Mintsanity Run

Well, we are now in Cameron Highlands, on the last leg of our roadtrip. Day 1 was shockingly uneventful, hence the lack of updates - and Days 2 and 3 were quite eventful, hence the lack of updates. I'm looking forward to winding down at the end of this.

( Day 1 Recap )

Taman Negara: Day 2&3

So before Taman Negara we stopped by an elephant sanctuary in Kuala Gandah. I foolishly assumed it would be more like a bit of land set aside for elephant rescue and rehab, that visitors could look at from a distance. I think that's how animal sanctuaries are supposed to be?

Well, this was not it. Elephants were kept in confined areas, mostly separated, for tourists to feed. Like a petting zoo. And I say tourists - I feel like my family were the only locals there. We were surrounded by Europeans, I suppose, on summer holiday. Also, we were one of the few there without a guide, and we were told not to enter an area in the back where you could theoretically touch them. Which makes sense, but put a pin in that.

So we finally arrived proper at Taman Negara after that, which you need to be ferried across a river to get to. The place we were booked at was on that side of the river, so we are technically staying on park grounds - neat. But again - surrounded by Europeans. I think I only saw one other local group staying there. No hate to Europeans, but it is rather disconcerting.

And yes, we needed a guide. Our room came with a tour package for a reason. It turns out the amount of land you are allowed to walk in, as a visitor without a guide, is very limited. There are practical reasons for this - the land is generally rugged and difficult to traverse. Natural dirt trails don't really exist - you walk on constructed platforms. But I increasingly suspect there is a monetary aspect to it. Basically: pay to be a tourist or don't enter at all.

Which is sad, to me. What is the point of places like these if can't walk freely in it? My best birding has been done in places that weren't advertised as "nature" places at all. In a local hill where our durian is collected as they fall from their trees. By a river where fishers' boats are lined up upon its banks. To walk freely is all you need.

That is not to say the trip was unenjoyable. A lot of wildlife was spotted - I am very glad to have spied a rhinoceros hornbill, not in the forests, but in a tree across an empty field in the resort itself. And the night and day treks provided interesting sights, like this snake, likely a Wagler's pit viper, which is a very familiar snake to me.

My legs got quite sore on the day hike, but at least I can say I made it up there. Here was the view.

Cameron Highlands: Day 4

I now write from the cold heights of Cameron Highlands, where we arrived in the late afternoon. It's a familiar place to me, and I look forward to taking it easy for the weekend. But I will get up early to watch some Summer League games (Knicks and Nuggets young blood are up). We need to be early to be driven to Mossy Forest anyway, another natural attraction. Private vehicles have recently been restricted from entering, and visitors require a guide - notice a pattern?

I'd hope the birding is good, but with the amount of people around, that may not be so. Here's to hoping.