Taman Negara #3 - The Batek Forest People.

Once we dropped our bags in the room, we hurried down to river; everyone raring to go.

The bank where the houses are built consisted of two levels, we were at the highest level. The reason why they are built so high up is that you will amaze by how high the river can rise during the rainy season towards the end of the year when the monsoons starts. It is also the reason why all the restaurants at the river are all not on permanent legs but are floating.

We made our way down this rickety wooden stairs with missing steps which swayed precariously under our combined weight. Over the next few days, we will be climbing up and down this stair several times a day. But we did not break it, we left it for some else to do it. See the single strand of flimsy wire that is supposed to be our guide rail but we still hand on it for support and to some it seems like for life.

One after another, we planted our foot carefully taking care not to tumble down like Jack & Jill and brought the others down in a chain reaction.

Our heart started pounding when through thick foliage and flowering plants, we saw the river where Sungei Tahan joined Sungei Tembeling. It was like we have found our long lost love if you know what I meant. This is what we came for and the view did not disappoint.

There was a wide stretch of sandy beach, and a number of floating restaurants all lining just off the shore greeted us. You do not have to worry about getting a decent meal any time of the day or night.

This restaurant ran by our tour company is the focal point of all our meetings and starting of our activities as well as our meals. A narrow plant is all that connects it to the beach. One wrong step and you will have an early drink.

These are our trusty boats that will take us to all our activities. As all round us are dense tropical jungle that are almost impassable (at least to non-jungle dwellers like us). The main and in many cases only mode of transportation is by the river boats.

This is our first boat ride and you can see the excited expressions. The powerful motor kicked to life and pushing us off to our first adventure.

The river is quite busy with many boats traversing to and fro between destinations. The boats traveled quite fast and sometimes it appeared a bit recklessly. But these are experienced boaters who do not like to take it slow. Amid the sleepy jungle and languid river, the only things roaring to life are the fast boats.

We passed by interesting scenes and I kept my camera busy. I liked this shot which I called ‘waiting’; for it will make an interesting story. The man is waiting for a fish to bite, what is the lady waiting for? Write your own story.

This picture shows how lovely it is taking a boat down the river. Clear blue sky overhead, a wide river, fresh air, dense forest on both banks. Our tour guide took the best seat of the house, at the front of the boat.

As all activities starts at the river bank, boats are busy ferrying passengers to the various points.

We arrived at ours to go to the “Ear Cave” or Gua Telinga.

After a short walk, we reached a Batek forest people village who just happened to camp off this track having moved in recently. They are nomadic people who never stayed long in one place. They lived off the jungle and once the surrounding area is exhausted, it is time to move. A death or sickness in one of their member may also cause them to move as they are highly superstitious people. Our guide is explaining to us the lifestyle of these gentle people who took life each day as they come.

There are only less than a thousand of the Batek (which meant original people in Malay) left and they are mostly concentrated in Taman Negara. They are shy people who kept very much to themselves living a way of life thousand of years old. When we came across them, we felt like we are intruding into their world which is the truth.

To be continued...

Port Klang Views #13 - Under The Pouring Rain.

Caught in a little hut by the river while rain is hammering down is - not boring. In fact, it was quite pleasant. The world took on a hazy bleary look as if cloud has descended down on earth. Like a veiled lady, what is left to a little imagination is even more beautiful. It felt different as the cool damp wind brushed against our slightly wet body. It smelt different as the salty sea breeze is diluted by the clear water dumping down on us. Somehow it reminded me of the old days when in the bar we ordered "sky juice" instead of water. In a macho world, it was a less feminine term I guess. Or was it more romantic to impress the ladies that we have some intellect when we have none. The best time for reflections is a rainy day. But getting back to the story - in spite of the rain, there were much activities going on. You have just seen a couple of fishermen taking their boats out in the rain. Here are more scenes, not everyone ran indoor to hide when the sky opens up. I could sit here and looked at the rain, the river for a long, long time without tiring.

The fishing village at high tide.

It will take more than rain to deter the fishing enthusiasts huddling on the bridge or under it.

If you look carefully, you can see the fishing “kakis” (enthusiasts) squatting on the pillars supporting the railway bridge. They must be soaked to the skin. They must also be enjoying the rain. It would be impossible to explain the pleasure to those who don't immediately understand. Only way is to drag them into the rain and left them in an open field to remind them that once when they were a kid, they too enjoyed the rain. What makes it different now they are adult? I won't mind being with the fishermen under the bridge.

A heavy rain doesn't last forever. A light drizzle can last what seems to be an eternity. That is why the Hokkien called it the "Hou Lam Hor" or "crying rain". As the rain lightened but still heavy, the earth took on a new clean appearance.

The lyrics of this song played in my mind "I can see clearly now that the rain is gone". It has not exactly 'gone' as it will take a while yet but I could see very clearly already.

This is an interesting scene. Fishing under an umbrella under the bridge in the rain.

Contrary to what some believes, the world did not go to sleep when it rains. As what this guy is doing -"Row, row, row his boat. Gently in the rain. Merrily, merrily, life is but a dream". What different dreams we all have. His is to fish in the rain.

While his mates scooped out the water before his boat took in too much water.

And this boat went speeding by. You may be surprised at the great amount of activities going on. Try getting wet again. It is fun. If not for our cameras and that we need to continue with our work, we won't mind getting wet ourselves that day.

To be continued...

Sunset Over Railway Bridge - III

These set of pictures was taken on a different days from the earlier set. It was the end of a bright sunny afternoon but there was still significant cloud covers. That day, the tide was low but the hot afternoon ends with a glorious orange that painted the entire scenes in gold. The atmosphere and mood was very different. It was a working day and I knocked off from work a little early to capture some shots as I promised a friend to send her some pictures of a Malaysian sunset from my hometown and I couldn’t chosen a better evening. The above picture showed the sun rays reflecting on the arch of the railway bridge.

This is the romantic view of the river opening out to the receiving sea. The subdued tone played on the mood and it was easy for one to lose his thoughts to the gentle scene. Nothing stirred. It was as if the scene was frozen in time.

But that was broken by a small boat breaking the calm surface chugging its way home.

The waves it created lapped the shore and a few minutes later, all was still again. As if no boat had just passed and that it was all in the imagination.

I turned my attention to the upstream and looked at the fishing village basked by the golden rays.

Further up the river was the restaurant that we used to frequent and from where you can have a good view of the railway bridge. The red wooden building on stilts looked most impressive at this time of the day.

The sun is just about to sink below the tree lines. The world took on a deepened tone and the approaching dusk is encroaching to claim it for the night. Birds are now dotting the sky flying back to their nest and insects calls started to increase both its frequency and intensity. I waited until it was almost completely dark before I walked on railway tracks to reach my car parked in an empty field. I always have melancholy thoughts viewing the sunset but it is of the enriching kind as I got in touch with my inner self. They are not depressive or mopping thoughts that sapped energy. I release any headache or heartache I may have to gently sink with setting suns.

The End.

Sunset Over Railway Bridge - II

Look what is running along the track.

The Train is here.


The Train is gone.

I survive.

I stick.

The Sun is setting.

Time to...

... go home.

Sunset Over Railway Bridge - I

Recently a friend asked me where is a good place to take sunset photographs in Port Klang. I told him of a place that I sometimes like (although not often as it is rather secluded and out of the way) to go for evening walk especially when I am feeling down. It is a place where I can clear my head, reminisce and reflect until I can discard all negatives thoughts with the sinking sun.

It was on a railway bridge connecting North Port through South Port to West Port mainly for the transportation of containers between North and West Ports. (Port Klang is the largest port in Malaysia and have these three ports servicing the central of West Malaysia which is the hub of commercial and industrial activities). Except for the trains and anglers fishing on the bridge during high tide, it is quite deserted

This allowed me to take leisurely walk along the railway track, take in the scenery and watched the birds and animals of the mangrove swamps and rivers. Sometimes I took my camera along and took some shots. I had posted some of this in MyKlang forum under “Sunset Over The Railway Bridge” and below are some of the pictures I had taken on two separate occasions, one on a cloudy evening and another on a sunny evening which gave different moods.

The bridge in the distance is the bridge connecting Pulau Indah (Beautiful Island) to the mainland. At the end of this island is West Port. That bridge is for road transport while this bridge where I took the picture from is for rail transport only.

The fishing on the other side of the bridge is kampung Sungai Keladi and further down is to the dying town of Perlama.

This is the mudskipper, so called because when it wanted to escape it will skip of the surface of the water. It can skip much faster than it can swim. It may looked ugly with the bulging eyes and oversize head but it is quite tasty.

The skeleton of an abandoned boat.

A monitor lizard swimming away.