First published: 15/12/12.

Bernard Joseph Esposo Guerrero 5.0

Gunung Mulu

Gunung Mulu (Inscribed)

Gunung Mulu by Bernard Joseph Esposo Guerrero

There might be no other "mega" caves system in the world that can compare to the grandness and the diversity that Gunung Mulu can offer. Surprisingly, my 3-day visit there turned out to be just too short.

I arrived in Mulu through a plane from Kota Kinabalu, passing through Miri. Prior to the visit, I had to arrange everything from accommodation to tours as there are times when everything is just full. I managed to do the walking trails, visit the indigenous Penan settlements, see the four show caves, the canopy walk, the waterfalls, and the tree top tower. The real highlight, of course, are the mega caves.

I have to agree to the previous reviews commending - despite the remoteness - the management of the park. Tours are only handled by certified heritage site guides, information posters everywhere, trails are all signposted properly, and the sites are well and strictly kept --- all these efforts are very sensitive to nature. After visiting three natural WH Sites (Kinabalu Park and Puerto Princesa Subterranean River) and several other national parks this year, I probably have to admit that Gunung Mulu is one of the most well-managed sites I've seen.

I enjoyed a lot the visits to the Winds Cave and Langs Cave - the two being the smallest of the four show caves) The Winds Cave's King's Chamber will probably hold a special place to my heart indefinitely, together with the small but really highly decorative Langs Cave. Aside from the two personal favorites, the visit to Clearwater Cave and Deer Cave are just as memorable (taking a dip at the clearwater river was probably one of the craziest ideas I've done there as the water was freezing that time!). The other trails I easily did on my own (waterwalls, tree tops, some forest walks, etc.).

It was always raining in the afternoon of my visit, and I never got to see the bats leaving the Deer Cave, despite patiently waiting for 3 hours everyday and always getting heavily soaked in the rain.

Tours are clear and definite, one set in the morning and another one in the afternoon (Deer and Langs). I, however, felt that the Deer Cave might be more interesting in the morning when the morning lights seep into the interior.

Over all, though Gunung Mulu is not as popular as a trip to Kinabalu, it is still quite a rewarding experience. There can only be a few sites as beautiful as this wherein you have to pass by a densely thick forest first. It truly gives one the break that s/he would need from the busy modern life without compromising the quality of the experience. During my visit, I've seen several researchers doing onsite workings - this comes with no surprise as Gunung Mulu is really a paradise for ongoing geological and biological studies.

Comments

No comments yet.

Log in to post a comment