Ozzie

Ozzie

Friday 15 March 2013

Day 9 - Kuala Pilah to Taman Negara National Park - Mon 4 Mar

Day 9 - Kuala Pilah to Taman Negara National Park - Mon 4 Mar
We picked up two passengers unawares, kittens from the farm crept under the vehicle. An hour down the road we tried to poke them out with a stick – but they were still mewing below the cabin that afternoon. Don’t know where they left us- unfortunately far from home. Through Bahau, headed into windy mountainous terrain covered in plantations, roots holding in the slippery red clay. Entered Pahang region – noticeably cleaner, no litter. People very proud in uniforms; plenty of schools and kindergartens full of beautifully attired children. Women in long colourful dresses, rode motorcycles (some with helmet over their veils) and picked kids up, often three abreast. Men on bikes and scooters carry tin canisters, fruit, spice packets, scales. Many open trucks with no doors or windscreens, carrying big timber loads. Tilapia and catfish in net enclosures and tanks along wide muddy Pahang River ready for cooking.  First big mountains appearing as we moved north towards Jerantut. Water buffalo in muddy ditches, or being herded by bikers. Goats tethered along side of road.  
Truly - we only went in for wifi...

Confluence of rivers
Followed paper map and local signs north to Kuala Temberling looking to cross into Taman Nagara from resort of same name - but found Jeti meant wooden boats not bridge -hmm, back to Jerentut! (probably should have relied more heavily on Garmin Malaysia Map, and Pocket Earth app with the Asia maps downloaded before we left home!) Ironically the sawmill marked the turnoff to National Park! 

We found JnJ's vehicle, not at campsite (which translates to hostel without an inch of land), but on bank of Sungai Temberling with note saying they’d be back tomorrow night after two day jungle trek. Unfortunately went to also camp on river but Ozzie’s top boxes pulled down electrical wires to one of the floating barge restaurants -oops! Had to camp in hotel’s gated carpark instead. 



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