Niah Cave Expedition

Date: 23 November 2008

Time: 7.00am

Finally, it's the day to go to Niah National Park to 'jalan-jalan'. Woke up extremely early (been sleeping like a log since the day my exam was over) and gotten ready for the trip. Left home at 7am for breakfast at 2020 in Pelita. My chicken rice and Catherine's duck rice gave us a good breakfast and we were off, driving to Niah. 

It was about an hour drive from Miri to Niah. We took the coastal road which lead us to a place with many trees both left and right. *JOKE OF THE DAY* We saw the sign that reads Niah National Park right in front of us and just before reaching the sign, there was a junction. Luckily, I managed to stop Catherine from taking that junction and I said, 'Where got people turn in the junction before reaching the signboard!' It was a laugh~ (never mind if you don't get the joke)

...entrance to Niah National Park...

So there we were, reaching Niah National Park. Paid RM5 per person and bought a booklet which costed another RM5 and off we go to get a boat ride. At first, I was excited that we need to get a boat ride to the other side and the woman in the counter was pointing from one end of the map to the other side, but, mana tau, it was just a minute ride across the river to the other side of the jetty -.-"" 

...excited to see the small passage of the river...

...the very long walkway...

We started our journey into the cave at 9.30am. There was a large group of people there. We decided to go to the cave first and visit the museum later on our way back. So it was our 3KM walk into the jungle. It wasn't tiring at first. We arrived at a small stall selling merchandises and drinks. And there, stood a big metal fence where we had to walk under it.

...the metal fence...

Further walks leaded us to the Traders' Cave. It was an awe looking at the size of the cave. (the only cave I've been to was Fairy Cave in Bau) We continued our journey to the Great Cave and there, it was another awe~

...The Traders' Cave...

...me helping an 'ang moh' to take photos...

...syok sendiri inside Traders' Cave...

Well, we took the 'WAY OUT' as our 'WAY IN' coz we didn't see the sign that says 'WAY IN'. Took the stairs, lots of birds' dropping and I was a little shaken looking at a guy with a blue shirt sitting far far up high in the cave. 'Is it just me, or is there a man there?' I asked Catherine. 'Yeah, there's a guy there,' she answered. Phew~ I was relieved.

...The Great Cave...

...the archeological site...

...the house we often see in our Geography book...

...the stairs up to the cave...

...taken from above the stairs towards the mouth of the cave...

It was pretty awesome walking in the cave and it lead us to an exit. We were both arguing over the 'EXIT' as Catherine said that we're back at the 'ENTRANCE' but I insisted that it was the 'EXIT'! I was wrong, we were back at the 'ENTRANCE' coz we took the wrong junction. So, we walked back and off to the right junction which lead us to a very long dark passage to the Painting Cave.

...Gan Kira, love this place - very windy...

...taken before embarking for Painting Cave...

...the Painting Cave...

...it's nothing much but it's windy...

The Painting Cave wasn't that interesting coz the paintings were already deteriorating. Done with photo takings, we walked back to the 'ENTRANCE' of the Great Cave. We bought a drink at the stall and headed back to the museum at 2.30pm. It was a whole 5 hours walk we had in there. Tiring but a great one! Walked the museum and took another minute of boat ride back to the Park HQ and checked out.

...trying to look like the painting behind me...

...Catherine graduated from Niah Cave...

Stomach was grumbling, so we headed to Niah Town to hunt for food. We were in a hunt for the food court that the interstate bus would stop for morning breakfast before heading down to Kuching. So we asked and drove towards the direction...and we found it! Had a good but expensive meal before driving back to Miri.

...the bridge that we crossed 2 times in our bus ride to Kuching...

...getting crazy in the car...

It was a great trip, one that has proven all the facts in our Geography book back in Primary School. Tiring, of course. This crossed out another adventure in my list. 

Looking forward to the next adventure!