Monsoon Route.Next day Tam took us back to Genting and we said “good-bye.” A day and half later (severe ferry delays) we were in Kuala Lumpur where we found a cheap hotel just outside the famous Malaysian crag called Batu Caves. There are many established routes (up to 5 pitches in length) on the featured and colorful limestone faces here. In between rain and thunderstorms, we managed to climb the very nice 3-pitch Monsoon route (6b) on Damai Wall – an orange limestone face rising out of a small city park surrounded by the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur. Perhaps not the most idyllic setting but certainly unique. That night we met up with Bee Lee and Ian for some excellent local fare at an open air food cart market. We liked it so much that we went back ourselves the following night.
Photos
Damai Wall (left) and Red Rocks of Batu Caves (June 2014).Shirley at the base of Damai Wall (June 2014).Some interesting geology (June 2014).Red Rocks formation of Batu Caves (June 2014).A neighborhood near the base of Batu Caves crags (June 2014).The neighborhood near to Batu Caves where we stayed. Busy suburbs of Kuala Lumpur (June 2014).The food court at Taman Mega in Kuala Lumpur (June 2014).Great dinner with Ian and Bee Lee (and their daughter) at Taman Mega food court. Thanks guys (June 2014).I was caught mid-sentence asking the guy to raise the flash and hence the extra demented look (June 2014).Our Batu Caves Hotel in Kuala Lumpur…decent and cheap (June 2014).Racking up for Monsoon on the Damai Wall in the background (May 2014).Starting up Monsoon route (6b; June 2014).More from pitch 1 (June 2014).Shirley starting up Monsoon (June 2014).Views from the first belay station (June 2014).…and more pitch 1 action (June 2014).More of Shirley on pitch 1 (June 2014).Kuala Lumpur wildlife (June 2014).Starting up pitch 2 of Monsoon (June 2014).Shirley on pitch 2 (June 2014).Nearing the top of pitch 2 (June 2014).Shirley arriving at the second belay on Monsoon (June 2014).Views from Monsoon route on Damai Wall; suburbs of Kuala Lumpur (June 2014).Shirley at the second belay (June 2014).Looking down from the start of pitch 3 (June 2014).Leading pitch 3 of Monsoon (June 2014).Looking back at Shirley from the top of pitch 3 (& route; June 2014).Shirley on the last pitch of Monsoon (June 2014).Shirley higher on the third and final pitch (June 2014).Views from Monsoon route on Damai Wall (June 2014).Rapping down (June 2014).Hiking over to the rice & chicken stand for lunch with Damai Wall (left) and Red Rocks in the background. What looks like a white flag at the top is in fact an exit platform for base jumpers (June 2014).Views from our hotel room (June 2014).
