It's Sat. AM and we are seated at the clinic working on email, but the power just went out (happens often on Sat, it seems), so I will send this later. At least now we have been shown how to turn-on the WiFi and we can get in so long as there is an inpatient. The families care for the patients, so the clinic must be left open for them to come and go.
Yesterday was our trip to Gunung Palung national park -- near here. We went with several other clinic staff plus Neahga (new naturalist), and Cam (Kiniri's husband and a botanist who has worked in this part doing research for more than 20 years). We had a couple of park staff who were the guides -- and a very rigorous hike, occasionally using knotted ropes to climb a section of the trail. I have never sweated this much in my life -- by the time we reached this hut (can be an overnight stay for a night or two), I literally left a puddle of water where I sat and did not have a dry spot of clothing. After a short hike through areas of old logging, we hiked mostly in native rainforest. On the way up, we smelled orangutan poop (were told that anyway) but did not see any orangutans. They are much more active in early Am and, per usual here, the 7am planned departure turned into 8 or later.
We then continues on further to an overlook with a view of the valley and park in the distance. This was not an easy hike -- checked my hear rate several times with breaks and had a rate of 140 each time. And, my legs felt as rubbery as they have with long bike climbs.
We returned to the hut above, had lunch and then proceeded to descend to meet our driver at 5PM -- not expecting much wildlife along the way. But, Neahga had gone ahead and found a group of orangutans that we were able to watch for probably 20 min. They move quite fast in the trees and knock down branches as they go -- nearly got clocked by one of them above my head. A little further along, we saw a large money with hair as red as the orangutan, but a long tail -- watched them for a time as well. So...while strenuous, the hike was great -- orangutans in the wild.
To crown the afternoon, we stopped at a beautiful pool at the base of a small waterfall and swam -- had not been that cool since arrival here and ,likely, not that clean.
There was some confusion about when we were to pay for the trip (300,000 ($30) for each American, so while driving back, we were followed and stopped by the park folks so they would be paid -- almost felt like we were being shaken-down. But... the price was as previously agreed on, so no big problem. Lauri and I, along with a couple of other volunteers, paid for a couple of the young staff -- their park, but too expensive for them.
Slept last night like the "dead" -- asleep by 8:30 and did not awaken until the call to worship at 4AM -- Today, we are back to being very hot and sweaty and managed a bike ride to the store to resupply a few items (especially beer) and this afternoon we will go with Hotlin to watch the delivery of goats to some widows. Later today, we plan to hit a "restaurant" for some spicey noodles (the rice has already gotten to us). We did find some dried currants or something similar to add to our oatmeal in the future. More pictures later from the other camera.
Yesterday was our trip to Gunung Palung national park -- near here. We went with several other clinic staff plus Neahga (new naturalist), and Cam (Kiniri's husband and a botanist who has worked in this part doing research for more than 20 years). We had a couple of park staff who were the guides -- and a very rigorous hike, occasionally using knotted ropes to climb a section of the trail. I have never sweated this much in my life -- by the time we reached this hut (can be an overnight stay for a night or two), I literally left a puddle of water where I sat and did not have a dry spot of clothing. After a short hike through areas of old logging, we hiked mostly in native rainforest. On the way up, we smelled orangutan poop (were told that anyway) but did not see any orangutans. They are much more active in early Am and, per usual here, the 7am planned departure turned into 8 or later.
We then continues on further to an overlook with a view of the valley and park in the distance. This was not an easy hike -- checked my hear rate several times with breaks and had a rate of 140 each time. And, my legs felt as rubbery as they have with long bike climbs.
We returned to the hut above, had lunch and then proceeded to descend to meet our driver at 5PM -- not expecting much wildlife along the way. But, Neahga had gone ahead and found a group of orangutans that we were able to watch for probably 20 min. They move quite fast in the trees and knock down branches as they go -- nearly got clocked by one of them above my head. A little further along, we saw a large money with hair as red as the orangutan, but a long tail -- watched them for a time as well. So...while strenuous, the hike was great -- orangutans in the wild.
To crown the afternoon, we stopped at a beautiful pool at the base of a small waterfall and swam -- had not been that cool since arrival here and ,likely, not that clean.
There was some confusion about when we were to pay for the trip (300,000 ($30) for each American, so while driving back, we were followed and stopped by the park folks so they would be paid -- almost felt like we were being shaken-down. But... the price was as previously agreed on, so no big problem. Lauri and I, along with a couple of other volunteers, paid for a couple of the young staff -- their park, but too expensive for them.
Slept last night like the "dead" -- asleep by 8:30 and did not awaken until the call to worship at 4AM -- Today, we are back to being very hot and sweaty and managed a bike ride to the store to resupply a few items (especially beer) and this afternoon we will go with Hotlin to watch the delivery of goats to some widows. Later today, we plan to hit a "restaurant" for some spicey noodles (the rice has already gotten to us). We did find some dried currants or something similar to add to our oatmeal in the future. More pictures later from the other camera.
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