Understand
Geographically located in the state of Pahang, Malaysia 03 31N Longitude 101 55 Eranging from 1500 to 4500 feet above sea level.The climate here serves in between 23° and 28°Celsius during the day and below 22°Celsius in the evenings. A simple Malay kampong or village with a population of approximately 1000 people. Janda Baik is set amidst a small valley bounded by thick rainforest laced together with picturesque streams and cool rushing brooks of waterfallswith. Located approximately 45km and about an hourâs drive from Kuala Lumpur, the place is a popular holiday and recreational destination for city folks, not to mentioned foreign visitors especially global backpackers.
"Janda Baik" means "the good widow" in Malay. As the story is told by local folks, in the old days a path that connects Selangor and Pahang beats its way through the village. It was said that a mercenary, who was returning after fighting in a civil war in Selangor stopped at the village for a rest and to nurse some wounds he had sustained in battle. Upon seeing this ragtag team in the vicinity, a kindly widow immediately offered help and tended to the mercenary's wounds. The man was thankful and deeply cherished the kindness. As a mark of respect for this kind widow, the leader of the warrior pack would always advise his men to call on the woman whenever they were in the vicinity.
Friends of Janda Baik FOJB (http://friendsofjandabaik...) was set up to promote the awareness and importance of preserving and protecting the its ecological system and beautiful nature of Janda Baik and its surrounding hills and streams, while keeping and sustaining the original existing concept of Malay 'kampung village' environment and development.
Janda Baik had attracted an increasing number of visitors due to its strategic location for weekend escapism. It attracted investors to come here and build up semi-resort type accommodations, commercial facilities and training camps. However, the need for controlled development has to be taken into placed in order not to destroy the tranquility of real village character.
The other challenge faced by Janda Baik citizens is the rape of its surrounding hill, due to illegal hill farming and de-forestration activities. These have resulted in a rise in temperature, pollution of rivers and streams, erosion and landslip, and decreasing stream water level.
Nevertheless, Janda Baik has a wide variety of semi-type resorts that offer motivational courses, obstacle challenges, flying fox and abseiling. Camping grounds are available. Backpackers' chalets, however, are still very limited.
For those who wish to pursue rainforest trekking and 4-wheel drive trails, there is a local-run organisation facilitating such endeavors.
