International Pahang River Rafting Expedition

As temperatures rise over much of Malaysia during the months of April and May, the country pays homage to an important resource, water, by way of a nationwide festival, called the National Water Festival. In Malaysia’s third largest state, Pahang, a major event held to celebrate this festival is the International Pahang River Rafting Expedition. The festival which features a competitive race between two points on the Pahang River is scheduled to be held over eight days from the 12th to the 18th of May.
The Pahang River rafting expedition was first held in 2001 and over the years, the event’s popularity has increased in leaps and bounds, so that it now attracts more than hundred participants from several neighboring Asian countries, like Indonesia, Japan, Thailand and the Philippines. The requirements for participation in the tourney are quite lax, for the rules stipulate that participants should be over 18 years of age and in good health. Additionally, each team which enters the competition should be made up of six oarsmen and the regulation bamboo raft used for competition should be equipped with bamboo oars and steering poles.
This thrilling rafting expedition usually flags off in Temerloh and participants are then expected to traverse over 300 kilometers of the swiftly flowing Pahang River. This expedition extends over eight days and seven nights, and the participants need to use much skill and dexterity to navigate this waterway which features alternating stretches of calm and churning waters. Few rafts actually make it to the termination point of the race at Kuala Pahang but the expedition is filled with much excitement, adventures and even spills.
However, aside from its competitive side, the expedition also features a vital cultural aspect as the participants spend every night of the expedition at a different kampong like Kampung Baru Salong, Chenor, Serengkam and Ganchong. During their stay at these traditional Pahang villag, the competing teams are welcomed and entertained by the local villagers who hold feasts and cultural performances in their honor.
The Pahang River Rafting expedition provides much heart-stopping excitement for both onlookers and the competing teams as steering a bamboo raft on the treacherous Pahang River requires a steely nerve along with much effort. Most of the rafts are further elaborately decorated for the event for there are many prizes at stake at the end, including some for the best decorated rafts in addition to the highly coveted and fiercely competed  one for the ‘fastest team’
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