3 December 2015. Kubah National Park - no thanks to the buses

After the success with Bako yesterday, I decided to go to another of the National Parks - Kubah. I intended to leave a bit later than yesterday, on the K21 bus that was meant to leave at 10.10. I got to the bus station in good time - no bus. I asked at the an office but they just said it should be 'over there'. Hunting around 'over there' I found a very amiable scheduler who said that the 10.10 was cancelled and that today they were running a K21B service. I asked how on earth one was meant to know if it was a K21 day or a K21B but I think this was lost in translation. Anyway I ended up on the 11.15 K21B which got me to the Park around midday. The bus was good fun anyway, as it seemed to be personalised by the drive. He had a lady to look at on his windscreen and the passengers' windows were shaded by FCB team pictures.

The Park gave me a map and the trek to the Waterfall seemed do-able in the time available - to be waiting for the last bus at 4.00, even though it was only scheduled to pass at 4.30.

The treks are approached by a longish (maybe 1 km) uphill walk up the main concrete driveway, which slightly lacks the wow factor of the Bako treks. However, it is pleasant enough and I was only passed by one vehicle - the drive is purely internal. After some while - it was all uphill - I arrived at a frog pond - which seemed only to be lacking frogs. I stayed a while and took some pictures and carried. on.

Very shortly afterwards, I got to the start of the 1.5km trek to the waterfall. This was very pleasant though seemed mainly downhill - I couldn't help thinking I'd be paying for this on the way back!! The trees were beautiful and the park was full of life - especially creepy crawlies.

 I learnt to my cost to be careful not only where one put one's feet but also to check hand rails before grabbing them. The first lesson was when I grabbed a rope only to find a small red and rather solid spider was there before me. The second time was rather more alarming. I put my hand on a rail; ouch; looked down and there was a large caterpillar who'd lost a fair few of his tine spines in my hand! I spent the next five minutes diligently picking these out and carried on with a few still jabbing me when I rubbed my hand.

The way was marked with post every 50 metres and once I had got to about 1.2km I could hear the sound of water. At 1.45km I'd arrived at what seemed an OK but hardly stunning waterfall.

Ahead the path seemed to peter out with a large tree fallen across it - but still passable. Luckily I decided to explore. The last 50 metres brought me to a brilliant waterfall - which also seemed to have attracted a film crew.

I stayed for a while - but was conscious of the need to get back in good time. Although, short, the walk was a slow one. So I set off counting down the markers. I was careful not to brush up against my caterpillar friend and found the uphill generally not difficult - in some ways easier than the downhill, particularly the wooden steps.

I got back to the concrete road at about 3.30 and walked quite briskly back to wait for the bus a bit before 4.00. And wait. And wait. And wait. At 5.00 I gave up and asked the advice of some Park staff who were leaving. They suggested hitch-hiking and very fortunately a couple of students pulled up and gave me a lift back to Kuching. This was not before a lot of cars had gone by. Some were full and I suppose others did not fancy a rather sweaty looking foreigner in their nice car.
Anyway, I was keen to give the students something for their kindness but fortunately enquired on their religion before saying 'please buy yourselves  drink'. I've no idea what the equivalent expression is.
Back in Kuching, I certainly bought my-self a drink before returning to the hotel for a very welcome shower. Later I went to a recommended noodle bar where ll the lady does is two noodle dishes - one plain; the other red. They are less than 50p and I gorged myself on one of each!