A Day in Malino

696 days ago
	It has almost been a week since I went up to Malino but I thought that I may as well write about it anyways, seeing as I am going up there again today. However, this time Kiky is coming along with me and we will stay the night. Hopefully we can do a couple hikes around some of the waterfalls. Malino is a town that ia about 1000m above sea level. Here that means for cool weather all year round and although they get a harsh rainy season, the dry season is wonderful. It is well known because many negotiations have been held up there, as the negotiators of these peace treatys and cease fires are said to be much more level headed when in a cool and calm environment. It is in a good location for us Makassarese, as it only takes about 1 1/2 hours to cruise up there. There are few words to describe the natural beauty of the place. It has such a mixture of wonderful flora, interesting fauna and dramatic landscape that the hiking up there couldn't be better (well, unless there were more trails!). There are waterfalls that cascade down into deep valleys, high mountains with clouds almost perpetually shrouding their summits, and wonderful roads in which to explore most of this area. The trees vary from giant palm trees and pine trees (sometimes growing right next to each other!) to vividly coloured flowering trees, some with flowers as long as my forearm. As for my sally out there: My friend David and I left here rather late, but did take full opportunity of the area once we were there. We headed directly to Tangga Seribu (thousand steps) and took the tiring journey down to the waterfall. The steps run down the side of a bluff which is heavily forested, and the sounds of parrots calling out to each other adds that definitive tropical feel. Once at the bottom, we stowed our gear and then took a lovely dip in the splashpool. This waterfall is no baby either. If we were to even be powerful enough to swim near the chute, then we could have been forced underwater with only a marginal chance of resurfacing. After that refreshing dip we climber back up and took a nice bike ride through the back country of Malino. This time I would like very much to go for a walk in the tea plantation. It is a rather large plantation and you can just walk around inside it. The intense green of the tea bushes and the faint aroma make it a really pleasing meander. I have my sights on a peak not far from the plantation, so maybe I will get a chance to tell about my attempt to summit it next time, or maybe I will just relax and take in the beauty that will surround me.