Exploring a cave in the middle of a Palm Oil forest | Bukit Lawang | Vlog 162
My trek through the rainforest of Bukit Lawang starts tomorrow. That means I still have an extra day to explore the town and its surroundings. I came here to experience the rainforest and see wild Orangutans. Sadly, Bukit Lawang is one of the last places on Earth where that’s still possible.
Palm oil vs. Orangutans
Today, I’m exploring one of the main reasons why Orangutans have become so rare — palm oil. The palm oil found in shampoos and countless other products is a major factor in their decline. It’s almost impossible to avoid since even general products like Coca-Cola, Pringles, and many different products contain it. Seeing the palm oil plantations up close really drives the point home. Compared to the rainforest, these plantations feel lifeless — there’s not a single creature around. It’s heartbreaking how money often (if not always) takes priority over nature.
That was my little vent about why palm oil is a problem. Unfortunately, it’s all true, and witnessing it firsthand makes it even more upsetting. Even on the way to Bukit Lawang, we drove for hours surrounded by endless palm oil plantations before finally reaching the rainforest. It’s hard to imagine that it was once all dense jungle filled with Orangutans. We really should be encouraging big companies to find sustainable alternatives and stop cutting down more forests. (but then again, who am I?)
Despite that, my day was good. The walk itself was beautiful, and I even discovered a small cave. I started to explore it, even though I was alone — admittedly, not the smartest decision. But oh well, those are the moments that make travel interesting. Maybe it’s time to change my headline from traveller to explorer. It does make for great stories. For now, I’m just looking forward to beginning my trip into the rainforest.
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