11/6 night – Nightwalk
      The objective of this nocturnal excursion was to enable us to experience and explore the rainforest at night in order to give us a fuller understanding of its inhabitants and its processes. For e.g.. some plants are "active" while we are fast asleep - e.g. flowers of petai, durian and putat barringtonia where the latter was sighted by my group. To our good fortune, we even sighted a moth feeding on this putat barringtonia. Together with our group facilitator, Hazman, we sighted the following - long-legged centipede, stick insects (brown and green), long-legged termites, a crested lizard, harvesterman (spiders), bush cricket, forest cockroaches, grasshoppers and huntsman spiders.
      We also observed that there were quite a number of Simpo trees in the vicinity. They look a lot like the mangrove trees with their roots above the swampy ground.  These roots are the trees’ only support.
      As we held tightly to our torches, recording and drawing materials, we had to be very alert not only to spot our 'targets' but also to watch out for others which targeted us i.e. leeches? Yak! As we plodded through the trail, we knew we could never brave such darkness or the thought of the leeches feasting on us save for our imaginative and humorous disposition which kept us sane.

June 12 (Trip to Janing Barat and Kuala Jasin)
      The aftermath of last night's nocturnal excursion had us scurrying for leech socks, repellants or whatever that could repel early in the morning. While the ladies don green, beige and brown leech socks, the men were busy watching. Not because they were admiring our legs but they kept very quiet because one or two of them were not too sure how to wear their leech socks. "Do we wear the socks first, followed by leech socks?" or "Wear the leech socks first, followed by socks, then the shoes? Which is which?" One joker even thought the leech socks were meant to be worn over the socks, shoes and legs! No wonder he kept his pair without using them for fear of dirtying them on the first night. Such innocence.
      The subject on leech socks kept us filled with rollicking laughter which greatly whet our legendary MNS appetites for breakfast. After breakfast, we collected our packed lunch of fried rice and we set off to the nearby jetty to board the boats. The boat ride along the Endau River to Kuala Jasin took about 20 minutes. The boatmen were skilful in manoeuvering their boats to avoid the shallower parts filled with pebbles and rocks that formed most of the river- bed.
      We disembarked near Kuala Jasin and trekked a short distance in water and through a bamboo grove along Jasin River. From there we trekked up a short path that led us uphill where a signboard "Welcome to Kuala Jasin" greeted us. Hazman briefed us that we would be "Identifying Tropical Rainforest". The 3 groups went separate ways and with the help of a 10-metre string we immediately started work.
      We really had a field day in identifying the forest profile learning to classify heath forest and primary lowland forest. With the assistance of Hazman, we managed to identify quite a few which were mostly new to us. At below 30 metres, the following were identified - aroiid, moss, fern, liana, epiphyte, palms, fungi, grass, bamboo, rattan, shrub and ginger. Heights from 30 to 40 metres, we managed to identify the canopy but not the emergent which was rather difficult from our vantage point. Subsequently we found Emergent abundant in the vicinity of the NERC and our dorrns.
      We continued the morning with a trek up to Gunung Janing Barat. Trees like meranti, rengas and keruing were .identified. As we trekked along, Hazman warned us of the black sap from the rengas tree which could cause blistering and rashes upon contact with bare skin. Along the hike, we saw palms like the Palas licuala and Pinang Pinanga, Tongkat Ali, ginger, walking stick palms, etc.
      Also seen during the hike up were fan palms or pokok sabun (Livistona endauensis) which became the dominant specie on the upper slopes. Originally these palms thrived only on hilltops in shallow soils over sandstone but now they have become increasingly popular as an urban ornamental plant.
      At this point, Mrs. Loke gave up due to the steeper gradient. She found a shady spot with the fan palm trees all around and some dried ones to sit on and she just refused to budge! And as a good hubby, Loke Choon Ming reluctantly stayed with her.
      As the group hiked on in this fan palm forest, we came upon a rock face caused by the weathering of sandstone and needed a rope to haul ourselves up. We were dazzled by the unusual tree cover of the pure palm forest and the many wonderful and unusual plants. With help and encouragement from the group on top and the tail sweepers, Chin Chow and Swee Ching, the Lokes finally made it up.
      On the Janing Ridge at 450 metres is a water-logged area where hill swamp forest grow. Due to the damper conditions, epiphytes, ant plants, and insectivorous plants were found. The water-logging in the swampy heath forest greatly affects the plant community.

      We sighted 3 special types of Pitcher plants, namely

1. Nepenthes Gracilis - slender in nature,
2. Nepenthes Raffflesiana - are much stouter than the aerial ones.
3. Nepenthes Ampularia .- never grows more than a few inches above the ground.

1. Dischidia major (D. Rafflesiana)  is an ant plant; an epiphyte. These plants are thought to enjoy a symbiotic relationship with ants
2. Monkey's head (Pokok kelapa beruk) is an epiphytic shrub. Its bizarre name is due to its appearance where its swollen stem base (the hypocotyl) enlarged into a round brown structure, the "monkey's head". Riddled with chambers in which ants live, the plant obtains food from the debris brought in to these chambers by the ants. Equally important is the tuber's role in water storage.

13/6 Birding along K. Jasin & Buaya Sangkut Waterfall
      Today, we split into 2 groups. Merlene, Aik Yean, Kok Choo a Chandran accompanied by Chew and a guide went to hike the famous Buaya Sangkut which is a spectacular 40m, 3-tier waterfall. (The report was put up by Chandran) ***
Chin Chow planned to give them a surprise by joining the next morning but his plans backfired as he felt giddy, lousy and vomitted. He was "preqnant" over the night. He eventually stayed back and rested.
      Francis took the balance of the group for some light trekking and birding along the logging track to K. Jasin. He informed us that we might get to see some gibbons, snakes, etc. As we trekked, we also checked on some of the animal traps on the ground which were set the night before. We caught only a jungle mouse which looked quite frightened and pathetic. It hurt its nose by trying to get its way out.
      With some good fortune, we spotted a Javan Frogmouth along the way. It perched on a branch ? still and steady. It was a lifer for all of us. Loke had all the opportunities to capture many views of it. It was so co-operative and did not even wince! Probably it was sleeping soundly.
      Not long after and without much luck, the ladies were feeling a bit restless as most of them were non birders. Swee Cheng remarked that she could not birdwatch as she likes to talk and members like me, while bird-watching would keep conversation to the minimum. How dull r
      Not long, we were seen in 3 groups. Suddenly, there was loud and clear flapping sound created from powerful wings, heard from high up in the canopy and it was getting louder and nearer. As I tried to signal to S. Cheng's group to look up for some hornbills, at the same moment, I also saw them all mouth agape , in wide-eyed arriazement and on the verge of running in all directions. And as they heard me shouted that there were hornbills, roars of laughter ensued. I then realised that they thought the sound that echoed so loudly above and as it came nearer, their minds were on those gibbons coming down to attack them. Thanks to Francis's briefing earlier of what to expect. And now you know what are friends for at time of adversity !
      We back trekked to NERC for lunch. Since we were so free after lunch we all had a great washing day. The men were having a competition with us on the clothes lines. I must say, Sin would get an award for washing as he was the only one who wore surgical gloves to wash his clothes and used a broom to clean his shoes. Now, we all knew why his shoes were always the cleanest.
      During the night we adjourned to the activity hall to watch a video on birds from Endau/Rompin. As MNS members we were aware of the main objectives of the NERC to specially formulate nature courses and has a strong focus on conservation, thus light activities like the Web of Life and Ecosystem Game and Water Management were shared with us.

14/6 - K Marong, Tasek Air Biru, P. Jasin& Upih Guling)
      We took a boat ride and trekked along the same path as we did on 12/6 to K. Jasin, except on this morning, the facilitators brought us to the Jasin River and conducted a Hydrobiology study. The objective of this exercise was to introduce the community of animals and plants life in the river aid streams of Endau River. In a river system, different sections will have water currents of different speeds. We were advised to conduct such field work along the riverside where there were both fast and slow currents.
      Each group was equipped with two long-handed nets, a small plastic acquarium, some stationery, a fine mesh net, a petri dish and magnifying glasses. We checked on puddles, under the logs, rocks and scooped out the animals with our nets and placed them into the acquarium. The smaller animals were placed in the petri dish for identification.
      We combed sections of the river in groups, some accrossed the stream with nets and some moved downstreams. We also looked for vegetation at the river sides and in the water. We looked as if we were searching for gold ! We had so much fun in this exercise that we all felt like children all over again.
the following/identified .- Whirligig, T-bard, Sebarau, prawns, crabs, spiders, etc. Some members were quite enthusiatic with their catch that they contemplated to open a mini sea food restaurant. But Francis dashed their hopes by instructing them to release all their catch back to their respective habitats.
      We then set off to K. Marong. Much of the water here is so pure that we could see right to the bottom. The sandy beds, smooth, pebbly beaches or even volcanic rocks. The amazing clarity of its water led to it being christened the Blue Lagoon.
      We then headed for Tasek Air Biru which is about 500 metres away. From K Jasin to Tasek A. Biru, we have in total crossed streams four times with the aid of ropes. We stopped at lasek A. Biru for our lunch. Here, we also saw many the orange-red peeling barked pelawan (Tristania Whiteana) a relative of the Australian-eucalyptus. Most of us just could not resist a dip in the cool, clear and pristine waters.
      Both Loke and Andrew were more daring to follow our guide up a pelawan tree to try diving into the inviting waters of T. A. Biru. toke eventually gave up due to a threat of a divorce from his wife while Andrew dived ire even with a threat from meto cut his allowance ! the water is simply too irresistible. Merlene took the lead and jumped straight into the water followed by the rest. Few of us eventually struggled in the cool water with our life jackets. And it was only here that I discovered Chin Chow could not swim and he had been taking us across the famous "6th Mile Tunnel" Oh! my God, I was one of them Who swam and braved through the lily pond and water filled tunnel with him. Innocence is blissful, indeed ! We then packed up and trekked to P. Jasin ? a tiny island with an amazing diversity of plants. Due to the annual flooding, stunted vegetation and gnarled plants were found. Alongside these hardy plants also live delicate orchids.
     We finally trekked to Upeh Guling Rapids, where the amazing round "bathtubs" were sited on top of the falls. These are smooth, round holes in rock carved millions of years ago. The agent is water that tumbles around pebbles and larger stones lodged in crevices, much like a natural powerful washing machine action. some of these bathtubs measured about 1 metre across and 2 metres deep . Water-worn pebbles were found inside the large bathtubs.
      It was quite an experience and eye-opener for all of us at such features caused by the forces and power of the water. While most Qs were busy with the photo session for such a view to behold, some sat on the huge boulders lodged by the sides of the rapids and some even jumped onto some round boulders lodged inside the bathtubs.
It took us quite a while and with much caution we trod on slippery boulders, crossed a few streams before we finally and tiredly trekked Dack to the river bank for our boats to take us back.
      Before dinner, some members visited the orang asli village in Kpg. Peta. lo their amazement, they found these people live quite comfortably arid luxuriously with proper amenities and solar system installation. The scenario is quite typical of a rural, rustic and real down to earth life of the yesteryears.
      After dinner, there was an evaluation/feed back exercise. 1he group shared some constructive ideas with the facilitators. It was from here we discovered we would be missing Francis's wry smile, Chew's boyish look and Hazman's "single available but not desperate" plea with those available ladies ! He declared he was going to miss us. I wonder whether he said the same to every group. So compassionate was he or have any of our ladies "electricuted" him ?

15/6 Back to lpoh
      We had an early breakfast at 6.30 a.m. with our eyes half closed. We departed for Kahang at 7.30 a.m. The bus was already waiting for us by 9.00 -3.m. Without much fuss, we loaded our haversacks and bid goodbye to our dear facility and left for lpoh.
      It was quite an experience at Endau/Rompin Park - very educational and memorable For those who missed the opportunity, grab the next chance. There were members who were so smitten with such a sojourn that they repeated their visits riot twice but thrice in a year!