AIBU to think I might have a nervous breakdown in the jungle

[Writer034]

My partner, my kids and I are going away on a bit of an exotic holiday and will be staying, amongst other things, for one week in a small private retreat which is on a jungle island and built quite literally in the middle of the jungle.

It's en eco resort where they don't believe in harsh chemicals (which I agree with) and try to coexist with nature. I came across it because I'm a writer and someone invited me to a writing retreat there, I couldn't go but checked out the place and fell in love with it based on the stunning photos and videos available on the net. It's got amazing Tripadvisor reviews and so I booked the whole thing, not giving much thought to where it's located (I just thought of it as, 'lush vegetation', not 'middle of the tropical rainforest').

Now, it's almost coming up to the trip, I'm starting to seriously panic. It's for the first time sinking in that we are going to be IN the jungle, and while there are some very cool things - monkeys, hornbills, geckos - there are also snakes, spiders, mosquitoes galore, and our accommodation - being based on authentic Malaysian architecture - is kind of like a giant tree house. It's really pretty and artistic, set in 7 acres of jungle with two stunning saltwater swimming pools, but on the website itself - which I have only for the first time read properly this week! - it clearly says if you're scared of the jungle, don't like insects etc, then this is not the place for you.

I've travelled a lot when younger and have hiked through what's called the outer jungle in Peru, but only for one day (didn't spend the night) and wasn't really scared at all, but I worry I'm going to feel completely trapped somewhere where I might just lose my mind if I see a massive spider in my shower or whatever. The retreat is meant to have a 5* service and incredible food made by, essentially, a private chef who cooks for each family individually (there are only 8 rooms) so there's much to look forward to, but I just keep thinking, Jesus we will really be right IN it. Not next to it, not close to it, but INSIDE it. Most of the accommodation is kind of open to the jungle (in the bedrooms, you can close the wooden shutters and turn on the air con, but otherwise the living quarters are very immersed in the rainforest)

I haven't shared my concerns with my kids as I have to model adventure spirit....I wonder if my 15 year old daughter will join me in the nervous breakdown. My partner says we'll be fine, famous last words. The resort has been there since 1996 so they absolutely know what they're doing and in fact it's owned by two Brits who were born in Malaysia and who have been wonderful to deal with (the woman is an artist and this is their former home). And yet, and yet, who's going to save me when I trip over a gigantic tarantula lol.

Any thoughts - anyone on MN, who's a real city person in normal life, gone somewhere like this on holiday and survived the trauma of various exotic fauna :-) ?

It looks AMAZING. Let us know how it went when you get home

I think you’ll live

I stayed in a 5* luxury island in Zambia, tree houses too, monkeys on the decking at breakfast. I didn’t see any spiders or insects, it was certainly jungle and was an island so crocodiles too. They’ll likely have mosquito nets up which will mean no bugs in the bed

Pangkor is very accessible, with clinics and bars and restaurants. Very few spiders. Don’t worry, it’ll be amazing. Do bring deet repellent though.

I guess it won’t have love island, what a dud of a holiday :(

it sounds amazing op, I’m googling all of these places now! The kids would love it. I sometimes pack a portable hanging mosquito net for holidays.

I felt a bit like this going to the arse end of West Australia but I haven't seen anything bigger than a house spider in a while year. Some snakeys but they're quite timid. met a tiger shark tho

It sounds amazing! I hate spiders and insects too but, as other posters have mentioned, if there's aircon in your room theres unlikely to be any/many in there at all as it will be tightly sealed. Though geckos seem very good at getting in everywhere somehow, but I love them!

One tip we were given by a lovely local on one holiday was to put some tea tree oil into cheap shower gel (before leaving home) and use that whenever we had a shower whilst away. Obviously we also used deet too whenever we were outside, but the shower gel seemed to help give us a bit of extra general protection and none of us have been bitten at all during several exotic holidays since.

Surely your dd is more likely to lose her shot over the lack of WiFi?!

I've been to "real" Malaysia and stayed in villages on stilts by the side of the river. Don't worry, it is absolutely fine and is a beautiful tropical paradise even without any mod-cons. I don't remember seeing any insects in particular apart from inevitably mosquitoes. You'll absolutely love it, but do make sure you follow the malaria advice and err on the side of caution. If it says "recommended but not mandatory", you should still take the tablets.

Actually I forgot, the worst thing will be the monkeys, not the insects. I'll never forget a monkey pulling my hair when I was 7 or 8, which was probably in Thailand, can't quite remember, but it was unbelievably painful and I thought he was going to rip off the lot. Quite scary, I remember my parents trying to get him off me. They're strong and very very naughty.

yeah the monkeys can be proper violent fuckers but they're usually worse in very touristy areas where they're used to loads of people and they want to steal your food/money/sunglasses. In a proper jungle area they're more likely to keep their distance from you.

I’ve also been to Taman Negara and stayed in similar budget accommodation. My experience very similar to yours although I was there with friends. I didn’t use DEET as I hadn’t brought any and couldn’t buy it, I do use it mostly now when travelling in tropical regions but I was fine then with just the citronella stuff the locals use, it works for some people!

most creatures want to leave you alone unless you threaten them and they can't escape. On a farm in Australia I had venomous snakes living under my hut , would see their tracks over my fresh footsteps so knew they were there. Never actually saw one though.

In decades of travelling and living in Asia and Africa, I’ve only ever had 2 unwanted encounters with wildlife in my accommodation - a very cute lizard that scuttled out the window as soon as it saw us and a much less cute cockroach.

However, the mosquitoes are another matter. Avoid black, navy or red clothes, white and green are the best to keep mosquitoes at bay. Don’t wear perfume or use any perfumed products (soap, moisturiser, deodorant, sun cream, after sun etc) as they attract mozzies. Choose unperfumed or products designed to be mosquito repellent with citronella etc, as well as DEET. Pop up mosquito nets are great if the resort doesn’t have mosquito nets already.