The trip to Sg Kejar, Royal Belum, started at about 10:45pm that Thursday evening (8th Nov 2007). 4 cars (my Avanza: Arif, Budin, Zulkiram & me, Tapa's Mazda: Tapa, Khairi, Shamsul & Jay , Mamat's Honda V-Tec: Mamat, Juki & Kamarul, Jidi's Ford Ranger: Jidi, Baha, Ijat & Wahab) made up the convoy. We stopped at the Tapah RnR for refereshment and proceeded to our next rendezvous point, Kuala Kangsar exit. We then continued on to Gerik and reach there a little over 3:30am. After filling the almost empty tanks, we went on to the Kg Perah rest area (on the Gerik-Jeli Highway). After a little late night supper, each of us went and found a place to doze off to wait for sunrise.
A few of us slept in the cars and some found the RnR's surau a good place to sleep (including me).
Lan and his brother arrived some time after 8:00am. Then, the almost 1 hour drive to Tasik Banding public jetty and a breakfast of nasi lemak, courtesy of Lan. We unload our things from the car to the waiting boat.
4 boats including a small one manned by Lan's brother. Then, the almost 2 hours of boat ride which include a stop at the Army post for permit verification by the 21 RAMD personnel stationed at the Tasik Banding area. Beyond the Army post, all mobile signals went dead....there went our links to the outside world.
We reached the campsite at about 11:00am... to our astonishment, the campsite was nothing we ever imagined...... it had a surau (where some of us slept), shower rooms and toilets (much, much cleaner and better than any other public toilets anywhere) and a kitchen equipped with a stove (we only need to bring the gas tank).
Some of us started fishing almost immediately....Budin caught the first one...a sebarau or baung....I don't remember....but it started it all. With Baha and Wahab busy organizing the kitchen to make lunch, others were busy priming their fishing rods. So, the first day went on with us, fishing, dining, resting....the evening was also spent fishing.....but not after filling our bellies with Baha's cooking. And we finished our crickets that night (we brought 600 crickets). Most of us slept early that night...may be due to exhaution...after the long journey.
That next morning, after Solat Subuh....we continue to fish...but since our crickets are all gone, we needed to improvise...we use the cangkul to look for earth-worms....At about 9:00am, the boat guys brought us to the opposite bank at from there, we hiked to find the KELAH.... we spend a good part of the morning and afternoon trying to find the elusive Kelah....only Mamat hooked one.....so in one way or the other...Mission Accomplished!!!!.... That same day, Budin caught a trophy Toman....Both Kelah and Toman were to be our lunch....yummy!!!....
That same afternoon, when coming back from Kelah hunting, we found that our campsite was "invaded" by soldiers (from the 303 Wataniah). They were preparing for a VVIP visit (the Army Chief)....So, that night, we were so lucky because the army guys brought generators to light up the whole area. We chatted with some of the NCO's and they said that the Chief was coming to fish.....looks like we share the same hobby as the Army brass....but we went there not expecting a bed and a TV with Astro....but I think, it's good to be the Boss.
We broke camp and departed at about 11:00am....just as a 21 RAMD Major arrived to inspect the progress before the Big-Guy who were scheduled to come on Monday (the 12th).
We arrived back at the jetty at about 12:35pm....From there, we headed for Lan's house near Gerik for some boiled tapioca, papayas and coffee. Some of us took the opportunity to take a dip in the nearby stream that run just in front of Lan's house.
Then, we excused ourselves and went on our journey back home....the last car (my Avanza) arrived in Bangi at about 9:00pm....Exhausted, tired...but very satisfied.....especially for first-timers like myself....
What we got from the experience? A lot....we got to spend the holidays with our friends that we usually only see during the office hours....we got to go away from the obscurities of the hectic working lives....we got to see God's wonderous creations....we got to forget everything and just have fun....and the most important thing was that we got to fish....and we got to hook some too.
All in all...it's a marvelous experience...and we would be looking forward to the next trip....may be to Kuala Koh or Kenyir....I don't know....but tell you what....I'll be going...InsyaAllah....
Signing out.....Haza...
No comments:
Post a Comment