Old Fellows Bimble

[BOD]

Went in with Jan and Yen for an old fellows walk in the woods in Malaysia in the approaches to the foothills of the main dividing range.

We soon entered extensive bamboo forests. This bamboo is easily 20metres tall

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i154/BOD_photos/Sendat/DSCN4690.jpg

You may have eaten little bamboo shoots in Chinese restaurants but this is one on steroids.
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i154/BOD_photos/Sendat/DSCN4691.jpg
Came across this snake skin tree. It is reminiscent of some python markings say the locals

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i154/BOD_photos/Sendat/DSCN4696.jpg

Then we entered a glade which the indigenous people have made so that they can collect durians.
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i154/BOD_photos/Sendat/DSCN4698.jpg
They had made a seasonal shelter which they occupy during the fruit collection season. These durian trees are tall and the heavy spiky fruit is a lethal missile as it plummets to ground. They make a loud “whumph” on impact. Every year people are hospitalized with injuries like cracked skulls or carted off to the mortuary

Perhaps that is why they made this little altar. Like Asterix’s Gauls they are fearful of the sky falling on their head. I have no idea about their beliefs or why this little ladder (which is totally non functional as only a spirit could mount it) was made.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i154/BOD_photos/Sendat/DSCN4699.jpg

I think this is where they keep the durians they collect and place their rattan packs on the shelf below to fill them up and support the load as they put the straps on.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i154/BOD_photos/Sendat/DSCN4703.jpg
However the fruit on the shelf is a wild “rambutan” known as a “pulasan” which unlike the bright red domesticated version has an edible nut that tastes like almond and walnut
Here is a photo taken later

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i154/BOD_photos/Sendat/DSCN4731.jpg

The walls and floors of their shelter are made with split bamboo, smooth side facing in and rough out
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i154/BOD_photos/Sendat/DSCN4701.jpg

For some reason I didn’t take a photo of the smooth side.

Photo of an interesting leaf

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i154/BOD_photos/Sendat/DSCN4704.jpg

Crossed over the stream and returned to the waterfall we started at.
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i154/BOD_photos/Sendat/DSCN4705.jpg

I climbed to the top and found two more drops
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i154/BOD_photos/Sendat/DSCN4716.jpg

There were many Large butterflies – velvet black and iridescent green – the Rajah Brooke Birdwing, but they were impossible to photograph. I tried to tempt them with a sweaty backpack but no luck. This is the best I managed

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i154/BOD_photos/Sendat/DSCN4708.jpg

It was a green world up stream

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i154/BOD_photos/Sendat/DSCN4723.jpg

with little patches of brown like this fungi. It’s texture is like thick glossy paper

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i154/BOD_photos/Sendat/DSCN4717.jpg

This creeper reminds me of something you might see in a science fiction film

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i154/BOD_photos/Sendat/DSCN4730.jpg

After swimming in the falls we headed back home to a good local meal and cold beer

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i154/BOD_photos/Sendat/DSCN4751.jpg

[John Fenna]

Impressive pickies!
In Thailand this summer I became addicted to Rambutan, but found Durian awful!
Rambutan are available in Tesco at about a quid each - addiction cured!
John

[KAE1]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing.

[JonnyP]

Yes, thanks for sharing Bod, looks like a bushcrafters adventure playground there...Interesting creeper that sends out shoots and joins onto itself....

[BorderReiver]

Thank you,I enjoyed that.:)

[Scots_Charles_River]

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i154/BOD_photos/Sendat/DSCN4731.jpg

Amazing........