Sort of an adventure race held in Sungai Sedim, Kedah by Malaysian Tourism and Discovery Sport and I was invited to join a team competing in the Open Category. By the end of the whole event, I was satisfied, and glad that I joined. Met lotsa great individual that shared the same passion for the outdoors. Would definitely do it again. And hopefully, would win the next time.
I was invited to join for and event held by Malaysia Tourism and Discovery Sport. Honestly, I have very little information on what it is all about. All I knew, was that it was going to be something I’d enjoy, and that it was related to the outdoors.
So I went, not knowing what awaits, but at least I had a friend with me, and that is always a plus.
In a whole, it was great. I get to do a lot of things there, things that I enjoyed very much.
There were abseiling, rope ascending, rope traversing, flying fox, obstacle course, cycling, tubbing. And every team of four would compete, and I’m not so sure on how many teams there were, but there were a lot.
It was held in Sungai Sedim near Kulim in which I went to a boarding school there, so it was nice to have that feeling of going back there.
The first day, it was pouring rain, but that didn’t stop us from doing what we had to do, which was to win the competition. We also had to camp outside (which was pretty sweet) with tents and all, and were supposed to cook our own meals. I was on the Artiste team of four, and we were taken care of pretty well. We had tents and meals, everything taken care of, so we had no problems. Honestly, it wouldn’t have been any different either way. I’d like to think that I have enough skills to survive moderately when going camping.
My team consists of 4 members. 2 recording artistes, a bass player from a band, and I. I knew Elyana well enough to know that she’d be okay with everything. Aesar and Hafiz on the other hand, I don’t know them that well enough to know what to expect from them. But they were so easy to work with, I’m telling you. And they did more than great. For most event that required us to work in pairs, my partner in crime, Hafiz, performed extraordinary. I knew he’d be good at this, but he was actually great, not just good. He and I worked so well together, that by the end of one event, I couldn’t stop smiling because we managed to do, just what we wanted, and the outcome were even better.
The second day started differently. A friend was getting married, and the reception were done there. Right after that, we had a series of competitions waiting for us. For the cycling/tubbing discipline, Elyana was my partner, and she was great too. We qualified, just in time to finish the whole thing. She cycled, ran, carried a durian, paddled, answered questions, and even did some weight lifting as well. Her points just went through the roof in my eyes after that.
I never thought I’d have so much fun at the event. I met an old acquittance, Pyan too. It wasn’t entirely a surprise, I knew it’d be his thing too (and his team won 1st place overall).
I met a lot of people that shared the same thing that I love too. And I’m looking forward to see them again. I’m sure I will.
Oh, did I mention my team got a decent placing/ranking in the competition too? I hope we made our fellows actors and actresses proud.
I was in Jakarta to see a couple of friends. Some new, some came all the way from Jogja. I spent a bit of time exploring Jakarta on my own. And it was weird being away in a different country, but still managed to check out on how they work too. I always forgot to snap pictures whenever I travel alone. Darn!
A hazy morning in Tebet
Teh Botol Sorso
Chilling..
I managed to see how they work, and experienced a different side of Jakarta, from the point of view of the locals who lives there. Very interesting.
Sitting in front of a computer after spending a day in some part of Jakarta alone has been great. I didn’t do much, or went anywhere from that matter but its already different from what I expects it to be. Actually, I didn’t have any..
You see, Jakarta is one of the places I never thought I’d go to, since its just another city, with bad vehicle traffic, massive human traffic, which in some part is even worse.
I got lost instantly in this huge city, literally, after arriving late last night. Went straight to some bad neighbourhood area, and it was dark. The taxi driver could have taken me anywhere, and I wouldn’t have known. This would be the first trip that I actually had no idea where to go and what I ought to do while I’m here. I was taking it for granted that maybe simply because I understand their language, it wouldn’t be that hard to get around.
But me understanding them is one thing, and them understanding me is another. And having those extra 0s in their currency definitely don’t help.
I’ve learn that Jakarta is huge. And some of the places are named with very local flavour such as Kota, Tebet, Menteng, Kelapa Sunda and Semper. And I love it.
Today I had the opportunity to actually explore a small section of Jakarta near the place I’m staying, and I opted to walk (sebab malas sangat nak deal taxi etc) but I really do want to go on the Bajai?! and the Mini Metro. Not that big of a deal, just something different I guess.
At first (as funny as it seems) I thought Jakarta’s landscape was rather decent. The roads that is. It seems that you can do just about anything on the highway. Being the rather old-granny driver that I am, I know I won’t in a million years drive in Jakarta during peak hours. Anyway, I thought, near this place I stayed at, the place was kind of ‘green’. I mean, there were a lot of trees and flowers planted by the roadside. Of course it was at night and I didn’t get a good look at it.
So when I walk pass by this place, I saw it was actually a nursery, underneath the fly-overs, on-ramp exits and stuff. In Malaysia, we have it underneath the tiang-tiang elektrik TNB to give the plant a dose of radiation. But here, nothing like a little bit of fume here and there to make the green greener..
There were the usuals la, stalls by the road side. And I have to be honest, I love them, as unhealthy and an eye-sore as it is to many. They have fruits, bottled drinks, etc. I walked back home an hour after it gets dark. And I got this different feeling walking pass people waiting to go on the Mini Metro, at the roadside, near the badly-lit stalls having Coke.
Most people I know have really bad thoughts about the locals. But I’m impressed at how far they’d go to make a living. Some would cheat, and most would lie, but still, they work, and some of them work like hell
I guess that’s it for now.. Sleepy. And missing my family and good friends as well..
Lata Hammers
Its been so long since I went camping. I think its been more than a year. I just could’t find anyone to go with it. Most of my friends are busy working, or married with kids, or just got married, stuff like that. I know they would go with me if I asked them really nicely, but I couldn’t do that to them. Come on, they have got their own life.
So I decided to tag along with total strangers and went camping with them. Let me repeat, total strangers. I have never met them prior to the meeting, never talked to the phone with any of them, and I kept in touch with only one of them before that. So it was a risk. But I love the outdoors way too much to let that bother me.
Turned out, it was one of the best place I’ve been to, simply because, of the experience, and that I was there, doing my thing, very much in my elements.
So, I’m in Phuket, finally. It was a long journey, I’m telling you. And I did, kind of, enjoyed the trip here.
Phuket is not necessarily my favourite place to be. Last night I was in a totally different environment. There were people around too, but unlike here. The development is just too much for me. But as far as I know, Thais can be quite helpful, and very nice.
I can see why farangs love it here too. The girls are just really really flirtatious. You won’t believe the length they’d go just to make you feel special.
Haha.. if only you guys know where I actually am right now, you’d think I’m crazy. Haha!! I’m in Thailand, alright, but not where I’m actually supposed to be. I’m am so freaking lost right now, its insane.
But the people here are nice. I made friends with a local on the plane, and she offered to send me straight from the airport to where I’d be able to find a cheap place for the night. She was in KL for a month, to do, what I would consider, an extra credit. She is studying here a local University, and her parents came to pick her up. I’m telling you, half and hour with her in the car, I got to actually see things here in Thailand, and hear stories, and her dad drives a freaking BMW ok? Tak pernah plak aku naik. Haha! We exchanged email, and I’m sure I’d write to her soon. More on her later, insyallah.
Another thing was that, I was wandering down this famous road in Thailand (rasenya la, sebab ramai orang melampau), and a foreigner actually came up and ask if I was trying to find a cheap place to stay. He guided me to where the road is, eventhough I explained to him that I was just going to hang around for the night. Its funny.. Because sometimes I have difficulty understand foreign English, but surprisingly, with no one around to talk to, boleh pulak cakap omputih. Haha!
So I guess thats it la for now. Its 2245 right now local time, and I have no idea where I’m off to after this. A long time still until the sun reappears.
Do pray that I’d have a safe journey all way round, and that I’d have fun tomorrow onwards.
I have a feeling I’m slightly crazy this time around for coming here without any plan. You see, I’m keeping my whereabouts a secret right now. I just don’t want people to worry, but I’ll try and find internet connection, so that people would know that I’m safe. Hehe.. Dah balik KL, selamat semua adanya, then I’ll update the travelogue, and you’ll know then. Haha!
Parpar, Tomtom, Ceciliyau: I’ll be seeing you guys in Phuket real soon okay? Aslmkm!
I arrived home safely on Friday. When I was still inside the car heading back from the terminal, I was informed that I had to go to location and straight away work. I was feeling kind of okay at that time, so I didn’t complain.
Its a funny feeling. I mean the whole trip. I couldn’t get over the fact that I was so far from home. There was a night in Cambodia, when I woke up at 0100, went out to the balcony, and gazed at the stars above, overwhelmed by the feeling.
“I am in freaking Cambodia, for goodness sake.”
Like everyone else, I wished, at that time, that I could live a life like this always. Tak perlu nak susah-susah fikir pasal benda lain. But then again, I figured, I would be just like everyone else too. I would be running away from what I really have to face, looking for something that I think, would probably be able to fill the gap in my life. That missing thing, that seems to make our life back home, incomplete. But I know I’m better than that.
Someone once laughed at my obsessions on adventure reality shows, adventure races and traveling.
“You’d think you’d learn something about yourself, but really, you won’t”, he said. I beg to differ.
My short trip to Cambodia, taught me, that even though, I haven’t been to a lot of places, I’m not missing out on anything just yet. Its not too late. There are those who travel extensively but travel for the sake of traveling. Me? I want to learn something. I wouldn’t mind admitting to not knowing a lot of things, cause I don’t know a lot of things. But there, I would learn and see things I only read about in books, or seen on TV.
I realize, I love to play dumb more than knowledgeable nowadays. Because, not matter how clever you think you are, there would never be a time that you would actually, ‘know it all’.
I hope I won’t rush into wanting to go to so many places at once. I want to take one step at a time.
Now that Ozzy is out of Survivor, I’m hoping Jason makes it to the end. If he does, then wohoo! I’m a bit skeptical when it comes to Jason. And then there is Alexis. My feelings towards her is fast fading. I just think she needs to cool it, and be nicer. She’s not evil, cuma sedikit, well, deceiving. A couple more episodes to go. Shoot! And I’m definitely going to miss watching Survivor.
Right now, its 1230 local time, and I’m in Siem Reap. And its our last day here, before we head back tomorrow morning.
Siem Reap, just like Phnom Penh, is great! I love Siem Reap more than Phnom Penh. Although some might think its because of Angkor Wat. Its really not. Its a slightly different environment here. The days are hot though. And people are everywhere. And the things you can get here, hebat-hebat. But most of them would end up not being used lepas dah balik Malaysia.
Still, no memory card reader, so no pictures. Have to remember to bring one next time.
Angkor Wat was of course, amazing. And the fact that we managed to catch the sunrise, lagi la hebat. I woke up at freaking 0300, nak make sure tak tertido. People who are ambitious (like me pada awalnya), would be surprise on the amount of temples they have over here, and that most of them look alike. You would think you want have the time and the need to visit most of the temples here. Tapi takpe, pergi dulu, baru kita cerita ok?
After this we’re off to get lunch, and maybe spend our last day just hanging around, seeing what Siem Reap is all about, beneath all the Angkor Wat and temple craze. Hopefully we would be able to make the best of what little time we have. Sebab duit pun dah berkurangan. Tapi memang, once in you are already in that traveling mood, you don’t really want to go back.
I’m learning a lot from this trip, but since its my first time out, I’m all ready to go back home, but of course, not in rush to do so.
So, later.