Day 2
We awoke to a triple decker breakfast sandwich and tea then made ready to leave camp for an "easier" trek into the jungle to meet Jackie and her baby. Jackie is a rehabilitated orangutan who was released back into the wild. Because she was around humans, she is friendly and always looking for a handout of fruit. She will grab someone's hand or give them a hug and won't let go until she is given something.
But first we had to climb the mountain to get out of camp. I felt good. I was ready.
20 minutes later I was ready to give up. Heddi proposed that he take Luci and me to camp 2 by an alternate route, we would climb the mountain and then a long descent to the river which we would follow to camp. He warned we would not see animals. He did not realize we had Luci's good luck on our side. (Read her blog to find out how she acquired this luck). We took him up on the offer and said goodbye to our German friends and Brahm. We eventually made the top of the mountain, 10 steps, rest, 10 steps, rest. It was STEEP!!
As we crested the top, we heard the call of the gibbon. As we descended, it got louder. Soon, Heddi was answering them. He saw the trees swaying and there, leaping from limb to limb was a gibbon. We stood mesmerized as it sailed through the air, over our path and into the forest. His mate was clinging to a trunk, looking at us while we looked at her. Truly an unforgettable moment. I took some pictures but they will not convey the sheer joy of seeing these acrobats of the forest.
We continued on the path to run into a truly wild orangutan and her offspring. They watched us from about 10 feet in the air above us. Their heads swiveled as we passed underneath them, each of us watching the other. The younger one, maybe two years old, had enough and started moving through the branches towards us. Heddi shouted "move, move!" "don't run" as the path was precipitously steep "move, move". He shot big rubber bands at the orangutan to try and stop him. Eventually he gave up the chase and we continued down to the river bed. We forded the river 5 times and finally arrived at camp. We were joined by Brahm, Jonas, and Dominic an hour or so later. They had met the orangutan Jackie and had held hands with one of her children. Me? I'm glad we had Luci's luck with us as I would rather have had our experiences.
The camp was on the river near some rapids and we all went for a swim in the cool clear water.
That night at camp Heddi left us to go back and get more trekkers. Brahm and the cook entertained us with "jungle magic" and we played cards until bed time.
The next day would be the end of this adventure.
Pictures to follow when I can download them.
Thanks for reading!!