Brimming with waterfalls

Tubing down one of the bigger rapids of Selai River. GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH

After lunch, I join the other guests and Adni’s son Latif (who is also a guide) for a bit of jungle trekking.

Looking at a signboard near the starting point of the jungle trail, I count the names of four main falls and one river.

Taman Negara Selai, which takes its name after the Selai river that runs through it, is brimming with waterfalls. Latif says that we will take the easiest trek, which is a one-hour journey to Takah Pandan.

Barely 10 minutes into the trek, two members of the group are squeamishly removing leeches around their ankles. This will be a two-hour trek, I jokingly tell Latif.

Although relatively short, the trail to Takah Pandanrequires substantial uphill scrambling, with a few parts of the trail needing the use of fixed ropes for climbing.

Underfoot, the soft ground covered with dead leaves from the forest canopy gradually gives way to tree roots and craggy rocks as wegohigher and closer towards the waterfall.

An hour later, we reach Takah Pandan, a magnificent waterfall that is easily over 40 metres in height. is the word for waterfall in the language of the Jakun people, the aboriginal tribe that calls Selai and the nearby areas their home.

There is another waterfall on the left of Takah Pandan, but according to Latif, the fall is formed by heavy rainfall and this is a seasonal sight.

Nevertheless, the sight of two waterfalls flowing into the same river is a marvellous and rewarding sight, well worth the trek and leech bites.

The rest of the group sit near the pool of Takah Pandan, taking the usual group photos and selfies. Occasionally they break into strange yoga-like poses and outstretch their arms in front of the falls.

I have seen stranger things and their visible excitement and admiration for the falls are endearing.

Nicole, a sporty-looking type from the group, tells me that I should sit closer to the falls for better health. “Waterfalls have negative ions. They are good for you!” she says enthusiastically.

Seeing no harmin that, I find a vacant boulder closer to the cascading water to sit on.

Blowpipes and archery at Lubuk Merekek.

It is somewhere around 5pm when we return to the chalets.

Kak Aishah, who is Adni’s wife, has prepared a light meal at the common dining hall of the visitor’s complex for tea break. She is an excellent cook. Adni jokingly warns me not to say that or he will have to give her a raise.

After tea break, we walk towards the Selai river near the park’s activities centre. It is here that each member of the group is given a paddle, safety helmet, personal flotation device jacket and a giant inflated inner tube. There is a net that’s been secured in the middle of the tube.

Latif demonstrates how to harness the safety gear properly as well as how to sit on the tube and paddle.

After the safety briefing, we carry our gear towards the river bank near the starting point of the previous jungle trek.

Latif goes in the river first and in mere moments he’s down the rapids and floating in a pool.

Other members of the group go down but find it’s a little trickier than what Latif has demonstrated.

As I look at Latif standing in shin-deep water trying to free a hapless paddler whose tube got is wedged tight between river rocks, I must admit that tubing down the Selai river is not as adrenaline-pumping as, say, white water rafting but it is definitely fun and a wonderful excuse to get wet.

NOT REALLY CHILD’S PLAY

Dinner is a wonderful spread of barbecued meat, fish and fried rice, a far cry from the tin can meals I’m familiar with during jungle adventures.

I compliment Kak Aishah’s culinary skills again and she announces that she wants a new power bank for her phone.

Adni gives a little chuckle and shakes his head, feigning disapproval. All of usat the dinner table begin to laugh. It is a charming little moment and reminds me that the people we meet are as interesting as the sights we see.

Immediately after dinner, the group then embarksonanight walk into the park’s Arboretum, which is a fancy word for “botanical garden”.

Located next to the Selai River, the Arboretum has a plethora of tree species infor-