Nothing can harm me at all
My worries seem so very small
Oh my waterfall
—Jimi Hendrix
For an excellent afternoon getting a little exercise and seeing the seethingly wet, tropical side of Malaysia’s Cameron Highlands area, you could do worse than the several numbered Jungle Walks that dot the area around the town of Tanah Rata.
Tanah Rata is a nice enough town already, pleasant, quiet, and friendly. But it’s surrounded by a verdant, hilly topography that beckons anyone who sticks around for longer than a couple days.
Masayo and I, during our several days in Tanah Rata, went on two of these walks, both of which plunged us a couple kilometers into the thick jungle and showed us some nice waterfalls.
Day 76: Walk #4 to Parit Falls
Our first excursion was to Parit Falls on Jungle Walk #4. I’m not sure how “official” the numbers for the walks around Tanah Rata are, but this one even got a mention on a highway sign so I guess there is some recognized status for it.
Walk #4 starts near a colorful mosque called Masjid Abu Bakar, and soon a brick pathway leads into the woods. Eventually you find yourself on a little dirt trail, under the canopy of trees, listening to little except the sounds of the breeze through the trees.
It’s quite perfect. Parit Falls itself is about three feet high, and something of a let-down, but the walk is the main attraction here and it doesn’t disappoint.
Gazing at minuscule Parit Falls.
We came across a steel tower with steps, so we climbed to the top for some excellent views of the surrounding area. Unfortunately, it was here that the hike went a little pear-shaped.
We lost the trail and had no idea where we were. Finally striking off through the dense underbrush, we struggled down steep, muddy hills, breaking twigs and heaving aside branches to forge our path. I broke trail in front, with Masayo following and getting as muddy and as scratched up as me.
During the scramble through the underbrush.
We didn’t know if we were headed towards anything, but fortunately we eventually emerged onto what was clearly a well-trod path. Success!
Steamboat for dinner
That night we celebrated the joyful conclusion of our walk with a meal of “steamboat”, a pot of boiling water into which a large array of foods – vegetables, meats, eggs, et cetera – are tossed and cooked. A Tiger beer or two, and I was sated and happy.
Waiting for the water to heat up for steamboat.
Diabetes report – insulin and steamboat
Steamboat features some noodles, and mine included beer, but it’s mostly made of seafood, meat, and vegetables, a low carb affair that is comparatively easy to take insulin for. The jungle walk hadn’t been that long – maybe three kilometers – but struggling through the overgrowth when we got lost probably took more energy than a leisurely stroll would have.
I took all this into account when I shot up my NovoLog (at the table, into my stomach) and fortunately my blood sugar was pretty good afterwards.
Day 80: Walk #9 to Robinson Falls
Having been convinced to stay a couple extra days in Tanah Rata for the Pangu Ni Utirum street festival, Masayo and I spent our final day there on our second jungle walk: the #9 to Robinson Falls. (Like Cameron Highlands itself, the name of Robinson Falls obviously reflects the days of British administration of Malaysia.)
This walk is, as a sign says with an apparent high degree of accuracy, 2.57 kilometers. The walk is winding and includes some steep inclines, but Robinson Falls, while decidedly small, are more impressive than Parit Falls which for my money barely qualifies as a waterfall.
Robinson Falls.
After walking past Robinson Falls, Jungle Walk #9 leads out into a quiet, rural collection of buildings, from where you stroll back into town along main roads.
Diabetes report – low blood sugar snacks on a jungle walk
These jungle walks were short enough that I brought my water, low blood sugar snack, and diabetes supplies (insulin pen and blood sugar machine) in a plastic shopping bag. My personal choice for low blood sugar snack, in Tanah Rata and throughout my time in Malaysia, was Tiger Biscuits (thin tan cookie wafers) and orange juice.
I looked like a guy carrying his groceries through the forest.
Doing a jungle hike, even a short one, means taking plenty of low BG food is very important. Seeing how Masayo and I got lost even on a short walk shows how vital having more than enough snacks can be.
As with everything else, the possibility of something going seriously wrong is infinitesimal and overblown in the fears of many diabetics. Just take stuff in a bag and don’t worry. You’ll be fine.
Beholding a missing sign on a Jungle Walk. Holding a half-eaten pack of Tiger Biscuits.
Tanah Rata has done all it can for us
I’m glad we took the jungle walks in Tanah Rata. They were easy enough to be a quick afternoon out and required nothing more than very mildly strenuous walking. Along with seeing the wild Pangu Ni Utirum street festival, visiting the Orang Asli village, touring the Boh Tea Plantation, and sampling the food of Tanah Rata, I feel like we really saw all the place had to offer.
It’s nice to be able to travel at a slow enough pace that you can visit an endearing place like Tanah Rata and see all of it. While traveling, the longer you stay in a place, the more you can understand it.
To a point, anyway – now it’s time to return to Kuala Lumpur and plan our last few days in Malaysia before our tourist visas expire.
What nice or interesting treks have you undertaken while traveling?
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