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Little Kirsty Ventures to Pastures New
Saturday 8th April- Bako National Park
Up early to head of to Bako National Park for the day. Bumpy ride in the minibus for 40mins, which took us to a picturesque fishing village along the river inlet. We then hopped in a speed boat and set out on a 15min ride to the park. We passed many fishermen in their traditional tinky boats and using cool nets.
Was exciting jumping out of the boat onto the beach- a bit like Ardtoe. Around the beach were gorgeous rock formations- really impressive- cliffs and rounded rocks along the shore.
We were advised not to swim cause it's jellyfish season- saw some nice big jellies washed up.
To get to the rainforest, we walked over a wooden walk bridge over a small stream through the sand and overt the mangroves. There were feeding platforms facing a steep accent into the jungle. Here you could see the odd tree sway- this was where to spot the proboscis monkeys. It was a beautiful area of the park- happy to have my new camera to capture it!
We started with an intense jungle trek (by mum and Gran's standard). I was well impressed they both managed it. I thought it would be an alright path, but there was much clambering and the path was pretty much made up of mangrove tree roots asking to be tripped over. Congrats to Gran for surviving it- twas a major challenge all round. But Gran's quote for the week- "it was worth it", cause we got up close and personal with the proboscis monkeys (near miss from being peed and shat on-again!). It was really cool- they were jumping from tree to tree over head and didn't seem to mind too much that we were there.
We returned via the shore line, quick march cause the tide was on its way in. We still had time to admire the mangrove saplings though and more groovy rock formations along the beach. The guide pointed out these cool plants that trap bugs and digest them. They also collect fresh water and that's how some if the soldiers on the "Death Marches" survived.
There was a couple on the trek with us and I started chatting to them. Turned out they were a couple from Aus, just outa school and they'd been to Thailand already so I questioned them on where best to go etc. We all headed back to the main lodge for a typical Malay lunch, cough cough. We had a few cheeky furry visitors- but the rangers had some sling shots ready to scare the wee makaks away. We also had a nice friendly bearded pig visit us, she was a bit camera shy though.
There was one woman that we had seen at the orang utans and she was now at Baco and she was so amusing- wore sandals with heels and white trousers- doh!
After lunch, there was much debate on what to do so I ended up going for it and doing a nice sweat wrenching trek up a hill with the other couple, while mum and gran relaxed on the viewing platforms to watch out for proboscis monkeys coming down to feed on the mangrove saplings on the beach.
It was steep as- but we were so lucky to have good weather. It was a bit overcast, yet no rain, so it was fab. But still- the jungle is always friggin humid, so it was getting hard to breathe half way up. All that went through my head- was I really hope I can conquer the mountain when we do it. The path took us up to a viewpoint and a narrow wooden walk way over a marshy area- kind of reminded me of landscape I've seen in programs filmed in Aus. Dried grass, flat rock- was like emerging to an entirely diff country.
The couple were fair knakd so we took some pics, examined some of the wildlife, then headed back. There were some cool ants nests on the side of some teeny trees- they had a "Symbiotic relationship"- talking about it made me recap on my long lost biology info.
Going down was just as hard as going up cause our knees locked and it was pretty slippy. Vines always come in handy though!
Once back at base camp, we just had enough time to chill out at the viewing platforms, then headed back on the speed boat to the jetty.
Bid farewell to other couple and set out in mini bus back to gorgeous cool showers and mozzie cream (cause I'd genuinely been eaten alive).
Headed out to a restaurant recommended in a booklet mum was given- and what a find! It was spectacular! It was in a traditional Malay Town house, with Thai décor, candles, lush silk draping from the ceiling, separating each part of the restaurant and oober cool stone statues of Buddhas and the most magnificent flower arrangements. We were very very impressed to say the least. And when the food arrived-, even more so. We were so sad- took pics of it all, cause it was just so well presented.
I really was enjoying living in such luxury with my gran and mummy.
Once back at the hotel, mum and I headed out for another stroll and found a stall of batiks. We fell in love with some- I just had to buy an impressionist piece- although a bit pricey. Was so random cause we literally bumped into two other gappers. I was like- ahh! I haven't seen them since Penang so we chatted oober fast to catch up. Mum invited them for a drink- I felt a bit bad, cause I didn't get to spend much time with mammy that night.
They told us how they're living in a stilt house, which sounds cool. Sounds like they're a lot more isolated than us and a cat had kittens in their cupboard- I was well jealous!
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