Etappe 3 - in the rainforest

I am a stress eater and I'm already devouring the chips and chocolate I bought for the journey. Sugar and fat are supposed to calm you down: BUT: we are promised an automatic car, great. And just like on trains, there is a note here too: the durian fruit - we remember the fruit that smells like a mix of Tilsit cheese and baby poop - is forbidden here.

We took a taxi (Grab) to Europcar, we thought for a long time whether we should treat ourselves to this luxury, but Dania realizes: "1.08 euros (divided by 3) for a ride? You can do that."

After a thorough inspection, we start our journey with our Honda. It purrs and drives really well. Unfortunately, it is raining continuously and I still don't quite understand the Malaysian traffic rules. Why do people drive when the traffic lights are red and honk at you when you struggle to do the same as the Malaysians?! And why is driving without lights in the dark and rain apparently a popular pastime?! And as our guidebook already said: a foreigner can be recognized by the fact that they signal... ergo: Malaysian drivers never signal. Confusing... I never know what the driver in front of me will do next. So it means: always be vigilant, or careful. By the way, careful means here: AWAS. We encounter this sign every 3 meters. It becomes a running gag... for about 2 hours, until Michi asks: "What does AWAS actually mean? Did the sign mention it somewhere?"😂😂

In general, there was little reason for AWAS. The roads are surprisingly good and we reach our guesthouse in the oldest rainforest in the world just before sunset. How beautiful it is here can only be guessed because of the darkness.

But the next morning, the Balai Serama (https://seramaholiday.com/) reveals its full beauty - "wooow, it's beautiful". The Dutch owner and I, a Malaysian man, welcome each other with breakfast before they give us tips on which of the routes we have selected through the rainforest are feasible and which ones we should stay away from. Then we go to the next town, from where you can take a small boat to the forest.

And off we go on the hike - up and down the hills, using ropes to climb the mountains, and occasionally unsure if this is still the right way. If off-road is also correct, then it definitely was. I thought I sweat in KL and Singapore... but that was nothing compared to the loss of water that affects each of us here in the rainforest. We reach Bukit Teresek after 3 hours, a nice feeling, an amazing view.

Unfortunately, I am starting to get headaches... sentences like: "Come on, the path looks better!" no longer surprise me.

We go downhill and once we are back on the land side, we treat ourselves to a cola at one of the floating restaurants. The owner has the fabulous idea of ​​offering us - or rather Dania, who has never eaten the fruit before - durian. "Hmm, nutty, delicious," I hear her say. What's going on?! Did I just imagine the baby poop-cheese taste?! But then it happens: he explains to us that this durian was still unripe, hence the taste. The right, ripe durian - which Dania also tries - almost brings tears of disgust to her eyes. The taste is so intense that she feels sick until she brushes her teeth for the umpteenth time. We feel exhausted. I am also feeling worse and worse, the migraines are getting stronger and something is wrong with my stomach. And that's where the day ends and the adventures in the rainforest end for me. I go to the clinic, medication is prescribed and I try to slowly get back on my feet. The two fellow travelers are out and about until early afternoon the next day, but they want to be with me the following day in case there is no improvement. Very sweet!

Because either way: I have to be fit again on July 18th, because the journey continues!