On our second day in Mutiara Taman Negara, we started off with trekking into the jungle to Bukit Teresek. The distance is about 1.7km from Mutiara Taman Negara Resort. Given a choice between the boardwalk and the jungle trail, the majority decided to use the boardwalk in view of the blood sucking leeches. I can withstand the brown leeches but not the tiger leeches whose bite can be felt and the itchiness that comes after. Save from a bloody affair, the only challenge was the steep boardwalk.
Meeting Lyana
Occasionally, our guides stopped us to explain the importance of the flora and fauna in the rainforest. I was also introduced to Lyana. Lyana as in Lyana plants. They are the vine-like woody plants climbing big trees in search of sunlight. The plants used by tarzan to swing from one tree to another.They can grow to 3,000 feet in length as they vertically wrap around trees in search of sunlight. Liana plants climb by wrapping around trees with sucker roots and tendrils.
Read more: http://www.ehow.com/list_6599755_liana-plants-rainforest.html#ixzz2efHPVXEn
We were also told rattan palms were used by the native to catch fishes. Demonstrated how to use the rattans to fish, I am not quiet sure if I am brave enough to hold worms with my bare hands to prepare the baits. One of the guides, En. Sabri told us everything we need to survive is there in the jungle, only if we know how to make use of them. Legit point.
Bukit Teresek
Walking up Bukit Teresek can be daunting if you do not have enough stamina. As a result, half of the group stopped near the canopy walk starting point and determined not to proceed to Bukit Teresek. I was out of breath, I too was tired. If I succumbed to my tiredness, I would definitely miss the opportunity to be on the top of Bukit Teresek overlooking the lush jungle of Taman Negara Pahang. If we were lucky, we would be able to see the highest mountain top in Peninsular Malaysia.
My mission to Bukit Teresek to see the peak of Mount Tahan was personal. I summitted Gunung Tahan on my first ever hike in my entire life. It was a personal achievement though people might just say I took the easiest way up to the summit of Gunung Tahan via Merapoh-Merapoh route. I didn’t care; it was tough when you were just starting out as a hiker. Gunung Tahan was a self-made success. With this in mind, I kept the momentum going with other participants to Bukit Teresek. I did that with heavy steps and profuse sweating.
After awhile, the boardwalk ended. We reached the first view point.
We continued walking along the jungle trail. The weather was chilled. From the first viewpoint to the final viewpoint, the route is pretty easy and flat. It was 400m from the final viewpoint that our guide warned us over possible encounters with viper snakes.
Unfortunately, the peak of Gunung Tahan was clouded. We got to see the lush rainforest view and a chocolatey water of Pahang River.
On top of Bukit Teresek, there was a wooden hut which was a subject of research by local university students.
Distance : 1.7km Duration : 2.5 hours