I decided to forgo my breakfast this morning so I could go back to the hide at dawn and see what final birding I could get in and was rewarded with great views of 3 Hill Mynas flying in and perching in an exposed tree top. Also saw a large family of long-tailed macaques, enjoying their antics as they crossed the grassy area. By 9am we were all in the boat heading back to Temberling Jetty and Linda picked out Oriental Pied Hornbill's and a very large water Monitor sunbathing on an exposed, overhanging branch. Also nice views of a Crested Serpent Eagle. The sun was behind us as we cruised downstream giving us a lovely light. Arrived at the jetty by 11am and after some lunch and a short wait we boarded the bus for KL but our hearts sank when we saw it was the same bus driver - a really nice man but an awful driver. The tour agent stepped onto the bus to bid all of us passengers a farewell and informed us the ride back to KL would take 4 hours but we all agreed that that was just because he didn't know the driver, who we were sure would make the distance in just 2 hours judging by our previous experience of him. Heading back we passed many rubber plantations and saw how the trees had been tapped and the cups were collecting the rubber. Two very nice surprises have marked this trip - one being that 1 hour into the boat ride to Temberling I realised I'd forgotten to get my RM200 key deposit from Mutiara Resort at Taman Negara and didn't hold out too much hope of seeing it again but on arrival at the jetty found out the Resort had phoned ahead and made arrangements for me to be reimbursed at Temberling Jetty. On a second, earlier occasion I left my purse with my money in the internet cafe in Chinatown and didn't hold out much hope there either but on returning some hours later and enquiring was handed it back without any drama. Tonight was our last dinner together and so we've visited 3 food outlets and feasted on fried fish (Tilapia and Gumbo) BBQ'd in a marinade of chilli, ginger, and coconut creamm; 2nd outlet we got chicken sate sticks and peanut sauce and the 3rd outlet we got singapore noodles with shrimp and lilly pad vegetables. We'll have a final morning of activities tomorrow before heading to the airport.
