Trekking in the Jungle

Well....I survived the Jungle!!!
It was a 3 hour boat ride don't the river to the local village opposite the entrance to Taman Negara. Our wooden boat (long boat) was no wider than two people but could seat about 10, including luggage, without sinking!
It was a slow journey but very scenic. Along the way we saw wild buffalo and about 30 monkeys playing on a sandbank beside the river. I saw the back of my eye lids for a fair bit of the journey too.
When we arrived I realized my accommodation was at the top of a very steep sand bank and I was going to have to lug my backpack all the way up with a very full bladder. I think I'm going to buy a small boy on the black market to carry my pack...I'm sure their cheap round here!!
I decided to do a trek so I booked in for a 2 day 1 night jungle experience trek.
What was I thinking I couldn't just do a few treks round the easy bit OH NO!
Especially after the locals said I couldn't do one cause...You guessed it...I was too fat!! (what is it with these people don't they know social educate)
I went to the meeting the night before to meet the guide and get some info on what to bring and everyone was so fit looking I was starting to think the locals were right.
Oh well I paid so here goes. The next morning we had to meet on one of the floating restaurants at 10 to leave by 11. Well I have come to realize in Asia time is rubber (flexible) So we leave by 11.30 go to the rangers to declare all our belongings then take a long boat up the rapids 2 hours to the Jungle. We walk for 8 klms which took us from 2 till 6:30. It was up down and around. Over trees that my little legs could just go over and under trees I could just squeeze under. We learnt how to get water from the vines and make a jungle telephone call. You find a large tree with wide roots and use a big stick and give the bottom of the roots a good whack. You can hear the sound for a few Ks. I saw Elephant shit and tack as well as a tiger print in the mud.
I was glad not to see a tiger because that would mean he was having me for lunch!!
We finally got to camp at a huge cave were the elephants come to rest occasionally or when giving birth. I was so sweaty> I have never poured sweat like that before. We all STUNK!! We collected the wood for our camp fire the had a splash in the river...Thank god I had baby wipes to clean my smelly body!!
THE CAVE.... It was so dark in there it was amazing.. Our guide put out candles and designated a smaller cave for the loo but there was no way I was going in the alone with my little torch...I held on till I couldn't any longer and went round a bend in the cave.. No one was aloud outside alone at night to do "big toilet". You had to take a buddy... Lucky I didn't have to cause I'd have to go alone. I was the only single person there.
the guides cooked us delicious curries and rice and we had Milo (oh,a big hit here) and tea as well as crackers and choice biscuits for snacks.
Then came the usual stories of Tigers in the night and Rats and snakes.WOOOO! We went wondering around the cave and found scorpion spider, frogs the size of kittens, and a very rare type of millipede. The ugliest thing I have ever seen!
After the horror stories it was time for bed. No problem for me to sleep I was buggered!
At about 1am there was a huge rat in the garbage bag!! He was so noisy I wanted to go get him out but no one would help me!!
At 2 am something jumped on my head and off again. I gasped so loud I woke everyone up including the guide who was previously snoring like a tractor.
At 4 am something landed on my face!!!
It was a huge frog!!!! I'm pretty sure that was landed on me the first time too!!
Apart from that I slept well..... I was the only person the have a close encounter with nature...I was glad it was only a frog.
The next morning we cooked toast on wood style grill and it tasted fantastic!!!
The hike the next day was awfully. My legs were tiered, I fell over, and the guide LOST ME!!!
Yep that's right the front guide took off and the back guide was with the slower people and I lost everyone! They went off on a side track and didn't wait for us... Stephan and I kept on the same track and ended up alone in the jungle... Then long legs went back and left me straggling alone. I was about to cry cause I was alone, in the jungle, lost, there a bloody big angry animals in there!!!
I eventually found them having a swim and lunch in a river...Good to see they did a head count and I was missed. I was so pissed off!!! I practically ran the last 4klm.
I couldn't wait to get out of the jungle, have a shower and be flat on a bed!!!
Today I went to walk the tree top walk but it's Friday and they close the national park because of religion!!! What??? Ahhrrr I'd only told 5 locals I was off to do it and not one person said oh no it's closed!! So here I am back in Jehrantut for the night and tomorrow I'm off to Melaka. Hopefully my washing will be ready!! My god I feel sorry for the lady not even fungus would grow on that stuff.it's so disgusting!!
Well I'll let you know about my next adventure soon. Hopefully I'll have some photos too so keep checking...that's if I figure it out!
Love Lizzy