Day 1 - My birthday celebrations started at Medan Airport, Sumatra, on a very hot morning. My friend, Paul, flew in from England for an Asian adventure.
After a few negoiations, we made our way by motorised becak to the bus station and proceeded to get in an angkot for Bukit Lawang. After about 40 minutes we were told to get out and get a mini bus. One thing to realise is that you rarely finish a journey on the same bus as you started, despite being told it is direct.
So I was asked 'How many people can you fit in a mini bus?' ~ as many as the driver believes is OK, regardless of how squished and squashed you and there are 5 people sitting up front!! Paul had the pleasure of sitting next to old ladies chewing leaves as well as other things. After many stops and by-passing a few cows on the winding roads, we arrive in Bukit Lawang. Yet another becak is required to take us as close as possible to our accommodation. We must navigate the very dodgy looking rope bridge crossing the river to get to the Eco-Lodge. We check-in and freshen up and then check out the village. Paul tastes his first 'Tebs', my favourite Inodnesian soft drink - tea and soda, has his first Inonesian meal and Bintang beer, to celebrate my birthday. He meets a new feline friend.
Day 2 - A relaxed morning and we wander through the village to Nora's for some Indonesian cooking lessons by the river. We make delicious potato cakes and gado-gado for lunch, however we needed to walk off all that food, so we head towards the Bat Caves around 2kms away. A nice walk before it started to rain. We cook our own evening meal at Nora's - Indonesian Curry - chicken for Paul and veggie for me.
Day 3 - We are up early to start our jungle trek with Ali, our guide for the day. A short boat trip across the river (all of 30 seconds) and we are in Gunung Leuser National Park. First stop, the feeding station for the orangutans. High up in the trees is a shy female called Rada, but she missses out on the bananas as a female with a baby of approximately 6 months, steals the opportunity and all the photo shots. We spend some time here and then head off deep into the park in search of some more'cheeky monkeys', orangutans and thomas-leaf monkeys.
We had a little rest for walk and fruit snacks and Ali explores and finds a white-faced gibbon and thomas-leaf monkey. Paul goes to investigate while I made sure those cheeky monkeys stay away from our back packs. We swap and whilst I was with Ali, Paul videoed a visitor in our resting spot. A large female and her baby come from nowhere and start opening Ali's pack and then munches her way through some bananas. Paul is shouting for Ali, I am confused and then realise why as I walk straight towards her. Now she has a plastic bag (not looking good) with a pineapple in it. She takes the pineapple and Ali recovers the bag.
We spend a long time here watching, taking photos and videos. She is amazing and her baby is so cute. After their mid-morning snacks there is play time in the trees and the youngster shows us his tree swinging skills - AMAZING to watch. PLaytime in the trees is over, we go back to the scraps of fruit that the cheeky monkeys have not taken, then it's rough and tumble time.
We must leave her and explore more of the park. Such a shame as I could have stayed there all day. More walking, up and down, massive trees, birds calling each other, insects galore and it is so peaceful. Lunch break brough a tortoise visitor out of nowhere and he munched on some oranges.
We have no idea what time it is or how far we have walked, but we suddenly arrive at a clearing and discover we have left the national park. Wow - waht a great day. It's only a short walk through some fields back to our accommodation. We rest!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A great end to a the start of a great trip.
