Day 902 – Banding Island to Gemang Lama

Day 902                                               8th January 2019

55 miles (Banding Island to Gemang Lama) Average speed 9.9 mph Top speed 33 mph

Another fantastic day.

I got up at 7 to see the sunrise and then had brekkie at the Belum cafe with a chief of police, a research engineer and a marketing guy, of smoked fish with rice and coffee. This made for a very interesting conversation which covered everything from research of fish, wildlife and fauna to how to prevent poaching.

Then I returned to the house boat and met Kiro who told me that once we had done our tour we would return to pick up my bike. It was brilliant going around the rainforest by boat and he took me to a place where the rafflesia grew and I witnessed one in bloom.

Then as we left we saw a pair of winson eagles preying on the fish. Next stop was an island where you can camp and hike over 4 km.

then it was back to pick up my bike and travel up river where Kiro dropped me off in what seemed like the middle of nowhere. As he fished and I changed into cycling gear, it became obvious that I was in the middle of a native asri village. As I climbed up they were very surprised to see a cyclist coming from the river through their village.

I’ve seen a whole family of wild boar, a pair of eagles hunting, some elephant crap, but no elephants and been for a boat ride around the lake. I even got my boatman Kiro to take me and the bike up river to skip a mountain or two. I have had the most amazing time here.

Tonight as it was dark and I had no money I asked at a petrol station if there was a hotel nearby or an ATM and my new friend Bisela took me on his scooter and then we had dinner!

The Malay people are fantastic and I look forward to making many more good friends on my way through this beautiful country.

 

Hotel Jeli inn. 50 ringgit. A room with 5 beds inc double, aircon, hot shower, fan, fridge and tv. I even found a full pack of ibuprofen 600 but only took 1.