Maps showing the location of jungle trails are available at the park HQ for a reasonable fee. In the morning I strike out alone with my camera and hike one of the shorter trails in the patchy fog.  I stop at the crest of a hill, thinking I'm at the end of the trail, and remove several leaches. On the way back to camp, my stealthy footsteps flush three Vieillots Crested Firebacks just five feet ahead from the underbrush. Later, a ranger says most visitors to the park never see anything as wild as these, so I feel fortunate. He also tells me that the trail actually continued up to a better lookout. Next time. Highlights of the jungle trip were the Jungle Canopy Rope walk, the night-time nature walk, and seeing two hornbills from the riverboat when leaving. Unlike park brochures, many travel guidebooks warn tourists that if you go to the Taman Negara to see animals, you will be disappointed. Properly warned, I go to see the vegetation, and am delighted. The only detractor was the abundance of hungry leaches on the trails for a day after each rainfall, and it has been raining every day. On my next trip, though, I would like to spend several days at a remote blind, and venture deeper into the jungle. Hopefully, that visit will not be in the rainy season.

After two nights, Roman and I head out of the park on the same river boat. He collects his bike and heads for another jungle park, while I share a taxi to the next town, Mela, to catch the 'Jungle Train' to Kota Bharu.

(More photos of the National Park below.)

 Bill