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Jungle Trekking along the Salt Route in the Crocker Ranges, Borneo (2/2).
As we reach our next destination by late afternoon.
We arrive at the ranger station (there were no bears there looking for picnic baskets).
I was delighted to see that the local lads had made this superb hammock using bailing twine.
They were busy making another when we arrived.
I gave the hammock a tryout, and it was very comfortable, if a little short.
We all rest, and get cleaned up as best we can.
The bridge above Dan, would feature heavily, in the following mornings adventures.
I decide its time to put my hammock into action (after some minor mithering by JK, who correctly told me I would regret it, if I didn't spend a night in my hammock, in the Jungle).
I consult with JK the self styled God of Hammocks for technical assistance.
JK points out that the key to the success of the project is the sitting of the hammock.
We find 2 appropriately distanced trees and then tie up (the hammock, not each other).
At this point, its essential to lie in the hammock and take the stretch out of it.
Once done you get out and re-tighten it, repeating the process until all the stretch is gone.
There will always be a little stretch left, but this adds to the comfort and overall sleeping experience.
Camouflage isn't normally my colour but the Hammock I bought had been recommended by JK and it was certainly up to the job.
It had a very comfortable base, a sewn in mozzy net and a basha to go over the top and keep out the rain.
Various modifications were recommended like sticks tied in to stop drips and gafa tape which insects wont walk across.
I decided since it was a first outing that I would stick with convention.
The view from inside my Hammock.
I didn't need a sleeping bag at all, and just slept in my sleeping bag liner.
I didn't realise, just how exhausted I was, and rested/slept in there for nearly 20 hours.
I woke with a start at one point but thought nothing of it.
I found out in the morning that a water buffalo had attacked the hammocks and JK had been forced to get out of "bed" and chase it away.
Earlier in the afternoon, I caught up with the lads (over black tea) as they played cards.
In the morning, I wake early and decide to go exploring.
JK had mentioned a bridge that was quite "exciting".
You can see on my right, that the support strut is missing.
As I head out across the bridge it lists heavily to one side.
I keep a tight hold and pose for this picture (one of my favourite's throughout all my travels).
What's this !.
The children from the local village set off for school.
Unlike at home in England, where education is perceived to be free, and therefore not valued, these children are on a mission to get to school, and wont allow anything to get in their way.
...Not even me.
As I calmly explain to the Children that we will need to pass each other carefully, they are having none of it.
They boldly charge across the bridge and I am forced to grab the cable on my right.
The cable offered little more than psychological support and for one terrifying moment I thought I was actually going to fall into the water 40 feet bellow.
I quickly make my way back to the front of the bridge and not a moment too soon.
Another legion of Children are about to head across.
The "lead" child (a girl of about 13) smiled at me, but looked as though she wondered what the hell I was doing in the Jungle. At that moment I wondered as well !.
Up and out.
We quickly pack our stuff away and continue along the route.
You can see from this picture, that some of it was very thick mud, which took some real work to traverse through.
Further along and things dry out a little as we wander across the paddy field of another nearby village.
There was some debate to the correct name of these creatures.
I thought they were wild boars. It was pointed out that since they lived on a farm they weren't any more wild than me.
Domestic Boars, Farm Boars, Field Boars, none of them seemed to sound quite right.
On the bottom right of the picture, you can see a superb example of primitive technology put to work.
With a few chops of the Parang, this piece of bamboo becomes a perfect trough for the Boars (type unknown).
A section of the trail was flooded due to rain.
Mr Mickey, had worked out an exit route for us.
We wandered downhill for a while, through a demolished forest, and we pass under this enormous felled log.
The first time I've seen a road for 3 days, we head up this track, to get to our extraction point (does that sound too military ?).
It was really hard work and Dan and I had to focus really hard, to get to the top.
Luckily JK and Richard were there to motivate us. By taking of up the hill as fast as they could, and not even glancing backwards, Dan and I knew we were all in the thick of it together :(.
We reach our camp, and are once again (thankfully) put up in the local village hall.
At that moment, the heavens opened.
You can see from this picture why its called the rain forest.
Another game of cards is pursued and some "cans" are procured by a colleague of Mr Mickey.
We also got a few cans of coke as well. We had plenty of water, but there was nothing as refreshing as the taste of Coca Cola.
In the morning, we all pack up to return home.
Mr Mickey, Ridley and the others reverted to "street" dress, and they can be seen here in Rip Curl and other designer labels.
For the final morning the lads decide to take it easy and not cook breakfast.
Instead they take us to a cafe frequented by locals as a treat (which they very kindly paid for).
I didn't feel much like eating so I just drank some water.
It was interesting to see the kind of place that a typical KK resident would take breakfast in.
Also interesting were some of the more exotic foodstuffs on display.
The tank to the left is full of live Eels and the one to the right live frogs.
What a brilliant trip.
Id like to thank Dan, Richard and JK for their company and putting up with me during this adventure.
I have to say that some adventures, are pretty uncomfortable when your doing them, and that the real joy comes from reliving the experience. This was one of them.
I would also like to thank Mr Mickey, Ripley and the others (who's names I heard but couldn't pronounce, let alone spell) for making it such a superb trip.
