June Holiday Trip | Day 3 - 5 | Mutiara Taman Negara | National Park | Night Jungle Walk | Jungle Trekking | Hike Teresek Hill | Aborigins Settlement | Rapid Shooting

Brayden 9Y3M25D
Bevlynn 5Y21D

Day 3: cont'd from previous post.

On the long road trip, we had to think of games to keep the children entertained. Guess the animal, Guess the number game, Shoot the cars with imaginary hand guns, 10 levels of door reveal (choose the correct door to move forward) there's themes for the door reveal; circus, aliens, pirates...

Finally we arrived to the next destination Mutiara Taman Negara (National Park). The car cannot drive into this park. We needed to park the car beside the river and take a water taxi to the resort entrance across the river.

We were already very tired by then. The children were still hyper. 

Our room is so strategic (no. 89). It is right beside the path to go into the forest. 

During dinner buffet, it started to rain. Oh no! We signed up for a Night Walk. If the rain continued, it will be called off. 

Night Jungle Walk

We were lucky, the rain stopped just in time before the walk. Everyone brought their torchlights ready to go into the park. It was really dark. The guide was able to spot giant ants, spiders, agamid lizards, flying lizards, scorpions.

Then I spotted one very big Agamid Lizard. It is 1 in 60 chances to see one. 

Bray loved exploring in the dark, Bev was a little scared; it really was pitch black.

In the end, we arrived at a 3 storey observation deck. There we can observe from a distance a plain field, and in the middle is small pond of water under a tree. There the animals would come and drink the water, but we could not see any. 

We were told there was a black panther that night and we shouldn't stay out with the children too late.

Time to go back and sleep. There's more activities the next day. 

Day 4 

Bray woke up early to go to the observation deck with Hub, it is about 5 minutes walk from our room. They only spotted a big black furry bird. He laughed at the sound of the bird ; "ooh - OOH, ooh - OOH, Wahahahahah" (No kidding).

After breakfast, we had a jungle trekking on Teresek Hill. The canopy walk would have been easier, but Bev was underage and could not join. 

Jungle Trekking

It was a nice walk and stroll at first, after way through, there were only steps upwards. I've not done any hike for a very long time. I needed to convince Bray and Bev that the peak is just around the corner. Every time they'd say "Mommy, didn't you say it is just around the corner? When are we arriving?"

Along the way, we found some sun lizards, agamid lizard, monitor lizard, poisonous snake, leech, butterflies, monkeys, chickens. The guide shared with us knowledge of the flora and fauna. 

When we reached the peak, the view was amazing. 

Aborigins Settlement

The "Orang Asli" Aborigines lead a nomadic lifestyle. They are called Batek. Living in temporary small huts or tents. They showed us how to start fire and make darts which could shoot up to 20m. Bray and Hub tried to blow the dart aiming at a "Baby Shark" soft toy. They missed.

There are still about 2000 Orang Asli living at Taman Negara. They are cut off from civilization; hunting while animals for food. 

Rapid Shooting

This was fun and exhilarating ride. The shallow boat goes through seven rapid water on the river. We can feel the bump every time, we pass the rapid waves. We got so wet. 

Bev said, "I accidentally open my mouth and swallow some water". The children loved the rapid shooting experience.

Such a long day. We went back to the hut and rest. The children continued to play their own games in the room. I guess the adrenaline rush must have gotten them so hyped up. 

Day 5

My leg muscles already started aching, wobbly legs.

We went into the jungle one last time. This time we didn't have any guide with us. Somehow without the guide, my human instinct became sharper and more conscious with the surrounding. Any tree branch dropping, leaves falling - these smallest sounds would make me nervous and looked to the direction of the sound. 

Wild thoughts played in my mind "What if there's a panther or a snake appear suddenly?"

Then, Bev asked me to carry her. When carrying her I felt her quick heartbeat, my thoughts became calm.

We checked out and started the 8 hour ride to JB.