Is it a myth? Not really. If you were me, growing up next to a 400+hectars of the oldest (150 million year old) virgin equatorial rainforest in the world, then living with nature is not a myth.
The Sepilok RDC, previously for many years when I was a kid, was served as the backbone to the nursery of the forest department of Ministry of Forest in Sabah. It had, still has, a big pond, which was used as the reservoir for the workers live around there. Well, for some, was a fishing pond, now a beautiful lake. A 400+hectares of rainforest, now with many marked trails; a forestry school/college for the rangers, now as part of the University of Sabah; a research department with many international programs where many came here to research the rainforest. Also near by, the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabitation Centre. Now, RDC is the most famous ground to watch birds migration too.
I had been there countless times, still going there every time I go home. Every time, there is something new.
April 30, 2011, I am determined to hike to see the Sepilok Giant. Sepilok Giant is a Yellow Seraya tree which is 800-1000 year old, height with 65 meters like a 19 storey building, girth 7M with a 2.2M diameter. Total to around 28 tonnes. This is the biggest tree in the reserve.
In the morning, I saw a flock (counted around 10) of Oriental Pied Hornbill flying through my own front yard, a good sign since the birds are in migration. In the afternoon, walk over, it was a real quiet day, low season. Paid the fee, got the map and start the trail. The reserve now is having so many trails that we can have many bypass. Sepilok Giant is in the middle bypass, it takes 45mins hike to get to the tree.
It was a nice hike and I spent 2 hours going around the 3-4KM of the trails. Also promising myself, I will do a full day program with the full outer loops of trek to the Hornbill Tower , when I am home next time.
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| Entrance to RDC, Apr2011. |
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| Map of the treks in RDC, Apr2011. |
The oldest virgin rain forest in the world, 150 million year old.
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Sepilok Giant - the largest tree in the Sepilok Forest Reserve,
5th largest tree in the tropical rainforest.
