Where's My "Real Rain"?

We are now in the month of September. And yes, it is still the raining season. Supposedly. And yet, where is the real rain??? 

What is the "real rain" to me? A "real rain" in Langkawi to me means a minimum of three days of non-stop rain. It will start with a heavy downpour and then slow down to drizzle for awhile and then heavy downpour again. This cycle will go on till night and then the next day and the next day... and another day till the rain stops completely. With such rainfall for such duration, there will be flash floods on some areas. This is normal for the island every year.

Looking back a year ago, especially towards the end of August 2011, Langkawi has five days of continuous rain. Yes, it was non-stop! The glorious rain also turned Temurun into glorious waterfall. I was there last year during the five days rain and check out these pictures below.

A year later and twelve days after 25th August 2011, I was at Temurun Waterfall. Click below for more...

Such mild rain was not enough to create a full blast for this waterfall

August this year was hot and humid. There was a big rain with strong wind on August 24th 2012 and it lasted for one day only. And then the weather turned hot again the next day until August 27th afternoon when the heavy rain came. But it was only for that evening. The next day, the rain came in the morning until late afternoon. And then hot hot hot!! I recorded a temperature of 34deg Celsius on September 3rd 2012.

While out at sea on the boat, a sudden change from a calm cloudy morning to rainy afternoon on September 5th and 6th 2012!! I took the opportunity to capture the moments of stunning storm clouds.

It was kind of non-stop and it was a bit generous by giving short breaks in between. Two days of rain... and only two days!! Two days of mild rain and the rain clouds disappeared rapidly. And so it was back to normal clear blue skies with some white clouds today... boring..

Here I am pondering if the global climate change has anything to do such weather patterns. I am anticipating for the "real rain" for a normal rainy season. 

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Temurun Waterfall Now Is DAMMED!

The script on this stone reads:

"The Temurun Waterfall is located in a scenic rainforest setting millions of years old. Literally translated the word 'Temurun' means heritage. It is one of the most popular spots for picnic, the age-old trees providing natural shade from the blistering sunlight and the waterfall offering cool fresh water that rejuvenates the body.

Some believe that the natural water pools possess healing powers since there are numerous plant roots protruding beneath the pools."

Healing power beneath the pool of water? Wow! But what about during the dry season? There is no pool of water during those period. Tourists came to see the waterfall and had to go away feeling disappointed because the river dried up. 

Being Malaysians, we are known to show our best hospitality and we will do whatever to make our guests happy. To demonstrate "Malaysia Boleh", here is what we can do to have constant pool of water even in the extreme hot spell.

Temurun Waterfall NOW!

Three staggered mini dams were constructed below the highest pool. These pools are meant for visitors that do not wish to climb up to the waterfall or the highest pool.

One of the mini dams under construction. Look at the mess they made. Do you think they will clear the debris once the project is completed? NO WAY! Contractors hired by local authorities do not have any responsibilities in taking out the leftover materials or even cleaning up the area.  This has been proven in many previous projects they had done in the recreational parks.

Do you think that the wall is way too high?

Water will flow over the wall during rainy season. What if the following years the dry season gets hotter and drier than this year? Water will be collected and stagnant, promotes algae growth and water will not be as clear as the picture shown above. Imagine people soaking in the stagnant pool of water with all the dead skins trapped within. Will the freshwater marine creatures be happy? Maybe for a short period of "partying" time before the algae bloom.

To demonstrate our hospitality, there is a changing/shower room right up to the top of the highest pool. There is an existing toilet/bathroom at the park entrance, however, this new structure (the yellow coloured cement hut in the picture above) will be convenient for all. Why do you need to walk 10 minutes down to the entrance now? Isn't this a smart way or a lazy way?

This newly erected information board provides some educational values on our river system. Once again, contradiction!! The information board should tell kids on how homosapiens can degrade a river system instead.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE??

JABATAN PENGAIRAN DAN SALIRAN LANGKAWI, of course! (Department of Irrigation and Drainage). Our system here is weird. Rivers and streams in recreational parks are under the jurisdiction of this department. While the forests next to the rivers is under the responsibility of Forest Department (Jabatan Perhutanan). Stupid system resulted to the sufferings of our natural resources. What can I say to these people; BODOH! STUPID! BODOH!

Bad news to Malaysians tax payers particular the true Malaysian nature lovers. You must be thinking that our $$$ should have gone to the public toilets, right?

Temurun Waterfall is part of Langkawi Geopark. Having such status does not give them the rights to do such extensive development. Visiting Temurun Waterfall will be in the itinerary of the Geopark Conference delegates (April 11-14). Will they get a chance to watch the horror? I believe they will be told that the waterfall is now dried up due to dry season and so it is no point of visiting.

Thank you to Ai for alerting me on this absurd project when she was there recently to relax. She lost her appetite for a dip after seeing that.  The boys at Tiga Temurun cafe were indeed upset.

Patrick of Langkawi Link labels me as the world's angriest naturalist and I strongly deny that. Well, for once, Patrick, you are right! 

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Temurun Waterfall Langkawi Back Then

Waterfalls have always been my favourite getaway to cool off and relax. Langkawi is fortunate to have quite a few good ones especially when the wet season arrives. The ones that are easily accessible by all are Telaga Tujuh (Seven Wells Waterfall), Durian Perangin Waterfall and Temurun Waterfall.

Location of the three easily accessible waterfalls (letters in RED)

Seven Wells Waterfall and Durian Perangin Waterfall had already received great human impact and had turned too commercialised. Temurun Waterfall remains my favourite spot as compared to those two ones. Even though Temurun Waterfall has man made pathway beside the river, its dramatic three tiers with cumulative height of about 200 meter made Temurun the tallest waterfall in Langkawi. Its geological significant would be the formation of late Cambrian (510-490 million years ago) of thickly bedded sandstone, with minor siltstone and shale that belongs to the Langkawi Machincang Geoforest park.

Allow me to rewind some scenes of Temurun Waterfall back then.

TEMURUN WATERFALL IN NOVEMBER 2005

Back in 2005, I recalled the three crazy cyclists would cycled all the way from Kuah town for more than 40 kilometers to get there.

TEMURUN WATERFALL IN OCTOBER 2006

Begonia family

Beautiful isn't it? Temurun Waterfall that is ever refreshing (only available during rainy season).

Do you want to know what is Temurun Waterfall is like now? Join me on my next blog...

References: 

1) Langkawi Geopark by Mohd Shafeea Leman, Kamarulzaman Abdul Ghani, Ibrahim Komoo and Norhayati Ahmad

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