Riding Two Wheels into Malaysia’s Oldest Rainforest

- Tim Notier

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Marisa, Brendon, Kira, and I woke up to another beautiful day. We were excited to check off a few more items on our peninsular Malaysia to-do list, as well as take some roads less traveled to potentially see hornbills, tapirs, and other wildlife.
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Our plan for the day was to go from newly planted tea fields that rolled across a manicured landscape, to an untouched rainforest that had been thriving since dinosaurs still roamed the planet.

We packed up that morning, and felt crisp chill in the air as we rolled out of the hotel's parking lot. It was a welcomed cool breeze in compared to the usual heat of Malaysia. We all wore our outer shell that was our rain gear because the skies looked like it could rain at any moment.

It was an "Earl Gray" day and it couldn't have been more suitable to roam through fields of tea leaves. 

Marisa loves tea, and British history, so this was a real moment for her to shine and wander through the tea fields as if she was searching for Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. I am more of a coffee guy, but as a homeowner, let it be only a quarter acre, I can still appreciate a well maintained lawn and garden.
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Marisa enjoyed her time and I knew that she and her mother would have a wonderful conversation that started with tea but would somehow turn into the latest gossip about the Royal Family or the current season of The Crown (Marisa informs me that show has been over for years... which shows how little I know about the British Monarchy).

It was wonderful to just see her smile from ear to ear on a misty day in Malaysia solely from the fact that she was surrounded by tiny green leaves. And I had found a new feline friend to keep me company as Marisa rattled off facts to the camera.

The rainy weather of the highlands was perfect for tea, but not quite as satisfying for motorcycle riding. So after we all took in the view of what could have been a screensaver, we hopped back on the bike and headed towards lower altitude in hopes of ducking under the overcast skies.
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Within no time at all, the four of us found ourselves back in the thick, humid air of the tropics. We were headed towards a National Park that seemed off of the beaten path, but because of that, it was the type of place that we would all enjoy. The Haks are avid bird watchers, Marisa loves spectacular vines that crawl their way up ancient trees, and I am a fan of the fresh air, good company, and I am always up for the chance, yet rare possibility, of seeing tapirs and tigers.

Taman Negara National Park
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Estimated to be over 130 million years old, this rainforest predates the Amazon. Spanning more than 4,300 square kilometers across three Malaysian states, it’s less of a park and more of a living, breathing prehistoric world.

Once we entered the rainforest, the sounds, humidity, and sheer density of life hit us all at once. Every step felt like we had wandered into a nature documentary. Marisa won't admit it, but my David Attenborough impersonation is pretty spot on.
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One of the highlights is the canopy walkway. Giant spiral steel staircases wind towards the heavens and end at suspension bridges 40 meters (131 feet) above the forest floor. These grated steel walkways seemed sturdy enough, but had just enough bounce in them to keep you alert.

At the top of a towering viewpoint, the four of us looked out over the endless sea of green and we spotted Mount Tahan rising in the distance. At 2,187 meters (nearly 7,200 feet), it’s the tallest peak in Peninsular Malaysia and looks like it belongs in Jurassic Park.

Sadly, we did not encounter much wildlife, but high noon isn't really when all of the activity of nature happens. Cool early mornings, and after the sun hits the horizon in the evenings is when hornbills make their loud calls in an effort to find their mate.

Thankfully, I had the love of my life already standing next to me. I did not have to make any exotic noises or do any fancy dances, but I caught the eye of the prettiest robin on Jay Bird Street.

After walking the planks high above the sea of trees, we got back on our motorcycles and headed to our hotel. It had been a full day filled with great riding, weather, and on our way back we finally saw some wildlife... maybe not technically wildlife, but free range cows meandering between palm trees was a distant second best to a wild Malayan Tiger.

Twisty roads through palm trees on a sunny day will never get old. The colors stood out vibrantly as if some all knowing powerful being dragged the Divine Saturation Level over a bit too far to the right. The blue sky in contrast of the green fronds of the palm trees both made the little red road we twisted down feel like we were in an oil painting.

As the sun began to lower, rays of light broke through the clouds, turning the whole landscape into something that felt straight out of a Pink Floyd closing set. We have been so grateful to ride through this beautiful part of Malaysia and there is so much more to explore still ahead of us.

We are excited to share with you our journey as we continue to ride across peninsular Malaysia - from the Southernmost tip of Mainland Asia in Johor Bahru, to the Northern border of Thailand! Marisa and I are having the time of our lives and are so thankful to have you along for the ride!
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We are also ecstatic to announce our latest motorcycle tour in Thailand!! Join us on an epic adventure through the endless twisty roads in Northern Thailand and relax on stunning beaches on Koh Lanta in Southern Thailand! Check out the itinerary and available dates HERE.

We would love to ride alongside you and explore the world together! 

We can’t thank all of our Patrons enough and we are so grateful to have you along for the journey!
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