Day 93: Bako National Park / Return to Kuching
With all the wildlife checked off our list for Bako, we really didn’t have a reason to stay another non-AC night in the park. We decided we would get up early and spend the day trekking, and catch the 3PM boat back to Kuching in the afternoon. We headed out at 7AM hoping to spot some Proboscis monkeys on our way into the jungle (we didn’t). We had heard from some fellow tourists the day before that it is relatively easy to catch a boat on one of the many park beaches and get a ride either back to Park HQ or to another beach within the park. We headed toward Kecil Beach, which has a view of the iconic Sea Stack, just in case we had trouble catching a boat, we would at least get to see it before walking ourselves back.
An early morning start! Off into the Bako jungle, heading for Kecil Beach
The trail is getting a bit rougher
For some reason we had trouble finding pitcher plants the day before – can’t image how, they are EVERYWHERE today!
“Professor Igor” pointing out the myriad of pitcher plants on the trail
Checking out the view from above
Beautiful Kecil Beach, with the Sea Stack visible in the distance
It’s barely 9:30AM, and we are already sweaty and exhausted – taking a break on the cliff before heading down to the beach
Luckily for us, we only had to wait about 10min before a boat turned up
Since we were able to catch a boat pretty quickly, we decided to ask the driver to take us deeper into the park instead of returning to HQ. We got off at the Tajor Beach, which would take us past the Tajor Waterfalls (which were supposedly the only croc-free swimming in the park). It took us another couple of hours to get back to the junction for HQ, but by that time we felt we had explored every inch of the park that was open to tourists. We took one final hike down the Paku Trail (still no Proboscis monkeys in the middle of the day), so we hopped on another boat back to HQ. After grabbing lunch at HQ (oh, *there* are the Proboscis Monkeys!), and one final cold shower (both for our benefit and the poor tourists sitting next to us on the 1 hour boat / 1 hour bus back to town), we were back on our way to Kuching.
Heading out see the Bako Sea Stack via boat
The Bako Sea Stack – stunning from any angle
Jelly-Man! When we spotted this HUGE jelly, our boat driver picked it up like it was no big deal! We asked him if it stings, “Only a little bit.” Hard core.
Getting dropped off at Tajor Beach – a 3hr return hike to HQ. LET’S DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!
We reached the Tajor Waterfalls sorely disappointed. The Park Ranger warned us it was a “small” waterfall. Waterfall is not an appropriate title – perhaps “Tajor Cascades”? In any case, the water was soo shallow and murky for swimming.
3hrs later Lindsay is officially *done* trekking. See? It’s so hot out, even the hermit crab doesn’t’ want to walk – he’s hitching a ride on Lindsay’s shoe!
Paku Beach is the end of the trail for the day. We’ll wait however long it takes for a boat – we are NOT hiking back
Again – a short 10min wait before a boat pulls up, dropping off more tourists. We are super happy to get on board.
This Proboscis Monkey just likes to hang out in the mangroves near the HQ – why torture yourself with a long hike, when you can just sit in the shade with some Tiger Beers and wait for the wildlife to show up? Just guard your Pringles.
Igor is so ready to get back to Kuching and some refreshing AC
A brief wait at the Bako Village fish market before the No. 1 Bus to Kuching pulls up
I can see why you guys are in such great shape with a 3 hour hike to HQ in that humid climate — my hat goes off to both of you.
The pictures of the Bako Sea Stack are absolutely stunning and I would say you had some pretty rugged trails to contend with…hope you got an AC room back at Kuching…Lindsay you did look like you had enough of trekking for the day!!!!