Bukit Lawang Eco Lodge

 Bukit Lawang Eco Lodge 

We had a long transfer by coach from the hotel at Lake Toba via Medan to Bukit Lawang, locate din the jungle to the west of Medan.

To get to our accomadatio we had to cross a rickety rope bridge...but only a maximum of five people with luggage at a time.

And there were monkeys everywhere, including on the supports of the bridge. 

A view up river from the rope bridge of the weir.

The communal area of the eco lodge, built in traditional Bukat style...

...another view of the side...

...and the end.

A view of the weir from the bar.

And then a troupe of monkeys walked across the hotel grounds and up the path leading to the weir...

...crossing the bridge.

The upstairs area of the bar.

A view of some of the accomadation. There were also bungalows and cabins.

We went for a jungle walk with a guide into the Gunung Leuser National Park. W hadn't gone ten metres before the guide pointed ou a snake. It was green and yellow, coiled up and sasleep in a tree. Even being told where it was, it was hard to see as it was so well camouflaged.

                                                   

Several types of flora were pointed out such as the rubber trees, still producing rubber and tapped in the traditional way. The price has dropped and some plantations are no longer tapped but are left just in case the price goes up again. There is a lot of competition from synthetic substitutes. 

There were wild banana palms, coffee bushes, herbs and a palm used to produce brown sugar. Some of the taller and older trees had big butresses.

There were fresh small piles of sand on the floor. There were crikets that had burrowed into the ground and thrown the spoil out of the hole.

Walking down one slope we came across a jungle peacock dancing around in circles, making a display. Unfortunately, he was always pointing away from the camera when he flashed his tail feathers.

We had a mid morning stop for a snack of fruits. It was a welcomed break from walking up steep slopes and slipping on muddy paths. 

We were watched by a mother and baby oranutan. They are used to seeing humans but are wild. They don't come near but also don't run away.

And more shots of the pair...

... but often difficult to get a clear photo due to the foliage inbetween the camera and the subject.

And then it was time for lunch. Rice, a fried egg, cucumber and tomato salad and some crackers, wrapped in a banana leaf, wrapped in paper, carried all morning by one of the guides.

Further along the trail was another oranutan, who conveniently sat still for long enough for me to get a good photo...

...before moving off and disappearing into the canopy. 

Some sap seeping out of a tree, damage caused by a moon bear, looking for honey. Wild bees make a nest in a hollow in a tree. Moon bears see bees flying about and will come to investiagte. They are often strong enough to pull the sides of the hollow away and reach the honey inside.

A butterfly that stood still for long enough to get a photo. You can just see some of the irridescent blue on te back of its wings, but every time I moved to get behnd it to take a photo, it fluttered off.

A gibbon, resting on a branch 

The end of the walk at the river and an opportunity to have a swim and wash the mud, sweat and insect repellent off before...

...getting into inner tubes to tube down the riverbck to the eco lodge, a great way to end the jungle trek.