21-Oct-2022
We got back today from three really lovely days at the Permai Rainforest Resort.
We wanted to spend a bit of time by the sea, and were really drawn to their "tree houses". These sit atop poles, so that you're six metres up amongst the trees. They're well spaced out from each other, and they all have fabulous sea views:
Our tree house
Looking out from the top of the steps
Bark-clad exterior
A pleasant little balcony...
... with a great view
The tree houses are nicely tucked away, and hardly visible from the beach
Because you're high up and catch the sea breezes, and the well-maintained insect mesh means you can sleep with the windows open, we didn't need any aircon the whole time we were there. Being able to sleep with the swoosh of the sea just outside was one of the highlights of the stay for me.
Simple, but comfortable enough
Cool to sit in bed and see the sea... During the day there are cicadas and squirrels; as evening draws on, the bats, frogs, and crickets get into gear. But mostly what you hear at any given point is the waves...
Great idea: A pool with a stream running through it
The view from the restaurant
On our first full day, we did the short forest track that loops up the hill at the back of the resort:
Boulders everywhere. In the forest, in the rivers, and on the beach
Crossing rivers with the aid of ropes is not something I especially enjoy...
The swing bridge, on the other hand, is quite straightforward
It's not easy terrain, and even though we had rain only at the very beginning and the very end of our stay, the general dampness of our Sarawak climate tends to make things skiddy underfoot. So I bottled out of the more adventurous walking tracks. Next time, maybe... In the dry season. If we ever get one.
We spent a lot of time on the resort's two beaches:
Beach No. 1
Beach No. 2, which we generally had entirely to ourselves
We spent one completely idyllic morning in this little spot, with the river on one side, and the sea on the other. The rock colours are amazing
Not far down the road is the Damai Central food court, where we decadently shared shaved-ice desserts two days running:
On the road to Damai Central and beyond
It was really great to see something of the local wildlife:
One of the little group of silver leaf monkeys who were doing some evening foraging in the woods across from the restaurant
Can't do a thing with my feathers today...
That's better...
He finally sat still...
A little band of these adorable proboscis monkeys came stravaging right past our tree house yesterday afternoon. We saw a bigger group today
Could anything be cuter?
Spot the monkey
Arty photo, huh?
All in all, this was a wonderful break. No jobs. Tons of fresh air. Lots of reading. Bliss.