
Oh man...back into the great outdoors sure is a wonderful (and long overdue) thing.
One word to describe the ENTIRE trip: 悴 (or cui)
Maiden trip with the 27th: Hwi Bee and Weiguang being ICs and Jason & me being the supporting cast (i.e. co-ICs). Managed to get Kian Ann along for the trek despite some last minute problems prior to departure.
Was wondering whether there would be any hiccups during the trip. My doubts became unfounded.
It was a trip full of 'stunts', from the beginning to the end, but all went well! Smooth sailing, I must say, and all thanks to WG, HB, WJ and KA for making it well done! Well, like always, there's things to learn from every trip, and this one would be:
Met up with the rest of the comm and participants at Kranji after rushing to get food and the stores from CK, who could not make it for the trip due to his vomitting. Packed my bag, had dinner, and dad zoomed me to Kranji asap. Phew~ managed to reach on time! And we realised...(after HB had arrived) that we did not have eggs, so off WJ went to Causeway Point to get the eggs (which apparently he cannot live without it on treks o_O")
Geraldine, Geok and Yings came along before we left Kranji to send us off! And I saw Ninghan! (like finally) But wells, a totally different setting to meet her, hope to talk to ya more ger!
And off we left for Malaysia...
Why many 'stunts'? Well, for one, WG lost his hp at Larkin, and the poor guy cant find it even though he checked with the bus uncle. It was pretty sad to lose your own hp, especially with all the contacts and stuff which you keep inside, not to mention the cost for replacing it. However, there's nothing we could do further other than ask the bus uncle for help. Hopefully he gets a replacement phone asap. Sighs, can't do much except try to cheer him up.
Then whilst waiting for the participants, Jason and HB were busy wrapping the eggs with newspapers.

Hwi Bee and her egg wraps
And off we went to take the bus! Only to find out that WG saw the wrong plate number and place, and we waited for a lil' while more prior to going up the bus. The small mistake allowed us to interact more with the participants!

Photo-taking!
Getting onto the bus, it was a comfy ride and soon it was lights off for us. Well, for most of us that is. I was talking to HB and Lijun (ppt) throughout the first-half of the bus ride! Was slowly drifting in and outta sleep at times whilst talking. The fact that my seat could not recline made sleeping all the more difficult.
At the rest-point, it was a much-awaited supper for me, as I ordered a pattaya whilst 5 other people looked at me eat. So paisei. The meal made me feel full and more energised...but in the end I still fell asleep whilst talking to LJ. Haiz.
Reaching Kuantan at 5am in the morning, reminds me of the previous 3 trips I've been there. Always early birds, awakened from our deep slumber (this time not) and getting off the cold bus freezing, taking our big bags and climbing the long flight of steps.
This time round, met Abu and his friends at the bus station super early, and realised that due to Ramadan many things have changed - no more prata at the usual place, timings have to change, etc. Made some planning on our side and we decided to get food from the coffeeshop nearby, then meet up with him and his taxis to go to Berkelah. The food we got, was pathetic, considering that due to Puasa, the shops close at 0530. So, it was kind of a bad start to the day -sighs-
Whilst the rest went to get food, me and KA were busy taking pictures...This particular store usually does not open for business till later in the morning, so it was a surprise to see the cups it has!

Our cuppas kopi (above) and milo (below) in cute cups!

KA and his kopi!

Me and the pipin' hot Milo!

Our breakfast o_O"
Was grouped with Amy, PK and Vincent for the taxi ride. Seeing that they're pretty sleepy, little small talk was held. And we reached the foot of Berkelah earlier than expected.
Photo-whoring resumed. Haha.
When all had arrived, we prepared our stuff, did the usual briefings, warmed up, and started the trek! All the participants were pretty much revved up for the trek by then, and we made quick progress to the first waterfall, and thereafter to the campsite.
Participants were there busily taking pictures, 自拍, absorbing the wonderful scenery unfolding in front of them as they moved ahead.

WG and I!

HB...starting off!

Terence and Grace holding on for their lives!

Lijun, Phoebe and Me!

This one's totally random. But it looks nicer HAHA.
How amazing, that a trek can bring people closer :)
3rd waterfall is as amazingly beautiful as ever, and the place in Berkelah was tranquil. Not surprising, considering that it was Puasa and a weekday to boot. Basically we had the whole place to ourselves, but we could not use our regular campsite due to flooding (which is man-made, I believe.)

Help me!

Jason and another of his 'act cute' poses

Terence resting on the log

Acting cute!

Group pics!

Okay Hong Quan is supposedly scaring them. HAHA.

The ladies taking a dip in the water near the 3rd waterfall

Another group pic! Dennis, Jason, Lijun, Me, Weiguang, Grace, Cecila

High-ing on 'act cuteness'
The confidence jump was still on! Good weather prevailed, and we had fun jumping down, going up again, and jumping down! It was made much safer with our new pill pillow which we got for the trip (and for future ones)! It was much easier for the safety IC down there.

Yummy lil' pill!
And when we were about to cook, we realised that we have not enough food! (Or at least I thought that way) So this was another "stunt" which we had, the lack of food (apparently). Luckily, the participants had too much food and we got some spagetti from them to cook our curry sauce, tomato sauce as well as to go along with the chicken bites I had brought up!
Total morale booster man.
But I was so unlukcy to have spilled food all night long - from the mushroom and hotdog pieces I've cut out, to the chicken patties which I've painstakingly tried to preserve, to the nata de coco which I spilled have a packet on the ground. Sighs. What a waste of food.

What to do with marshmallows without any satay sticks? Use spagetti sticks! o_O"
Then, we went over to the middle of the river to watch the stars. I missed the shooting star the participants saw earlier, but I was hoping to see another. So there we were, lying down in the middle of the river...till I fell asleep. The air was cooling, I was not in the water, and it was so so so nice. It's this type of condition that you can go to sleep so easily. Hahaz. And LJ said I cui-ed too easily. Oh well, I was shacked after all the Cyclohunt. I need a rest.
Returned to the tent to find WG cooking pasta (cos he's hungry already) and we went inside to play bridge. Was tired, but played for a couple of rounds before shackness took over and I dozed off to sleep.
The next day was a hurried morning. Having to catch a 2pm bus, we had to wake up early, cook our breakfast and get ready to move off by 9am. And the committee had no Milo! OMG. I was so dui cos I saw Milo at Larkin and HB told me next time she would get Milo from there instead cos it's cheaper. Darned. We should have gotten it.
So we did the usual, going down Berkelah, going to bathe, and then meet Abu and off to Kuantan we went, stopping at the row of Chinese food stalls this time round 'cos Abu said it's Puasa and A&W is closed. Well, it wasn't. And I'm slightly pissed with that.
Luckily, the saving grace was the RM3 noodles, of which I had 2! Had a serving of 叉烧面 and 烧鸭面 each. Totally awesome! Maybe next time can bring the participants there also. But I would very much liked to have gone to A&Ws...which we went in the end! *beams* Had my root beer there, the others had fries as well as waffles! Woah!

Peter and Tan Ching

New eating place!

烧鸭面
The ride back was pretty uneventful. Seats were very comfortable, and most of them were asleep on the way back, except Terence, Hong Quan, Lijun and me, 'cos we were busy playing bridge for half the journey! Destressing period, and we had fun! Oh and Tom & Jerry was showing on the TV in the bus. Fun and laughter...
After the pit stop at the petrol kiosk, the 2 guys were tired and left to meet 周公 whilst Kian Ann, Lijun, Cecila and I talked the remaining of the journey home. The others were pretty much awake immediately after the stopover, but drifted to sleep soon after. For the 4 of us, we were just crapping around and it was nice to finally let loose and crap out. Haha.
Reaching Larkin, had a short debrief and most of us went to Taman Sri Tebrau for dinner! But there was a minor scare as Pooi Khay said she lost her handphone on the bus. Luckily, Weiguang managed to find it for her, and we proceeded to meet the rest.
I can never describe the dinner
ABSOLUTELY SUPERB! (Too bad, hungry me did not take the spread we had)
Cereal prawns, Sambal kangkong, Stingrays, Sotong, Ou Lua...and to top it off we had the most expensive durians ever! (Courtesy of my 3 cute participants...I shall not name them to protect their
U'll have to ask me how much I paid to eat just a seedling. o_O"
But it was nice. Thanks guys! The dinner left me super full, and it was really great! Food is good, as always...

Cheers!

Now we know...30% more, but the circumference decreases! Hmms...
Reached home at about 1040, bade goodbye with Jason who left for home from the same bus stop which we reached. Unpacked my stuff, switched on my desktop, and went to bathe. Not in the mood to msg, just in the mood to totally sleep in. Hazy night...indeed.
Some things need not be said - they are too cliched.
Current Mood:
Exhausted, but Full and Hyper!Current Music: Jay Chou - Hong Mo Fang







Tired
Pensive
Sleepy


Turtle for Steve Irwin...