A moment with the world's largest fish

I have chosen to share this in a little story than the usual "matter of fact" writings that I do.
A group of us, total 12 pax went on a little adventure to swim with the Gentle Giants, known as Butanding locally.... where? you must be wondering. Ever heard of a place called Donsol? Well, before this I have not.... but now, I have been and swam with the whalesharks!

Wow, to think many months ago, I can't even swim! Let alone to think about swimming with these Gentle Giants. In building up to the trip, Edwin helped by giving a few of us classes - for us to learn to swim and to snorkel. He taught us many things..... from swimming techniques to snorkeling, mask clearing, snorkel clearing, surface dive... he has given me a "hope" that I can swim after all! And for that, I am very grateful!

The swim with the Gentle Giants is not so gentle afterall..... there could easily be 60-130 people chasing after one whaleshark and in the midst of it, people could be holding on to your fins, kicking off your mask, kicking water into your snorkel, kicking the camera off your hands! So do becareful and make sure everything is "secured"! So its really kind of chaotic when its supposed to be a gentle adventure and to some even spiritual as we are all "humbled" in the presence of these Giants.

Some of us did 2 day out with the Whalesharks while some was satisfied with just one day out... both days we saw the Gentle Giants but in my second day out in the very last jump in I had a moment with the Giant.
When the bubbles cleared from my jump in for the last time, the gentle giant below turned and looked towards me (and Tat Seng and Phoebe) and in that one moment (alas! my camera was not ready!) I saw her eyes, mouth and lower body and I imagined her thinking - "Oh no! they are all still around - the 1001 legs are all still kicking around trying to follow me!" or another version is "Oh no! they jumped in so hard that I had to take a peep at what was that?! Just another few pairs of legs"

Haha, that's just my imagination of the baby that we saw....... here's a little video snippet that I have edited to share with you all...... not the best quality but I treasure it all the same.

Here's my first post for the year - Climbing Gunung Mulu (2376m)

Date climbed : 26-30 January 2012
Distance covered : 24km from Mulu National Park to Summit (48km return)

Terrain:
Day 1 - 12km 9 hours (Started at 0945, arrived at Camp 3 at 1830)
National Park to Camp 1 : 5.5km 3 hours + 1/2 hour durian stop if you like durian and it is in season + 1/2 hour lunch stop (Cross 2 major rivers with 2 more small ones if its rainy season) 95% flat
Camp 1 to Camp 3 : 6.5km 5 hours 60% gradient all the way
(Note there is no Camp 2 it is only a 7.5km mark and there is no hut.)

Day 2 - 7km 5 hours + 1/2 hour lunch stop (Started at 1000, arrived at Camp 4 at 1530)
Camp 3 to Camp 4 - first 2 km 60% gradient, balance 5km takes you up and down with false peaks

Day 3 - 10km 6 hours + 1 hour rest at the peak (Started at 0710, arrived back at Camp 4 at 1415)
Camp 4 to Summit - 5km 3 hours terrain goes up and down and at some parts 80% gradient and there are about 5 "danger zones"
Summit return to Camp 4 - 5km 3 hours (no savings in terms of return trip)

Day 4 - 13.5km 7.5 hours + 1/2 hour lunch stop (Started at 0730, arrived at Camp 1 at 1540)
Camp 4 to Camp 3 - 4.5 hours
Camp 3 to Camp 1 - 3 hours (down hill all the way!)

Day 5 - 5.5km 2.5 hours + 1/2 hour stop for "jumping session" (Started at 1000, arrived at National Park at 1300)

Options :
On Day 3 after Summit climb, can descend to Camp 3 then in Day 4 from Camp3 to National Park
OR on Day 4 from Camp 4 all the way down to National Park
Both options are also workable to save one day.

Description of "Camping Site"
Its not a camping site per se as the trail has jungle huts along the way.
Camp 1 - Sleeping and Toilet facilities available with a Kitchen. Next to a river. Cool weather... Sleeping bag with normal clothes will be sufficient
Camp 2 - No hut, just camping ground. Can fit 2 tents with a river nearby. No one sleeps here usually
Camp 3 - Sleeping and Toilet facilities available with a Kitchen. Water source : Rain water. 4 storage tanks. Sufficient for cooking / shower / washing etc. Sleeping bag with a jacket (wind breaker) + socks is sufficient
Camp 4 - Sleeping and Toilet facilities available with a Kitchen. Water source : Rain water. 4 storage tanks. Sufficient for cooking / shower / washing etc. Sleeping bag with thermal wear, fleece, a jacket (wind breaker) and thermal socks. Emergency blanket and hand warmers are good options to have. When it rains, its VERY cold.

As the water source is rain water collection, it will be tough to do this trek in dry season. For us, the 4 storage tanks was sufficient for about 1.5 days. Our group was 11 pax in total.

These can be eaten - the jungle apples

Paku Waterfall

Durians on the way in

River crossing near Camp 1

Camp3

Lowii

Camp4

Summit

Camp1

It was a good trip for me and a satisfying one for having conquered the Mulu Summit. This is my first time being in the jungle for so many days. Most of the time, our camping trips lasts at max 2 nights. Its a great experience for me! (and a tough one too!)