Understand
[edit]Dabong is a town of 2000 people, close to the River Galas. It is the main access point to Gunung Stong and Jelewang waterfall, both visible from the bridge over the railway line in the town.
It is small enough to walk around in 30 minutes and has a hollowed out feel due to urban drift, as the people who remain are all either old or still in school.
Get in
[edit]By train: It is a station on the Jungle Railway line between Tumpat and Gua Musang. Dabong has the most trains per day to Tumpat in the north and has multiple trains to the south, all ending in different places - either Gua Musang, Kuala Lipis, Gemas or all the way to Johor Bahru so make sure you pick the right train for your intended destination.
By car: Route 66, either from Jeli or Gua Musang
Get around
[edit]There are usually no taxis waiting at the train station, however you might find a local person willing to bring you around either by car or motorbike.
Everywhere within the town is easily walkable.
Your accommodation can usually organise to get you to Gua Ikan or Gunung Stong.
See
[edit]Jelewang Waterfall and Stong Hill Resort (Gunung Stong Waterfall) (Find someone in Dabong who is willing to take you to Stong Hill Resort (Jelewang Waterfall) There is phone service so you can call to ask them to pick you up once you are finished. It is also possible to hitch.). The Jelewang Waterfall is one if the tallest in South East Asia and is visible all the way from Dabong. You can go to Stong Hill Resort (10RM entry) and head up the hill to the suspension bridge to get a decent view of the waterfall. The 10RM entry fee covers all of the pools and cascades below the suspension bridge and it is well worth throwing on your aqua shoes and traversing down the hill following the water past multiple nice dipping pools and waterfalls. All of it is fairly easy to walk down provided you have grippy footwear and normal water conditions. You can also head upwards from the suspension bridge along the river, but be aware that it is unclear if this is covered by the 10RM. Up this way the climb is a bit more steep but also offers some nice dipping pools and progressively better views of the main waterfall.
However to see the waterfall from the best viewpoints, you have to have a guide. You can choose a guide to take you either to the bottom of the main waterfall, the top of the waterfall at Baha's Camp, or all the way up some of the summits in the park. If you are lucky (or contact the resort in advance) you may be able to join a group going to one of these locations but otherwise the price is very steep for anything less than a group of 5. 10RM Entry fee.
Gua Ikan Cave Complex. There is a system of five caves, all located near Gua Ikan (fish cave). It is only 3-4 km outside town. It is very interesting to see the mountains and stone formations, and there are turtles, birds, bats, crabs and more in the cave. If you go, bring good shoes (it is not recommended to wade in the waters), and mosquito repellent (lots of mosquitos). Gua Ikan is free to enter and lit up by spotlights but if you want to go to any of the other caves they want you to have a guide who is priced at group prices (I was told 150RM) 5RM entry for foreigners..
Do
[edit]Engage in communication with the local school kids - most of them are very eager to practise their English.
Hike Guning Stong. It is possible to hike to the top of Jelewang waterfall and to Gunung Stong but you need a guide for both. The guide is priced for groups of people (I was quoted 300) so make sure you have some friends to bring with you. You can do a day trip to the top of the waterfall or multi day hikes to the hills within the park.
Eat
[edit]- A small restaurant at the other side (east side) of the railway
- Foodstall at the bus stop (east side of railway)
- kedai makan kak ros (tok ngulu amran), 92G4+8X Dabong, Kelantan (Diagonally opposite the Rose house, on the same street as the bridge over the railway). 7pm-??. Yummy, cheap and easy with a menu that has a good spread of options 6-10RM.
- Pasar Malam, Jalan Pejabat. Saturday 5pm onwards. There's a night market on Saturday night with a variety of cooked, fresh and deep fried food along with clothes and other random stalls.
Sleep
[edit]- Rumah Rehat Dabong. Has five rooms. A basic room cost RM20 or RM40 for a bigger room with attached bathroom. The owner can organise a taxi to transport you to the waterfall, wait for you to climb it and bring you back into town for RM25. To get to the guesthouse walk 100m up the main road away from the station and then the second street on the left onto Jalan Pejabat. The guest house is on the right about 40m up this road.
- Rose House Dabong, LOT 1050 Jln Masjid (Walk out of the train station main entrance (don't go towards the bridge). Take the second left and then the second right. It is the big pink building on the corner.), ☏ +6019-960 6789. Well appointed rooms with a kitchenette and ensuite with a friendly owner who will happily either take you on his motorbike or organise transport to Gua Ikan and Gunung Stong. They will offer you tea and toast basically every time you go to say hi. 80RM for a double room with aircon and ensuite.
- Stong Hill Resort, Taman Negeri Gunung Stong Kampung Jelawang (Find some transport in Dabong to take you to Gunung Stong/Jelewang. It may be difficult to get here straight off the train - probably easier to stay a night in Dabong before coming here.), ☏ +60196630161. This is the place you go when you are visiting Jelewang waterfall or planning to hike up Gunung Stong. There are chalets for 250RM+ per night or 3 bed dorms for 35RM per night
Connect
[edit]There is an internet cafe provided by the community, RM 1/hour in the orange building, two blocks away from the train station
There is Digi/Celecom service in the town and at the Jelewang waterfall
Go next
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