Bukit Lutut - day Two

Day Two

Morning Call by our friendy Gibbon started at 5.30 am. By 6 am( more than 10 group) the intensity getting stronger. Now all birds, even the loud Hornbills are joining the morning chorus of Rainforest. Sunrise was magical with Gibbon calling, birds chriping and scenery of misty rainforest canopy slowly opening up.
After simple breakfast of Bread with hot coffee, we pack up and depart camp at 7.15am. The first 20 minutes trek was excellent with many huge tree, cool, gibbon calling, hornbill shout here and there. Later journey going downhill, here is where my kneel start to hurt. It was steep down down down hill for more than 45 minutes. we stop occasionally and enjoy the sound of the forest. Then route up & down until we reach a ridge called Iban Long house peak ( story goes, once upon a time it was a Iban Longhouse, because they make some mistake, the whole house and the occupant become rock. We rest on top of the ridge for more than 30 minutes. It was a peacefull place, cooling with occasional sound of Gibbon calling. Finally we reach a river bank and start River Trekking like day one.The river scenery will paradise, gibbon calling, hornbill flying up and down and between trees, fish jumping out of water and birds chirping. at this moment i really forget of all the pain in my kneel during descenting those steep hill. I called this Paradise river route point.
fromhere continue down and uphill we reached another high point called Bukit Batu ( 500 ft). at the peak is a huge rock balancing on a norrow ridge, as if the huge rock can roll down any time. From now onward my kneel pain become more and more painful, every step is like needle poking into my kneel. Then at last we reached Temburong river at 12 noon after 5 hr of fast trekking ( normally today trip itself is 2 days 1 night).
We prepare lunch by the Temburong Riverbank thereafter follow one of the many temuai going down to Batang Duri.
It was like one of the those trip i did 20 years ago to Danum Valley Sabah, now become one of the world best rainforest destination. I believe Bukit Lutut will one day become a world class Nature destination. Leslie...

Expedition Bukit Lutut- Temburong

Lush Rainforest View from the peak of Bukit Lutut
Pristine Mutong River, full of fishes and colourful river stone
Another beautiful pic of Mutong
Sunrise from Lutut Hill 1000ft
River Trekking
with My Outdoor Instructor. note the crystal clear water
I called it paradise
with my buddy Hadi
Lot of Secluded nice quite location
Another spot

Brunei really the unexpected treasure to be discover.

Last week end, i just found another treasure here in Temburong - One of the green jewel of "Heart of Borneo".

We started trekking from Temburong River bank. First encounter more than 10 ripe Durian fruit fall from its branch, we only took 2, most already rotten. For those who do not know "DURIAN"- It is a tropical fruit either you love it or hate it. Its size range from softball to Basketball with spike every surface of it hard protective skin. ok it is a fruit either you like it or hate it.

From wild durian tree, we trek further in through secondary forest, very thick, Rattan branch with full of torns. Funny, during our first Stream crossing, we open our trekking shoes to advoid getting wet. Our veteran trekker smile at us. Later after we wear back our Trekking shoes,we found out that we are going to trek using the stream as our route. Now what the hack, dont bother to take off our shoes, after all many River crossing ahead, some places 2-3 ft deep. walking with wet shoes in the jungle is fun, cooling.

During those River trekking, I saw one of the most beautiful scenery in the Rainforest. After two hour trek we saw our first group of hornbill drinking water from the Stream, as we come closer they fly to the tree above, watching us. It was one of the many great moment. We name this place " Hornbill Point". We take a break enjoy the moment with Hornbill making their present felt.

From here, we start trekking uphill. Early trek is easy, after 30 minutes, hill become steeper and steeper. However, tree are bigger and bigger and sound of wild Argus pheasant also stronger & stronger. 2 hours of hill trekking we reach Argus Pheasant point. This is the place where we got the most call of Argus Pheasant ( It is a wild chicken of the Borneo Rainforest). Rest for 30 minutes" Lunch break"with sight,Sound & Smell, Sound by Argus Pheasant, Gibbon and Friends, sight by birds flying around, and smell by Wild boar.

Then continue uphill trekking. tree here are taller some 250 feet and bigger. track are also rocking , after 45 minutes trek, we saw a Deer ( Local called it Kijang, size of young Calf) took off as fast as we saw her. Finally, after 5 hours of hard trekking, we reach the peak of Bukit Lutut. Great view of Temburong Vast Rainforest Canopy and as far as Mount Murud of Mulu caves national Park and Lawas in Sarawak.

We set up Camp and prepare dinner. Cicadas go full swing making noise as loud as posible. I think they are competing with us other. During our dinner, Frog and other insect also try to get our attention by making all sort of sound imaginable. Later Civet Cat ( Musang) also come to join us for dinner. they are a bit shy and just wait at the side.

After dinner, we share our experience in Rainforest with all insect, civet cat, Gibbon and other wildlife we can not see but heard them listening to us.

Our camp is built on stilt at a slope. we slept on strecher with a thin plastic sheet on top of us.
During our deep sleep, we are competing with Cicadas, tree Frog, owl, bats on who is making the loudest noise.