Taman Negara - Rain forest - Malaysia

At the moment we're in Thailand but this was from 27th Feb to 1st March.

Next stop Teman Negara, a national park with what is estimated to be some of the oldest rain forest in the world, apparently over 130 million years old. The journey from the Cameron Highlands would be easy if it weren't for the fact that the roads are all winding around mountains, so it takes quite a few hours. When you get there you actually stay on the opposite side of the river at Kuala Tahan and to get amongst the forest you take the boat over the river. That's us on the boat on our way over, notice the colour of the water! When we arrived it rained for 24 hours solid and the water in the river almost doubled in size - all of the restaurants are 'floating barges' so as the river rises - so do the restaurants. It's odd to see the bars and cafes getting higher up each day. Anyway - the rain stopped on this day so over we went!




This is a giant bamboo plant - this variety can grow an amazing 3 feet in a single day if the conditions are right.

This is the creaky 'canopy walk'. A serious of rope bridges that stretch across the forest canopy. Elvis may be smiling but believe me there were some real 'touching cloth' moments when the bridge started swinging, bending and twisting - especially when you get into the middle. Elvis doesn't like heights so she was particularly brave, which is just as well because once you start you can't go back or get off!

Some of the trails were quite steep and a spot of semi rope climbing was required.

With all those vines hanging about what's a man to do but swing on one and make that 'Argggghhhh OoooAghhh, 'Lord of the Jungle' cry.

Sometimes on the trail there were 'natural' stair cases provided by the roots of the trees.

This is the scene from the top of the hill lookout, Bukit Teresik. What you can't appreciate by this picture is the noise of the jungle - it was amazing just sitting listening to the birds, monkeys, insects and lizards having a right carry on! When we got back after this walk we discovered we'd been 'had' by leeches again - even though our trousers were tucked into our socks with sticky tape wrapped around (we looked like right nuggets)! Only one each this time though.




The next day we took a boat ride up the river into the dense jungle and visited a settlement of Orang Asli (Original People), which was amazing. The people are nomads, and move (usually along the river) to different settlements when the local hunting becomes too difficult. This guy is demonstrating how to start a fire with a piece of rattan and a bamboo.

The young 'un takes over and blows the hot ash into flames.





These people are famous for their blow pipes, you've probably seen nature programs or documentaries about their hunting techniques. They make blow pipes from bamboo, they make the darts using another wood and the flight from a type of balsa wood all glued together with resin. But the ingenious part is they've discovered a poison from the sap of a tree that they dip the darts in. They hunt monkey's in the trees. When the dart hits, the monkey takes off through the trees and they follow on the ground. After about twenty minutes the monkey can't move and usually drops out of the tree to the ground - where the pot awaits!

This is chief Hodge having a go of the bler pipe. I was ok but the chief of the village was amazingly accurate. They hung a 4 inch stuffed penguin from a tree and from 15 meters away he hit the penguin right between the eyes. When I saw that I deduced that the monkey's don't have a chance.

This is Elvis having a bler - and me risking 'monkey paralysis' to get a picture!

This is the settlement by the river.

Back at base camp Kuala Tahan, these are the floating restaurants that we frequented each night. Each day as the river was rising the restaurants got closer to us, saved our aching legs I suppose!

I'm not going to tell you what this creature is - but if you can tell me,

Then I'm sure it will be,

A free cup of tea.

This is looking over the river, Sungai Tembling, which separates the base camp from the national park.

Anybody know what's being 'farmed' here? A bonus cup of tea question I think! Anybody who thinks it's carnation milk loses all previous cups of tea!

This is the school at the base camp - notice all the girls have to wear traditional Muslim dress code. Later in the afternoon, after school the kids were playing a most intricate and skilled game, no, not a 'Gameboy' in sight! This game was called 'Knock down the flip flop tower'. A game involving accuracy and dexterity, a leaning 'tower' of flip flops, who will be the first to knock them over with... yes you've guessed it, another flip flop. It was a joy to see!

After a few days in the jungle, which was mainly hot, wet and humid it was time to go for some relaxing beaches and getting there is the subject of the next blog - it wasn't easy we can tell you!!

Well done with the last cup of tea question about flesh eating plants -alas none of you get a free cuppa, as you all missed the main one, the Triffid! Geee have none of you seen the film for pete's sake already?

Erm Sissy Ginny, getting your drawers all in a knot about MacDonalds - rest assured we eat local produce all the time - even when we don't know what we're eating! But, every now and then a 15 pence ice cream cone all helps with the budget!