APRIL 20-27
Well, the reunion kind of started when SK, my German Mentee, aka my angel flew into KL from Shanghai on April 20. I picked her up from Midvalley, had dinner and I dropped her off at Putra Station to catch a bus to Perhentian. On April 25, the craziness started at work with the editing and printing of nametags. It was sent to Singapore to CSS to edit and then back to Klang to more editing and printing.
APRIL 28
On April 28, I took a half day off because the train departs at 6.15pm. In the morning, it was making sure all the details are put in the file, photostating the game for the boat ride, last minute phone calls, waiting for the nasi lemak from my colleagues parents. My colleagues were very excited for me.
Reached home about 2.45pm, packed and dish out the coconut rice to separate containers. The coconut milk is from the Ayam batch. Dad took me to KL Sentra, reached abt 5.15pm. Only AA, CSS & KM were there. It was a nerve- wrecking wait, as KL's commuter didn't arrive, and ZR still not here at 6.05pm! Finally, she came, phew! Then the gate opened. All 15 boarded the train except for SK where she will meet us in Jerantut. Dinner was served at 7pm. Each one picked their babies and many did some cathing up with each other. We arrived Jerantut at about 1am. SK was already there. It was pouring, and thank goodness we have poncho and thanks to ZR who suggested that we take a hotel. We took a car to Sri Kim Yen and took 4 rooms which I have booked earlier. We waited for BM, JN and AA to come back from Jerantut General Hospital and then proceeded with Cake-Cutting & Opening Ceremony in the middle of the night!
APRIL 29
Woke up in the morning, headed for breakfast at a Malay stall. Our bus ride came at about 8am, but we were not ready. He came around again. Someone took the plastic bag which contained 2 tupperwares which ML loan me to put the chocolate pieces. That someone forgot to bring it down from the bus. All the peanuts and muruku are gone:( It took us about half an hour to reach the Tembeling Jetty. After registration and obtaining permits for the cameras, we walked down to the pier and 16 of us were loaded in one boat. It was a 3 hour boatride with the noisiest gang. Making lot of noise from their whistles. In about an hour, most of them have dozed off. I have never seen people slept horizontally before. Left with CSS and me in the front seat because we want to videotape them later when they play the game. About two hours into the ride, we got everyone up to play the game. I trust that the boatman has never seen a group like us.
We reached Kuala Tahan, left our bags with the Nusa office and proceeded for lunch at the floating restaurant. The Tahan Corner restaurant didn't want our business. Weird People! After lunch, every 4 person took a boat and we headed towards Lata Berkoh, trekked about 700 meters, soaked ourselves in the cool water to refresh ourselves. After soaking for about half an hour, we trekked back to our boat, and headed back to Kuala Tahan where we have to change boat. I was mad that the boatman didn't take us to the Fish Santuary. Zainab says why I didn't tell the boatman, but how am I to know? I thot it is in the package. We checked in at about 6pm, and took shower. No hot water... brrrrrr it was coooooooooold! The ladies toilet was packed! Some of the gals have to use the men's toilet and MK was so nice to keep watch outside.
After dinner, CSS briefed us on the jungle rules before Night Jungle Walk. We got back the guide I had last year, Zam. It started to rain, and eventually wanted to postpone to tmr night, but then the rain stopped. We decided to go ahead and all were advised to bring along their ponchos. We saw the wood insect, fire flies, glo worm, etc It poured as were only quarter way through. EL was nice to hold my hand while we trek back over the muddy tracks. We experienced a number of blackouts, and a few of us sat outside on the verandah talking,
MR threw up many times, and AA was there to help. When it was total blackout, KL came out because it was really stuffy in the guys' room. About 1 something, someone switched on the torch light. All of a sudden, upon seeing the porcupine, they jumped up to the chairs. THAT"S ITAM! He has grown. Only CSS and I were the ones who didn't jump up the chair. He is such a beauty. The feeling is so great, so nice, like falling in love. How close can you get to a wildlife animal? Usually we watch the Discovery Channel, but it is different. It was such a nice feeling, undescribable and yet I am nervous. Nervous because I am afraid if we make one wrong move, he may poke us. I was holding CSS's hands and screaming a few times to whoever who shined the torchlight into Itam's eyes. CSS divert Itam's attention by giving him pringles. He loved it!
APRIL 30
Another morning, gave the guys a wake-up call. No morning shower, just way too cold! After breakfast, we proceeded for the Canopy Walk and Bukit Terasek. We shined through the crowd with our 5th Reunion T-shirt, and we were so eyes-catching~! Waited Ennnndlessssly for the Canopy Walk to be our turn. Next on the program, Rapids Shooting which expected to get wet but never that wet. The guides added more fun with their oars, splashing water to the other boat and vice versa. Well, no gang-bang victim this year. But CSS, being the youngest, got thrown into the river.
Another best thing was the Orang Batek Settlement - they demonstrated how to make fire from pokok Meranti and we got the background of the tribe through Zam. Most of us got to show off our blowing skills with the blow-pipe. We almost left CSS and SK behind. We left at 6pm and since everyone is already wet, I introduced a game, where if they lose, the winner has to pour the bag of water over the loser. After the game was over, I was being taken revenge. Some went to the waterfall for a dip and shower, while some of us preferred the toilet. After dinner, we had our burst of laughter withTwister, introduced by MR, as each tangled themselvs with another. I shared a Take Home Message on the theme and later we watch the snippet of the 4th Reunion.
We then gave back the hall to the people from Puteri UMNO and proceeded to the hut. Saw Zam and he shared with us some incidents which happened before and somet tips if we get lost. We took a group picture with him. We had 3 grand prizes this year, and one of the grand prize was won by AYC, which he was helping me to carry. Should have left that at home.
We celebrated the last nite Jack Daniel and the heart-pounding True or Dare! VERY, VERY Interesting! I slept at 3am, can't take it anymore. If I can't wake up, we will all miss our boat.
MAY 1
It was tough to get out of bed, head heavy. And it was even harder to get the guys to get up. Worst, SK took the bag of Milo and Nescafe to the restaurant the night before and forgot to bring it back. Everything was gone, no caffein!We left Nusa at 9am, looooong hours of boat ride again, but shorter as we are going with the flow of the river. When we reached Kuala Tembeling, we went to a chinese restaurant for quick lunch and revealed our Angel. This year, we see 2 couples swapped roles from previous years - LWY & AW; EL & CSS. And as usual, my angel is a German again. We hopped into the coach and another long hours snoring Bus Ride to KL.
MAY 2 - Another Night We adjourned for Banana Leave Rice on the next day for the Post Reunion Dinner and there we had our Photos Sharing Session at Sri Paandi. Said goodbyes to SK, as I may not see her tomorrow.The reunion ended when SK left back to Shanghai. It was a good trip, we had a good chairman, and a good blast to 5 bright years! Love live SMSP!
