An Encounter

The Local People

This is the first time I meet Malaysian aborigines face to face. Some of my friends have made friends in their social adventures in earlier times and were used to them. I looked hard at them in one of jungle trekking trudges and though I tried to communicate in our National language, they did not show signs of understanding. The sign language worked.

Dark-skinned I noticed they are attired in a modern mode and they wore watches. I guess some social groups must have given them as gifts. They were at home in the setting as they moved about confidently and swiftly.

The tour guide brought us to a Orang Asli centre and we were informed of their beliefs, taboos and some survival skills. Look at us. All too eager to learn of their ways and behaved as good students as we examine a local man start a fire the natural way.

With a simple string and a piece of wood, the man managed to ignite a fire in the primitive way. No need for gas, matches and electricity. Truly, necessity is the mother of invention.



Mr. Tasnim has just become a father to a new baby but when in the woods, he forgot himself and had fun throughout. Here he observed how the guy prepared a 'poisonous dart' for hunting purposes.



Even the local people are influenced by commercialisation. They produced miniatures of their hunting equipment for tourists; each at RM20.00 Many of us brought the item if it meant giving them a source of income.

Encik Rahim could not keep himself away from a good try. Did he hit the target. He did but it did not stay... so it was not a perfect shot.

Water is clean and free. The source of water is from the mountains and so it flows freely. There was no effort to stop the flow...

They boil water for drinking, cooking and maybe childbirth?


Fire is easily started and used freely... no cost involved.



This is a section of their living quarters. When you have been brought up under such circumstances and do not know what you have been missing, you only accept the situation well. Our children and students must see their abode to understand gratitude.

Look at them. I asked for permission to take the shot. They smiled and must have seen so many tourists that they have become immune to stares. We stared in compassion for them. Life seemed hard and tough and yet simple in their attitude, they took it in good strife.




What do they do everyday? I asked the guide if they go to school and he said many do not. Who do they marry? Among themselves, I was told. I listened with some sadness. What do they believe in? He told me they believe in the spirits of tress and nature. What happens when they are sick? He told me he seldom hears of them being sickly. Tough people they are. Somehow God is fair. No antibiotics and yet their anatomies are able to withstand diseases.

Amir, the guide told us when we leave, we do it in good spirit. We must convey our thanks their way...

Raise both hands and bow in humility and say...I forgot how it sounded.

We bade goodbye and thanked them for knowledge gained. They know things which we do not.

Yes, it's was good.

Satu Seafield.

Another unforgettable encounter.

The Canopy Thrill

530m in length.

Taman Negara boasts of a Canopy Walkway of quite a distance.

Nobody leaves the sanctuary without trying it out; unless something very untoward happens.

This group of young and old will take the challenge to task; I was wondering at my mum's response when she was at my age. Would she have taken the walk? No, no, no she would not. But some of us veterans here are never ever too willing to concede to defeat without a try. Who cares about the physical age ? It's the heart that is young.

See. All who were there were only too eager to give it a walk. I saw babies too; and I wonder at the energy the young parents had. Frankly speaking, it's good to be young; no aching knees, breathlessness and funny manifestations. I am glad I made it to the trip. It would be quite a while for a second trip of this nature.

Look at the majestic bridge; long and slim but yet it was really so achievable. The other walkway in Eco Dusun was more challenging with its narrow path.

It was a pleasant walk when you look down at the lush greenery and thick undergrowth; many travellers take pains just to be in the midst of nature and its natural setting. You have to keep telling yourself that the canopy is created for pleasure and you will enjoy the walk.

Gate 7 . I will remember it. It's not meant for ladies who are not fit.

Gate 7 leads to the most challenging part of the walkway; steep and wobbly. But when you have friends all around you ready to give you support and protection, nothing becomes impossible. But it was a climb.



Ms Goh kept ranting that this was her first and last experience on the walkway. First, I agree but last, no; unless you are older than me I told her. She said that she had never been on one and this very long 530m walk was a challenge. But don't believe her. She did it quite naturally.

His knees giving him problems? Or is he putting on a show? Kang has many tricks up his sleeves but the best attitude and values were portrayed by him throughout the trip. We want to thank him for his organizational skills and were glad to discover so many fine points in him. Thank you Mr. Kang for being such a macho yo yo yo...

She never gives up; a complete believer in the best of a person. She livened the group with her words of encouragement and all out to observe the best qualities in her staff. She commended on the latent skills and qualities of her staff generously !

At times when I feel up to it, I also like to pose and be vain.

Do you like my pose?

So don't play, play. We veterans can do it too .

It was a good walk. It removed our doubts and inhibitions and told us that the mind is the greatest challenge to achievements in life. But the best of all was having friends and colleagues who were by your side for fun, encouragement and play.

The Canopy Walkway was exhilarating.

Back To Nature

Have you been to Taman Negara ?

When the Teacher's Club decided on a team building session at the famous tropical forest of Malaysia, I felt grateful to be given a chance to visit this much-talked about forest sanctuary. Many have travelled from afar to peep at the place and what great an opportunity it was to be able to make a trip there. Now I can boast that I have been to the reserve and share the fun.



This National Park is located along the Main Range of Peninsula Malaysia and if you want to try be part of nature; go park yourself there for a couple of days. I should have planned for a family trip of this nature when the girls were younger for back then they would have been eager and excited at such an outing. But for now I am not too sure...they don't know what they are missing. Just maybe, if and when they do become parents , they might just do their family a great favour by visiting the place.





The teachers were excited though just to find out more about the place and for a time of bonding and getting to know one another better. It's to encourage the potential in individuals and to overcome fears of not being able to take the challenges.

Know your forest and our forest.



At the square, they exhibit the famous fish...Kelah Fish.

We went trudging and trekking a few kilometers along the forest; some parts have become secondary ones though a large part is still primary.

A bamboo species...




Trees of thousands of years with deep set buttress roots were a sight to behold and the guides told us that when you do get lost in the forest; go bang the roots and they will emit echoes...

Lovely flora...

This species grow naturally from the ground...

Look at the lovely ferns which grow so beautifully; we wanted to pluck and carry them away...

Wild banana species...

They say look...

Our little friend up there was wondering at us too...

The bark of this tree is used by people of the land to start a fire...

The bark when burnt exudes a fragrance that protects...

When you have the time, drop by this National Park and dis cover for yourself the unlimited surprises; difficult to be worded.

Come to Taman Negara to taste of her flora and fauna; all Biology teachers will be delighted.