After yesterday’s exertions we decided to take it easy today. Hah!
Well, you can’t do nothing, and there’s nothing to do in town, so we’d already decided we’d take the ferry (1 RM) over the river to the national park, and do a bit of freelance wandering around. There’s quite a bit that’s off limits without a guide, but also plenty you can do solo, so we thought we’d follow our noses and see where we wound up.
And the answer proved to be, after what we later discovered was ‘1,000+ steps’ (meaning steps up, no level ground to be seen) on top of Bukit Teresek – a massive hill, with stunning views of the forest below, and the valleys, and the mountain range on the far side.
Again, it was absolutely draining – 35 degree heat combined with jungle humidity left us both sweating buckets, all the way up, and all the way down. But it was worth it. Not just for the views from the top, but for the whole jungle experience: even better than yesterday’s, since we could set our own pace, and enjoy the environment, with the noise (the cicadas here must be enormous!) and birdsong, and occasional what-we-were-sure-must-be monkey noises, off in the canopy. At one point I saw rustlings and thrashings high up in the trees that I’m pretty sure could only have been a monkey, but I never actually saw the beastie in the flesh. *sniff*
In fact there was almost no sign of actual wildlife until we were almost back at the park centre, when Virle suddenly leapt in the air. Following her finger, I saw what had caused the excitement…
What we subsequently discovered to be an Oriental Whipsnake. Poisonous, though not very, but we didn’t of course know that at the time. In any case, it was obviously quite comfortable, sprawled right across the path, so after waiting a few minutes, and bearing in mind the wise words of yesterday’s guide – “They can’t go backwards” – we took it in turns to edge very slowly and carefully round the non-toothy end, and on our way.
Now we are belatedly taking some genuine quiet time, in preparation for tonight’s night walk. Which compared to today’s ‘easy stroll’, ought to be a cakewalk.