[[---`*Refreshed*`---]]

Monday, June 20, 2005

<<<TAMAN NEGARA>>>

DAY 1(11th JULY)
9pm. Jumped onto the train. Estimated traveling time, 6 hrs.Yak yak yak once the train pulled off the station. .Wei Yan’s brushing of teeth at City Square, San Woo’s excitement in boarding the train after so many yrs, Soo Fern’s wish to be KTM waitress, my eating of McD Kiddy’s meal,etc haha, a lot to yak on the way.Tried out various balancing stunts on the quaking train.The toilet seat was disgustingly dirty but due to the urgent call(and unbearable hrs of tolerance required), I was forced into a half squat position. Nvm, I wont go into details. Fell asleep after our gibbering paused, only to realize how stiff-necked it was to attempt a few winks on a ‘rocking cradle’.

DAY 2 (12th JULY)
4.40am Late arrival at Jerantut train station. Relieved we managed to wake up b4 we missed the station. Thank God someone set the alarm. Too tired to speak, we clambered into a van and were sent to a nearby hotel by the chauffer.

Freezing cold air-con, but we still snored like bears in deep hibernation. We 3 gals squeezed toge on the double bed and snuggled under the blanket for collective warmth. The lone soldier was shoved with the responsibility of guarding the door in his dreams, in exchange for a single bed.

7am
We threatened to leave Wei Yan at the hotel if she doesn’t get off the bed the next min. After some fast sprucing up, we headed downstairs to wait for the driver. Suspecting eyes were cast our way as 1 guy and 3 gals hurriedly (coz we were late) made their way pass the reception counter. We were LATE, but the driver was even LATER!

8.40am
A long ride to the jetty. The van was speeding along the narrow road. The green pastures and carefree cows grazing at the roadside is a rare sight in the all familiar city. Wouldn’t it be a simple happiness to milk your own glass of FRESH MILK every morning? With the wind freshening our faces, there goes my 1 minute combing of hair in the hotel, argh~~~

9.45am
Nasi Lemak for breakfast.at Restaurant Ghazali. (So much for a name of restaurant owned by a Chinese.) Shocked at the number of oldies(REAL OLDIES, dating from the 40s and 50s) San Woo can croon. He can even sing those in his grandpa’s years. Oh my god, no wonder so many ppl suspect he was born in the wrong millennium! The “MR LONELY” lyrics and tune started as we waited for our FRESH eggs to be fried and served.

Mr Yong talking to Mr Yong.haha,our liaising officer shared with us his experiences in the tourism industry. Hmm, 20 odd years. I guess tourism is an evergreen industry after all, given the proper maintenance and publicity. Much more can be done to the publicity of Malaysia’s tourism. We have got the heritage and the places of interests, a pity that our resources were(ARE) not optimally utilized. No, I wldnt say it’s a pity. It’s a shame. Wasting resources on road construction, which drags on for up to a decade, only to plan for detours on the latest blueprint of developments.

10.35am
We jumped in excitement once we caught the horizon of the Pahang River! Without further ado, we scurried onto the boat. A cap to shield the piercing sunrays.
A lifejacket to keep afloat. (but cant save my precious life in the buaya-infested river)

Row row row your boat,
gently down the stream.
Merrily,merrily, merrily,
life is but a dream!

Pictures speak a thousand words. Juz get them from me!

1230noon
It was a peaceful countryside feeling. I love those floating restaurants and little sampans, bobbing to the rhythm of the tides.

Once we ‘touched base’, San Woo dashed for the 1st restroom b4 any leakage occurred.

We checked in, flunked our bags on the floor, and picked our beds. Argh, I got a creaky bed. Metallic double- deckers squeak, under weight. Erm, San Woo was the one ‘above’…haha… There was neither heater nor TV. If one was to come to such areas with the mentality to ‘enjoy life’, pls stay in the comfort of your cozy home. This guest house we stayed in was much better than the shabby hut I stayed in Pulau Redang, in terms of providing facilities such as a kettle and an electric insect repellant.

Miscommunication over lunch. Confusion arose due to the variations btwn native bahasa and our mainland bahasa. What was served ended up being totally different from what we ordered. But, famished as we were, and anxious to start our adventure, we were not picky on our edibles.

NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE RAINFOREST
Cruising slowly along the protected Sungai Tahan, the day's first glow of light slowly broke over the woodland, illuminating the sea of green leaves. Treetops filtered the sun's glow, divinding the delicate mist into translucent emerald sheers that sprinkled across the forest floor.

BIG FALLEN LOG obstacles
When the only way to your destination is blocked and there is no turning back, you will be forced to find a way around it. I saw not a fallen trunk, BUT a lesson in life.

NIGHTWALK
Luminous mushrooms that glow in the dark, beautifully woven spider webs, stick insects that camouflage with competency, beetles so small you will miss without minute attention. Some uncensored X-rated-mating scenes and this lucky scorpio got to say hi to my zodiac mascot! It’s my 1st time seeing a live scorpion! Hope it does not attack its own species…haha.Rosali taught us how to spot for reflective pairs of eyes when we shine our torch into piercing pitch-black. Not easy, for the walk gets boring if you turn on a deaf ear or simply walk in your own world. In the dark, auditory senses do come alive. My darting eyes were also kept busy trying to avoid stepping on dynamites (termite trails) and buttress roots that may stumble me to death.

3rd day(13th JULY)
HIKE AND JUNGLE TREK TO TERESEK HILL.
Feeling bloated after the heavy breakfast of oily Mee Goreng and Roti Prata.(A weird combination siah, we were guessing what’s for breakfast and i exclaimed, perhaps, Roti Prata?!? Coincidentally, that was indeed what they dished out! Wei Yan sggstd tt it was a response twds my ‘request’) With no symptom of dizziness or suffocation, I just felt bloated. In order to rid that bloatedness, I started to ‘stimulate’ myself to throw up. How? Easy. Think fear factor! Yes, and it truly felt better. Wah, I really should train up my stamina for the 7 waterfalls expedition we are planning. OK, more fitness routines next sem! 344m above sea level, I felt like singing “TOP OF THE WORLD” at the hill top and the clear sky. However, we did not see the peak of Gunung Tahan due to the misty fog. What a waste! Nvm, we saw TITANIC TERMITES as compensation. Soldiers, workers, all in full force, plus the QUEEN(shouts: I’m the King!)

Wei Yan met her boarding mistress at R. I Boarding at the hill top. Haha, of all places…This is indeed a ‘fated xie hou’. (It’s wonder why when u least expect to see a person again, that person crosses your path.)

CANOPY WALK
On the return hike, we were left on our own to ‘walk’ the suspending bridge. Weak in the knees, I still mustered my courage to ‘hang on for my dear life’. At the 1st shelter stop, SanWoo was stung by a bee! (After his previous attack by a leech) Panic-stricken, we wanted to call Rosali’s HP and even contemplated turning back for help. Then, Soo Fren pinched him hard to try SQUEEZING out the poison (or whatever was injected by the proboscis.) Haha, we were scaring him that a man can live for less than 24 hrs when stung by a hornet. Start counting down boy!

CAVE EXPLORATION (GUA TELINGA)
We were cautioned against the dangers in the caves. Any1 feeling unfit was advised to back out right away, o/w there wld be no way he cld be rescued out by a 3rd party, due to the narrow crevices in the cave. But Rosali encouraged us to be bold and challenged us to brave it. After being instructed on what to pay attn to, we activated our dark adventure.
Once at the cave opening, we were immediately plunged into immense obscurity. No joke, I need more dosage of Vitamin A to prvt night blindness. The self doubting me awoke again. Nvm, I must make my hours of train and van and bus and boat rides worthwhile! No regrets in my ‘golden years’ when I’m staggering with a walking stick! Just get going!

As blind as bats. This simile does aptly describe these creatures of the dark But they do respond to sound with outrageous sensitivity. We cheekily confused them by imitating their echoes bouncing off the cave walls. Ok, we were all happily faking kissing sounds until Rosali warned us that we might be attracting the ‘wrong audience!!(Kisses>>>>>Hisses!!!)He shone his torch onto the cave ceiling, checking out just to be sure none was advancing our way. Argghhh, if only he told me earlier, I wldnt have entered. My tears are seeding at the imagination of a slimy snake hanging above my head! Creepy!

A dimming torch in hand, I followed closely behind Soo Fern. All around us were slippery rocks, overgrown with mosses. Silence enveloped us. Hesitations surfaced. Choice of which rocks to step on and grip was crucial. Any misjudgment or hastiness would mean ending up with fractured bones. We reached the last part of the cave which was so low it was meant to contest even dwarfs! Our duck walk positions was instructed into sprawling on all fours. (Oh and did I mention that our all fours were coated with guano-scientific name for bat shit?) For that moment, I secretly thanked my parents for my shrunken size. Imagine all those squeezing in btwn boulders and crevices for a not-so-mini-person.

We gals posed a BUTTS-UP photo, having slimmed enough to wade out of the cave exit! Wei Yan’s butt was the most sexiestly-painted! LOL.

ORANG ASLI SETTLEMENT
Their settlement is but 3 tents. Enough said.Took some shots with the naked children,who seem to be suffering from kwashiorkor.

RAPIDS SHOOTING!
Wild Wild Wet! If only I can video the splashing fun! But I wldnt wish to be RM1600 poorer by spoiling my sis’s Nikon Coolpix S1. Sheer thrill as we negotiate 6 sets of rapids to Kuala Trenggan, up stream of Sungai Tembeling! Since. I was sitting at the rear of the boat, I was naturally victimized by all 3 in front!!!(No, 4 in fact…Rosali was also on their side)We splashed enough water to cause immediate in boat-flooding.hahaha. So, the all-drenched me ended up bailing out water .Shou Shuan le!!! And hee hee, what’s a pail of water for, if not revenge? Needless to say, a few effortless splashes from me, there were 4 additional drenched victims on board! Oppz, we got the boatman at the back (slightly) wet as well. But he was one cool fella with few words. Whoever smokes submerged in water? A real puffer.

KELAH FISH SANCTUARY
Lata Berkoh is a serene place to fish, picnic or even sit and stone. Surrounded by an inspiring natural landscape, the fish is a fortunate school! Free to feed the fishes, Wei Yan and San Woo took the lead to be the [bait],hahaha…while we took pics of them catching fish with bare hands! Soo Fern and me joined in ltr but the fishes were already full. No matter how we lured them,yah, (we even placed fish food in our pockets), they still bo chup us. Sigh, human charm does not exert itself on fishes. Too bad we are not mermaids.

RANDOM THOUGHTS FOR THIS TRIP

Spacious toilets BUT with flushes that fail. Wash basins with taps BUT taps that do not drip. (#-#)

A BIG [A] grade boasting of hygiene is meant to mislead tourists. What matters is the number of houseflies behind the scene. Verify actual conditions.

Po Chai pills work best. Always carry them by your side.

Adventure is fun and I can overcome my fears if I set my mind to facing it. A phobia can be beaten flat into a fear, at the very least.

Risks lurk in the most unsuspecting corner but they can be minimized with precautions and alertness. (Reinforce my notion on calculated risks)

Picked up some photography tips. I really need to explore the functions of my sis’s digicam.

And… San Woo returned with an extra hotel key in his pockets. LOL.

Overall, an adrenaline-filled yet relaxing trip albeit the sacrificial food poisoning at the end of it.

First Time Felt On|10:29 PM|

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