Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Gua Tempurung Experience

See the title? Exactly! I went caving in Gua Tempurung last weekend. I went with my bestie Fiza and Syed. They were cool!! (In the sense that they are very adventurous, spontaneous AND they can last without sleeping for days I guess!)

Ok! We were from the office. I thought that it would be right after my office hours ( which has already entered the next day as I work odd hours) but the journey only started from Fiza's house at 8AM if I'm not mistaken. I was Sooo sleepy at that time. But no worries as I can have my sleep in the car. Syed was the driver so he really has to be awake all through the journey. As for Fiza, since she's the co-pilot she too has to be partly awake at least.

I was asleep all through the journey except for the last 5km before we arrived. ( I didn't know they took the no-tol road, traffic jam was all the way..oh..how asleep I was as usual.)

We arrived around 10.30am, changed aour clothes and ready for caving. According to Syed, It has 4 stages altogether. 1-4 (less adventurous - most thrilled). We took the 3rd stage. What an experience! The adventure varies from just a normal walk to crawling in a water, to sliding down a hill and holes and climbing 'Batu Cave'-like stairs. It's a real training and test to all your muscles and stamina. Surprisingly it was not bad after all. I thougt I was gonna 'pancit' but I didn't. Nearly, when I climbed the stairs but managed to pull through with a correct breathing technique, mind motivating and always listen to your body. If your body can't go anymore, take a quick stop to regain. Altogether the caving journey took about 2hrs or maybe 2.5 hrs.

We finally found our way out from the cave! Phew...hehe actually I feel like I was in a film like Indiana Jones or King Solomon's Mine. What I like most about this caving experience is you never know what's your next obstacles. Is it gonna be another slide? or crawl? or you have to swim maybe? That's the exciting part of it to me. Ok! when we came out, the first thing that we did is EAT! We had ABC and Mee hoon or Kuey Teow. I didn't finish my food maybe because I'm already full with the satisfying caving-journey.

After the caving experience, comes another excitement, that is to see where we're gonna spend the night at. We drove the car in to see the camp-site. The road inside sees some fishing pond where Syed's friends will be fishing at, the coming night. To my amazement, we arrived at an area with huts on the trees. Fiza did mention of sleeping on a tree, but I thought she was just joking. Again, this adds the excitement in me. This whole area is ran by NOMAD CREW. They must be a bunch of creative individuals as the whole area seem to be set up by recycled things. The toilets are formed from water tanks (the black water tank). After checking out the place, we clean ourselves as we're going up to Cameron Highland for a cup or two of tea it seems (I really LOVE u guys to bits! hehehe..).

We arrived there but the place to drink tea was closed. So, instead, the macho-hensem-cool (bluerghh!!) Syed has lead us to go up the stairs all the way up the tea farm. If before this, during caving I feel not even 50% of my energy is really used, but this time, even only going up a tracked stairs, I was grasping for breath! Don't know whether I was already tired or its all the way up hill so you use more energy compared to caving where sometimes up, sometimes level and sometimes down. But it was however a worth push of yourself as the view up there is breathtakingly beautiful. We took photos and Syed tested his skills in photography by taking photos of us both. He did all the planning on how he want us to stand, where to look and even how to smile! ( naah just kidding..we just smiled as we like.)Then we head up Cameron for Starbucks actually, but we decided to go to its Pasar Malam. We bought Strawberry Dip with chocolate, thats for sure, Jagung Bakar, Cendawan Goreng and AYAM GoLEK. Had to wait for this last one. People waiting was like people watching something amusing at the Ayam Golek stall. Then, we make ourselves downhill back to our 'Lovely Tree-house'.

It was nearly 12am when we arrived. There was food for us as it was included in the package BUT packed and already cold as it was supposed to be served at 7pm but we were up in Cameron. So it was very kind of them to call us and pack the food to leave it at the door of our 'Cutie Tree-house'. Before we settle down to eat, here come the Survivor part. We collected twigs and branches to set up a fire-camp. I'm a bit useless when it comes to this part. Yes, I am adventurous but I do have some vanity in me. Yeah..it shows I have a mix of both male and female in me. I am more concerned with the mosquito bite than really all out collecting the 'kayu-kayu api'. So I end up holding the torch-light, where I find it's good enough, if you really know me that well.. hahahha..But thumbs up to both of them. It didn't take much time for them to set up the fire. IT comes with experience I guess. Then, we started to take out all the things that we brought. We made tea, open up canned foods and serve dinner-cum-supper AGAIN on our 'Sweet Tree-house'. We ate together on the 'Sweet Tree-house' (all 6 cramped in 1 hut). Finished eating, tidy up and ready to sleep. We slept but the guys, they actually recharge themselves to go fishing. I was so tired, I doze off in no time!.
UNTIL


The next day Fiza woke me up at 10 to eat breakfast. It is served by them as it is also in the package. They serve Nasi Lemak and kaya buns with Milo. There's nothing much done during this day. Me and Fiza just went to 'usha' the 'sungai'. We thought that we could 'mandi-manda' but the water does not seem to permit. Airnya deras ok..a bit frustrated but it's ok..I'll come again for water rafting.

As our attempt to 'bermandi-manda' fail, so we have to proceed the day with eating (this part cannot be missed in your everyday life, anywhere you are at anytime ok..)which means cooking session.

BUT, this cooking session was fully done by the guys, headed by Syed. What's the MENU?? 'Ikan Bakar' hasil pancingan..'sup telur + kentang' Syed and canned Sambal Tumis Ikan Bilis (If I'm not mistaken)and also 'Kicap' sebagai perasa tambahan..The fresh fish was SUPERB!! I was full but I can't stand to see the fish being thrown away as none of us can eat further. So I give my stomach some Moral Support to finish up all the fish and I DID IT! with full victory..hehe..

THEN..came our turn to do the clearing and tidying as we have to get ready to go back to KL. We make sure that everything is as how we arrived at that place yesterday. Even stones taken was being put back at where it was taken. When I did the tidying up, I was wondering WHY does our tourist-attraction places like Waterfalls, Islands and Lakes are sometimes ruined by our own non-civic minded attitude. We litter as we like, we leave things as we wish, whatever that is easy for us, be it wrong or right, we just do it without any regret. BUT we people are not like that. Everything was just like how it was when we arrived. There's no one else except for our group, so if the place was left 'macam baru lps diserang garuda', who else right? AND, wouldn't want to tarnish our own good name especially Syed as he deals with these NOMAD people quite often.

We took bath in the 'water-tank-cum-shower room 'for the last time and OFF we go back to KL..and I doze off...ZzzzZzzzzZZZzzzz...as usual..heheh THE END.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Virgin Mary..

Last night, as usual I spend the whole night surfing the net. Sometimes the surfing is totally wasted in FB, sometimes it can be a total search of entertainment gossips..(bluerrhghh!! what a waste!), sometimes from the FB it can lead to Googling on anything that I find interesting to Google on from my friends' status. Some times I already have something that I want to Google on but most of the time not. Not to be forgotten, yes I like to browse the YouTube. I feel they have anything at all for you to know. At least I'm practicing my visual activity. I'm terrible at that. I can't stand a very long movies if it's boring. I yawn in Da Vinci Code Ok..I'm more of reader. I like to read than watching. But I like Youtube.

Ok yesterday night. I typed for 'English Movies' in YouTube. One of the results listed is 'Virgin Mary'. Its a movie by the Iranian, but they have dubbed it to English (but the dubbing was done by these Pakistanis and Indians so mind them the accent). This is really a great movie. It is totally based by what was told in the Quran.

I seriously encourage you guys to watch this movie as you can either refreshen your memory to what was taught or what you know about Maryam, mother of our Prophet Isa pbuh. or just about to altogether know what is the real story.