Hiked up Tabur West and my coccyx got busted...again!

We hiked up Tabur West last Sunday. The earlier planned re-hike of Mount Irau had to be cancelled as we found out there would be a big group of hikers going up the mountain. We settled for Tabur West instead.

Tabur West is located in Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur. A hill quite notorious with reported falls and deaths recently. We heard about the tragedies, but I figured if we are careful tragedies can be avoided. Out of habit, with runs and hikes, I never read anything prior to the day. 

Spiny Quartz Ridge Hills, I found out AFTER the hike. It was challenging, alright..Hubs had to bail out because of work. So I went with the rest of the gang. A little apprehensive but being with experienced hikers who have scaled the hills reassured me.

Tabur West is so different from it East neighbour! To compare the two, ascending Tabur West felt easier. The climb brought us up to more than 10 hill tops (at least it felt that way), connected by ridges. Tabur East was steeper and we felt breathless at times (tak fit lah tu!!). We hiked up Tabur East in July, just before Ramadan, took our Raya clothes up, changed at the top and took some Raya shots. Had a total blast then!

TABUR WEST, CAPTURED FROM TABUR EAST - JULY 2014

ASCENDING AT TABUR EAST IN JULY 2014

ATOP TABUR EAST OVERLOOKING THE KLANG GATE DAM

IN FULL RAYA MODE OVERLOOKING TABUR WEST - JULY 2014

Now, Tabur West with its ridges are tricky. Made up of mostly big rocks (now I know they are quartz) which can be sharp and also slippery. I was careful of each steps I took. Having experienced hikers with us was a good thing. These two were on Tabur West, when one of the fatal mishaps happened in February. Must have took some courage for them to come back to the West.

TABUR WEST - FROM ONE TOP LOOKING AT ANOTHER

ROCKS AND RIDGES AT THE WEST

TOUGH TERRAINS - YOU BETTER BE WATCHING WHERE YOU'RE STEPPING

CHILLING AMONG THE GREENS

We brought drinks and some snacks with us. You will need these. We stopped at each top, taking lots of pics and had good laughs. You would mostly use your legs and arms to hike up the hills. At some points, we practically have to heave ourselves up the hills, arms holding on to the sharp ridge, while your legs steadied your footing to the ground. Having good hiking buddies helped too, for that shoulder to burst out in tears for..lulz!! Best to wear gloves, with long sleeves shirt and long pants as some of the routes we took are through bushes and wild grass. A certain level of fitness would help and anyone with rock climbing experience will find this a breeze. Unfortunately, I have neither. Eeeekkk!

We reached the top after more than two and a half hours of hiking, complete with stops for rest, photos and just chilling. At the top, green moss thrives and it was enchanting. 

Alas, it was time to head down. Took us about an hour, through hilly orchards and little huts almost near the bottom. The trail was slippery from the rain. Tree roots formed little stairs helped us move. 

Almost towards the end, was when I slipped and fell on the my tail bone, yet again. 

Oh my coccyx!!! (pronounced cock-six erghh). I sat a good 30 seconds (or was it more?) before I got up in freakin pain. Everyone looked worried (at least I thought they did..heh). This is, not proudly, the 3rd time I have hurt my butt bone! It's literally a pain in the ass!! 

Years ago after the first incident, the orthopedic decided to KILL all the nerves around my coccyx to prevent it from actually healing and I would feel no pain around the area. He lied! I still feel the excruciating pain. He should have told me that the shot only works for that fall!! The second time, I fell he gave me painkillers and asked me to rest. I'm NOT about to go and see him for the third time!! No way! 

So here I am, nursing my pain, writing, eating my peanut butter and banana toast, deciding to go for a walk tomorrow. Maybe a walk would do the pain good, cross my fingers and toes.