Kuching with Drama Queens Day 2

We went to Gunung Gading National Park hoping to see Rafflesia. On the way there, we had to board a ferry to cross Batang Rambungan and the ferry ride only cost RM1 per car. It was so cheap and we were wondering how much their profit is.

The view on the way to Gunung Gading NP

On the ferry crossing Batang Rambungan

The RM1 ferry

Once we reached the national park, the park ranger told us that no Rafflesia was currently in bloom. We should have called before coming here. Now, there’s only a bud and it will be a month before the flower is fully bloom. So we decided it was not worth it to see the bud. If we had wanted to see the Rafflesia bud, we have to pay RM30 per group for the park ranger to take us to the flower location. I think it will cost about RM30 as well if you wanted to see the Rafflesia flower in full bloom.

We're here! Gunung Gading NP

The lifecycle of Rafflesia

So, we went jungle trekking instead. We took the trail to Waterfall No1 which was about 30minutes from the main office building. Once we reached the waterfall, we had some snacks and played in the water.

We took the Waterfall 1 trail

Heading towards Waterfall 1

Picnic at the waterfall

After half an hour at the waterfall, we decided to head back to the main office building. But we took a different route back there. We had to climb a series of stairs for 800m before we came to Lintang Trail. Then, to walked the Lintang Trail for 45 minutes and came to a T-Junction. We took a left turn at the junction to View Point 2 and then came down the same route to View Point 1, all the way to Rafflesia Plank Trail. The journey down was quite slippery as it rained a bit along the way making the trail wet and slippery. Some of us even slipped along the way down.

The 800m climb

Entering Lintang Trail

The view from View Point 2

The red/yellow mark that ensure we're on the right track

The view from View Point 1

When we decided to take this alternative route back to the main building, we didn’t know that we will be going through steep uphill and downhill routes throughout the journey. Especially since most of us were first timers in jungle trekking. My legs turned jelly even at the first part of the trail where we climbed the stairs to Lintang Trail. The viewpoint was a bit disappointing as it was not maintained and there’s no proper viewing platform. We had to go in between the bushes to see the view. Even that, the tree branches was blocking some part of the view. 

Flora and fauna that we came across during our trek

After about 4 hours (3pm), we managed to arrive at the main office building. Teoh was waiting for us at the main office with bottles of 100 plus and water (he came down first as he didn’t went to View Point 2). There was nothing much to see here besides the Rafllesia flower and some interesting flora and fauna that we saw along the way. There’s a lot more to see at Bako National Park (according to my local friend). So, if you plan to go jungle trekking in Kuching, I would suggest Bako National Park. There, you can stay the night at the park and do nights walk where the animals are more active. If you really want to go to Gunung Gading National Park, call the park ranger first so that you won’t be disappointed for not able to see the Rafflesia flower.  

After Gunung Gading, we went to Wind Cave, but when we reached there it was already closing time though it was only 4.30pm at that time. So we head back to Kuching and head to Top Spot Seafood Food Court for dinner. They sell cheap seafood here and it only costs us RM152 for 7 people. We had 2 types of vegetables, sambal grilled bamboo clam, deep fried squid, butter prawn and steamed fish. It was very delicious.

Top Spot Food court

Tired and hungry faces

Our dinner for the night

All cleared

After dinner we went back to our accommodation and some girls went out for a drink but I just stayed home and sleep. 

To be continued..