Wednesday 18 December. Two trails and The Reef
I got going reasonably early so that I could get a walk in before check-out at 11.00. I decided on the Selang trail which is a circuit back to Park HQ that starts by climbing up the road past the frog pond and taking the Rayu trail to Matang for a bit before forking off to the right. This was said to be the easier way round than the anti-clockwise version.
The walk up the road took about 15 minutes and I could see why I found it heavy going the night before. This morning I set a gentler pace and took time to admire the flora and fauna as well as the river to my right. On reaching the frog pond, I took a quick look round and was struck by its quietness after the cacophony of the nighttime.
The Rayu trail proved easy enough and fairly soon I came to its junction with the main trail.
A little further brought me to the Selang trail.
This proved a bit more of an effort but it was rewarded by reaching a great viewpoint across the plains to the sea in a North Easterly direction.
I stopped for a while before making my way on to complete the circuit.
As I had been told, this involved a lot of picking my way downhill and I must admit I was grateful not to be going in the opposite direction.
The route home in fact took me directly past my lodge and so I completed my packing up and went along to check out - half an hour late. Then I had to choose another trek to take me to the time of my pickup - 3.30. I decided on the Main Trail and completed it just within the time available. It was moderately heavy going - much more uphill than down along the forest trail on the way out until one crosses the Rayu trail and eventually comes to the Waterfall Trail.
On the way I crossed some beautiful streams, running vigorously after last night's rain
At this point, it was too late to go further on and so I took the waterfall trail back to Park Road and back past the frog Pond - having stopped off at the shelter at the start of the Rayu Trail for a bit of a rest and finding I was sitting below a family of bats who were trying to get their sleep.
Back at the HQ, the driver was waiting and I said my goodbyes and made for the car - only to be followed by much shouting. I had forgotten to pick up my bag!
Back in Kuching, I decided that evening to try the Reef restaurant that had caught my eye. It was OK but definitely not outstanding and rather slow - so slow I asked when it might be my turn for food to emerge from the hatch. I also felt somewhat sorry for the crabs in a tank. They had been tied - presumably so that they couldn't attack each other. It must have made for a frustrating end to their lives.
The walk up the road took about 15 minutes and I could see why I found it heavy going the night before. This morning I set a gentler pace and took time to admire the flora and fauna as well as the river to my right. On reaching the frog pond, I took a quick look round and was struck by its quietness after the cacophony of the nighttime.
The Rayu trail proved easy enough and fairly soon I came to its junction with the main trail.
A little further brought me to the Selang trail.
This proved a bit more of an effort but it was rewarded by reaching a great viewpoint across the plains to the sea in a North Easterly direction.
I stopped for a while before making my way on to complete the circuit.
As I had been told, this involved a lot of picking my way downhill and I must admit I was grateful not to be going in the opposite direction.
The route home in fact took me directly past my lodge and so I completed my packing up and went along to check out - half an hour late. Then I had to choose another trek to take me to the time of my pickup - 3.30. I decided on the Main Trail and completed it just within the time available. It was moderately heavy going - much more uphill than down along the forest trail on the way out until one crosses the Rayu trail and eventually comes to the Waterfall Trail.
On the way I crossed some beautiful streams, running vigorously after last night's rain
At this point, it was too late to go further on and so I took the waterfall trail back to Park Road and back past the frog Pond - having stopped off at the shelter at the start of the Rayu Trail for a bit of a rest and finding I was sitting below a family of bats who were trying to get their sleep.
Back at the HQ, the driver was waiting and I said my goodbyes and made for the car - only to be followed by much shouting. I had forgotten to pick up my bag!
Back in Kuching, I decided that evening to try the Reef restaurant that had caught my eye. It was OK but definitely not outstanding and rather slow - so slow I asked when it might be my turn for food to emerge from the hatch. I also felt somewhat sorry for the crabs in a tank. They had been tied - presumably so that they couldn't attack each other. It must have made for a frustrating end to their lives.
Comments
Post a Comment