After a rough night and breakfast, I was picked up from my hostel in Medan, and took a shared a taxi to Bukit Lawang. The journey took around four hours. At Bukit Lawang, I was greeted by Jhonny, the owner of my resort, who took me on a short motorbike ride to a beautiful, jungle-like paradise. I spent the evening with Jhonny and locals, enjoying live music by the resort, which was bustling with visitors.

The next morning, we set off into the jungle. With my guides Dimas and Aseng, I encountered a rubber tree plantation, spotted our first orangutans, and saw peacocks and other monkeys. After lunch, we saw another orangutan mother and baby up close. The trek was challenging, especially with the rain, but we finally reached the camp, where I relaxed with a refreshing swim, spotting an owl and fireflies for the first time.

On day two, we continued our trek despite exhaustion and slippery terrain from the rain. Climbing was intense, and I had a minor fall, making the journey even tougher. One of my group members, became ill, slowing us down but allowing me some rest. We eventually made it to camp. After a nice walk and swim at the riverside, amazing diner and a lot of fun it was time to make it an early night.

On the last day, we enjoyed a swim at a waterfall, painted our faces with charcoal, and rafted back to Bukit Lawang on tubes. Along the way, we spotted five orangutans, many monkeys, peacocks, butterflies, and other wildlife. Back at my resort, Jhonny helped arrange my transport to Lake Toba. The last evening, I shared a farewell with my new friends and guides, playing the guitar and sing the remarkable “Bukit Lawang Songs” an amazing ending of an unforgettable jungle adventure.