It’s Ting’s and Grace’s birthdays. The parents’ anniversary, too. But I couldn’t call/sms them because there was no handphone connection here. Well, I was after all in the middle of one of the oldest forests in the world.
[These pictures are taken off the web. I haven’t received the actual photos from the OC.]
Anyway, the day started at 0730hrs with breakfast and after that, we were all bundled onto the unique looking boat and headed to Kuala Jasin.
The trek to Kuala Jasin was muddy and wet. And amidst slipping and missing our footing, we stumbled upon fresh elephant dung and tigers’ footprints. Oh, and bears’ paw prints too. Most of us were nervous at the thought of encountering these animals head-on… but well, we didn’t see any. Oh well. At Kuala Jasin, we took a break before heading to Kuala Marong…to the famous Blue Lagoon (Tasik Air Biru).
But hah, not before crossing the bloody river!
And after walking for 10minutes from Kuala Marong, we finally reached the Blue Lagoon. The OC wanted all to jump in with their life jackets…but err, I didn’t. She couldn’t say anything, lah. I was one of the first to jump in.
We spent quite a while splashing around and watching the guides jump into the river from the trees like monkeys. We just watched in envy because the OC didn’t let us do it. Haiyah…there goes my chance of being a Tarzan. After that we headed back to Kuala Marong for lunch – packed lunch from our base “camp”…which had turned all mush from the river crossing (served us right for not bringing haversacks!).
We did cross many suspension bridges.
Scared and excited at the same time.
Some were so dingy, we were all tilting to one side.
After lunch, it was time to walk back to Kuala Jasin. It began to drizzle, which then escalated into a downpour. We were in the middle of the jungle with no shelter and there were thunder and lightning above our heads. Then…that’s when our “crisis” came.
Crossing the river.
The water level was chest high and the current was damn strong. Some of my cadets had difficulties crossing the river and their bags were also being a hindrance. But thank God the guides were there to help us. Otherwise, some of us would have been swept away.
We sought shelter at Kuala Jasin, shivering our asses off. We stayed there close to an hour before taking the boat back to our complex. The girls then came over to my hut to use the bathroom because they saw some leeches in there and didn’t want to go in.
Talking about leeches, all of us were brutally attacked by them. We were bloody – blood on our t-shirts, pants, socks, shoes, socks…everywhere.
So yeah the girls came over and guess what I did? I began to shampoo their hair outside for them because I was paranoid that they would bring leeches into my room. They did bring in leeches to my compound. I got bitten just by standing at my door.
They enjoyed my head massage. Urgh, I felt so motherly.
Dinner soon ensued followed by some interaction time where I taught the kids my trademark Animal Game. Laughed until stomach muscles ached. Soon it was debriefing time. After that, I joined the girls in their dorm for some gurly talk before being called by the OC to go to bed at 2300hrs (!!).
ENDAU ROMPIN DAY 3 – 2nd June 2006
It was a tougher day. We started at 0830hrs and again took the boat out to Kuala Jasin again. The trek was much more terrible this time round because the dirt road was very much slippery. At Kuala Jasin, we then took the
Saw a lot of wild plants..yada yada yada.
Hahaha.
The trek up seemed endless. I was dragging my feet and my knees had gone all wobbly. The kids were cursing and some were really beginning to lag behind. We came to a point where it was so steep we had to use a rope to get up. That was an eye-opener!
Anyway an hour later, we did complete the walk. Took a break at the Janing Barat plateau…admiring the luscious scenery and utmostly, resting our limbs. After that, we then walked to Buaya Sangkut waterfalls and Upeh Guling Waterfalls. The latter is a sort of a waterfall place…which had “bath tubs” in the river. Those “bath tubs” were formed by water erosion. Au naturale, baby.
After the waterfalls, we then were given the daunting task of going down the hills. If you think climbing up was hard, try going down. It must have been one of my harrowing trek experiences, man. Most of us slipped and fell hard on our asses a few times. We had to concentrate on the descent…so much that we forgot the stinging pain presented by the leeches. Once it was over, I never had felt so much relief!
Lunch was a much look-forwarded affair. Alas, it was a hurried one because we had river rafting after that.
I was on board with Hansheng, Xinyi, Shafiqah, Boon Pin and Roy and five minutes into the paddling, we came across our first rapid. Panicking and excited at the same time, we paddled across it and got bummed.Hansheng’s paddle flew to my face and I was knocked out of the raft. Xinyi and Hansheng were also in the water. I got drifted far away with 2 paddles (mine and Hansheng’s) in my hands and had to wait for the rescue boat to come. Some of the guides in the other rafts were shouting at me not to panic.
Hey, I wasn’t panicking!
Stop worrying about me and save my panicky kids!
Apparently, Boon Ping also got thrown off the raft while trying to save Xinyi. Can die. Anyway, I was in the rescue boat and then the kids, who all managed to get into the raft, paddled to get me back. After that, it all went smooth sailing. We then paddled to our stop ..the NERC (Nature Education & Research Centre or something). There we were introduced to the different types of plants, insects and stuff. We also saw some “fermented” animals species at the lab. Interesting.
The kids, as usual, were not interested.
They were more interested in my capsized story.
After NERC, we got back into our rafts and paddled back to Kampung Peta…where our complex was.
Kampung Peta
As expected, the girls came over to my hut again to shower. Again, I scrubbed their heads.
See the difference between my bed and the OC’s? Mine’s the first one, by the way.
I was really deadbeat that day. And damn those bloody leeches!
Dinner..interaction time..debriefing.
I was supposed to join the guys in their dorm that night…for some pranky fun. Told the OC that I would be with the girls. Then guess what? I think the OC saw through my lie (or she didn’t want to be alone in the hut) and she actually followed me to the girls’ bunk. She started talking to the girls and there I was on one of the beds wishing she would disappear immediately so that I could join the guys downstairs. But damn..she didn’t “poof” off and we stayed in the girls’ bunk till about midnight. Till I was damn sleepy.
What the hell.
ENDAU ROMPIN DAY 4 – 3rd June 2006
During breakfast, the boys asked me why didn’t I turn up at their dorm the night before. Told them the story and they related the “fun” they had sabo-ing Boon Ping with powder and colgate. Walao! I missed the fun okay!
After breakfast, we headed to the EthnoBotany garden and saw various herbs and shrubs. Saw many versions of Tongkat Ali and other herbs good for health. As usual, the kids didn’t give a damn about them, haha.
Then we headed to the Kg Peta settlement to check out the Orang Asli (aborigines). We were shown how to make animal traps and how to use the blowpipes. Fun!
Then we went to the small souvenir store. The kids bought some traditional games while I, being the “adult” that I was, bought of all things..Tongkat Ali! So if you guys need
Call me.
I have too much.
I don’t want the father to use it all up and I have another sibling 9 months later.
After that, we headed back to the complex, had lunch, debrief, packed our bags and it was all home sweet home after that.
Bye-bye Endau Rompin.
Till we meet again.
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