Travelite in Taman Negara, West Malaysia: 3rd Day Part II (9th March 2008) in Taman Negara -- Ear Cave

10th Mar 2008 (2)

After lunch, a boat ride was taken to expedite our hike to Ear Cave. I was told by our guide that it got its name as its shaped like a ear...from within the cave at least.

A good 45min walk was required to reach the cave from our boat drop-off point. The hike through the vegetation was so muddy and undulating at certain spots that my track shoes went crocodile. Sandals were a no-no ---esp for the some sliding actions within the cave later--unless your feet have the hide of buttress roots.

Despite the ordeal of moving through the mud, the walk rewarded me with sights of mature Koompassia trees. Koompassia is a genus of legume in the Fabaceae family occurring in southeast Asia. They are tall tropical rainforest trees; K. excelsa is one of the tallest tree species in the tropics.

Entrance of the Ear Cave looks ominous enough to hold back quite some visitors. My advice is that one should not enter the cave if he / she suffers from claustrophobia (abnormal tendency to feel terror in closed spaces), or physical impairments that limits one from stretching and squirming within the cave. I remember telling my wife in the cave that I felt like a snake during the maneuvre within the place.

Environs of Ear Cave

It is unthinkable to suffer injuries that immobilizes one within the cave. Due to the tightly enclosed nature of the cave, evacuation of a casualty would be tortuously slow.

Some of the cracks one have to patiently and carefully squeeze through

One usually don't have to worry about mosquitoes within or near the cave. The thousands of bats have taken care of them.

Most of the thousands of bats in the cave are inactive during daytime.

I was told that the bats move in swarms through the limited spaces and small gaps within the cave during nightfall--without bumping into each other.

A few bats in action

This is one of the interesting part of the cave trip...where one need to hold on to the rope (lying on floor) and slide down in a squatting position

This (see pic above) is a part where one has to dextrously step on the almost fully submerged stones -- while in a crouching posture -- or risk wading knee deep in the obscure water. The guide said that he was disappointed that he didn't see any snakes in the cave this time...

My wife climbing out of the cave unaided!