Taman Negara #2 - The Arrival At Kuala Tahan.

Woke up at 5 a.m. and decided there is no point in trying to sleep further so put on the music and moved at a leisurely pace. But once Alex and MongShe picked me up, the mad rush began. We fetched Lay Yee from her house and on the way got a call that JenShyi has arrived in Klang station from Kedah after an overnight journey of 9 hours. From there, we shot to meet up with Alex's friend who was kind enough to drive us to KL. We were lucky that the traffic was exceptionally smooth that day. Could it be because the dramatic increase in petrol price the night before is having an impact? Our pick-up point was in Puduraya from where we were transferred to Chinatown after a hearty breakfast in KFC. We departed from Chinatown at 8.45 am. Other members of this group arrived at the pick-up point from various places, at various times by various means.

In Lanchang, we had a stopover for what we call a sing-along. That is better sounding than a piss-stop. Caught this black bumblebee with a bright yellow crown stealing nectar from the banana plant.

We are again on our way. It is about a 4 hours plus journey.

We stopped in the Chinese restaurant in Jerantut, a town that owed much to Taman Negara as a stopover, for our lunch. Considering that this is a tour group lunch, the food is quite decent and adequate.

We took two large tables but as many in the group do not know each other, conversation is a bit stiff as the ice has not been broken yet.

But hunger is a language everyone understands. So when the food came, we all dig in but still politely ensuring everyone has their equal share.

We thought we were going to drive to Kuala Tembeling and from there to take a boat to Kuala Tahan so was a bit disappointed when we learned that it will be a bus trip instead. The roads were getting more hilly and winding as we approached our destination. At one point, there was a landslide that occurred only days or weeks earlier. Much of the land we went through were already cultivate with Oil Palm. Civilization has caught up to the fringes of the jungle.

We arrived at this Persona Village Resort where we dropped a family who came on their own. While the living accommodation here is better, I do not think this is a good place to stay as there is no atmosphere.

We have arrived. Everyone crowded round the tour guide asking for direction.

There was a school immediately to our left as we alighted from the bus. There were many sayings drawn on its wall greeting our arrival. I liked the last one – “It makes no difference where you came from but a great difference where you’re going.” There were 22 of us and we came from all over the country. From as far North as Kedah and as far South as Johor. And we all knew where we wanted to go – to Taman Negara and have fun!

Once that is settled and we knew where we are supposed to be headed, we took our belonging and looked for our chalet.

This is Kuala Tahan and the gateway to the Taman Negara, the National park.

All the chalets and individual bungalows (concrete base and wooden walls & roof) were built following traditional Malay architecture. They were all situated along the river which is the center of activities and transportation. The pricier units are closer to the river or overlooking it. We went for the budget units, the whole package of which cost us only RM350 per person - a real bargain for 3 days/2 nights.




Along the way, we saw a family relaxing by one of the benches. This young boy seemed like a seasoned player. Cool confident face and deftly handling the cards. Later, I caught him sleeping with his legs hanging up. Even a King Gambler must rest, I guess.

I brought along quite a bit of snacks worrying I may go hungry but there was even cendol in our very doorstep! Just bring along some money. You can buy everything you need including freshly fried "goreng pisang" with the banana just plucked from the trees - D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!

We reached our chalet and has to decide how to split 22 in three rooms with almost equal numbers of males and females. With a bit of give and take, we managed to figure out this complex mathematics and determined who sleep with whom and who to sleep on top of whom being bunker beds. Everyone was given the pleasurable experience of sleeping with strangers.

To be continued...