迷失在熱帶雨林Lost in Tropical Forest

留尼旺島面積2,512平方公里，海岸線長207公里，島上最高峰約三千公尺，

有活火山拉夫艾斯。沿岸屬熱帶雨林氣候，終年濕熱；內部山地為高山氣候，

溫和涼爽。最熱月平均氣溫26℃，最冷月20℃。

5至11月為乾季，11月至次年4月為雨季。

火山上的植物

基本上除了小島西岸的平地及沿岸珊瑚礁及海灘, 百份之九＋是熱帶雨林,

如果要体驗 Lost 的熱帶雨林生活, 不防來這裡遠足, 島上有三條路線可串連,

 每條路線須約一星期才完成,要行足七天七夜沒問題啊! 最怕你不願行,

所以Rambo 家鄉 。

三條可串連路線包括Salazie, Cilaos, Mafate,

Mafate, 是三條路線最原始, 沒有完全開發, 提供豐富的天然資源,

最少人到, 除了各下一雙鐵腳, 沒友交通工具到達, 是遠足者的天堂,

沿途有不少珍禽異獸,花草樹木, 隨著高度及氣候變化,  

Mafate cirque

                

 

當年第一次到留尼旺剛巧遇著島上流傳著一種由蚊患傳播的病毒,屈公熱病

屈公熱病Chikungunya 會令人全身疼痛和發熱，病徵可以持續數個月，嚴重者會死亡。有「痛得將身體彎起來（背部傴僂）」之意。

 患病者徵狀和登革熱    十分相似，傳播媒介都是埃及    斑蚊和白紋依蚊，但是屈公熱會出現嚴重的關節痛症狀。病人會持續數周感疲倦，有發燒、起疹、頭痛、惡心、肌肉痛等症狀，關節痛持續數周至數月，嚴重者會影響工作。有些個案關節會痛得無法走動。

I did not go out in the first two months as there were a deadly virius 屈公熱 Chikungunya  spreading by mosquitos on the island. So far more than 200 people died in the past two months,  it was dangerous adn risky  to go around especially in places like forest and near rivers.

As the temperautre was dropping in may (it was almost winter in the Indian Ocean ),  the risks of explosing to mosquitos were getting lower. I decided to join a hiking tour (Randonee) with a guide in a tropical forest. 

後來, 在熱帶雨林內遠生, 走出我的第一次!!

One week day morning, I left for my adventure with all the precautions,  putting on long sleeves t- shirt and spraying as much as  mosquitoes repellent from top to bottom. My guide picked me up from my hotel and then we met three other tourists. There were four of us, one french young man and two other French women. I was the only asian who do not speak fluent french. 
                     

 


We made a brief stop in front of a gites/Bed & breakfast place as there was a wonderful view from this place towards  the opposite valley. (see above). Then c we started my first adventure. The guide showed us a lot of plants which were typical in the tropicals. His explainations was all in French as unxpected so I could  understand  about  40 %. But I still have a lot of fun, at that moment,  I was following  a popular American TV series "Lost"5 days a week in the hotel room, so it becomes more exciting when  I explore the forest!!

It was some bushes with low growing plants and we were matching in muddy road, a bit slippery. It was still fine at the beginning, after a while, we came to a soft muddy track, water ponds and  then soft muddy tracks again....for about 40 mins. It was raining the day before, so the soil has abosrbed a lot of rain. We followed the guide to look for a better spot. Sometimes, we have to put a piece of stone on the 瀾泥beng and water ponds.

I was slowing down as it was not easy for a city person like me. Luckily, I was wearing my hiking boots as some of the ponds are quite deep. Muddy water is coming up to the ankle. Sometines, we have to climb across some plants inorder to avoid the ponds. Without the boots, I can't imagine what will happen. For sure , I would have given up when I came here alone. I would not have walked on the muddy track like...."瀾泥beng".

The guide told us a few times to walk as fast as possible  or otherwise we might not be able to see that place. After about two and a half hour walk in the forest, we came to a place like a balcony. from it it give a "Wonderful"  view,   I found a 400 m water fall pouring our rapidly into the valley. It was really a spectacle. I take turns to take picture from the edge as it is really small

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Then a few miniutes after I took the picture and video, there was a thick fog arriving to the valley. Within minutes, the waterfall was block, nothing could be seen. Those persons who arrived after us were very disappointed !!   

 It was a pity after spending so much efforts in hiking, having all the mud and soil on their boots, on their pants. They could not see the waterfall. 

I'm still glad that I have put it on the hands of a right person. Without the professional guide, we would not have arrived in time to see this spectacle. Pascal ! Merci beaucoup!!

By the way, if we want to get back to the car , there was still another two and a half hours to walk!! That night, my feet was so sore and I can not go anywhere the next day.!!