Well, this year, Christmas was celebrated very differently by my family and I. The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) organised a trip to Ulu Geroh Village in Gopeng, where the Semai Tribe live. The organiser, John Chan, our beloved nature guide warned me that it was going to be VERY basic and totally back to nature. Basic - I can manage, I convinced myself. I sent an alert to my 3 girls as well. We left on Christmas day and were scheduled to meet at the Sg Buluh R&R at 2pm. I left Seremban at 12.30pm and was told to divert off the highway into the KLIA road. My not so patient husband who gave me directions not so patiently got me on a while goose chase all over the highway (made a wrong turn!) and the next thing I know, I was at the Arrival & Departure at KLIA airport. Not wanting to call him and being so close to tears, I asked some cops for directions. A hastened phone call to John with a stern warning of DON'T LEAVE WITHOUT ME got me back on the highway and for crying out loud, FINALLY - enroute to Sg Buluh R&R. I arrived there at 2.45pm and had to "ta pau" lunch.
We reached Gopeng at approximately 5pm, thanks to John's Schumacher Girlfriend. A cute, petite looking thing who reved and weaved in and out of traffic in her MyVi at 140km!! Ofcourse she vehemently denied this afterwards.
Our first stop was at the Gopeng museum. It was actually a shop lot, and the propriter had very cleverly displayed artifacts from the early 1900. If you want to know the history of Gopeng, a former tin rich district, visit Gopeng museum. Next we all adjourned to a cendol stall. Small town should whip up delicious cendols-or so I thought. It was the worst cendol I ever had! What a welcome!
Next we went on a adrenaline pumping -bumpy fear factor ala amazing race Asia 45 minute drive into the jungle. Thank god I did not bring my Mercedez (my husband said I needed a safe car and that my Naza wasn't safe enough). Imagine the scolding which would have awaited me if I had listened to hubby dear. At 43 I decide which car I want to drive. Viva, Mala!!
We reached Ulu Geroh Village about 6.30pm and proceeded to our check in "lobby"-dormitory. As my girls and I climbed up the wet, slightly muddy staircase, my heart fell when I saw the disappointment on their faces. As we reached the top of the stairs and peeked into the dorm, Tushaani (15) squealed and said,"Mom, why did you have to ruin our Christmas? How are we gong to sleep with all these people?" There were 25 ladies and 11 men. The men had their own dorm. We were each given a pillow and a thin mattress. We sat down in a row, spreaded out out the mattresses and looked at each other.
Day 3
"Dont worry, Tush. When we leave this place, you will look back at this experience and say that you actually did have a good time. Trust me!" I said.
Next, it was time to check out the bathroom. It was at the foot of the staircase leading up to the dorm. There was a shower, a pipe with a hose and a toilet which was half broken! I refused to turn around and look at the horror on my gals' faces.
"Mom, I am definitely not pooping for 2 days! I am going to keep it all in till we get home!" said Tushaani.
I then went on a desperate attempt to try and locate a chalet with an attached bathroom for the gals and I but none was to be found in that area. I had to go all the way out. And all our activities were around the Ulu Geroh Village and so it was pointless to stay further away. Our fate was sealed for the next 2 days.
"If you gals want to go home, I can understand. Perhaps we leave in the morning. It is pointless for me to put you through all these if you are so uncomfortable."
"There isnt even a single signal here. We are cut off from the outside world, mom. How could you do this? But then again, I told all my friends that I am going to stay in the jungle and they all laughed at me. They said that I was not cut out for it. So, I have to stay to prove them and my self a point, mom. Its ok. You warned us it would be basic, so this is basic. I can live with it. Its only 2 nights. We will survive," said Tushaani.
Finally I heaved a sigh of relieve.
The Semais celebrate Christmas. They have bumiputra status but are Christians. So, you can imagine, the BN government have cooly marginalised them. I later found out that they don't want modernization and just loved to live the way they do.
Dinner was lemang (the best I have tasted in the 43 years of my life) served with chicken curry. We were told that the Semais are having open houses after the Church Mass, and we are all invited. Aha, there is a church sermon. I have never been to church on Christmas day or any other given day (am a Hindu). So we went. The hall was packed. The Semais are generally very young people and there were just so many young children everywhere. Guess, the parents have limited entertainment!!
We left the mass half way through the initiatian excersise and headed for our first open house. Semai people have no chairs or tables in their houses. They sit on the floor to do the cooking and eating. I was very surprised to see the array of cookies on the floor and more lemang, beef rendang and chicken curry. Apparently, they baked their cookies with the same oven my mom had, the black one used on the gas stove. We sat and chatted among ourselves and finally took leave. I was just too tired to go on an open house rampage and decided to head back to the dorm. None of us wanted to shower, because the water was ICY COLD!! We brushed our teeth, barely washed our faces and refused to change to our PJs. Perhaps we TRY to shower in the morning. About 12.30am, we finally went to bed..................end of DAY 1.
DAY 2
It was too cold to shower. I woke up at 6am to beat the others to the bathroom. We were scheduled to go on a 4 hour jungle trek in search of Rafflesia and then dip into the Damak Waterfall before heading back to the dorm for lunch.
Breakfast was mee goreng, kuey teow goreng and pulut inti. The best pulut inti I have tasted in my 43 years!! After stuffing myself, we proceeded to the jungle. We saw the Rajah Brooke butterflies and their habitat which is being destroyed by mankind. In the past they could be seen in the hundreds, but now only a handful are found. The trek up the jungle was fairly easy, what with my gals n I having scaled Bukit Kutu, Gunung Angsi and Gunung Bunga Buah. This trek was a piece of cake. We saw the rafflesia in half bloom and another in full bloom. There were many buds as well on trees. Rafflesias are parasites. They are known for their medicinal values and are sold to the medicine men and is believed to increase or improve the libido. Guess, I need to get some for hubby dear! The Semai people are being educated about conserving these precious flowers which are facing extinction. Even the Rajah Brooke butterflies were sold for 10 sen each. Awareness programmes organised by the MNS and other NGO's has to some extent curbed these malpractises and brought awareness to the local village people of the rich heritage they have to preserve.
It satrted to rain half way down through the jungle trek so we had to ditch the waterfall. We were soaking wet despite having a poncho on and a bath was inevitable. We decided to go in 2s. I could not stand under the shower for even 10 seconds, because the water was just ABSOLUELY COOOOLDDD!! I had to step in and out and had the shortest bath in the 43 years on my life.
At last, a quick shower. I later heard that Tushaani and Netusha only did "dry cleaning".
We were all famished. Lunch was rice with chicken curry, beef curry, vegetables and the orang asli cooking was finger licking good. The Semais plant their own vegetables and everything is obtained from around them. They even have their own herbal garden.
After stuffing ourselves, we were supposed to go to the waterfall but it was cancelled due to heavy rain. So, I took the opportunity to SLEEP. We slept a good hour and half and woke up about 5.30pm. A group had left to the waterfall minus us!! Anyway we went for a short walk and then adjourned to the hall downstairs and chatted with the others till dinner time.
Dinner was rice with beef rendang, sweet and sour tofu, potatoe leaves with pumpkin, durian flesh cooked with petai (simply awesome) and more chicken curry.
After dinner we were entertained by the same ladies who cooked all our meals for us. They performed the Sewang dance which is the Semai cultural dance. Apparently the Semai tribe were the champions of the Perak Cultural Dance Competition. Wow, weeeeeee!!! We all joined in the fun and danced with the ladies who were accompanied by music beats from bamboo stems. The show ended a good hour after. We then proceeded to the night walk. Clasping our torch lights we went into the pitch dark jungle accompanied by the Semai guides. Don't ask me what and how, but the guide could just easily sniff out frogs, lizards, phismids, stick insects, moths, mushrooms which glow in the dark all by a snap of the fingers. We walked for a good 2 hours. It was fun and a little frightening especially when he said that "ada harimau kumbang" and "seladang".After that we quickened our steps. We got bak to the dorm at 12.30am. Brushed our teeth n headed to bed. End of Day 2......
Day 3This is the day we leave Ulu Geroh for home. But before we leave we still had an intenirary to fulfill. Breakfast was toast, nasi goreng and mee goreng. We packed all our stuff and said our goodbyes to the orang aslis. Some of us bought petai and durian. The durian here is not D24 but D Ulu Geroh. One of a kind. Its funny that everything here tastes good. We had a treat of durians everyday at every meal. The Semais are really generous people. I guess they cook with their hearts. That is why the food is good.
We drove to Gua Kandu for caving activities. Armed with our torch lights we embarked on our maiden voyage into the darkness of Gua Kandu. Let me tell you-I have never been into a cave in the 43 years of my life. Apparently the British used this cave to gather intelligence to counter strike the communist during world war II. As we entered the cave, we were welcomed by a small opening where you have to duck to enter. As we walked on we came to a very narrow path where u would have no choise but to butt slide. So off we slided on our butts for a good 10 minutes. As one by one started to slide, the others motivated them by clapping and urging them on. Next we came to a clearing where apparently the British used to gather for meetings. At this juncture the guide told us to switch off all lights and be silent for 2 minutes. It was pitch dark. I couldnt even see Tush's big fat nose even though she was just standing next to me!
Next we had to do a 45 deg rock climbing using a knotted rope. Upon reaching the top, we had to counter another 45deg ascend using ropes again. The 3rd challenge was a 90 deg descend. The caving was the most exhilirating experience and so much fun, fun, fun. After 2 hours we came to the opening. We wished there was more but all good things must come to an end. The trek down through the jungle took us another 30 minutes.
We got to our cars, changed to clean clothes and headed for the waterfall where the Semai people were waiting for us with a picnic lunch. We had petai sambal, mixed vege, fried fish, tempoyak (yummy) and cucumbers. Simply delectable. It was almost 2.30pm and it was time to go home. We said our goodbyes to one another and as I was driving back to Seremban, my gals went on and on throughout the journey as to how much fun they had. I reached home at almost 8 o'clock and missed my BBQ date with my hubby who had to go alone. As we entered Seremban airspace, all our stomachs started churning for investment call. As I entered my home, there lay on the table-pot roast, salad, mashed potatoes and garlic prawns with cheese prepared by my awesome hubby. Looks like the fun never stops, does it?
