Maju Kebelakang

Yesterday I could not write and make any posting to this blog because I do not have excess to the internet. Yesterday journey was fun. We depart Bintulu in the morning and visited two rivers situated in between Bintulu and Miri.

To go here we are shifting from Bintulu Miri coastal highway to the old federal road to Miri. To make this short cut we passed few palm oil plantation. It is a gravel road and take us around 40 minutes uncomfortable ride.

Around noon we arrived at the junction that lead us to Sungai Paroh and Suai. Another 12 km on Palm oil plantation road, we are passing around 3 to 4 estates before reaching our first destination. It was drizzling so it make road not only bumpy but also slippery. The first river Paroh is only 4 meters wide. We took few photos and ready to go to next river Sungai Suai.

We continue our journey deep into the plantation for another 4 km that is based on my GPS. But I know now that in palm oil estate everything look the same, I know that without proper guide we will lost in this estate.

About 1 km from our target point our vehicle could not move further, so we got no choice but to walk to Sungai Suai. It look like near but it is actually not. Passing the undulating terrain in not an easy task. With my team I have a team member that is 61 years old, he is really fit old man that climb the hill easily and he make me feel shame of myself anyway.

We meet up with three Ibans on the way to Sungai Suai. Two middle age man and a lady probably their mother I think. She told me that they catch fish in the river for sale to the estate workers and whoever they meet along the way. They are from the nearest long house in Paroh. They have been there for four days sleeping in the tent they set up beside the river. It fresh "Ikan Toman". As we move on to continue our work they make their way to the location where we park our 4 wheel drive because they want to hop on our 4wd to go back home. I put my hat off to this people for what they are doing fish and camp in the middle of the jungle which I do not think I dare to do myself. Or probably a person like me are to complacent to the city and easy life.

We depart Suai after load off the three Ibans at the main road leading to their long house. I think the fishes that they managed to catch for the last four days will give them enough money to survive until end of the month. Did I tell you all that we took photos together and the best part is they also caught our photos using their handphone,quite surprise to see that.

We arrived Batu Niah for lunch as well as to get a new driver and vehicle that we will use for our journey to Long Seridan. Micheal is the driver name, have been doing the driving job for the last few years. He was a timber truck driver and mechanic for the last twenty years, I was given his contact by his son who attended my training session last two weeks. According to Micheal his drive all sort of people that wanted to go to interior such as government officer especially teachers from Semenanjung. I think I have chose the right guy to assist us for the journey.

We talked along the way, it is a good road up to Beluru, but after that we enter into gravel road all the way until Tinjar. Bumpy and slippery ride, since Micheal is an experience guy he just push until 100 km per hour even though the 4 wd that we are using vibrate heavily. Micheal told us that this road condition was like this sine last 30 years. I could not understand why something was not done to upgrade the road condition because the number of vehicles that using this road is more than some of Semenajung road. The best part is that in some villages only few kilometres with proper literate road, and according to Micheal the stretch was done during the election time.

From Belure we head for Lapok about 1 hour drive. There nothing much along the way except long houses of Iban's and Kenyah tribes. The are some design different that can be spotted. I saw peoples and keep asking myself how can they stay in very remote area.

From Lapok we drive up to Long Lama. Arrived there around 6 pm. Long Lama town located at other side of Batang Baram (road that river mouth in Miri). So we had to use a car ferry to cross.

It cost us RM15, that charges only apply before 8 pm, after 8pm the price going up to RM150 per trip. It means that in emergency situation when you require ferry to cross get yourself ready with RM150 in your pocket otherwise they will not move. Long Lama also accessible by express boat from Marudi and Ulu Baram in Miri.

After crossing we meet our client and search for the hotel to stay for the night. Hotel full house "Hotel Telang Usan" (I am not sure how many room but definitely no star). We asked around to find a place to stay luckily we found one house with three room that can rent for daily use.

I left my team and head to Miri around 7pm. It is dark but I got no choice to catch up flight to KK the next morning to start survey other rivers from Sabah/Sarawak border to Lawas. Along the way it was dark only passing lighted area once every 10-15 km maybe. I managed to arrived Beluru safely around 8.30 pm this is where the driver declared to me he is actually not willing to back to Miri if I have not booked my flight to KK the next morning. Anyway we are safely back in Miri at 9 pm and had our dinner before I checked in into Somerset Hotel Miri.

Today my journey start at 0650 hrs, to Miri airport to catch 8.15 am flight to KK. I arrived in KK at 9 am hire a four wheel drive and move out fro terminal 2 KK to meet up with few friend in KK town.

My other team member that was coming from KL arrived in KK at noon time. I picked them up and start my journey to Lawas stopping at Beufort for a brief meeting with my client. I drove to Lawas quite fast compared to those local people to catch a meeting with my client in Lawas office. After the meeting we decided to knock off for the day and look for a hotel room to rest. Our work will start tomorrow early morning to the nearest river and moving south. Hope everything will be find and fun tomorrow.