journey to Muk Ayung

Our first trip into Bengoh was fairly forgiving, as we would on later trips realise. However, for first timers like us, that two hour trek into Muk Ayung felt pretty exhausting.

From left to right: Daveency, Saw, Si Cheng, Silicon, Johari (our guide), Chun Nam, Hui Fei, Grace and I

Simon and Liza brought the eight of us students on the trip led by our guide. If you look closely at the group photo, you will notice that Grace and I look somewhat over-prepared - or perhaps the rest of the group were slightly under-prepared. Daveency is there carrying a tiny blue backpack - he didn't bring enough change either. Saw is carrying one of those white rectangular Nike track bags with a sling strap.  Silicon (yes, that's his name) is carrying a black laptop bag into the jungle. Best of all, however, is Si Cheng, who carried all his clothing in a cloth shopping bag and slung his sleeping bag over his neck. When it rained, all his things were soaked.

Grace and I, on the other hand, brought backpacking rucksacks and stuffed them full! Seven kilos on your back may feel alright for a while but after a couple of hours, the weight really starts to cut into your collar bones.

The people living in the interior are exceptionally strong because of all the physical work their lifestyle entails. Johari carried a lot more than all of us, including some of Liza's bags and kolo mee lunch for 11 of us, but for him, this was a walk in the park.

Crossing paths

The jungle path is relatively friendly to outsiders, especially since it is regularly frequented by villagers within the area. To begin with (and most importantly) there are no leeches in the Bengoh jungle! The path has mostly been laid down by regular foot steps and also by efforts of the villagers to make the trek more accessible. Many places have simple log bridges, footholds cut out, bamboo hand rails and steps. These improve the speed and ease with which villagers move around in the area since they have to go long distances on foot. Using his handy parang, Johari cut through any imposing plants that blocked the way. There are also pondoks and benches that are made of bamboo. Great for a rest stop and some kolo mee!

Tappin' for rubber

The highlight of the trek is most probably crossing these magnificent things:

Suspension bridges made of bamboo, up to 80 metres long and hanging two storeys over a river. It is quite hellish for those afraid of heights, especially since crossing it involves walking on a pair of uneven bamboo poles - not wider than a foot - leashed together with wire and rope.

We gingerly crossed the first bridge, one at a time, taking care to hold on to the side bamboo poles. In total, we had to cross two bridges to reach Muk Ayung. It took me around four minutes to cross the first bridge and slightly less for the following one - by our third trip to Bengoh, we were running across with the villagers in groups of five or more! More on the bamboo bridges in another post.

Blazing hot day

We finally reached Muk Ayung hot, sweaty and exhausted. Grace and I had also run out of water and were parched. What a welcome sight it was when the ketua kampung had prepared in his house cordial drinks and water for us!