Mulu is a heaven?...True Borneo Beauty

December 29, 2012

I don't know how heaven looks like..
If I Mulu was near-heaven, Subhanallah, I could not imagine how real Heaven will be..

Mulu adventure with Kpah..

It is a continuous of our looong journey, started from Ho Chi Minh City then to Mulu. Subsequently we both attended Chai Lee and Joon Thian's reception in Kuching. We initially planned to go to Bario since Fahmy our friend is there, kinda like to give him a visit aka having a tour of Bario ourselves but had to cancel in the last minute because we couldn't get any ticket.

Devastated initially but no more when we stepped down at Mulu National Park.
We have been to Niah and Bako, Mulu is so far the best!!!
1) Mulu
what we have learned that
- Mulu is just a small kampong that you can just walk around
- Mulu doesn't have town! We asked one of the locals to how to get to town, she smiled and answered "there is no town. there is only national park!" Ooooo
- No taxi, train, bus but a transport van
- From airport to National Park is about less than 10km. Yes you can just walk.
-Electrics is generated through generator. In national park and Royal Mulu, it is generated for 24hours, 7days a week but if you stay at the homestay or hostel even at the clinic, they have specifics time of when the generator will be operated. So charge your electronic appliances during the given times.
- Mulu has lots of trails and hiking. Spend your time carefully.
- The restaurant inside the park is certified Halal but those outside the park was not. And the food is soooo expensive.

2) The stays
We spent 4days and 3nights there. As usual, since we like to make impromptu decisions, we didn't book any hotels or stays. Accommodations are provided in the national park itself. prices ranges from RM50-RM200+ per night from hostels to villa. But there were few hostels or homestay outside the national park about 6-7km far. We stayed one night at the hostel just outside the park (very near, walking distance). Its a mixed dorm cost about RM 40/person. Nice, clean with free breakfast. It just that the towel is not given for free, it is for rent with ridiculous price!
The next day we stayed at one of the homestay (D cave homestay) since we want a better privacy. Highly recommended! Rm25 per night with separate rooms for male and female, very super nice owner, it just that it is a bit far from the park. Funny story was that we went out at night to the park for dinner. At night the area will become pitch dark! No street lamps. So we want to go back to the homestay and we were both tired (and a little bit scared) to walk home. So we asked one of the park's guard to find a transport back. Guess what, the guard was the owner of the homestay and we didn't know of that (we met the wife when we checked in and never met the husband) and he sent us back with his own car.
We spent our last night at Royal Mulu Resort, that cost us RM300+. To bad it was under renovation. Dinner and breakfast was included and during dinner we were entertained by cultural dance. Other activities provided will be cycling, in door board games, kayaking etc. Very comfortable but if you want to come maybe after 2014 when the renovation is complete. If you really want to have a nice relaxing stay yeah the resort may be the best choice for you but if you want to spend most of the time at the national park, trailing and hiking then don't stay here. Way to expensive!

3) The recommended activities

- The Pinnacles - we weren't able to go because 1) we don't have that much time 2) the tour guide seems not to convince with our stamina level 3) we do didn't have such stamina required (NYHA class 3).

- All the caves - Deer cave, Lang Cave, Wind Cae
Especially the Clearwater Cave, my favourite because of the clear stream!!..ahhh..heaven..
Each cave has different attractions!

- The treetop walking
Scary but the views were spectacular!!!!

- Don't have high expectation to see those Bats out from the cave because it was not like how I imagined it would be..It was more like..neh..

Not recommended- Paku Waterfall. The waterfall is not that nice but along the way you can find lots of different kind of mold and mushrooms!!

Once you enter the park, they will let you plan your trip and there are lots of trails to choose.
I seriously could put the best word how awesome our stays in Mulu so I let you see some of the pictures we have taken. Still, these pictures still can't tell you how beautiful Mulu is. The only for you to know is to be there yourself.