Hey all, Happy New Year.. Its been a hectic year end, physically and mentally tired.. but end the new year with a blast in Ice Bar, 1 Borneo.. wasn't too bad.
Being a born bred Sabahan, i have always take things for granted, always pursuing the skyscraper metropolitan living lifestyle, and trapping in the confined air conditioning room, i attended this course for the purpose of pursuing a license, nothing else in mind, but also to bring my lost intuition to the Sabah Lost World, Meliau Basin.
My first impression when first entered Tawau Hillpark, was nothing to shout about and it is no where to be seen a foreign tourist, all i can see is very localized recreational area with very minimal of entrance fee charges. Since, Tawau Hill is one of the Secondary Jungle under the Sabah park Authority, i am really curious what does this forest can offer to my 20 days course.
My curiosity gone deeper, when i was preparing to checked in with my assigned room mate, the lodge bellboy was actually a bunch of naughty long tail macaque, welcoming us with their mischievous look...
This one actually stalking us ! of all the Course members, he peeped on us !
Yes, this is where we sleep, very basic and damp.. under the basic roof top, and a wide back door facing the deep jungle. Its superb, its refreshing.. My alarm clock is the symphony of cicada as well as the hauling of monkeys species red leaf monkey, macaque and even the gibbon. Occasionally, we even hear The Rhinoceros Hornbill, giving her way through the jungle.
The day of trekking doesnt really thrill me, i was too concern of the leech... they have been waiting for their prey, human like us :).. so the first trekking was more like a trial .. we had fun.. some of us even getting to know leech better.. Especially the "tiger leech"
Leech doesnt suck human's blood, they drink. They produce Hirudin which is a very powerful anticoagulant that enable the blood flow non stop bleeding.
You do not feel at all when they are attached on you skin or body, only slight itchiness and next you will see blood flow pumping out for a period of 2 -3 hours.
. Now we are leech friendly.
The destination of our treks were varies, someday we trek to Sulphur Spring, a hidden Utopia in this Hillpark.. about 3.2km from the park and it is a hidden romantic place for a deep spa.
The first view looks like a drawing right? Now the 2nd pictures shows you this is real, and yes.. you can dip into it and have a spa massage.
Now, the thrilling part here is not just about the destination. Its the journey to the destination, thats where we learnt along the way.. team spirit, jungle norm, leech, dos and dont, as well as helping hand.. some even chemistry bounced ( if you know what i meant ), it happened in a glimps and yes.. we are prepared for the 2nd trail.
2nd trail was very much easier.. it is to the tallest tropical tree in the world. Tallest tropical tree ( Pokok Seraya Kuning Siput) .. its just next to our doorstep, have you ever even thought about how tourist came all the way from other corner of the world just to have a hug on this "mother nature tree"? Yes, we are here.. this tree is about 88.32m height..
This is one of the Dipterocarp tree that is still preserved under the Sabah Park Authority. Despite being one of the logging activist target timber before.. This tree is still serves as a canopy and pillar to most of the lower land or climber vegetation.
No, we did not show off to the world that we have this tallest tropical tree and we want the Guinness book of record to be seen, in fact, this tree is somewhat humbling down, supporting his mates.. such the climber as a pillar, serving as a home to woodpecker birds, as well as a support tool for the Bird Nest Fern.
My experience of trail has created my curiosity towards the team spirit as well as the character of each and everyone in my team. They are ranging from people like me ;).. who has lost her intuition and looking for the direction by meditating towards tranquility; young girls who are taggling along their career for being in the tourism industries, some indigenous people like Org Sungai, Org Brunei, Taroja and even Kadazan Dusun ... I need to share with you about them... i am impressed and speechless...
Till then, will update you more
