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Published: October 8th 2006
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Well......little did we realise that the transfer onto mainland would be quite so torturous!!! First up, after much deliberation, and thanks largely to a brewing tropical storm....we decided to leave paradise on the 7.30am ferry! BIG mistake...the storm a-brewing meant that it was somewhat choppy on the open seas and ERROR of all errors we managed to sit ourselves directly beneath the AC outlet...bbbrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!! We arrived on the mainland basically as blocks of ice and for once it was a huge relief to go outside into the humidity...... to a place called Kuantan, where we would have an overnight stop before heading into deepest darkest Jungle territory! Kuantan was good, not a great deal to see but enough for an overnight stop........
The morning dawned to a city full of closed shops.......Simon you know you mentioned buying food when you see it...you are SO right.........a banana for breakfast later and we were on the bus....where we discovered we had gone and signed ourselves up for yet more torture.......in the form of a lunatic (I really do mean LUNATIC) bus driver...who overtook on double lines, corners, whether there was oncoming traffic or not........SCARY stuff. Although against all odds we did actually
make it to the transfer point for Taman Negara....BUT sheperded once again...we WILL learn...into a shop we were told there were NO other options....sign on the line...... and got ourselves a 3 hour boat trip up the Tembeling river! Not so bad you would think......imagine sitting in a boat, bleow water level, with clearance of maybe 8 inches and an unnerving tendency to lean on the slightest corner, wave, swell....all on top of the fact that we were sat on extremely thin cushions (more like postage stamps!). However, all that aside the boat trip was pleasant and worth it atleast once for the experince (however in our naivity we had once again secured ourselves a return ticket - only to discover upon arrival that the bus journey was 1 hour and a fifth of the price! - Our motto so far......'We live, and we learn!' Although it feels like we are doing more of the learning!!!
Once arrived, we found oursleves a rather nice chalet where we could get the mozzie nets up and set up camp. Morning broke and we were ready to take on the world!!!!
Quite lucky really, as the world was coming for us..........
We decided we would brave the Jungle without any guides (Jen and I being more than a little tight fisted!) and set-off. My new song for Jen becoming:
"Jenny the elephant packed her trunk, and waved goodbye to the animals, off she went with a stompety stomp....."
As there is no doubt that she is NOT the most discreet of Jungle Trekkers...the wildlife could hear us a mile off!! As a result, the grand total of our animal sitings was.....zilch! (TBH though I don't think this was solely down to Jen, the place was a little commercialised and I think most wildlife has hot footed it to quieter territories!)However....we did see a rather pretty bird and numerous leeches, and Jen was able to get very enthusiastic about some plants and some funghi..........and the Trees, diversity and rainforest atmosphere was pretty unbeatable!
Atleast that was until we decided to do our trek as a circle! WHOOPS! No worries we thought as we trudged along...already pretty hot and shiny......we got to the base of a mountain and started up, rounded the corner, went up some more.....another corner....ascended still further......we continued like this for a good hour...climbing the entire time
and not passing anyone...............Seriously thinking that I hated all Jungles, Treks and Sticky Climates by this point...we eventually neared a cry of 'I'm the King of the Jungle' which provided the required inspiration to make it to the top!!! WAHOOOOOO!!! At the time I'd have told you - NEVER to contemplate it...now on reflection it was worth it!!!! Though for any other people considering Taman Negara.....when you get into the park turn RIGHT....do the Canopy Walkway first.
As it was we ended our trek (looking pretty hot (not in the good sense of the word I hasten to add!)) on the Canopy Walk which offered some pretty amazing Jungle Treetop views! Needless to say, that evening saw the decision that maybe Jungle Trekking wasn't quite our 'cup of tea' and that maybe onward travel was the way forward!!!
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little sis
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sounds awesome
hey chicks, sounds awesome, absolutely gorgeous and stunningly beautiful. glad ur having sooo much fun, am sooo jealous!!! love ya xxxx