ONE of the perks of working in R.AGE is that we get to travel quite a bit.
We occasionally get sent on overseas assignments where we travel to some of the world’s most iconic cities, stay in nice hotels and meet famous people.
Which is perfect for me, because my idea of a vacation involves two things – going anywhere outside of Malaysia, and having a comfortable, relaxing trip.
I’m not big on the whole “great outdoors” thing. I’d rather not have to work on setting up a tent or starting a fire while on holiday, since the whole idea of a holiday would be to escape work in the first place. I prefer nice cafes, good restaurants, historical sites, theatre, museums … stuff like that.
So when I was assigned to go for the BRATs Year-End Journey last week in Raub and Kuala Lipis, I wasn’t looking forward to it. First of all, it was going to be a camping trip. Secondly, it’s Raub and Kuala Lipis!
The campsite we stayed at in Kuala Lipis.
For those not in the know, BRATs (Bright, Roving, Annoying Teens) is The Star’s young journalist programme and the R.AGE writers and editors conduct the workshops.
The BRATs of 2009. Nice bunch of kids =)
When I got to the Kenong Rimba Park after a bumpy hour-long drive through the rainforests – with Sharmila “Sharm on the Scene” Nair and our editor Ivy Soon for company – I knew I was in trouble.
I was being attacked by mosquitoes and bugs all over, the chalets were falling apart, electricity was only turned on for a few hours after sunset, there was only one decent toilet between the 40 of us and worst of all, my iPhone had no reception!
To compound my misery, a couple of our friendly camp facilitators had a good laugh when I told them I thought our chalets would have towels and toiletries.
So there I was on the first day, having to borrow everything from body shampoo to insect repellent just to feel half decent. The jungle is unforgiving indeed.
But surprisingly, by the time the next day was over, I totally got into the whole jungle thing. We went trekking through the rainforest, visited a couple of bat-infested caves and went through a jungle survival skills challenge.
I had the satisfaction of being the only one to pass the fire-starting challenge!
That's me in the middle getting the fire started.
Now the only fires I’ve started before were for barbecues, so starting that fire was like my Everest. But there was this sense of accomplishment, and even peace, from just sitting by the fire and watching it crackle. I felt like Bear Grylls for a minute.
Even better was the frog hunting bit in the middle of the night. We waded through the river at night, under a beautiful canopy of trees and limestone cave outcrops, looking for some frog legs to go with our porridge. We didn’t manage to catch any, but it was pretty awesome nontheless.
Apparently, that's all you need to catch a frog in a rainforest river - a "spear" with a fork as the pointed end, a tiny net and a torchlight.
Some of the BRATs who were brave enough to go frog hunting. It was really exciting, especially the part where a snake swam right by us...
After Kuala Lipis, we spent a couple of nights in Raub town, which I thought would be just as boring as I expected Kuala Lipis to be miserable.
As it turns out, there is some crazy stuff to be done around Raub! There’s an absolutely gorgeous waterfall about an hour away from Raub town called the Lata Berembun waterfall, and the only way to get there is by going off-road on four-wheel-drive trucks.
Me, Sharmila "Sharm on the Scene" Nair and my lady boss StarYouth editor Ivy Soon had an AWESOME time at the waterfall.
The experience was exhilarating. We rode at the back of the trucks, which are completely uncovered apart from a couple of safety bars, and went through some really rough terrain – the best part being a heart-stopping river crossing. It really was the adventure of a lifetime, and everyone loved it.
The most exciting part of the 4x4 ride has to be the river crossing. It was WICKED.
Ianyway, being a KL city boy, it’s hard to imagine that such adventures are actually just a couple hours’ drive away from the capitol. Who knows what else the rest of the country has to offer?
* Do you guys know any other nice, little-known holiday destinations in Malaysia? I think I’m gonna try a few more vacations within Malaysia next year =)
rage.com.my
Hi-there ! Read your article about ‘My kind of trip’ today.
Well, since you’re asking for other cool, hidden vacation spots in Malaysia – check this out at www.mygopengresort.com or their asst manager Beverly Lee h/p 0125663550 to arrange for a trip there. They’ve some nice chalets/dorms with ample public toilets, 24hrs electricity and loads of outdoor activities one of which is white water rafting(recommended).
If you haven’t been there, give it a try ‘cos I have work there before that’s why I know what I’m talking about.
You can ask Beverly to arrange a ‘tour’ of the resort or complimentary white water rafting trip for 4-5 persons by quoting my name, am sure she’ll oblidge else give me an email ! Have a nice day & merry X’mas !
4×4 off road FTW!!!
frog hunt!
Boy, do you have some issues.
Its quite sad that you look down on your own country as an acceptable holiday destination.
It may be your own point of view but to have it published in one of the mainstream dailies is apalling.
What is the editorial point of this article? I shudder to think at the quality of the journalists this BRAT program will produce. Not impressive to say the least.
If you’re trying to convey how a city slicker has found that new meaning to life outside his comfortable urban cocoon, well I’m sure there are better angles to do that. Ask your editors.
By the way, a city that is the official seat of government in a state/nation is spelt ‘Capital’ not ‘Capitol’.
Incidentally, I’m interested to see if your editors will release this comment for public view. And yeah, we all know you have an iPhone.
shah: I think you were judging a bit too hastily when you wrote that my “point of view” is that Malaysia is not an acceptable holiday destination – especially when the whole “editorial point” of the article was to promote a couple of little-know local holiday destinations!
More specifically, I was simply trying to bring to attention some of the outdoors/nature holidays available in Malaysia (because I think some urban young people might not be fully aware of the quality of such local holiday destinations), using my own experiences from a recent trip as the angle. Is that really a sign that I have issues?
Maybe you inferred that I was looking down on Malaysian destinations when I said my idea of a vacation was anywhere outside Malaysia, but I think it’s the same for a lot of people – going to a foreign country often makes for fresher, more eye-opening vacations. That doesn’t mean I think Malaysian destinations aren’t any good! It’s just that my personal preference is to go for something overseas.
And I do agree the “city slicker finds himself in nature” angle isn’t the freshest =P But it was honest.
Ian: Thanks for your response, although amusing it rather tragically misses the point.
Unfortunately (for you), the story has an underlying tone which me (and others) found to be almost, but not quite, entirely irritating. Lets look at some of your words, shall we?
“Which is perfect for me, because my idea of a vacation involves…going anywhere outside of Malaysia…
I wasn’t looking forward to it…it’s Raub and Kuala Lipis!”
Oh, deliciously arrogant and pretentious to set the opening tone….and then:
“I prefer nice cafes, good restaurants, historical sites, theatre, museums … stuff like that.”.
Right. Luckily I dont come from either Raub or Kuala Lipis, you would have really riled me up then. Did you try the Fish Head Curry in Raub by the way?
Unfortunately for you, taken together the whole piece reeks of the usual form of “juvenile-gadget freak-wannabe yuppie-its all about me” snobbery : as you pointed out, a common characteristic among contemporary urban young people. No offence. Call a spade and spade, yes?
“…but I think it’s the same for a lot of people – going to a foreign country often makes for fresher, more eye-opening vacations. That doesn’t mean I think Malaysian destinations aren’t any good! It’s just that my personal preference is to go for something overseas”
QED. Listen to yourself, man.
” Is that really a sign that I have issues?”
Yes, I’m afraid you do. If you want to pretend to be a journalist and write to an audience, grow up and be prepared for brickbats.
I have better things to do than debate this here…like earn a living. You should try that sometime. Cheerio!
Shah: I can’t help it if you want to misconstrue something like my preference for theatre and museums as a sign of arrogance or pretentiousness, or my honest confession that I didn’t know Raub and Kuala Lipis had such amazing holiday destinations.
Also, I think I responded fairly politely; but for you to reply with immature jibes like I should try to “earn a living” shows who really has issues here (and who’s really juvenile).
If anything, it seems you are the one who has an issue against urban youngsters, or maybe even people who enjoy stuff like theatre and museums. Why does that have to be a sign of pretentiousness? (and yes, I did go to the curry fish head place, and the coffeshop/bakery, and the tempoyak place.)
Btw, you must be very proud of your words here:
“Unfortunately for you, taken together the whole piece reeks of the usual form of “juvenile-gadget freak-wannabe yuppie-its all about me” snobbery : as you pointed out, a common characteristic among contemporary urban young people. No offence. Call a spade and spade, yes?”
This ain’t about calling spades. It’s more like the pot calling the writer arrogant. No offence.
Way to go Ian!! =)
Ian: Oh well, guess you wont let it rest.
No offence intended and none taken. Consider it frank feedback on the quality of your writing, which you seem to be unable to take as a “journalist”. Take a step back and think about the real issues being discussed, not the perceived ones.
To be honest, little things like these hardly make me offended, more like bemused. Nothing to be proud of either, its just rather plain, simple English.
I do understand you know nothing about me, or what I do, or where I’ve been, or whether I know anything about art, museums and theatre, or understand urban youngsters (did it occur to you I might be one?). Oh, the mystery.
Thus I forgive your naive assumptions.
I presume my comments are causing a stir amongst your like minded ilk hence the attempts at moral support. More evidence about the urban youngster theory LOL
“It’s more like the pot calling the writer arrogant”
You hit the nail on the head there at last. Actually, you got the proverb a bit wrong, but thats ok.
Anyways, each to his own. May 2010 bring you more revelations about life. Peace and Happy New Year!
very funny =D ha ha ha =DDDDD
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, so let it go man, Shah. Don’t judge Ian base on what he wrote and he won’t judge you too.
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