Joyce’s Photoblog

The Lost World of Tambun

It was almost 2pm when I got stuck in traffic near KLCC today.

I wouldn’t mind the congestion if that was the road to The Lost World of Tambun, and I was in the Mayflower tour bus with people from All Malaysian Blogger Project. The thought of going there itself would make me smile.

But I felt sad when I looked around. All I can see were cars or tall concrete buildings, with no signs of jungle or wildlife. I wasn’t anywhere near Tambun. I was going home after a day’s work.

I miss the days spent at The Lost World of Tambun. How could I ever forget it, after it took at least 3 of my first-times?

It was the Lost World of Tambun where I had my first experience in photographing Siberian tiger cubs, at the Tiger Valley.

The little “den of appearance” for them were shaded by trees and mountain wall. They were really cute (good for me) and active (bad for me). Inside the den, they would run around, paw and jump over each other like wrestlers all the time. That and the low light condition was really tough, as I tried to take their photos without using flash.

Just when I was about to give up and convince myself what I got (the photo above) was good enough, the gate of the den opened and the cubs were running back to their home. I stood facing the gate, in between of the gate leading to the visitors-prohibited area, that the cubs were suppose to go. I crouched immediately, and took 3 photos in a row when one of them stared at my camera’s lens. The perfect moment (at that time).

I still think I can do better if there’s more time. But until I visit them again, I’m happy with these photos.

The Tambun Hot Spring

It was the Lost World of Tambun where I had my first experience in hot spring bath at night. According to what I was told by the staff, the water from the pool flows right out to the nearby Kopisan River. After a refreshing swim, I stayed beside the pool with Matt, Asha, Alex, Elaine, and Hurley, doing nothing (also known as relaxing) for the rest of the night, until we went back to the camp site.

Oh, we slept in tents, by the way. We camped at the Monkey Village, and I shared a tent with Hurley.

Looking up at interior of Gua Datok

It was the Lost World of Tambun where I had my first experience in cave exploration. I had to choose between 6-miles tunnel and Limestone Trail, and I chose the latter - an exploration trip in Gua Datok.

I thought, jungle trekking and a little bit of rock climbing should be easier than going through knee-deep mud and chest-deep water inside the 6-miles tunnel. I’m claustrophobic.

But I knew I was wrong right after the moment I was asked to hang on to my life at a cliff, on a rope tied around a rock which looked kind of loose to me.

Maybe the rope was perfectly secured while the cliff was not really a cliff. Maybe it was a slope at a degree slightly higher than 45, and my eyes were playing tricks with my mind, since I’m have a little of acrophobia as well.

Others were taking photos and fooling around on their way up to the cave, and I was just following orders from the tour guide: hanging on to whatever I can grab and don’t fall. It was embarrassing at some point, especially when some offered to carry my bag.

But what I saw at the cave worth all the hard works and humiliations. It was really beautiful and impressive. According to the tour guide, the cave can easily fit a Boeing airplane. I assumed he meant a 747.

It’s a shame that my camera ran out of battery right after I took a photo of Elaine, standing at one of the entrance to the cave. I sulked for the rest of the trip, because I never got a chance to take a photo that would display the impressive space of the cave. This too, is my first encounter of not having enough battery power during a memorable trip.

Elaine Chong

It’s impossible to describe everything I went through during my stay at The Lost World of Tambun in a single post, since I went for almost everything they had to offer. I don’t have any plan to break the longest post record. If you want to know more about the place, talk to me in person, or even better: visit it and experience the gorgeous scenes as well as the adventures yourself.