It began harmlessly: a morning hike through the jungle near Tanah Rata, the three of us in the best of moods. From the lookout tower we followed what seemed to be the right path – and took a wrong turn at a fallen signpost.
The further we went, the narrower and more slippery the path became. Soon we were climbing over tree roots through ankle-deep mud. In the afternoon, as it began to grow dark around half past five, we grew uneasy. Malayan tigers appeared in my mind, pythons, monitor lizards – everything a rainforest like this has to offer.
Then I remembered the old principle from every adventure book: follow the water downhill. We heard a stream, followed it – and sure enough it eventually led us onto a road and back to civilisation.
At the hotel the manager remarked drily that he would have organised a search party from 8 p.m. had we not turned up. For the rest of our days we explored the Cameron Highlands more comfortably by vehicle – and visited the beautiful tea plantations. Entirely without tigers.
