Into the wilderness

Spent 3 days and 2 nights in the wilderness. The trip to the `lubuk' took more than 2 hours. The destination was nicknamed `Lubuk Janggut Baung'. According to our guide, Tok Ki, all the `lubuks' were given names due to their significance or related tales. The water level was getting quite low on the first day of the journey. We made quite a number of stops to fish and refuel (I took along a 3hp OBM which needed refueling every 40 minutes). The trip downstream along the meandering Rompin River could have been fast and shorter if the intended OBM did not decide to call it a day. The engine I brought along really saved the day. At least 2 people would have to stay behind and miss the whole experience if I had decided to leave it at home.

The journey to Lubuk Janggut Baung

View from the skipper


The river flows faster on the other side.


One of the few fishing stops we made along the way.




Camped for the night


Favourite bait ... cengkerik, never leave home without it.


Mode of travel, a 14 footer with 15hp OBM, a 12 footer 5hp OBM and a 12 footer with a Yamaha 3hp ...


Joyful old men, camping and fishing


Target, kelabau (gives a good fight), baung (there seems to be quite a number of species to remember all their names), lais (good eating fish) and nyet-nyet ... a nuisance species.
Picture below shows the catch in a Orang Asli's dugout.


Our guides, Pak Ya, Tok Ki and Man Kasut (a local and the owner of the dugout/canoe)


Not that much, eh. The `rakit' was stranded during the end of the year flood.


Our cook ... an engineer by profession, an angler and adventurer whenever he is free.


The tents


The trusted 12 footer


The life saver


When he is not cooking or fishing, he will be my navigator ... watching out for sandbanks/sandbars and other obstacles.
Up ahead is the `Lubuk Batu Berendam'


The journey upstream lasted more than 3 hours. Pheww!