Connecting in the forest
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Greenery, like at the huge forest area in Malaysia, turns jaded urbanites into friendly people
Although there have been many articles describing the sights and sounds of the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), there is still much left unsaid about the people you are bound to meet on a visit there.
There is something about being around such a large area of greenery that changes typically jaded urbanites into friendly and chatty people.
FRIM is Malaysia’s largest secondary forest and has remained largely untouched for the past 80 years. It is located in Kepong on the northern border of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
Since its establishment in 1929 by the British, its primary purpose has been to conduct research into forestry.
This 544.76 hectares of land is home to a large variety of plants and animals and is very popular among city folk.
FRIM charges a nominal fee for entry: Malaysians pay 1 ringgit (Bt9), while non-Malaysians pay 5 ringgit. There is also a charge of 5 ringgit for cars, vans and buses driving into the area.
It is surprisingly easy to strike up a conversation with anyone there. Regular park-goers will also be able to point out interesting sights or tell you the best spots to take pictures.
One such visitor, Mohd Imran Hanafiah, 73, said he made it a point to hike at FRIM’s numerous trails at least twice a week.
“I like coming here because it is such a beautiful place and the trails are fairly challenging. But the part I enjoy most is getting to talk to other people. It is especially interesting to talk to young people because they have fascinating stories to tell, of places they have been to or things they have done,” he said.
“They, in turn, are usually shocked to hear when I tell them I am an avid hiker and have hiked Mount Kinabalu [on Borneo] at my age,” he laughed.
A typical weekend scene at FRIM is seeing different groups of people visiting the place and enjoying their day there.
The majority of visitors are family groups either taking a leisurely stroll, having a picnic or attempting the many nature trails.
These trails encompass plantations, wetlands, and hills among others, and most of these paths and the nature that surround them date back to the 1930s.
To decide on the best trails to try out, grab a map at the One-Stop Service Centre (OSC) or, alternatively, you can refer to the several layout maps of FRIM placed all over the park.
For more rugged activities, FRIM has a number of hiking and mountain-biking trails that are clearly marked out.
Since last September, FRIM has prohibited bikers on the popular Rover Track given the high number of regular trekkers, joggers and visitors using the trail to go up the canopy walkway.
Instead, other trails have been identified ranging from light and medium to hard mountain bike-trails. The more adventurous can try out the Bidara, Sentang and Pinus Peak trails.
Mountain biker Joey Ong, 28, said the bike trails were well maintained.
“Unlike other places, the trails here are kept clean and any uprooted trees are usually removed once we report them,” he said, adding that he usually biked there on weekends.
Also, be sure to check out the Razak Walk, located in the Kepong Botanic Gardens.
Launched in 2008, the 400-metre trail is named after FRIM’s former director-general Dr Abdul Razak Mohd Ali and is the first disabled-friendly trail in Malaysia.
First-time visitors to FRIM should include the canopy walkway – a 150-metre walkway suspended from trees, 30 metres above ground level.
Originally built for researchers and scientists to study above-ground flora and fauna more effectively, this walkway is open to the public.
The Canopy Walk is open to the public from 9.30am to 2.30pm, with the last registration at 1.30pm. It is closed on Mondays and Fridays. Advance booking and purchase of tickets should be made at the OSC. Tickets are priced at 5 ringgit for Malaysians and 10 ringgit for foreigners.
For those looking for a more relaxing activity, FRIM also has a number of picnic spots where you can while away the day. There is even a waterfall for children to splash around in.
