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What do you picture when you think of the jungle?
Is it Indiana Jones running down a hill chased by angry natives? The blackened face of Martin Sheen rising from a steamy river in Apocalypse Now? Tarzan swinging from those handily placed vines? Bear Grylls and his inexplicable battle against the wild? David Attenborough’s calm narration of some mating ritual? Baloo explaining those bare necessities to Mowgli? Snakes? Humidity? Tigers? Mosquitoes? Leeches? (…or is it an expanse of ground peppered with the gravestone-like tree stumps of a cleared rainforest?)
For most people the jungle evokes some image of an exotic, alien environment, a dark and slightly forbidding place where adventure is still possible and risk a reality. And they’re right: for anyone who seeks real adventure, who is interested in nature (rather than fighting it) and wants to visit one of the least explored and most fascinating areas of the world, the rainforest beckons.
But hurry, it’s being cut down fast… very, very fast.
I hope that more and more people visit the rainforest as without public support the deforestation will continue and rain forests replaced by farms and the regimented boredom of palm oil plantations (that governments disingenuously classify as ‘forest’)… and sooner than we think the only jungle left will be a concrete one.
This website is designed to encourage people to visit the jungle and give them hints and tips on how to enjoy their time there; skills and knowledge known as Junglecraft – bushcraft skills for the jungle.
“We are not defined by what we create, but by what we refuse to destroy”
Hi nice to see your website pluss the great youtube vids, i run a survival training company in the UK. im interested in visiting the jungle to improve my own skill base. Do you offer any such training or guide service. I have a considerable skill base already but have very little knowledge of the jungle environment. Let me know what you can do for me and poss two other of my staff team. Thanks for the great videos they are practicle and informative you have a good style which comes accross very well.
Take care
Mike
HI Mike,
Thanks for the kind words. I don’t run any courses at the moment but if you come to Malaysia let me know and I’ll see if I can help you out. Years ago I went on a jungle survival course run by ex-VAT 69 guys (the Malaysian equivalent of the SAS) which was very good – I don’t know if they still run them or whether it’s still the same as the one I went on but this is their website: http://www.ubat.com.my
I’ve heard there are a few bushcraft courses running in Thailand and East Malaysia (but don’t have details) and there is one based out of Singapore called JET Asia – but I’ve never been on these so can’t tell you whether they’re any good or not.
The other course I’ve heard of is in the Philippines and run by J.E.S.T. (Jungle Environment Survival Training) – I haven’t been on it but these guys look like they know their stuff (check them out on Youtube)
Hope that helps. Cheers! Paul
Hey Junglecrafty,
I just wanted to say keep on posting your youtube videos. They give me the same warm fuzzy feeling as the Ray Mears TV series. I recently inherited my uncle’s parang. He worked as a forest ranger in Kuala Lipis, Pahang, and loved his job. It’s by far my favourite blade. Unfortunately there isn’t enough rainforest in Surrey to practise on. I’m a fan of Colhane on youtube, I’ve learnt a lot about machetes but your detailed explanation on the use of the parang has convinced me it is a superior jungle tool. You really should be making your own tv programmes!
Peace, Shamsul
Hi Shamsul,
Many thanks for the support and kind words – very interesting to hear your uncle was in Pahang: Kuala Lipis isn’t too far away from where I am living – and great that you inherited a Malaysian parang, they really are great cutting tools (even in Surrey!)
I, too, am a fan of Colhane and always find it fascinating to see the differences between the South American and asian jungles – here we rely much more on bamboo than over there.
Cheers!
Paul
Hello Junglecrafty.
i would just like to say what a breath of fresh air you videos are. inspiring and though i may never get to the tropical jungles of the world the info you put over can be applied in some way toother enviroments. i like the styl and i wish i could do mine in such a relaxed way..
i did like the hobo stove piece and has given me some food for thought as i am often reluctant to have an open fire here in the UK well the SE part been so very dry this year.
keep up the good work
regards , peter
Hi Peter,
Many thanks for the support and glad you liked the hobo stove video – I’m just doing a video on alcohol stoves which are, perhaps, a better option if an open fire is out of the question. I know exactly what you mean about being worried about fire spreading – even here I am careful to the point of paranoia about making sure the fire is well put out.
Thanks again.
Cheers!
Paul
Just watched the video on the Duku ( Ray Mear’s) parang i have a few of these and use them much when i’m in Sarawak jungles. I get these made by my Father-inlaw who is an Ex Sarawak Ranger from the Iban Tribe. I find them great to use, prior to this i used the British military style Machete which is also very good. Keep up the good work as i love the jungles too but in Borneo they are being logged at an alarming rate. Regards Sean
Hi Sean,
Thanks for the support and I’m sure you must have learned a lot from your father-in-law: the Iban are famous for their jungle skills and as a Ranger he must have perfected them – I’m sure the parangs he makes must be top notch.
I’ve heard alarming things about the rate of deforestation in Sarawak – I find it astonishing that the rainforest is cut down so recklessly by our generation and I’m sure future generations will curse us for it. Even here the deforestation is depressing and more farms and palm oil plantations appear every year…and more of the forest disappears.
As Stephen Fry said when flying over Malaysia and surveying the endless palm oil estates below: “I see a bad future for Malaysia’s rain forests” – when asked how he could foretell this, he replied “I can see it in her palms”.
Cheers!
Paul
hello Paul.
saw your video alchohol stoves i have made many a pop can stove. and i love my trangia. which you did not mention. good little burner and one i load up with meths when i want to pop out for a short walk and just have a quick brew. and of course no fuel waste either.
kep up the good work i especially liked the insects video.
regards, peter
Hi Peter,
Thanks for the comment – I know there are many fans of triangia stoves out there and they do have the advantage that you can screw the top back on and save any excess fuel. I don’t have one here (which is why I didn’t cover it) but I’m going back to the UK soon and may pick one up just to try it out.
Cheers!
Paul
Hey Paul
It was by chance I stumbled upon your site while planning for a canoeing trip to Relau River in the National Park.
Such valuable information. Thank you for making it so easy & doable for an amateur such as myself.
Well done!
Hi Ivy,
Many thanks for the kind words and support and glad that some of the videos helped. The more of us there are who go camping in the forest the better as it makes it more difficult for people to illegally cut it down or go trapping and, hopefully, encourages the government to preserve what’s left of Malaysia’s rain forests.
Cheers!
Paul
I have always thought that there was a connection between folklore and bushcraft, such as the stories that are told around a campfire at night. The story you told about the special parang that could cut through anything but was very hard to find reminds me of the King Authur legend. Are there other legends or stories that you have heard from the locals while living there that you could share in a future video? I would think that some of the locals would be eager to tell stories, such as, “if you hear this in the jungle at night, it must be animal X”, or “when in the jungle never do this thing since it is bad luck”. It might be something to add to a future video, something to think about.
Thanks
Hi Losmandy and thanks for the comment,
There are plenty of folk stories about the jungle and I’ll try and put a few in in the future. The Orang Asli are animist and have all sorts of spirits associated with animals and plants. My favourites are the stories about the ‘invisible people’ of the forest who are will-o-the-wisp in nature and are often held responsible when people get lost in the jungle (it’s nice to have someone else to blame other than oneself!) – for example, many locals don’t like to use each others names when in the jungle as, should the ‘invisible people’ hear them, they will use your name to call you off the trail and deep into the heart of darkness, never to be seen again!
Cheers!
Paul
Glad I stopped by and found this nice message board, much better than what YouTube offers. I was wondering how I was going to show my appreciation for all the work and content in your videos that takes me beyond what Ray Mears offers. I’m headed to the Thai-Burma border right on the river and in the jungle, so there is a fair chance I’ll be using this information. I may opt to retire or that is stay in Thailand for a good while. It appears that you’ve settled in there. What are the prospects in Mylay for a Yank? Good, bad and ugly?
Hi Bunnyboots,
Sorry for being so slow getting back to you but I’ve just returned from a trip and everything backlogged. Very glad you like the videos and hope that some of the info will prove useful on your trip – I’ve heard that there is excellent, and hardly visited, jungle in Burma so I’m very envious.
Malaysia is a great place to retire to and they offer something called ‘Malaysia – my second home’ programme to foreigners wishing to live here – I think you get a 5 year renewable visa (although it may be 10 years now). The downside in Malaysia is that it is very hard for foreigners to find work (or, rather, to get work permits) and, if you come in under the second-home programme you are explicitly forbidden from taking on paid work.
Personally I love Malaysia and it has far more to offer than most outsiders realize – I see a lot of tourists coming to Asia who only go to Thailand (which is more geared up for tourism) and miss out Malaysia, but I think Malaysia actually has more to offer in terms of nature (although the forest is being cut down fast)…but for tourists it’s harder to find these places (cf. Thailand) as Malaysia has a less well-oiled tourist infrastructure.
But for my money, Malaysia has more to offer for those with an outdoor frame of mind.
Hope that helps and apologies again for being slow getting back to you.
Cheers!
Paul
hey paul… just found your video channel last week, since than ive been stuck wwith your vd whenever i got time with internet. haha. The truth is im a knife/sharp thingy maniac.. Those equipments just fascinates me. And your parang episodes was very informative! Btw, could you advice me on how do i get my hand on one of those mora knife?
Hi Aaboon,
Many thanks for the comment and apologies for being slow getting back to you but I’ve just returned from a trip. Very glad that you like the parang videos and hope they help – the great thing about the local parangs is that they’re cheap and relatively soft edged – this means 1) that they are easy to sharpen and 2) that you end up sharpening them very often (and therefore get better at sharpening) – a great way to perfect your technique.
Mora knives are also a firm favourite of mine and remarkably good value for money. If you’re in Malaysia the place to buy them is on the internet from http://www.outdoordynamics.com.my who offer a good range and free delivery within Malaysia. Amazon also stock them.
Hope that helps.
Cheers!
Paul
Could you use a bamboo ‘straw’ like you have in another video to ignite embers? Blowing through a thin bamboo straw would direct the oxygen and keep the smoke further from your eyes perhaps.
Hi David,
Indeed you can (and I do!) – it’s a great way of directing oxygen and, as you say, keeps it out of your eyes. In some of the other videos (e.g. carrying fire) you’ll see me using that technique….you just have to remember not to inhale!
Cheers!
Paul
love the vids, a real pleasure to watch you work and you do an amazingly good jod a putting things in laymans terms.
although i live in montana many of the basic pricibles of wood/bushcraft remain the same and i have been able to apply many of your techniques here in the rocky mountains, so thanks again amigo…woods
Hi Woods,
Very glad you like the videos and that some of the techniques can be applied over there. When I read bushcraft books I often try to think of ways that the techniques can be adapted to the jungle… haven’t thought of a jungle use for igloo building skills yet though!
Cheers!
Paul
Hi paul,
I live in KL & sometime going to the mountain around malaysia, just found your blog in google & really enjoy the article & vid.
Hi Ijam,
Many thanks for the posting the comment and glad you like the videos. I used to live in KL and would long to get out into jungle – it’s always worth the trip!
Cheers!
Paul
Just got to know of your blog from the Star – what a great cache of useful and practical info for all outdoor adventure and jungle trekking enthusiast. Thank you so much for sharing and caring. I am a keen trekker and camper from young (50 now) but have never bothered with acquiring any jungle-craft skills. Have been inactive for a while too. Would love to make a run for the jungle again and this time learn some jungle crafts. Is there an opportunity to participate in your jungle excursions and expeditions and at the same time contribute in some useful ways to whatever you are trying to promote and achieve? God bless.
Hi Charles,
Thanks for the comment and very glad you like the site. I don’t run courses over here, but there is a guy called Raman in Gombak who is an Orang Asli with great junglecraft skills. If you check out my last blog entry there’s a video about him and some more info. I can really recommend paying him a visit and his kebun is a lovely place to camp too.
Hope that helps.
Cheers!
Paul
Good day Junglecraft man, very appreciate of what you have done and well education of jungle tips in our rainforest.
I am an avid mountain trekker and very indeed love to be in the woods and still active to do so whereby Malaysia mountains are very much difficult to climb than mountains in temperate countries apart from altitude sickness.
Wanna join us to any mountain in East / West Malaysia. You are always welcome.
Regards
Sylvia
Hi Sylvia,
Many thanks for the comment and kind words – great to hear of more people in Malaysia who are out and about in the jungle and thanks for the kind invite. Not sure my lungs are up to serious mountain climbing anymore but let me know if you’re doing any treks in the pahang area. I know exactly what you mean about it being more difficult over here – the heat and humidity can make even a small bukit feel like a gunung!
I hope that as more Malaysians start to go into the jungle the extra ‘eyes-and-ears’ will help to put off illegal poachers/forest clearing etc and the more of us that are out there, the better.
Thanks again.
Cheers!
Paul