11th day: Taman Negara and its Aboriginals

After the night safari yesterday we had a good sleep and we started the day early. I ve hired a boat to be able to go deep in the forest and possibly visit some aboriginals hunting and eating monkeys. You can use the rivers and streams of Taman Negara very well to travel over greater distances within the forrest.

According to wiki Orang Asli is a generic Malaysian term used officially for the indigenous people of Peninsular Malaysia. Officially, there are 18 Orang Asli tribes. Orang Asli kept to themselves until the first traders from India arrived in first millennium AD. Living in the interior they bartered inland products like resins, incense woods and feathers for salt, cloth and iron tools. The rise of the Malay sultanates, coinciding with trade in Orang Asli slaves, forced the group to retreat further inland to avoid contact with outsiders. The arrival of British colonists brought further inroads in the lives of Orang Asli. They were the target of Christian missionary and subjects of anthropological research.

Still these people are very friendly demonstrating you how to make and use the blow pipe they use for hunting. The most experienced of the tribe can shoot a monkey from 80m distance. They feel very comfortable in the forest and despite governamental "help", they do not want to leave.

I am allways very impressed, when coming to local communities or tribes in the world. This occasion was also very unique and I enjoyed it so much. See more pics here:

All pics / kepek

We continued the day with a refreshing splash in the river, although back home we were told not to risk to get some parasite on or under your skin. Anyway it was refreshing and we will see what is coming next.

In Taman Negara you can find some very exciting suspension bridges along your hikes. There is a system of bridges between the huge trees, some 40m above the ground.

Our last destination were the rapids of Lata Berkoh a 1 hour ride upstream of a smaller river. We had to pass several rapids and whirlpools to get up there, but our boat driver did it of course as his daily routine bringing tourist up there. The last stretch we had to walk to arrive at our own whirlpool for our own in the middle of the jungle.

We still need to drive today to Cameron Highlands, the destination for tomorrow. On the way back to our car, we just met by chance some Hungarian guys and they will enjoy my driving style on the way to CH on the next 250kms of curvy roads.

All pics of the trip as usual are linked on the right quick link column or simply click here

All pics / kepek