Culture is on the agenda tonight. Real high culture, because I'll be hearing pieces by Mahler and Brahms at Singapore's Esplanade Concert Hall. I have acquaintances here in Singapore, one of whom is a professional musician and is a horn player with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Because I'm a guest in his hometown, he got me a free ticket for today's concert.
When I land in Taipei, I'm a little nervous because I don't know what's going to happen next for me. Where do I have to go to get my onward flight to Bangkok organized. But it turns out that all the worries are unfounded. It feels like the entire staff that was missing at Frankfurt Airport for orderly passenger handling is here at Taipei Airport with a sign ready to catch me and let me fly on. I'm offered some apologies, bows, a Christmas present and a meal voucher. I invest the latter in a Chinese noodle soup in an airport restaurant. If I know myself, you will hear more about this dish on my tiger tour through Southeast Asia. Because I am an absolute noodle soup fan.
I have arrived on Malaysia's east coast. In the unlovable town of Kuantan, two waiters position themselves at the table next to me and click their pens incessantly, impatiently expecting that within a minute I'll know what I want to eat. I stare at the menu for a long time, because as a punishment for this audacity I recite Schiller's "Kraniche des Ibykus" (23 stanzas) three times in my head, and then order the green curry, which I had already decided on after ten seconds.
I've been traveling alone for a while now. For many people, being alone can challenge their psychological stability. That is not a problem for me. We get along well, talk a lot and laugh a lot together.
Today is jungle day and I will first hike deep into the jungle with a few other residents of my guesthouse and a local guide. About 9 kilometers lie ahead of us. The tour is offered as "1-Day-Trekking from Park Center to Teras Waterfall via Bukit Indah".
We take the boat to the other side of the river and walk for a while over a footbridge through the jungle. In some places its planks are damaged by the wild elephants. During the COVID lockdown they had come into this place and wreaked havoc here and there. In the past few weeks and months there have been some of them here again. This can be seen from the piles of dung that we find in several places.
Easy hike to Canopy Walk
At first, it is a walk with occasional stops, during which we are taught about the many uses of the plants that grow along the way. One plant can be employed as sandpaper, which can be used for both manicures and polishing blowgun darts. Another leaf can be rubbed with your fingers and the resulting paste used to stop bleeding from wounds. For example those who inflict leeches on you. This will become important later on.