Tuesday 29 January 2008

Unwinding in Tioman Island (4)

Trekking In The Rainforest

We reluctantly signed up for the two hour trek to imbibe a little knowledge of tropical flora and fauna. There was a slight drizzle the next morning, and Huat Sheng gleefully announced that the trek was off. However, the ever obliging waiter who had arranged it previously, ran to us and assured us that the drizzle would not hold. And true enough it stopped as soon as it came. Having been betrayed by the drizzle, Huat Sheng became a reluctant participant. But the real reason
for signing up was to force ourselves to get off our arses and to do something physical so that we had a reason to consume more duty-free Heineken beer.

The path of the forest that we took was well trodden, evidence of the many trips made by first-timers eager to see what a rainforest looks like. On the edge of the forest are cotton trees and the common durian tree, the lime tree and the curry plant. We of course were more concerned about mosquitoes than what a curry leaf or durian tree looks like. However, we did discover to our astonishment that certain plants that we have previously thought of as weeds have their uses.


At certain parts of the trek, the track became slippery, and Huat Sheng, wearing only sandals found it hard to keep a firm grip on the slippery path and slopes, but he is without doubt a stronger specimen, having to work daily in his oil palm plantation. I was more concerned with whether my trembling legs, weak from climbing over rotting tree trunks and scaling slippery slopes, would hold out. Noticing my unsteady legs, John had a good laugh at my expense.


Our guide, Salam


The cotton tree


Cotton


The leaves of this plant are used as an antiseptic


The leaves are crushed to produce a juice that is applied to cuts and wounds in the jungle



This plant is commonly found in secondary jungles and on land left unattended. However, it serves a useful purpose


Mixed with a little water, the leaves are crushed to produce a thick foam which is used as a cleaning agent. A natural liquid soap in the forest


Listening to Salam as he enthusiastically explains things found in the forest


Climbing up a steep, slippery slope with the help of a knotted rope


An ants' nest


Rattan that is used to make rattan furniture


Thick, sinewy creeper hanging from an ancient tree


A leaf from the sandpaper tree. It is used to smoothen wood carvings


A chameleon clinging on to a trunk


Close-up of another chameleon


A chameleon clinging onto my hand


The waterfall where we took a breather


John taking a cold shower


At the end of the trek, we spotted a lizard hiding in the grass


A monkey eyeing us inquisitively on our way back from the trek


This is what happened after the trek.





1 comment:

  1. Datuk Yip Kum Fook is very stupid and dirty to Buddha and MCA in Malaysia...MCA is very weak. Now, so many MCA members jump the party and also the Samnak Sambodhi Buddhist Temple, now the local people do not enter because they do not like the committee members, maybe the temple will no longer be one day, must be close according to our prediction.

    Instead, we must inform Datuk Yip Kum Fook about opening a lawyer's office to cheat the people's money and lie to the Malaysia government about lawyer...we know you are very well, from the beginning of your business furniture and playing politics in Kepong

    Many lawyers also don't like him because he is not a real lawyer...his title is a lawyer bought from a UK institution (no need to learn and practice about law)..Better close or close the office… it is a shame for Malaysia….

    From Uncle Lim, Taman Ehsan, Kepong

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