Going deeper into the river - Murud 2

News of continuous rain worried most, if not all of us.  No car, not even the most experienced drivers did not dare to drive up to Lepo Bunga; the 2nd base camp because of its dangerous, slippery condition.  And that will mean we need to walk from the base at 0km - and that will be a 3 days / nights hike up to Lepo Bunga.  But miraculously, the rain stopped 3 days before our arrival.  The roads dried up, the bulldozers could go to work leveling the muddy road and on the day we arrived, 2 amazing drivers braved the impossible to try the 2 hours drive up to Lepo Bunga and they made it!! Halleluyah!

Arrived in Lepo Bunga.  See all the cool handsome porters waiting for us to repack

As no prior arrangements were made with the drivers, we could not go up to Lepo Bunga immediately; which I thank the Lord for.  All was well in His time.  We rested, we repacked, we ate, we got acquainted with beautiful little Ba Kelalan and its people.  And we fell in love with the place.  Yes, I love my dad's kampung Long Beluyu, but it didn't stop me from loving Ba Kelalan.  We finally left around 1, with Uncles who didnt know what kind of trouble they were going to be in; just by being with us!

Overnight in a tent (from some), in the Pulung Tau Forest Reserve hut.  Thanking God for Uncles who think ahead to pack the tent for us

Reached camp 2 at about 3pm, and Uncle asked if we want to venture to the forest immediately.  Knowing that it was at least a 6 hours journey, I declined.  Didn't want to get stuck in the forest on a frosty night.  I thank God we decided to stay put for the night.  We made friends with not only from Indonesia and Korea, but we had the privilege to listen to the stories of Murud from the founder of the place itself; Ibu Bulan.  As we talked into the night, I am in awe, at how easily her eyes would be closed and her mouth would be muttering a prayer - at all times.  I wonder when prayer would come that easily to me.

Ibu Bulan with her "guardian angel".  Togs went all the way up with Ibu Bulan.

Night was chilly and frosty.  Slept in a little hut belonging to "Pulung Tau Forest Reserve".  But woke up with some moments of silence, sharing on songs for our seasons under the house in Lepo Bunga.  Then the hike up.  Yes, it was tough - for someone weighing 85kgs, and did not train.  But God sustained us.  We went really slow.  Too slow till it was testing a certain uncle's patience!  But we got through the first part - 2 hours upward climb.  Then rested some at Joy Bridge (Jambatan Sukacita), then hiked in the MUD for another 2 hours (which I found, I dont really mind!), then hiked up again "Bukit Pencobaan" to Batu Linanit (about 1 1/2 hours) (arrrggghhhhh, I hate hiking up) and then down to the church site (about an hour).  Total.... 6 1/2 hours tracking for us slow coaches!  Some made it faster, some slower.  But we all got there.

Happy that we reached Jambatan Sukacita - they said it would be easier after this... NO WAY!