I went to Bukit Lawang a little over a week ago and had a terrible time due to going on a trek with a bad guide there. His name is Tambrin and after checking with other forums and people who've been there, this guy is notorious for preying on female travelers. My experiences with him while there were terrible. He scammed me, charging me more than the standard trekking fee, charging me for a non-existent photo fee (NOT within the orangutan feeding zone but for an actual trek within another area) and almost making me miss my flight. He was very insistent and pushy. All he cares about is getting the money upfront. He is well known in town because he's one of the older guides, but he is not trustworthy at all.

I found a picture of him. If you don't want to have such a bad experience like I did, you should avoid him.

He's the guy on the right in the very last photo, w/o his shirt.

http://191saturdays.blogspot.com.au/2009/03/close-encounters-with-orangutans-mar.html

Hi Mightymin,

Thank you for having the courage to let other unsuspecting women know about this unscrupulous guide operating in Bukit Lawang. 

He could very well be the same guide who treated a young Australian woman very badly a couple of years ago. 

She wrote about him on LP Thorn Tree site and I personally contacted the leader of the guides and forwarded the link to him. I was told he would be suspended for 6 months.  I am not sure if that happened. 

Well, this time there is a photo of him to cut and paste, so any women reading this forum take note and keep away from this particular guide, the one of the right in the photo with No Shirt on.

http://191saturdays.blogspot.com.au/2009/03/close-encounters-with-orangutans-mar.html

Pamela - who was pPamela previously on this forum but cannot get in because I forgot my password and email address.