Shy......

I met a tree when I was on my way leaving Penang National Park. It should have well camouflaged itself earlier.

It is kind of so shy to met a stranger, but there is no way to hide this, it is so obvious. You should know what I mean, if you look at the picture. I have never encountered a tree that is so shy before.

I have met a tree with scary face, I have met a tree who tried to talk to me but finally found me run away on the spot and I met a tree voluntarily made itself as a signboard to ask people to slow down. They are so brave out in the jungle, and this must be the way to survive.

But contradictory, this tree is as shy as a small kid to the stage that its face, its whole body becomes so red.

I tried to do some research and I laughed all my way. This tree is so shy, it hides itself behind various names under different circumstances. It calls itself differently even in the same country:

Preferred Scientific Name: Melaleuca cajuputi Powell
English: swamp tea-tree
Australia: paperbark tea-tree cajuput tree
Indonesia: kayu putih
Malaysia: kayu putih, gelam, gelam tikus
Thailand: samet
Vietnam: chè dong, tran, chi cay, bach thien tâng

It is as funny in the world of trees as in that of human.

There is a reason behind

It is quite strange to find a "SLOW" sign up here on a tree. This enables my thinking.

Is it a silent protest from someone who are busy finding his next breath and frustrated in catching up with friends?

Or is this a friendly reminder by the nature to us that we have to seriously re-think of slowing down?

Every warning sign or reminder is always written in red in order to pull attention. But I observed everyone included myself is numb with the sign. Or say it bluntly, it is actually transparent to us. If a survey is to be done among the hikers, there should be a minority of them who are aware of the sign. It has never served its purpose. City folks have too much to focus on, although it seems like most of us are just busy for nothing, especially it is very naive only to conclude this during the year end reflection.

Then what does the slowing down sign mean for? There is nothing dangerous in front except it looks brighter and shiny. Everyone loves seeing bright sunlight and there should be no hesitation at all. The sunlight is always warm in a cool jungle with fresh air which is oxygen-rich.

What I want to say, this is one of the mountain bike descending trails actually.The warning sign does not mean for anything ahead of us. The danger is right beside us, if you are on a mountain bike. There is a sudden step with a height of about 2 feet immediately before the tree, which is intentionally not captured in the picture. The cyclists must have been warned far away in order to slow down. Nobody likes to experience stun of this kind. My picture is simply misleading. This really happens everyday, in our surrounding.

I have yet to witness any mountain biking on this trek. Hopefully I shall have the opportunity to tell you some stories on this.

Story on the trails, not on top of trees

Every time when I go for my jungle trekking, I always hope that I can encounter some animals other than monkeys. I do not have the intention to discriminate monkey. They are actually playful, and occasionally, they may snatch your foods likes what human use to do. The only reason is that monkey is too common at Cerok Tokun. So far I can see two types of monkey. If I find the third species or more, it is then I have the excitement to tell you.

My hope is yet to be realised. I am not looking for any excuses, but you must understand, all trees grow big leaves, be it big or small trees. Animals can easily hide themselves behind the dense leaves. I met once a woodpecker busy working on a tree, but it was the time that I did not have the habit to bring my camera along.

Every time I lift up my head, every time I look at the trees, it brings only disappointment at the end. If one day, I would like to think, all the trees are leafless, just like those on winter time, squirrels, hawks and any others will not escape from my sight. I am sure.

That is why I have changed my strategy. I explore something that stay low, on the trail. By then, you read no bird's story, no squirrel's story, but I have the story on ants in return.

The colony of ants spreads over a big area. They needed to travel, travel and travel, and continued busy at travelling everyday. There was nothing they were working on. I observed. They did not carry any food. They must be like us doing daily trekking and adventure. Do they update their blogs daily? What actually do they write in their blogs? Do they write funny human who on the other side write something about them?

But before they are able to go blogging, they must first survive from our footsteps. There is no warning sign or traffic light installed for this pedestrian crossing.

The size of giant ant in the next picture is measured at normally 25mm. It is not the type that goes in group. These ants are always seen wandering around in a couple or three. Cannot imagine if these ants appear in a big group, how gorgeous it should be.

I managed to find them only at my jungle trails. They dislike urban life.

Usually, ants bite people. These types do not. They do enjoy only trekking. They can find food at any time and in any places in the jungle because there is no winter over here. No preparation for winter is necessary. That's why they have the luxury to enjoy trekking or wandering around.

There is one type of big red ant that bite. We called them Weaver Ant. It is very painful by then. I shall tell you if I get the picture.

Mushroom, Cerok Tokun

Do you still remember my previous post on mushrooms? These fungus were small and pretty. Intentionally or not, they were showing off themselves directly on the trekking path. They were as easily destroyed by our footsteps as they were found.

I have a new discovery at Cerok Tokun this morning in which the mushrooms were encountered this time off the trekking trail, behind the bushes. They were quite funny as though of the same type, I presumed, the mushrooms performed in different shapes on stage.

Those on the top which had their home on wood are what I have normally seen. The bottom solo presented itself in a cup shape, had its baby mushroom inside and stood up on the wet soil.

Anyhow, both types shared the same habit and like. They copied and pasted the woody texture onto their body.

Reading and Jungle Trekking are alike

(I pondered. I has the feeling that this experience and jungle trekking, or even mountain trekking, are alike).

I spent some times reading posts today, one after another, from one blog which further link to other. I stayed with patience reading posts that were longer than I have ever read before, and most of the writers were those I first came across. I went in slowly for a good understanding on their thinking.

When I sat back, I pondered. I had the feeling that this experience and jungle trekking, or even mountain trekking, were alike.

For the past few years, I went from one trail to another whereby there were long and remote treks, and some are short and nearby. I did not know how the nature would be until I got my feet in. I learnt something new that encouraged me to travel further.

......I have the tendency to show up-going trekking trail in my posts. We climbed a small step and felt very proud when we were young. We tried our limit when we get stronger. Of course, people continues to try our limit and potential as well. Everyone calls this Challenge.

......The journey may be painful, and it may be fruitful. That's why I am still dreaming of Mount Kinabalu after almost a year since I have climbed to the Low's Peak.

(The background is not the Low's Peak actually)

And my journey continues. Day after day. I continue to read and wander around. To catch up new knowledge, new experience and new friends.

(This is my thought today. From reading on posts which then pulled trekking together. Sort of wild crazy. Should be having too much reading).