Those few who recall my jungle trekking exploits in Thailand last year (i have tried unsuccessfully to block them out) will enjoy the following trauma. On Perhentian Besar, we found out about a track that would apparently take us across the island to another beach in about 20 minutes. Jungle covered about 95% of the island's land mass, so I guess that meant we had to go through some jungle. But surely lots of people use these paths - they must be pretty well-beaten.
We set out (M in shoes, me in sandals) and after finding the beginning of the path hidden at the back of a set of chalets, started on an indistinct path that quickly became a full-on jungle path through a moist rainforest. Lots of noises in the undergrowth and ants 3 inches long. Vines everywhere that looked like snakes. Clearly the path was not much used and, at times, it disappeared almost totally and was marked only by the occasional stake in the ground.
M bravely led the way, fending off the cobwebs, whilst I brought up the rear and kept a vigilant eye out for any snakes that she had missed and which lay in wait for me. Luckily it was only after we were safely back at Tuna Bay I read in Lonely Planet about the Malaysian flying snakes [they glide].
After we made it to the other beach - drenched in sweat - we discovered that the other beach (Flora Bay) was really nice and possibly the best place on the Perhentians to base yourself if your focus was on diving.
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