A trip to remember

Despite these horrors, our experience was incredible. Taman Negara is an amazing place: stepping into the jungle is like stepping into a prehistoric world. The diversity of flora and fauna is almost unimaginable and the views are breathtakingly beautiful.

The sense of mystique was enhanced by a chance encounter with some of the native tribes’ people that still live in the jungle interior, the Orang Asli. It was a surreal experience, sitting in our camp, trying to cook some baked beans in the can, when all of a sudden we heard the rustling of branches. Thinking there were monkeys on the way to steal our food, you can imagine our surprise when several naked children came running through the undergrowth, followed by men and women, semi clad in tribal cloth, carrying spears and fishing rods. Amazingly, they seemed as shocked to see us as we were to see them, and we spent several minutes being gawked at, with the children pointing and laughing (and clearly being chastised by the adults).

The night passed fitfully, with little sleep being achieved but somehow we survived, and the following day's shower can be counted as one of the most magnificent experiences I have ever had.

©Charlotte Halligan