We’re going on a hunt…

Took me ages to get to sleep last night…I was about to nod off when V shrieked as a flying ant or similar had just landed in her bed (about the only creepy crawly that’s intruded on our space the whole holiday, amazingly!) and we both leapt up and flapped about trying to catch and get rid of it…once settled back to bed that was me awake and I just stayed awake for ages so ended up reading my book til past 2am…annoyingly!
We went over for breakfast about 7am and I had my ‘usual’ of a delicious freshly made omelette, followed by some toast and a plate of lovely ripe fruit. All so beautiful it’s hard not to overeat here! Noticed a pretty little blue flycatcher bird on a bush by the deck and managed to get a picture of it, then off to get togged up ready for our elephant hunt (in our safari shorts and trousers…although we’ve rinsed them out a few times I’m sure they could stand up on their own!). Very hot and sunny today….although luckily once we were on the trail under the canopy at least we were more in the shade. The humidity was once again over 90%….we were dripping a few minutes after setting off!
Made our way along the hornbill trail that felt wilder than others we’d been on, and Nick told us to keep very quiet and close to him as a male elephant had been spotted in this area, one who was known to be aggressive especially when in musk, and before long we could smell the musk! We found a set of fresh footprints (larger in diameter than our boots despite being pygmy elephants), and some fresh dung, as well as passing some broken young trees, so we knew he was near and the feeling of terrified anticipation was palpable. When Nick told us to run to hide behind a buttressed tree if he charged us we became even more hyped….I think if he’d come out of the bushes then we’d have spontaneously combusted!
We had just paused to look at a huge tree that was completely surrounded in a deadly hug by a strangling fig when suddenly a loud, deep call echoed through the trees…we jumped! Thought it was the elephant but in fact it was apparently Mike (extra), one of the dominant male orangutans of this area who hadn’t been around for several months but was back and letting the other orangutans know about it. He’s huge, and quite bolshy apparently, and his call was certainly stamping his authority all around. What an experience to hear him, apparently they very rarely call (they don’t need to once they’ve made their presence known!) so we were really lucky. Not long aftr Nick told us that the strong smell was also from him, so he must be close and we dashed out of the trail and onto the main path to scan the trees and try to see him. We spent ages looking for him and Nick, always keen to help, even ran back into the trail to take another closer look but no luck. Considering we didn’t actually spot anything we were elated with the thrill of the chase…felt very special.
We were so hot by the time we got back to the lodge we were pleased to see B&J just checking out and headed over to our chalet with them and a tray of beers (well, of course the barman kingly carried them over once I’d ordered them, plus iced glasses!) and we all piled into the plunge pool on our balcony and chatted and laughed like crazy things for an hour or so when they needed to leave for their flight. We had showers and got changed (again!) and once freshened up we went over for lunch. Had some keema curry, fish in coconut milk, rice and salad then more fruit and fruit jellies. My oh my if the food wasn’t so good we’d be losing weight moving around in this heat….but unfortunately there’s no chance of that!
We spent a lovely relaxed afternoon catching up on journals, drinking beers, soda & lime and iced water and talking about how much we’ve enjoyed being here and all that we’ve done. Normally by now we’d be missing things about home and thinking about going back but we don’t feel a bit like that and instead feel sad to be nearly leaving, just pleased it’s only to embark on the next stage of the adventure.
About 3.30pm we went and got back into the safari garb for our last activity. Nick (ever keen to find us elephants and orangutans!) had arranged a private drive for us beyond the usual boundary area. We were in stitches when we saw them lift a bench from reception up onto the back of a truck and tie it on with ropes, then put a ladder up for us to climb in (extra)! What a laugh as we waved to the groups setting off for their afternoon wildlife walks!
We just went round the corner and wham….immediately saw an orangutan (not Mike, but Lom (extra), the brother of Khai that we’d seen on our first day). Excitement again as we watched him for a while and Nick called the other groups on his radio to let them know Lom was visible. After a while we moved on, and drove for an hour or so before returning. It was magic….so quiet, we were the only people around, and we just luxuriated in the experience, the sights and sounds of the rainforest…I guess this is what’s meant by forest bathing. We saw some wildlife but it wasn’t like the deluge of birds we saw at the river resort…we did see an Asian paradise flycatcher that was beautiful….long white trailing tail, white wings and a black head and heard a large monitor lizard when we stopped to listen to the 6 o’clock cicadas (their actual name…they are so loud and sound like a factory going home alarm, bang on time every day!). We caught glimpses of the lizard but didn’t see it all, and heard the barking geckos (sound exactly like a dog) and the frogs that sound like ducks. Just before we got back to the lodge two Sambah deer ran across the road right in front of us…beautiful!As we left the sun was setting and the moon was hanging over the forest as a farewell message to us….fabulous!
After the drive, we bought Nick a drink then sat with him going over our I-spy book filling out everything we’d seen with him, and Eric joined us and we talked about Scotland and showed them pictures of Glencorse and Edinburgh and talked tartan and haggis and snow and dancing, laughing away about all sorts. Dinner was chicken curry, rice, satay skewers and veg stir fry. Chocolate mousse and mango pan a cotta for dessert….yum!
By 9pm we were tired out so straight to bed…this time V’s attempted video call to her granddaughters was interrupted by a beetle! She was all casual about dealing with it until it unfurled its wings and started to fly off! Much hilarity (again!) then barely read a page of my book before falling asleep. Great last day here