I find myself in the Jungle

1/28/10

I’m in Cuc Phuong National Park! I’ve got a little room in a wooden “stilt house” for $6/night. There are only 4 other people here and a couple of staff. I just walked through the incredible primary forest for 30min on my own before the sun set. Spooky!!

I went up a trail into the jungle and the canopy quickly blocked out all of the remaining daylight. Everywhere there were sounds. Snapping branches, leaves rustling, chirps and croaks. A bark. Was that a mammal or bird? A chirp. Was that an bird or insect? I felt watched by a hundred invisible eyes. I kept going, taking one step slowly after another. Which each step I heard a new sound in a new direction. I had to compel myself to go forward while also knowing I should really start to head back before it got dark. Finally, I found the courage to break my frightened curiosity and turn around. I almost ran back down the trail to get back into the open field that would take me back to my room. I shouldn't have gone alone, that was really creepy... but fun too :)

Now, safety under my mosquito net I’m writing with the light of my headlamp (there’s no electricity here). In 15 minutes I’ll leave to join an older German couple and younger Dutch couple for dinner. We are the only visitors here in the park center. After dinner a guide is meeting us to go night-spotting!!