While our children were celebrating their March school holidays, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that Malaysia will be on a movement control order starting from March 18 to 31 to deal with the rise in Covid-19 cases.
Concerns and panic aside, perhaps this break or work-from-home duration is a good idea for parents to break out from the day to day routine and have some family fun. Nothing recharges spirits like a holiday, no matter how short. Plus it is the perfect moment for family bonding and the chance to make some great memories.
Choices Choices
With Covid-19 still an ever present threat, the usual staple of tourist places abroad may rightly be off the menu, especially during this time. Avoiding crowded places would be in the best interests of everyone. Keeping within the boundaries of the country would also be a prudent move.
In Malaysia, with its rich diversity, holiday choices abound.
There is the staple of balik kampung holidays. Family and friends will be delighted to rekindle ties, I am sure. Alternatively, flushed with the availability of cheap flights, we can jet set to any of our local destinations, taking all necessary safety precautions along the way.
Not keen to fly? Many places in the Peninsular are accessible by car.
Beach holidays are another perfect way to spend quality time away.
However, there is another alternative on the list. To keep away from crowded places and thinking out of the box, it might be the right time to venture a little on the wild side. A holiday off the beaten track. Might I just tempt you with a little jungle adventure?
Read on to know more.
The Malaysian Jungle
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Life at the Khatulistiwa
Geographically, Malaysia nestles a little north of the Equatorial line which divides Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Living here means our weather system has only 2 variants; hot and rainy; rainy and hot, depending on the blowing of the monsoonal seasons.
Hot weather can be frightfully intense. Soaring temperatures coupled with high humidity saps us of energy. Most people opt to stay indoors with air conditioning blasting or fans whirring furiously in the effort to cool down.
After the searing heat, down comes the rain.
Torrential rain is the norm in Malaysia. While it offers blessed relief against the stifling heat, it also brings about flash floods which wreak havoc on the people of the land.
But this fantastic combination of hot and rainy weather, coupled with high humidity is the perfect catalyst for the explosive growth of our signature rainforests.
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Our Hutan Hujan
Rainforests are Mother Nature’s gift to mankind. They are our heritage and legacy in equal measure.
A lot research and conservation efforts have been made the world over to delve into the rich biodiversity of rainforests. More findings are being unearthed even as we speak.
With such rich flora and fauna all around perhaps we should chance a holiday here for a change.
With the March holidays hot at our heels, this could be the perfect time to give it a shot as these holidays are not too long nor too short for a quick trip to the back and the beyond with some time left over to spare.
What’s Your Cup of Tea?
Jungle holidays may not be everyone’s cup of tea and understandably so. You have to get out of your comfort zone and go back into nature. That means no TV, Wifi and all the other creature comforts of home we are used to.
If you rather not a jungle holiday, perhaps a staycation might be the better choice. While you are at it, here are some parks you can mosey along for some fun in the sun right in the Klang Valley.
For those wanting something a little more challenging, but have limited time off, trail hiking may be worth exploring. Most hikes can be done in a few hours and tailor made to suit your family’s ability and everyone’s schedules. Some notable mentions can be found in this post.
But for the adventurous, other delights await.
A Walk On The Wild Side
Malaysia is rainforest country and rainforests as you know, teem with life.
The variety of animal and plant species found inside them is mind boggling, to say the least.
With over 185000 species of animals and 15000 types of flowering plants, living within nature will be a thrilling experience for all in the family.
Same Same But Different
It is a common misconception to label all rainforests alike. They are not.
To a certain extent, some plant and animal species overlap but the differences outmatch the similarities the world over.
For instance, the Orangutan is only found in Borneo and Sumatra. The Borneon species however, is different from the Sumatran ones. And over in the Central and South America, the species of sloth found there are unique only to those jungles.
And here is a fun fact, a number of our house plants originate from rainforests. These beauties have found a place in our hearts and homes. In addition to softening the interior and exterior of our homes, they also provide fresh oxygen for us to breathe and work hard to cool down our home atmospheres.
Have You Had Your Greens?
If you chanced jungle or trail hiking before, chances are you have traversed a secondary rainforest.
Virgin rainforests are untouched and pristine. To know more about their differences, this link may prove helpful.
Virgin rainforests, as seen from the outside, are lush, verdant and green. Tree and vegetation growth within its confines is explosive and so thick that sunlight is unable to penetrate to the forest floor. As such, it has a layered ecosystem with different flora and fauna living at each level.
Our virgin rainforests are found in Sarawak, Sabah, and the massive Titiwangsa Range which forms the backbone of Peninsula Malaysia. Within these huge tracts of rainforest, lie our National Parks and we have quite a few. Notable mentions include Taman Negara whose boundaries spread across 3 States, namely Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan. Then there is the Royal Belum State Park in Perak, the Endau Rompin National Park in Johor and in Penang, the Penang National Park.
Across the sea and over in Borneo we have the Batang Ai National Park in Sarawak and the Kinabalu Park in Sabah, just to name a few.
If you are in mind for an exotic local holiday, these parks might just fit the bill.
The Choice Is Right
Having made the choice to head off to a National Park, what other factors should you consider?
The Timing Must Be Perfect
As mentioned earlier, we are heavily influenced by the monsoon season, of which we have two.
To make the best of your trip, choosing the right time is imperative. There is nothing worse than having to sit rained in at the edge of a National Park in a campsite or at Park accommodation. Plus, when it rains it can go nonstop for days.
Not only will rains mean a sit in, but even after that, trails can be very muddy, making walking difficult. This is especially challenging for the little ones who may find the muddy, sludgy trails too much to manage.
And there is the yuck factor to consider too. Some people do not like having mud splash all over them. Plus once you are muddied up, everything you touch gets dirty and that is pretty icky too!
Rains also make rocks very slippery and that hazards trails.
The Southwest Monsoon blows from May to September whereas the Northeast Monsoon from October to March. Capitalising on this, March is the perfect time for a holiday at the National Parks. Less rain is predicted then although climate change can play havoc on occasion.
Choosing The Best Venue
We are spoilt for choice with the abundance of National Parks to visit. To choose the best one for your family, further factors need to be considered.
Cost
Cost is always a factor when travelling as a family. The more people on the trip, the higher the cost.
Transport and accommodation take a big chunk in budget planning. Food also plays a big part.
Driving there and back again may sometimes be cheaper, but not always. Some National Parks, like Taman Negara do have a Shuttle Bus Service for visitors, which may be both cost effective and convenient for some families.
Activity or tour costs have to be considered too. If you choose to have a private tour with a local guide, should that option be available, the cost would be much more than that of a group tour. Even with a group tour, angpow money should be set aside as a token of appreciation for the guides, drivers, etc.
Distance
The choice of a local National Park would make for a shorter, more easily accessible trip. Parks located further away need more preparation, planning and expense.
Depending on your activities planned for at the park, you will need to consider your luggage needs especially if you fly to get to your destination. Hiking and camping gear can be heavy and bulky. Plus consideration needs to be given to the special needs of the little ones, like formula, baby food and diapers, which take space and weight onboard.
If you are trying out a holiday at a National Park to see if you like the experience, choosing one nearer could be a better idea. If it does not work out, whatever the reason, it is easier to return home.
Type of Activity
Within the parks, there are all sorts of activities for people of all ages and levels of ability.
You will need to choose what is best suited for your family, taking into consideration their age and daily schedules. If nap times are needed for the little ones, it is best to nap at lodgings rather than risk carrying sleeping children while on trail. Using strollers on trail is not possible as the routes are uneven and climbing is sometimes necessary.
If you are new to this or have very young children or babies, wisdom dictates a shorter activity with breaks in between so that you can catch your breath and rest.
The physical exertion that comes with trekking can be exhausting. Couple that with the heat and humidity, common to rainforests, it can take a lot of energy to keep going.
The Ranging Ages
With a whole family trooping along, the age range of your group may be a large one, especially if Grandpa and Grandma are joining in the fun. The more the merrier I say!
But you are only as strong as your weakest link, and on trail the same applies, you are as fast as your slowest member.
With this in mind, tailor your activities accordingly so as to make the trip a memorable rather than a stressed one.
What To Wear?
To have a fun, enjoyable time, hiking gear is essential. Some parks have pools and waterfalls so bathing suits are a welcome addition.
Taman Negara has a very comprehensive list of what to wear and bring. Do have a peek to make sure you are fully geared up before you hit the trails.
It will be also a good idea to bring along hand sanitisers and wet wipes. Pressed for time to get them, you can grab them here. If you are in need of a baby carrier or would like to upgrade from the current one you have, this is a good spot to grab one. Carriers with good back support would be an excellent idea.
Make sure insect repellent and caps are not forgotten either.
Homework As Groundwork
There is just one last thing to propose as part of your preparation.
The anticipation of the trip lies not only in the actual journey made on travel day but also the preparation leading up to it.
Might I suggest a little activity cum game you can do as part of the preparation.
National Parks have a lot to offer and new experiences abound. To capitalise on this, you could print out and laminate images of the things you might see there. The printouts can be postcard size for easy handling. You can bind the laminated sheets with a silver ring binder or twine.
In the days leading up to the trip, let the family familiarise themselves with the animals, plants and insects on the cards. You could give them a verbal trailer or search for videos on rainforests. Plenty can be found at Youtube. This heightens the anticipation.
However do add the disclaimer that animals and insects can be very shy and hard to spot in their element.
When they are there, they can try to identify what they see, maybe even snap a picture of it to make their own memory book of the trip. It will be loads of fun for all in the family.
Ready, Set, Go!
Ready for that trip?
Wonderful!
Have a blast. Enjoy yourself.
Just one more thing…
Planning your travel well does not mean everything will necessarily go well. The best laid plans do go awry, in spite of our best intentions. Just roll with those punches and chalk any disappointments as invaluable experience.
Well travelled people learn the tricks of travelling as they go. As such, mistakes are great teaching moments. Do not beat yourself up about it.
On my part, I hope your choice of a holiday off the beaten track will be the start of many more holidays of the same kind with the family.
Until then, happy trails!