Lokasi: Sungai Lembing, Pahang (1 hour away from Kuantan)


Journey: About 3 to 4 hours by car from KL. Meet my colleagues.

Where we stayed: Time Capsule Retreat (100m from Tin Mine Museum). The capsule room is priced at RM119 per night, each capsule has a queen bed and an aircon. Nothing else. Limited but so so so nice! We didn't get the glass door so tak dapatlah nak silhouette photoshoot. Tu pun ambik gambar bilik orang,

Attractions: For such a small town, rupanya banyak!

Most people come here for the Rainbow Waterfall. Which requires 1 hour off terrain ride by 4WD and then a 1 hour hike (at least) up to the waterfall. You need a guide to take you and the cost for that is RM40 per pax. Tak munasabah langsung bila pergi sana dengan orang keliling yang bawak baby, pakai slipper Jepun, elderly. Sebab kena memanjat laluan berbatu.

It was worth it though. Dah penat-penat naik atas, our guide prepared maggi hot cup and hot milo - memang sedap! Bertolak awal pagi, breakfast pun tak sempat sebab kedai Melayu semua belum buka. Orang sibuk nak bersiap Subuh, kita sibuk kacau nak breakfast.

We also went to the Tin Mine Museum - which is not exactly a museum. Entrance fee is RM15.90 plus GST. They opened the old mine for people to go in and see. Selain tu ada lah jugak benda2 on display like their tools and interactive things. We got to experience the mine shaft. Konon2 je lah bergerak.

Yang paling wow has got to be the entry - so grand! We board the train into the tunnel straight to El Dorado of the East. The train ride was.......2 minutes. And then you walk everywhere. It was cool in the mine so we were exploring happily.

Keluar lombong, panas! silau! Mengada je semua.

That night we went to Kuantan for dinner since Sungai Lembing do not have any ATM and we were out of cash. Bring cash when you're visiting the place tau. The plan was for us to go there earlier so that we can lepak at the beach for a bit. Tapi bila semua dapat katil, gone!

We came back that night quite late - at 10, thinking that  there's nothing to do so we shall just venture into slumberland. Rupanya macam-macam! As we were driving we saw some people by the roadside. They had a bloddy mannequin on the table. It so happens they are the pick up point for a really cool escape room/scavenger hunt/find-the-missing-person mission around town. The provide a buggy for participants to go around the town looking for clues. Power tak? creative gila kan?

We wanted to go for that but it cost RM35 per person and we already allocated our budget for Rainbow Waterfall. This is a random cheapo budget you see. As we were driving away we saw this place under a khemah with laser light that looked like a party. Main indication: someone was singing his heart out.

None of us wanted to go and ask so we drove closer and saw that the place is actually a - KARAOKE KAMPUNG! Awesome please! Terus semua turun kereta to participate. For 3 songs, RM 5. It was their second day of operation. Kelakar gila rasanya to sing out loud in public. Nasib baik abang bagi satu lagu extra for free. Kurang malu.

Give the place a shot lah. Word of advice, DONT COME DURING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS! The place has become quite commercialised. I would prefer the old town. Few years back I visited the place and it was like Twilight Zone. Its like the place got stuck in the 50s. So much cooler back then.

How do one find time to write? Seriously?

I used to write all the time. When I'm happy for the little freedom that young girl had, I'd blog about it.When I'm sad to the verge of depression, I'd blog about it. Little little things, I will write almost everything that happened to me here.

How come I don't do it any more? I don't like growing up. You have to think ahead. Just when you thought you're comfortable, you thought....THIS IS IT! - nope, it's not. That restlessness comes in. You found a void that you never knew existed.

I was working late for almost 2 months for an exhibition. And when it's over, I felt empty. I know some of it was the withdrawal syndrome. But it was worse. I was unhappy. When an exhibition is over, and you meet all the targets, you're supposed to feel a sense of accomplishment.

I didn't.

I considered a career change. I toy with the idea of teaching.

Last weekend on the way to Kuantan, I brought up the issue to my parents. In return, they took me to a long, emotional conversation served with humble pie. Mama seems OK with the idea but she wanted me to pursue my Masters first. Personally, I don't think I have the energy, interest, fund nor patience to even start that journey. In future, I don't know. I've told myself if I'm not married by 30 then I'll start studying again. Who knows? Right now, I don't see me moving that side.

I know, how can I teach if I don't have my Masters? Apparently I am qualified to teach Diploma course. So that's a backup plan already. To be a full-time lecturer then I must get my Masters.

Right. My father was not as supportive.

He started with, "Why leave when you are doing something you like? They pay you well, there's a lot of perks and the company treats you well. You get things others dream of having. You made us proud. We can proudly tell other people of what you do, where you've been to, where you're going next.

Don't think I don't know you were depressed after high school. Your friends were abroad, going everywhere. And you are a sales girl. Now look where you are. We are happy, knowing you are happy with what you do."

And that did it for me. Bring on the waterworks.

True. All he said is true. But..... I am now 26. I work late, I hardly see my parents and brother. I get homesick though I live with them. Some friends check on available dates with my calendar for their weddings. I am not yet married but as it is I'm becoming one of those relative you only hear their names and never see them much. I am worried.

Not many people understand why I think this way. I'm young, I'm supposed to make money. I don't have relationship commitments bla bla bla.

I do have relationship commitments - they're my family. In future - my own family and his. I have survived without money but I don't think I can without the people around me.