Not a good nights sleep, wide awake at 2.40am and couldn’t get back to sleep, obviously did at some point and then the alarm went at 6.30am so we could return to the hide before sunrise but we were about 10 mins late and it was getting light. No animals at all to see.
As much as the opening was light under the canopy as we walked along the walkway it was an eerie pre-dawn grey light. I was pleased that a number of times I recognised trees and routes that I’d seen last night. It was raining a bit as we walked through but that was fine. Back to the lodge and then breakfast. Pretty decent and a mix of Malay and Western food
We then went to the meeting point and the 10 of us from the night before met up and started our trek. I felt that to have an authentic experience of the rain forest that I shouldn’t cheat by having a rain coat on so stayed in shorts and t-shirt.
It rained quite literally for the next 3 hours, we were all completely soaked through but weather from sweat and rain I couldn’t tell you.
The guide kept stopping and explaining what some of the plants were good for and it was really interesting. So many medicines and cures just there at your fingertips. We climbed two hills to get to decent viewpoints of the rain forest and he would often take us off the main track so we were climbing up mud trails and tree roots etc. A bit challenging I felt, but as we kept telling ourselves it’s all good training for the mountain climb in a couple of weeks.
Really enjoyed it though, seemed so surreal being in a proper rain forest.
So we were out there for about three hours and then went back to dry off and change clothes, have dinner then meet up again and make our way down to the river front. We shared small boats (almost like motorised punts) and set off down the river. This was enjoyable and it was so interesting to see the dense forest and all the different types of trees. We stopped and got out at one landing site and viewed the oldest tree in the forest that was hundreds of years old. Bloody huge it was.
We then continued on and stopped again, more trekking and this time the end result was some rapids that had made a pool and we were able to jump in and swim in the pool. A bit cold but it had to be done, we’re only at these places one in our lifetimes!! Tash got a leech sucking on her leg, I didn’t have much choice other than to pull it off. Not easy and it drew blood.
Walked back and relaxed a bit, the guide showed us how they use rocks for making different coloured pastes for make up and then we enjoyed the boats back through mini rapids and where we thanked and said goodbye to our guide. He’d been excellent.
Changed again and packed for leaving tomorrow and went and had dinner, again it was fine. We had a beer each but were so tired that we actually went to bed around 9.00pm.
It’s been a good place, really enjoyed it, but it’s very clear why it’s called a Rain Forest!!
No comments:
Post a Comment