Sarawak, Day 7:"What up doc, which way is to the jungle?"

Saturday, 5th August 2006
Woke up very early to depart to airport. Yet, we were late so skipped our breakfast. Pak Cik was already there knocking at our room door. We requested him to take us to the nearest bank to cash out money as we have banked in all our money yesterday. We need to cash out enough money to pay for our guide, boat ride, hostels, caving, food and etc, as there is no bank or atm machine in Mulu. Moreover, they don’t take credit card.

The airport was very near to Miri town. Hence, we arrived the airport by 9 o’clock in the morning. We paid Pak Cik and told him that we will call him upon arriving back on Wednesday. The counter was messy. Too many people wanting to go everywhere including the famous Bario we hear about from Stephanie. Our plane was the 19 seater twin otter aircraft. Hence, we only can take certain amount of weight.

The Baby plane, 19 seater twin otter..

Despites being a tinny plane, Air Asia still managed to provide stewardess and sold goodies. The journey form Miri to Mulu was very short about 30 minutes but provided stunning view of zigzagged muddy Sarawak’s river forming patterns on Mulu’s jungle. Upon arriving at Mulu, we quickly collected our bag and headed to the entrance to get a taxi. No vehicle was there except for a van from Mulu Resort, which was not waiting for us. Our guidebook told everything about Mulu except for transportation to the park headquarters or may be we overlooked that area. There was absolutely nothing there except for a little café. We stood there for a moment cracking our head, finding ways to get to the park. Akka then decided to enquire form the lady at the café about Mulu’s transportation services. According to her, Mulu do not provide any public transportation services. But for RM5 each her father will send us to the park. We quickly agreed. Hence, waited for the old man to take us to the park with his old jeep along with another tourist, John.

The journey form the airport to the headquarters was only 2 minutes. There was absolutely nothing except for a restaurant at the entrance of the park and trees everywhere. Upon arriving, we went straight to the park office to find out about our accommodation and then about climbing Pinnacles. We asked them if there were any other group wishing to climb Pinnacles or at least share the cost of the long boat. Unfortunately, up to that point no one have called in to book a guide except for us. Nevertheless, the park rangers asked us to wait till two, as there would be another plane arriving at about 11 o’clock and at 3.00 o’clock and there is a possibility for us to get some to share the cost of the boat or guide. So we waited. Just then a group of 4 people consisting of an old man (Unlce Anand), 2 young man (Rain and Elius) and a lady (Sara) approached the park office. Upon discussing with them we soon realised that they too wanted to climb the Pinnacle and didn’t mind sharing the cost of the boat and guide. John who was planning to the head-hunters trail decided to join us, as head-hunters trail was far more expensive then Pinnacles. Thus, all 7 of us agreed to climb Pinnacles day after tomorrow except for Uncle Annad who will only share the cost of the boat, as he will be climbing a day later. That has managed to reduce our burden of paying RM350 per boat and RM400 for guide. Phew! God had sent us a couple of angels, again.

We quickly headed to our dorm to unpack. We were told that there would be a guide taking us to the Deer and Lang Cave at 2 o’clock. So we quickly ate our lunch (Maggie), changed to smelly clothes and waited at the park office. Our guide, Jenny was amazingly knowledgeable. Similar to Bako and Niah cave, we had to walk about 3 km on wooden plank to reach the entrance of the Deer/Lang Cave. Though near, we took almost 2 hours to reach the cave entrance as Jenny stopped frequently to show the insect and plants in Mulu.

Mulu park entrance

Bridge that connects the park

The river at Mulu park

Our hostel at Mulu

Mulu Cafeteria

While we were heading towards the Deer/Lang Cave, we encountered another park ranger riding a bicycle heading towards the cave carrying junk food and beverages. He was Francis but I prefer to call him “water boy”. He is the youngest ranger to join the troop and he is amazingly hardworking. Morning, he works at the park headquarters, then he takes his bike to the cave and sells food and beverages in the afternoon and later in the night, he works at the cafeteria. In addition to that, he is also the official guide to Pinnacles. Hmm…hats of to him.

Various types of plants and insects we encountered in Mulu:

Lantern insect

Not flower! Bunch of caterpillars.

One type of Centipede

Stripped green spider.

Stick insect (like in Bugs life) this one lost one of his leg

Not sure about the name but its white and looks like white peagon.

Millipede

Fick tree..home of the spirit

Leaf with natural hole

One leaf plant..only in Mulu

Upon reaching the cave entrance, Jenny took us first to Deer Cave. The length of the cave was about 2 km long and 174 meter high. The wooden plank stretches into the cave making our walk much easier. The stalactite and stalagmite was so beautifully formed, it up to one imagination to describe what it actually looked like. I saw many things with my naked eyes. The most amazing part of Deer Cave face to look at the Abraham Lincoln face on the mouth of the cave, from inside, at one particular spot. Move one spot further and it disappears. We were not alone in the cave. Along with us, was the other tourist, bats and swiftlets but unfortunately, no deer. The indigenous people hunted it all long time ago.

Deer cave signboard!

Akka and me at Deer cave

Entrance of the Deer cave

Abraham Lincoln face at one point of Deer cave..move one spot it disapears!

BEautiful white Stalactite

From there, we entered another show cave called the Lang cave. This cave was so beautiful I hardly have word to describe it. It was the first time I encountered cave looking so white as if it has been decorated with white marble. After staying in the cave till 5 o’clock, we headed to the open theatre out side the park, facing the mouth of Deer Cave. Its not for live theatre performance but to view approximately 2 million bats rushing out of the cave in batches hunting for food. We waited and waited along with other tourist till our neck was about to fall off. “Water boy” was there too selling soft drinks and junk food for the tourist. Finally at about 6, batches and batches of bats were rushing out of the cave. Everyone went Ohh, Ahh and Wah and the camera never stopped clicking. It was indeed a good performance by the bat.

Front view of deer cave

Its the bird, its a plane no its millions of bats comming out of cave

Bats comes out from Deer Cave at about 6 pm everyday

More bats

Finally within couple of minutes, the show came to an end and we headed back to the hostel. We bathed and went to the cafeteria for a good meal of dinner, packed and then slept.