Selamat tengahari! This is Parker, Asher, and Sohum writing to you from Kuala Tahan. Everyone ate breakfast at their homes and met down at the river at 8:30am. After our check-in, we got on boats and traveled downstream to a hiking trail which led us to a big Tualang tree for a group photo and then to a great spot to swim. We had a lot of fun playing in the water. Throughout the trip, we have been recording our experiences through a GoPro until Asher lost his grip on the GoPro and it did not float  On the hike back, Parker and Asher spotted a giant monitor lizard and several leeches.







After our boat trip back, where many students took a nap, we ate lunch at the same floating restaurant as yesterday ,but the water level was much higher due to a lot of rain last night (which has thankfully cooled things down today). Our meal included a spicy sauced chicken and rice with vegetables and watermelon. After lunch, we met at Angah’s house (our main host) and began working on our E-Guide project to support Andrew’s work to train Bateq tour guides and increase ecotourism in the area. 


For our homestay, the three of us are staying with a 71-year-old man who we call Abba and his daughter. In our free time, we’ve played a lot of cards and listened to music and I (Sohum) am getting through my books. Yesterday we also picked a fresh coconut from a tree outside our house. One of the homestay mothers helped us open it. The coconut water was amazing and incredibly refreshing. The weather here is super variable. Yesterday there was a thunderstorm in the afternoon right after a hot and humid morning. We were playing cards outside with our neighbors when it started, but we didn’t think too much of it because we had a cover to keep us dry. The storm picked up really quickly. There was thunder and lightning and  our power went out a few times. 


That evening, we went over to our next door neighbors (Ben and Neil’s home) for dinner. We had a lovely meal in the main room on their large rug. Our favorite dish was spicy beef which was incredible. Then we said selamat malam for the night. Until next time!


  • Sohum, Asher, and Parker





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