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May 23, 2005
Jungle Walk No. 9A
(Day 95) "Most travellers just hike up really fast and don't really get to enjoy the walk," James (the guesthouse owner) was saying the night before. "What you really should do is take your time and enjoy nature. Stop every so often to look and listen. You will realize the forest is a living thing. Love the forest, and it will love you back."
Now the last part may have been the alcohol talking, but he had a point. It's not about how fast you can complete a trek, or how much distance you can cover. If you're just going to put your head down and walk, why go? The trip is just as important as the destination.
A total of thirteen walks are in the highlands, labeled only by numbers. Today I would be tackling Jungle Walk No. 9A. It was an easy walk, the most difficult obstacles being some fallen trees that I had to play limbo with. The path was relatively dry, allowing me to look around without fear of stepping into a pool of mud. Taking his message to heart, I extended the 45 minute trek to an hour and a half. I noticed far more than I had yesterday. I saw furry caterpillars shuffling on the ground and dangling from the trees. Unfurled ferns and cigarette shaped fungi. Colorful butterflies, and butterfly shaped flowers. Flying beetles so big, they belonged in nightmares, not real life. Wow, I really am turning into a nature freak...
A vegetable farm marked the end of 9A. From there, I headed up to the Boh Tea Estate. The road was incredibly scenicmage, but it also seemed to last forever. No shade and uphill for six kilometers. I finally reached the entrance, only to find I had another 1.5kms to go to reach the tea rooms. I felt like a donkey being led by a carrot. Would I ever get there?
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The Malaysian couple who had given me a ride yesterday was right. Boh Tea Estate was far prettier than Sungai Palas. This made the 1.5kms a bit easier to swallow. The landscape looked like someone's private garden instead of a commercial tea plantation. Halfway up, a farm hand gave me a lift the rest of the way in his van. Inside were a couple of other backpackers he had picked up father down. The world can be a dangerous place, but it can also be a very friendly place. I never imagined bumming rides could be so easy.
The daily shower arrived early today. I had some cake and tea outside (under a roof) as water soaked the countryside. When the rain had let up a bit, I climbed to the top of a lookout, and watched the mist drift through the air. I felt as if I were living in a photobook; that's how picturesque it was.
It was eight kilometers back to the main road of Cameron Highlands, which I covered amidst a light drizzle. I probably could've hitched a ride, but it was far more enjoyable to walk. Vegetable gardens accompanied me all the way down. There's a reason why everyone flocks up here for holidays. At the risk of sounding sappy... it's just so nice here!
When I reached the main road, I held up a thumb, hoping to get a ride back. The first car that came stopped for me. A couple of Dutch expats transported me 11kms to Tanah Rata. Yup, it was that easy.
That night, Joe (a friend of James and one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet) stopped by, and the three of us sat on the porch, drinking until well past midnight. I tried to pay for my stouts, but James wouldn't take it. "It's on the house," he insisted. Drinking can make people do stupid things, but it can also act as a truth serum. We were all pretty wasted, and had some pretty interesting conversations. I went to bed, head pounding and piss drunk, wondering whether I'd be able to get up before noon tomorrow!
Thanks to everyone for their support and comments! Knowing people are reading keeps me motivated to continue the updates!
Posted by markyiin at May 23, 2005 07:21 AM
Comments
i realized my formatting wasnt working with firefox browsers, so i made some changes. i cant believe the firefox users didn't tell me about it earlier....
also made some changes to the archives layout to make it load a bit quicker.
anyways, tomorrow morning i'm headed to the perhentian islands. i dont think they'll have internet there, so be prepared for a couple days without updates.
matt: hmm, i'll check those places out, and i guess stay away from pattaya. i'll probably give myself 2-3 weeks in and about thailand? it depends on how i like it.
tree: haha, i AM spoiled... and i'll be even MORE spoiled after these few days!
roomie: i'm glad i'm lucky, losing my atm card woulda been hell!
siuwah: it's Cwah. spell your own name right.
Posted by: markyiin at May 23, 2005 07:39 AM
See now those sound like some good jungle treks!
You can stay up to 30 days in Thailand or 60 if u buy a visa (and that i know to be true! lol)
Its a very backpacker friendly country and you will meet people from ALL over. I did not meet 1 person who didnt love the country. If I were you, i would maximize the time there. There are some great ruins in the heartland and a great jungle park coming up south from Malaysia (Koa Sok). You can also go see the bridge over the river kwai too. Chang Mai is a good place for some 5 day jungle treks to see some out of the way villages. (anything less and its generic disney villages). If you go anywhere I mentioned, let me know.
Posted by: Matt at May 23, 2005 09:14 AM
sounds like your treks were enjoyable and that you got plenty of exercise. my main question is, though: you didn't mention that there were many other ppl taking the trek as well... so how did you manage to get pictures of yourself during the treks?! hehehe... dumb question, i know, but i'm intrigued =P
Posted by: tree at May 23, 2005 10:06 AM
I did not see James.... Again, we need PICTURES of the people you met...
Posted by: mojess at May 23, 2005 10:41 AM
Hey - almost every day (ok, work days ;) ) I tune in for Mark's Latest Adventure/Meal/Quandry. Haven't really paid too much attention to day numbers, though, but bet we all will now!
These photos are terrific!
Posted by: Lisa at May 23, 2005 03:57 PM
First,I like your approach of slowing things down a bit. I believe it was Mahatma Gandhi who said "there's more to life than increasing it's speed".
Second, be careful, the mist can play games with your mind. The closest thing I can compare it to is some sort of surreal dream state.
Lastly, you may be doing yourself some good by getting liquored up according to the "Buffalo Theory":
One night at Cheers, Cliff Clavin explained the "Buffalo Theory" to his buddy, Norm:
"Well ya see, Norm, it's like this. A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine! That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers."
So are you feeling like a genius yet?
Posted by: Jon at May 25, 2005 04:09 PM
I miss your posts! Come back!
Posted by: Justin at May 26, 2005 12:11 AM
yeah...your pictures look like it came from a story book. how do u take pictures of urself anyways? timer?
and actually when i was trying to catch up on your posts. i would remember last post i read was like day 24 and without knowing i'm on day 40. that's how much i'm sucked into your adventures and your writing. keep up with the updates! else i have nothing to look forward to during my breaks. =P
Posted by: cozy at May 26, 2005 04:18 AM
Yeah, I second Cozy's question -- how do you take pics with yourself lookin all candid? Is it really candid (and just timed)? Or do you have someone take a picture for you (and you pose candid)? lol Either way, it works. But I'd be hesitant about handing my camera over to someone. -GEM
Posted by: GEM at May 26, 2005 09:16 PM
Wow it's so pretty. The food you have with the tea look pretty good too. It probably help that I'm hungry right now. And I never noticed anything wrong with Firefox.
Posted by: Ditch at June 16, 2005 07:28 PM