Mulu Part 2...

Okay last Mulu posts...

14/4/08 1815

The morning started..hm.. at 8am. Was actually awake before that time, around 7.30am and realising that it quite rained the night before, we might head for the pinnacles today. So, I emptied my Rocket Bag and started to pack for the pinnacles. After that, I went to order breakfast with the guys. At 9am, I headed to the Park HQ and met Jason there. In we went and ....can we do the connection today, I asked Bian?... and YES!!!! we can do the connection today!!.. YAYY!!!.. I was super super ecstatic that I was literally jumping for joy. I ran back to the cafe, and dorm, informed the guys and and changed into my caving baju. I was really sooo happy!!!

Less than 30minutes later, we were on the boat heading towards the Wind Cave. We met our Guide Michael who gave us each a helmat and a headlamp (better than the one we used in Racer). At the cave, there was a guy who trekked all the way there and wanted to go into the Wind Cave (show cave style) but was stopped by the Guide.. apparently, he was there the day before and was adamant to visit the cave without a guide... the guide was said no still.. and the guy in the end just gave in and trekked back to the HQ. Anyways, ...the guys and Michael and I started our journey.. into the CAVES!!

Our guide had an assistant, Raymond who was a security guard at the park. Apparently, he wanted to join the group as he was still under training to be in the park's cave rescue group, so he was there to familiarise himself with the cave system as well. First, we walked through the showcave area which was on plank and cemented walkways. At the starting area, Micheal gave us a short briefing about caving etiquettes... useful, but we were more raring to go by then that we weren't really concentrating. 15 mins later, we walked down the ladder and started our journey.

The initial part was filled with boulders and sharp rocks. This part required lots of rock climbing and descending, but the best of it all, was the adrenaline rush. Pushing myself up the boulders and pulling myself up using ropes was torture, but exciting. There were not as many ropework here as compared to Racer, but most parts will require basic rock climbing skills. Almost each step was a full hip and knee flexion for me... too short ma... We were really enjoying being inside the caves, the quietness of it all, and the tranquility that was in there was really relaxing.. Imagine being in a huge huge empty room..with no one around, except the darkness surrounding you. Less than 20 mins later, we came to a clearing where we rested a while before proceeding on to the squeeze... yes squeeze!!.. its literally where you squeeze through small areas of the cave eg between opposing walls, or btw big boulders. The first squeeze was easy, sort of like a prelude to the looooong and tight 2nd one. Easy enough, requiring a bit of ropework (in lowering) at the end of it… while still squeezing ourselves through… then another 20 or so minutes trek up and down again… then another resting point before the 2nd squeeze. This time the rest was about 30mins.. and all of us shut our headlamps for a good 10minutes in between… amazing..really really amazing…it was like darkness…real darkness.. Imagine if you’re in the dark, your eyes adjusts after a while…this was like no adjustment even.. not a single ray/photon/wave of light at all. Can’t see a bloody thing… Scary at first, cos the thought of the creatures from the movie “the descent” started to play in my head, but after a few minutes…calmed down..and just peaceful.. really peaceful. I loved it there… okies, time up, time to continue on

The second squeeze was the killer one..took us about altogether ?20-30mins to get through..its just one tight squeeze after another. Even Ian, the tall one, about 180-185cm had difficulty locating footsteps during the descent. This was the connection between the Wind cave and Clearwater cave. Hehehe..that over.. another squeeze at about 20minutes later…and finally…time to get…

WET!!!! We reached the river at last… the clearWATER cave had a river that runs through it. The current was strong from all the rain we’ve been having the past few days.. and it was brrr…cold.. we had to wade through the river a few times.. while going along the banks which was actually made of slippery and sharp rocks.. but finally, about 1hr later, we reached the end or more like the opening of the cave.. finally, the caving is over…
Phew…it was really really tiring.. but fun.. had a short dip at in the river at the end, and took the boat back to camp…we were really thankful for the boat… hehe

The caving trip was magnificent, but really taxed me to the max.. had superb muscles aches… din know I was using that many muscles.. .but it was all well worth it. Oh well, tomorrow is gonna be a rest day before the pinnacles so, better rest tonight.
Time out…. Sleep…