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The first real day at Nusa Camp had three main events: a hike
up Warisan Hill, walking the Canopy Walkway, and tubing down the
Tembeling river. I mounted these challenges together with our
guide and two Swedish, Veronica and Marcus, who I had made friends
with and who were on the same tour package. Veronica and Marcus
had come to Malaysia for the wedding of a cousin of Marcus and
had decided to turn this into two weeks of vacation in Malaysia
and two weeks of vacation in Thailand. They have a great sense
of humor and we had many enjoyable hours with each other. Any
photos you may see here about Taman Negara were shot by them or
at least shot with their camera!
The morning hike up Warisan hill was mainly a cardiovascular
workout, 90 minutes walking uphill at about 15 degrees. Enjoyable
and sweaty, but nothing particularly spectacular. It wasn't even
on the Taman Negara side of the river, but rather on the Pahang
side, which could be recognized by the litter lying around.
In the afternoon, we walked the Canopy walkway in Taman Negara.
This is in fact a walkway of some nine or ten connected bridge-like
pieces in the canopy of the rainforest. Originally created for
research purposes to observe the wildlife, it now serves as a
major tourist attraction. I took this tidbit of information about
the original research purpose from a Taman Negara guidebook. Our
guide was convinced that the walkway had been created for tourists
all along!
Ok, I think I have to admit it now. I probably overprepared
for this trip. Not knowing what to expect, I had brought my B-level
alpine hiking boots, all leather. They work really well in this
tropical climate and I was glad I had them with me. But on the
canopy walkway, and in other places, I met people mounting the
same trip with Badelatschen! (Badelatschen: German for simple
lightweight sandals you wear around a swimming pool. Not really
made for walking.) Is it me or are there differences in understanding
what it means to be out there in a jungle? Even if "out there"
is pretty much contained? I can only guess that it is something
cultural. All other Germans I met were wearing sturdy hiking boots.
In the early evening we grabbed some truck tire tubes and jumped
into the river. Floating down the river on the tubes, we conquered
a nice distance, involving several rapids. Warm, wet, and thoroughly
enjoyable, until a boat brought us home.
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