Perhaps the most numerous insects are the ants and termites. These form extensive colonies located underground or in rotten tree trunks. Witness the millions of busy termites which follow trails snaking across the forest floor, and you will then grasp how key these species are to rainforest ecology. Their role is to digest rotting wood and to return the nutrients to the soil; without this function it is probable that the forests would not survive, for each new tree needs the nutrients of fallen, rotten trees in order to grow. The Giant Forest Ant Camponotus gigas is a rather solitary species which prefers to scavenge the forest floor. Some specimens can reach over one inch in length, but despite this huge size they are harmless and will not bite humans.
Taman Negara is also home to one of Malaysia's aboriginal groups, the Batek. As with other Orang Asli (or 'Original People') they traditionally led a nomadic lifestyle in the forests, hunting game with blowpipes. These families seen in this pictures, were settled in this park and I guess they are the 'showcase' kind for people like me who has never seen an aborigine before. Just like any aborigines in other part of the world, its kind of hard to understand that they have minimal desire for the modern life ... hmmm.... thinking on the other side... i guess they are more "civilised" in their own environment.
Near the park headquarters there is also a canopy walkway allowing a closer look at the ecology of the treetops. At 400 metres in length this is reputedly the longest in the world. A good deal of concentration is needed to keep one's focus on the flora at canopy level, and not be distracted by the swaying walkway. In fact, the walkway did swayed ... why ... because there were a couple of these big sized Mat Sallehs behind me. I was caught being on the walkway with them and frantically controlled my fright. Rule of thumb when you are on the walkway, dont be with big sized people .... 
The park also has a number of caves, some of which are open to the public. We entered a nearby cave called Gua Telinga (the Ear Cave). Having entered the cave, now I knew why it's named so.There are times we need to hunch our back to make our way through and I giggled to myself what if a 'healthy' person is to enter this cave ...
To make our way, we need to cling onto the rocks and note that there were many species of bat roost in this cave. We just could imagine what our hands are clinging onto. Lucky it's dark, so its just not that bad to know what it was 
Its really an exciting experience being in this park, and we are going there again. So, if you need a budget trip, write to ida855@yahoo.com
