Bako National Park, Sarawak, Part 2 of 3

My purpose in going to Bako was to trek and  to see some wildlife particularly the proboscis monkeys which thrive here.

A 15-minute boat ride was all it took to reach Bako. As it was low tide, we had to get off some way from the beach and wade in the water (wear slippers).

Bako beach

                               Four hours later, I'd not have the energy to smile for the camera.

                               The easy part but it gets tough as the trail climbs and dips endlessly for four hours.

I was on the lookout for croc. None : (

The varied terrain.

Scorching hot. Sweat was pouring off my limbs like a leaky pipe.

One misstep will send you tumbling into the stream. Hot, hot!

A glorious view from the hilltop.

Don't be a hero. Bring food, snacks and two big bottles of water. Heat stroke is a possibility so consider a hat/cap or umbrella.

I was disappointed in not being able to spot any wildlife. But Bako is rich in birdlife, and I was delighted to spot some birds I'd never seen before.

Miri Day 2

Today I'll be going to the world famous Niah Caves about 90 mins (102km)drive from Miri. Originally planned as a 3-day trip, it's been changed to a day trip.

It costs RM60 for the return trip.

I'll post pictures tonight.

Trekking in Fraser's Hill, Malaysia

Pine TreeTrail: the toughest of the lot. Notice the information boards to my left. They give useful information as to the length of the trek, and flora and fauna to look out for.

This is why people come to Fraser's Hill for: to trek and to bask in the beauty of nature.

For photography buffs, Fraser's Hill is a gem.

There are 4 trekking trails in Fraser's Hill, the start of each is very clearly signposted (unlike those in Cameron Highlands, see earlier posts on this).

Of the four trails, only one is tough - the Pine Tree trail which is 7 km long, taking about 4 hours to reach the summit and another 3.5 hours for the return trip. Some parts are rather steep as they are in fact mountain slopes. Leeches also lie in wait for a blood transfusion.

As it's a whole day trip, careful preparations must be made in terms of proper attire, food, water and so on. This is no theme park! It's a real jungle out there, friend.

It's a tough, lung- busting trek but for those who are fit and don't have any underlying health problem, it's exciting and enjoyable. The latest time you must leave the summit is 2pm. Bear in mind the jungle is thick so it starts to get quite dark earlier.

Before going on the trek it's prudent to inform your hotel.

For a description of the Pine Tree trail I'd like to refer you to http://myloismylife.blogspot.com
Check out his Pine Tree Trail trekking experience.

A Shock While Trekking in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

Path leading to the jungle trails.

Cameron Highlands is my favourite hill resort in Malaysia to which I make a yearly pilgrimage (from Singapore). Up there in the crisp cool air not surprisingly I come alive, and there's an extra spring in my step.

The greatest delights in Cameron Highlands for me personally are the profusion of beautiful flowers, the vegetable farms, the tea estates and the trekking opportunities.

The trekking trails are relatively easy with just that bit of difficulty to make it challenging for the tough guys. Even while trekking alone on many occasions I've never encountered any problems.

But one day while trekking alone I had a shock when I spotted a very short guy on the trail. The first thought that went through my mind was This is an apparition.A spirit? The Malays and aborigines believe the jungle is full of spirits, and perhaps I was staring at one.

To say that I was not scared at this point would be an outright lie. I kept my eyes riveted on him, and finally summoned enough courage to approach him and asked what he was doing in the jungle.

"I'm looking for birds," he said, looking up at the trees while in his hands he clutched something.

"Where do you live?" I asked.

He pointed into the jungle.

Since that incident, whenever I trek in Cameron Highlands I try to see if there is any kind of dwelling in the jungle.

Or was he an apparition?