Cover Sungai Pandan waterfall in Kuantan is one of Bihzhu's top recommendations for would-be waterfall travellers. (Photo: Getty Images)
Sungai Pandan waterfall in Kuantan is one of Bihzhu's top recommendations for would-be waterfall travellers. (Photo: Getty Images)
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Eight years ago, Malaysian singer Bihzhu found solace standing under a waterfall. Now, waterfalls are a constant thread of wellness in her life
At the beginning of the year, the whole world’s thoughts turn to promises of new beginnings. Dreams of new habits, fresh routines, time carved out for self-care and improvement—and many of these dreams fade as the months roll on, calendars fill up and the optimism of January is replaced with the world-weary resignation of a Wednesday afternoon in April.
But Bihzhu, Malaysian singer, actor and all-round creative, has found a way to combat that resignation, to keep a thread of excitement running through the months. And it started, as many of these things often do, with a break-up. And with a very good friend.
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Above Bihzhu at her first Year of Waterfalls visit, in Janda Baik
Bihzhu at her first Year of Waterfalls visit, in Janda Baik
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“In January 2017, I was going through… a little break in my relationship,” Bihzhu tells us. “Of course, I was feeling kind of down and sad, so my friend Peter Ong (the theatre performer, wildlife photographer, and published author) said, ‘Come, I'll take you to a waterfall.’ He took me and a couple of friends to this waterfall in Janda Baik. We literally parked by the side of the road and the waterfall was right there. And I remember just feeling so... zen in that moment.”
Standing under the waterfall, surrounded by friends, entirely removed from the noise of Kuala Lumpur was a transformative experience. “It felt like every worry was washed away and my whole being—body, heart, mind, and soul—was being rejuvenated.” Bihzhu wasn’t prepared for it to be a one-and-done deal. Because what if she could carry that feeling of zen throughout the whole year? “I said, you know what? I'm going to make this year the year of waterfalls. So, that's what I did in 2017. I went to a different waterfall each month with different people.”
Five years and a global pandemic later, the Year of Waterfalls had been and gone and was no longer at the forefront of Bihzhu’s mind. “But when 2022 came upon us,” she says, “I suddenly realised it's been five years since I did a year of waterfalls. And I said you know what, let’s revive this.” This time there was an added qualifier. “Because I'm a lazy girl, and the whole point of me going to a waterfall is for the zen, I decided I'm going to go to only no-hike waterfalls.” Bihzhu credits volunteer-run waterfallsofmalaysia.com for helping to bring the revived Year of Waterfalls to fruition—she’d scour the lists of waterfalls on the site, filtered by difficulty of access, pick the easy ones and build her waterfall roster from there.
Above Sungai Pandan waterfall in Kuantan
Above Sungai Pandan is Bihzhu’s favourite waterfall in Malaysia
Sungai Pandan waterfall in Kuantan
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“My absolute favourite waterfall is Sungai Pandan in Kuantan,” Bihzhu says. “Simply because it's such an easy waterfall! You drive, you park, it's there. It's like three stories tall, and so incredibly majestic— even though it’s so tall, when the water reaches the pool, it's gentle enough that you can stand right under the falls. And every time I go, I just think, Malaysians are so incredibly blessed to have these things right on our doorstep.”
Above Bihzhu at Chin Waterfalls, Penang
Above Bihzhu’s father was roped into the Year of Waterfalls at the last minute
Bihzhu at Chin Waterfalls, Penang
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2022 passed in a flash of 12 waterfalls, and there were still waterfalls left to visit. So on rolled 2023’s year of waterfalls, and 2024’s, and Bihzhu still hasn’t missed a month, despite a busy travel schedule and—crucially—not being able to drive. Malaysian waterfalls, while plentiful, are not always the most accessible for those relying on public transport but luckily the goodwill of friends and family have proved more than enough for Bihzhu.
There has been one near miss. “One month, a friend who was visiting from Australia was going to drive us to the waterfall, but she hadn’t driven in a long while. And unfortunately, Malaysian traffic kind of... panicked her, and she really felt she couldn’t do it.” It looked like one monthly waterfall was going to be missed. “I asked around, I asked everyone. And no one could drive me,” she said. “You know what? I'm going to let it go. But I was travelling to Singapore and then Penang. And when I got back to Penang, it was the very last day of the month, November 30th.
I went home and just asked my dad, ‘Dad, do you want to take me to a waterfall?’ And to my surprise, he said, ‘Yeah, let's go.’ And I felt such a huge sense of relief that I didn't have to miss a month. I've made 36 months in a row.”
This year, Bihzhu is gearing up to take the waterfall tour international. “I wasn't planning to announce it or tell anyone. But my goal is to do a waterfall in a different state or country this year. In January, I went to Thailand and did two waterfalls in Thailand. Next month, I'm going to Johor. And from February to April, I'm doing an artist residency in Bon Ton, Langkawi. It feels like everything is working out.”
Another year of waterfalls is stretching out ahead of Bihzhu (and if you follow her on Instagram, for you too.) “I call it my ‘battery recharge’ because you cannot go to a waterfall and not leave feeling better,” she said. “Science tells us that waterfalls produce negative ions which increase our levels of serotonin, that ‘feel good’ hormone in our brain that lifts our mood and reduces stress. So, this is my monthly therapy, and it works!”
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Credits
Photography: Courtesy of Bihzhu
Emma Chong is the Managing Editor of Tatler Malaysia, overseeing the editorial direction and vision for the print, digital and social media arms of the title. She has over 15 years experience in fashion and lifestyle publishing, and has led print and digital editorial teams at ELLE Malaysia, Time Out Kuala Lumpur, The Luxe Nomad and more.
Outside of work, Emma spends her time wrangling children (only her own) and boosting the Malaysian economy through her support of local fashion and homeware brands.
