Did you know that the Indonesian rainforest is mountainous? Neither did I. So imagine my surprise when our trek, which for the first 30 minutes was flat with some ups and downs, turned into a grueling 6 hours going straight up the mountain, over the top and then straight down and then back up the next one etc. No switchbacks and sometimes hardly a trail. We grabbed vines and small trees to help pull us up or slow our descent. The heat and humidity were brutal and within those first flat 30 minutes our clothes were completely drenched in sweat. Maybe this was not a good idea. As a matter of fact it was the worst idea imaginable.... And we had booked 3 days and 2 nights. Barely audible over the sound of my heaving breath were insects, birds, and the call of the elusive gibbon. Our guides, Brahm and Heddi, would
call back to the gibbons, hoping to entice them our way. We were joined on the trek by two German university students, Jonas and Dominic. I would like to say that we were compatriots in misery but, while they did find it hard going, they were in much better shape that Luci and me and would have to wait as I struggled up the path. What was I thinking.... Well animals. In their habitat. And it was worth every tortuous minute. We saw many macaque monkeys, a few Thomas' leaf monkeys (sporting their traditional mohawks), a peacock, some monitor lizards, a turtle, and most incredibly 16 orangutans from baby to adult and two gibbons. Day one ended after a run in with the infamous orangutan, Mina, who chased us a bit down the path. As we were running away (very brave I know but orangutans are very strong and don't listen to reason) I cut my hand on a plant and blood was flowing and wouldn't stop. I showed Brahm, who found a leaf, chewed it up and put the paste on my hand. In seconds the bleeding stopped and even when the paste fell off, the wound stayed closed. Jungle magic. We made it to camp, a lean to constructed of a wooden pallet covered on three sides and the top by plastic sheeting. Imagine a sturdier
version of what they build on Survivor. Camp was great. There was a waterfall that tumbled into a pond, a rudimentary kitchen where the cook made tasty Indonesian food and good company with the Brahm and Heddi and another Indonesian guide and Jonas and Dominic. The bathroom was as the orangutan do. We ate and talked and the guides challenged us with brain teasers. At the waterhole, we were visited by a female orangutan and her child. They watched us for about 15 minutes before they swung away. Shortly after bedtime an incredible thunderstorm hit. Bright, bright lightning and loud, booming thunder accompanied by a steady rain. The plastic did its job. As I lay, unable to sleep, I dreaded and was excited for what Day 2 would bring. Unfortunately it was so humid I could not work my iPhone very well so there will be few pictures until I can upload from my camera. And orangutans seem to know to keep the sun to their backs to make it hard to get good photos!
Thanks for reading!