The Gibbon Experience..from two perspectives

The Gibbon Experience: The Things You Do for Love
By Kate Rubert

The moment I first read about the Gibbon Experience in our guide book several months ago I instantly knew Duncan was going to make me do this 3 day, 2 night trek in the rain forest. Now that it is over, all I have to say is that he owes me....big time. Here's why:
- We were assigned to the oldster, couples group. 2 of the 4 couples were on their honeymoons and one night we had to endure one of these couples having sex. (Everyone was sleeping in one big room in the treehouse). I was actually scared that the treehouse was going to fall down due to the shaking. To make matters worse, there was another group of 7 young internationals that left on the same day but since only 8 could be in the group we had to stay in the group we were assigned.
- Fear of leeches for 3 straight days. Many people refer to this jokingly as "The Leech Experience", as you spend a majority of the trip flicking leeches off your shoes and skin. I was determined not to get a single leech bite and thus had to wear the dorkiest outfit I have ever worn for three days - including high socks over pants. I am still undecided on whether I will release these pictures for public viewing.
- No toilet for 3 days. Only holes...in the ground or out the treehouse, many of which were filled with bees. Oh, there was also no toilet paper and my personal supply for the trip was dwindling.
- Sleeping with spiders the size of Duncan's hand in the treehouse.
- Hours of hiking everyday through muddy jungle trails.
- Ridiculous amounts of mosquitos that no amount of bug spray could prevent.
- Sore ab muscles from ziplining in order to keep up my speed over the 1/4 mile lines.
- Eating rice and vegetables for 3 meals per day.

Despite these issues, it was a once in a lifetime experience, which I'm sure Duncan will go into full detail about below.

The Gibbon Experience: Fucking Awesome!
by Duncan Delano

Picture zip lines crossing deep jungle valleys, piercing through the canopy foliage, up to 300 feet off the ground and up to a quarter mile in length.  Then, picture arriving at your treehouse for the evening--you zip in from some hillside in the rainforest, unable to see 30 feet in front of you as the cable disappears into the bush.  But you clip in and zip away, busting out the trees, and see your treehouse standing at the top of a giant tree.  Fricken Swiss Family Robinson stuff.  And once at your treehouse, the guides let you loose to zip around the jungle at your leisure with no supervision (there are about 30 cables set up).  This goes on for 3 days (which is great, but I'd rather like 8).  I have dreamed of such a place all my life, and finally I found it.  And then the icing on the cake: there is a waterfall near one of the treehouses with a gorgeous swimming hole where you can dunk in and let the whole experience soak in.  Fucking awesome! 

And what's more, it was kinda cool getting bit by leeches.


Our treehouse:

Not a bad place to wake up:

The authors ziplining.  Kate ziplines in argyle sox, very stylish (also protective from leeches). 

Kate searching for animals at dawn, without success. 

A misty dawn from our lofty perch:

Dropping from the treehouse at 6:30 in the morning is quite a rush; no need for coffee:

Some say it should be called "The Leech Experience."  This was my first of four leeches:

Kate hiking through the rainforest:
[Sorry, got too slow to upload pics. Eds].