Location : Ulu Layar, Betong, Sarawak, Malaysia.
This is the only time where we paid for a guide and failed to get to our destination. All thanks to our friend Desmond Kabar who helped organised this trip. It was my bad judgement to think that Desmond, a Bidayuh from Bau whose wife is from Layar, would be intelligent enough to carry out such an elementary task as ‘engaging a guide’. But he gave me a huge Christmas surprise. An unpleasant one. Engaged a guide he did in the person of his brother in law but without my knowledge that he had never set foot on this trail. What transpired between them in their Iban language, I could not understand. I just assumed that since he was a local guy he should have been to Sadok at least a couple of times. No, not even once. And I only found that out at the trail head.
We went along anyhow, hoping we would find it. It was a wet and slippery trail with all the rain. Motorbikes used by farmers cut a mini trench on some of the muddy patches. 
After one hour of non stop uphill climbing we reached a junction and was surprised to find a dirt road. One could actually drive up here most probably via Jambu Longhouse not far away. Great discovery, thank you again Desmond! So we continued to the opposite side of the road where the trail was interrupted. Rain came again. After half an hour the ascent got very steep. But the rain somehow gave us all the energy to continue for another hour. 
We stopped at some point because there was this police yellow tape tied around the trees to warn of whatever was happening beyond. Doubts began to set in. With all the uncertainties we decided to turn back.
The descent was of course a lot easier and faster. When we reached the trail head again we bumped into a Sadok guy. After Desmond’s brief conversation with him, we learned that we were just one hour away from Sadok and the police yellow was set up a week earlier for their training. Oh well. Maybe next time.
Changed to dry clothing before taking the leisure drive to the very end of Ulu Layar road. The misty scenic mountain views were our only consolation despite the gloomy sky and wet weather.
On the way to Bukit Sadok
Longhouses 
Bukit Sadok
To see more photos, please check out our FACEBOOK PAGE
More info on Rentap the Iban warrior, please click below links
