 During the mid-term semester break, it again gives me the opportunity to de-stress and unwind all work pressure by escaping into the green enviroment of Taman Negara.
Two families, of mine and of Ema's, plus Amir drove off around afternoon from KL and reached Kuala Tahan in Pahang quite late in the evening. Our arrival was greeted by heavy downpour, dampening any plans for night trekking.
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With continuous rain pouring the night before, the morning was truely very chill.
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After breakfast, we proceed by boat towards the Canopy Walk.
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The Canopy Walk is a series of suspended bridges built 40 -50 metres above the ground. It is the world's longest canopy walkway (500m) that provides a unique perspective of the rainforest from above. We had a rather long wait until our turn because only a few people were allowed to cross at a time. As a safety precaution we had to keep a 5 metre distance between each other as we made our way across several shaky bridges. For safety, every inch of it is checked every morning. The ropes have a minimum snapping strength of 5 tons and the steel cables more than 10 tons, so nothing to worry. Except for the frightening sways, it is perfectly safe.
While on the bridge do look out for wildlife such as birds like the majestic rhinocerous hornbill, giant squirrels and also monkeys.
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Ema and her family awaiting our turns to ascend the Canopy Walk.
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After about an hour of waiting, we were called in to join the queue.
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Excitements can be seen in the faces of everyone anxious to begin the suspension bridge walk.
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Looking down from above the Entrance Tower.
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A nerve-testing moment in anticipation of the fear of height.
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Overcoming the andreline pump caused by acrophobia or fear of height, by not looking down
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Overlooking the treetops into the far distance is the Tembeling River.
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After completing the first segment of the suspesion bridge, all fear is under contol.
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Resting on Platform 1 (21.6 metres high), constructed on a Tualang Tree and has a fantastic view of the Tembeling River.
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Ema and her childrens enjoying the view above the tree canopy.
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The longest section of the 500meter Canopy walk suspension bridge, 40meter above ground, sways strongy as visitors crosses it.
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3 years old Nurhuda Dini walked all the way by herself the whole distance.
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The youngest Naturetracker member, a 1 ½- years old Mohd Tasnif finally bulild up courage to walk by himself.
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A encouraging applause from everyone for Mohd Tasnif for courageously completing the challenging feat.
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Taking a good rest before descending back to awaiting boat below.
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Returning back by boat to the Mat Leon Village around noon.
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As we arrived, more foreign visitors is about to experience the river rapid ride.
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The steep steps up to the resort.
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The tired legs definitely needs a good resting.
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The calming river view, watching the boat traffic passes by.
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Back at the Resort, we really savour the relaxing 'Kampung' or village life. With our cameras, we explore all nooks and corners of the complex, getting a micro look and capturing all the rich life activities in the undergrowth.
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A Long-Billed Spiderhunter bird is spotted seeping the nectar from the coconut tree flowers.
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Take a look at the grand grey streaks chest pattern of the Streaked Bulbul bird.
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Spotted the beaks of two young bird chicks from the nest underneath one of the tree..
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A huge size jackfruit almost nearly ripe to be plucked.
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The beautiful shoot of the Bunga Kantan
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Some wild orchids growing in one of the tree trunk
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A ground wasp basking in the afternoon sun.
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The wild fruits of the Ara tree.
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View overlooking from to the resort to the Taman Negara Park Reserve on the opposite bank of the Tembeling River.
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After a while, our mouth-watering lunch meal was prepared by the cook. Without much ado, everyone gobbled in the tasty, hot and spicey dishes, and finally washed down by a Syrup Bandung drink.... mmmmm! One thing for sure, everyone went for second and even third helpings, intensed greatly by the flaming hot Sambal Cili Padi Ikan Bilis paste appetizer.
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A typical Kampung lunch is just perfect for the hungry stomachs
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The Tom Yam and the Sambal Cili Padi Ikan bilis is the true appetizer
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Empty plates and bones left at the end.
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As seen, this ends up with a good afternoon nap.
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The next morning, we decided to pay a visit to our intresting UiTM-Perhilitan Research Station at Kuala Keniam, a further 2 hours upstream boat ride, and after transversing the many rapids along the way. It is truely an untouched area for 150 million years, and a perfect location to study the virgin rainforest jungle in its glory. Only a with very few visitors that passes by on their jungle trekking trail to the exciting natural limestone caves nearby. This is where many of the university's researchers spends their time gathering and documenting datas.
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The journey passes through a very scenic landscape.
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Finally arriving at the Research Station in Kuala Keniam.
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Attempting the virgin jungle trails at Kuala Keniam
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In some places, the path is quite treacherous
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The tree canopy practically blocks of the sunlight in some areas.
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Crossing the suspension bridge back to the Research Station.
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By noon, we decided to descend back downstream to Kuala Tahan, but also took the opportunity to visit a native aborigine settlement along the way. The Orang Asli, who continue to live in a nomadic lifestyle in the oldest rainforest of the world, at the Taman Negara, called themselves the Batek. Their hunter-gatherer tribal culture is a very simplistic lifestyle
Avoid thinking of the Batek as a primitive people because their lifestyle is their choice, and they themself resists any development. Once you get to know them well, they are wonderful people and they are making this choice to maintain a way of life that has been around a long time through many generations.
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Stopping by the riverbank on the way back.
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This gives us all the opportunty to visit the settlement of the aboriginal native Batek Tribe
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We all experience the cooling shades of the Batek Huts
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The dwellings of the native tribe by the river bank.
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Taking a closer inspection of the huts.
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Young native childrens.
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A perfectly comfortable dwelling in the tropical rainforest.
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A young teenage girl walked by, with the sarong tied up on her shoulder.
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Drying up their basic cooking utensis.
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Healthy young native boys having fun playing in the hot sun
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A young mum consoling her crying child.
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Ema cuddling Tasnif as they looked by.
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A young native girl with Fly Emirates logo on her T-shirt.
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Muna.Rina, Ema and Astaf exploring the vicinity
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Blowpipes and darts, digging sticks, machetes, aluminum cooking pots and woven sleeping pads are commonly found in tribal houses.
The Batek believe in super-human beings that could be described as gods or deities. One of the most important of these super-humans is the thunderstorm god who punishes those who break prohibition. To appease the thunderstorm god, the Batek perform a “blood sacrifice” to stop the thunderstorm. They may cut their leg and throw blood as an offering. Many more of their unique culture needs to be researched and documented.
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Only after a while did Mr. Bemban, the tribal headman-cum-medicine man appears from the jungle and greeted us.
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As usual he took time to demonstrate to us the traditional art of fire-making.
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Mr.Bemban successfully lighting up fire on to the dried leafs
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Mr. Bemban demonstrating to Asraf how to use the blowpipe.
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Giving finer advice of how to use the blowpipe for monkey hunting.
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Asraf taking aim with the blowpipe at a target.
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Ema's sister trying out her skills at blowpipe shooting.
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A self-sustained, peaceful and extremely simplistic village of the Batek tribe.
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This journey to Taman Negara is truly a mentally de-stressing and spiritually calming experience for everyone. For a while we completely forgets about the hectic city lifestyle, but for the whole weekend we learned to savour and appreciate the slow pace of jungle life.
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