By Azia Farzana Badduwie
Ever since I was a little girl, I have always been the child my dad would describe as the fearless one. I played in dirt, drains, abandoned sites, swam in rivers, and made forts on trees. The world was an exciting playground, but things changed as I got older. No longer the kid who would go off on random quests, I was bound to a routined life in the city. Then, came 2018. Living far away from home on the outskirts of Miri for work, it was a window of opportunity for a taste of real adventure after all these years—my first cave exploration.
Getting to the caves at Niah National Park was an exceptional experience. After crossing the river with a boat, I trekked on a beautifully laid out trail of mossy planks. Since there wasn’t anyone around, the sound of nature engulfed me completely. I was intoxicated with the atmosphere—the melodius symphony of birds and forest wildlife. I can’t describe to you the euphoria felt in my heart as I reached the mouth of Traders’ Cave. The only caves I have seen in life before were the ones in books. Softly, I brushed my palm against the wall of the cave. It felt unreal.
Further in, was the Great Cave. It was so humongous that I felt like an ant as I stood on the cave’s cratered ground. Jagged stalactites at its ceiling, eerie sounds, as well as glimpses of bats hanging upside down in the cave scared and fascinated me at the same time. However, the most captivating experience was when I felt a delicate mist of rain gently draping over my skin. When I looked up, I saw a veil of ethereal sunlight coming down from the holes of the cave’s roof, illuminating the beautiful rock formations inside.
I tread deeper until I saw a signboard in red-painted letters, written in caps, ‘DARK AREA AHEAD!’, signalling I had reached Moon Cave. There was a staircase leading towards the lower ground and from there onwards, it was pitch black. I switched my headlamp on and went down, carefully. Feeling a rush of adrenaline, my inner child beamed with excitement. I could hear the rustling of my pant legs brushing against each other as I walked slowly in the encapsulated silence. The thrilling pathway ended as daylight washed over the last plank.
Painted Cave was the last checkpoint. Stepping inside made me felt as if I had time-travelled into the past. One can’t help but wonder about the stories contained within these walls of brownish line strokes. It made me realise how close we actually were to our ancestors at that point, as the only thing separating us was a layer of timeless primeval painting. I sat down, soaking in this whole experience of being here, in Niah Cave. From the beginning to its end, the tranquility, excitement, thrill, and mysteries, everything was unforgettable. As I stared at the remarkable cave, I whispered to myself, “..Magnificent.” — DayakDaily
Azia Farzana Badduwie from Miri is the Bronze Winner (Adult Category) in the ‘Magnificent Sarawak: An Unforgettable Trip’ writing competition organised by DayakDaily and supported by the Sarawak Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts and Imperial Hotel Kuching.
