Road trip to east and north Malaysia 2

I hope what I write today will be on the blog and I don't have to rewrite many times as yesterday. Please my comel computer, cooperate with me and do not stress me anymore.

Above is the road map we took in our journey from Kuala Lumpur to Bentong, Raub, Kuala Lipis, Gua Musang, Kuala Krai, Machang, Pasir mas, Kota Bharu and back to Machang, Tanah Merah, Jeli, Pergau, Banding, Grik, Lenggong, Kuala Kangsar, Taiping, Ipoh and home to KL.

Where was I yesterday? Yes, I stopped at Gua Musang yesterday and the story ended apruptly because of the 'failure to save' kept popping up. Did I say that this trip lasted 10 days from 18 to 28 October 2008? We arrived in KL on 27 and on 28 I went back to PD and Sharipah to Kuantan.

Before leaving KL, I was armed with information from books and internet about the places we should see. Internet information mentioned Etnobotany Park in Gua Musang. That sounded

interesting. After checking out of Kesedar Inn on 19 Oct 08, we made our way there. To enter the park we need permission as the PLKN trainees are undergoing their camp there. Siti of Kesedar Travel brought us and we were allowed in. Frankly, for those who plan to see this park, please do not waste your time. We were disappointed and disgusted. When it is posted in internet we expect something good but the park is neglected with straggling herbal plants, pathetic ostrichs and deer. What is happening? I am so ashamed if foreign tourists were as curious as we were. A pityyyyyyyyy.... the place is so nice and ideal but it was left to mother nature to keep it presentable. As Sharipah said, projects like this should be visited during the opening ceremony. Then everthing is beautiful and presentable. Don't come after 6 months, it goes to the dogs!! I bet during the opening ceremony it was full of pomp and splendour with beautiful speeches - the typical Malaysian culture. What a waste!!!! The same case as in the Tree Top Walk in Kulim, Kedah when Najidah and I went there in July 08.

However the hills at the entrance are worth seeing with contorted trees hanging on top and the rocks were formed in layers. We spent some time there to enjoy the view.

We weren't worried about not having a place to stay for the night. As I told Sharipah, we will find a place as we go along. The next alternative was to go to Kota Bharu. After all it was only 3 hours drive and Kota Baru will have plenty of accomodation because it's not school holidays. The list of hotels was wth me.

The next stop was Gua Batu Madu. Our desire to go there increased when everyone we met recommended us there for the soup. The gravel road to go in there was not kind to my poor lady, the Silver MyVi. I have to reassure her many times that I would take care of her once we finished our journey and that she had to take care of me meanwhile. Once we reached the cave, we were so delighted to see the beautiful cave. Above all we were impressed to see that the place was so clean and tidy. The operator of the restaurant made sure of the cleanliness. If only every restaurant owner in the country has the same attitude, Malaysia would be on the top list for cleanliness. I hope this is kept intact by the operator, En. Ismail.

The soup daging was superb. We were not disappointed. In fact the place is so calming that we lingered, drinking tea at our leisure. I talked a while with the friendly En. Ismail. He lamented how the young people from the village across the river, Kampung Batu Papan, tarnish the clean image by throwing rubbish everywhere. When requested not to do so, they glared at him and disregarded his request. What goes on in the mind of those young people? How selfish can they be? From his account I understood how the name of Gua Batu Madu came to be known due to certain season when hoards of bees will make their hives high up on the stalactites of the cave. The bees don't cause problem to the people as they are too high for anybody to attemp to take the honey. Hence the name Honey Rock Cave.

The village is connected to the cave by way of a hanging bridge across the river, Sungai Galas.

With reluctant heart, we left for Kuala Koh National Park since Stong Hill Resort is closed. It was a long drive inside the palm oil Felda estate - a huge Felda as far as the eye can see with lush green leading to the Park. The road was lonely, winding and scattered with cow dung. I had to be alert all the time in order to avoid hitting the dung. It seemed like an endless drive and I knew Sharipah was worried and scared with wild imagination playing in her mind. She sat up tensely telling me repeatedly to be careful and questionong whether we were on the right track. Lady, that's the only road leading to the Park! It was good she did not verbalise her fear to me as I would snap. I knew at the end of the road there would be the Park and we had to be patient to reach it. Negative anticipation with wild imagination are not helpful. After a long drive finally we reached our destination - another pleasant surprise. Immediately we decided to stay for 2 nights. It costs RM50 pernight for a chalet. The place is like out of nowhere, another part of civilization. I highly recommend anyone to go there and experience true nature, peace and calmness. Kuala Koh National Park, you are fantastic!

I had a restful night with birds chirping in the evening and in the morning. The rangers told us that at night tapirs, musang, wild pigs and other animals come to the station. We could stay up and see them if we were lucky. But I was too tired to wake up at 2 am. The marks of wild pigs could be seen in the morning.

The morning of 20th October, En. Jefry and En. Othman (the manager of the Park) accompanied us for canopy walk together with Tengku Azah, a young school leaver from Patani. The canopy walk here is wide and steady. Sharipah was not scared as when she was on Porin canopy in Sabah. On one of the stations, there was a big and tall tualang tree with a beehive high up on the branch. En. Othman asked us to be quiet. Due to strong wind last night some part of the hive have fallen down on the bridge walk. I definitely enjoyed this walk.

In the afternoon, we went for a river trip but unfortunately it rained and the trip was cut short.

The next morning, 21 Oct 08, we checked out to continue our journey. We left a list of comments and suggestions to En. Othman, hoping he would pay attention to some and acted on it particularly taking care of the cleanliness, beautifying and identifying the various flora and fauna found there. Kuala Koh National Park, you are beautiful and I hope you are able to attract more visitors in future. Good luck.