Brunei Adventure: The Jungle

We chose to visit Brunei because we thought that it would be a quieter destination at CNY and we were right about that. There was no rush or bustle.
We had also heard that Brunei has a large area of of untouched pristine jungle and they were right about that. The jungle is protected and there is realatively easy access to it.

We booked our tour into Temburong National Park with Mega Borneo Tours, so we had a guide to take us around for our overnight escape. We travelled to Bangar from Bandar Seri Begawan by water taxi ,with our guide. He then took us on a tramp up a high hill to look out over Temburong National Park We saw hectares upon Hectares of Jungle. For much of it the only way to get to it is by traditional long boats. The boatmen are very skilled at negotiating the rapids.

The tops,
A carpet of every green.
Look closely and it teems with life.
Birdsong resonates within the air.
Life runs deeply here.

Even the rocks gather life!
Dead treetops support their living communities.
The Temburong Canopy walk is the best we have been on to date. It is a long climb up onto the ridge to get to it from the river. Once there it is another long climb up the first tower to reach the first gangway. It is worth taking your time and keeping an eye on the the different levels of life living on the tree right next to where you climb.
We enjoyed the way the creepers hug the tree trunks tightly, they reminded me of patterns in wallpaper.
Our long boat waited patiently beside the river. This river is one of the cleanest we have seen in Asia. It had been almost a week without rain so it was lower than normal and crystal clear.
Meanwhile back in the treetops we were in awe of the beauty of the trees.
Ruth did it. She was amazing, so high and the towers did move. Notice the level in the background. I am not sure but I think it is to let you know if the tower is pitching too far off centre??
Back at the lodge, which was a haven beside the river, we gained a cooking lesson. We helped prepare our dinner to be cooked in bamboo. Chicken in one, Fish in another, and greens like a fern in the third. All plugged up with pedang leaves to add flavour. The bamboos are placed in a charcoal fire and turned regularly for about one hour until they turn yellow on the outside.
The result was a tasty Iban feast for dinner.
Hitch hiking takes on a new meaing in the jungle.
This weary traveller seemed to prefer riding on my smelly feet.
I suspect that he was passed his best and his wings were once much larger.
He did fly away after he had drank some of the moisture on the outside of my shoe.
Actually I think that he had more energy but he weave around a lot more.

The Flying Fox

The locals just hang loose and do it like this.
Don't worry, no problem.
The guide is just swinging through the trees,
with the greatest of ease.
I was actually not sure if I should take the risk.
It was very high over a very shallow part of the river.
It started from a high platform in a large tree crossed the river.
Then you climbed up into another high tree and returned across the river.
With my knees shaking I did do it, just to show that I am still an Action Man.