Park and the kampong was a pristine lowland forest. Sure, you could catch glimpses of wildlife here.

Radiating out from the Park proper were the 2 paved walkways. This one hugging a valley, allowed visitors to be transported to the starting point of the white water some 2.5 kilometers upstream.

Here is the next one, hardly used and closed to outside traffic. It was running about 3 kilometers up the slope of Gunong Bintang to meet up with trail to the waterfall in Camp II. Thereon to the summit.

This would be a very well planned park catering for a large variety of activities. The Kedah Government was very serious in making it a show piece as well. It position is about 70 kilometers from the Penang bridge. Not too far a distance to travel. The only deterrent should be - the journey. The road was running through lowly populated estate roads. That makes driving with some anxiety and sometimes boring.