It works both ways when you think about it. Time will either cause you to forget or remember stronger the things that happened. Mundane and boring things would be discarded, while happy or horrible events, may even be amplified greater or worse than its original state.

When it comes to writing a journal, time usually erodes my thoughts or wants or need to write. I'm less than thrilled to start on Part 2 of my recent escapade to the region of Selangor. But considering I better humour my sister who reads this (and lest she herself comes and pull my hair for not keeping to the bargained promise of 'sama-sama kena blog), I might as well continue. A warning though. It is going to be long (well, depending on my mood lah), and pretty average.

Part 2

The apartment that we got at the Commonwealth Forest and Park Resort, was a bit eerie-looking when we arrived. It was almost 630 pm and we were pretty tired. We did not pay heed to the sign saying "Please take off your shoes" not because we were too knackered, but because the floor and stairs going to our room, despite being well-polished, was a bit too out in the open. Our princessy selves were very reluctant to get our feet blackened (if the floor turned to be not as clean as it looked), or accidentally step on the taik cicak littered at the sides. We made sure we wiped our shoes lah.

As I had said before, the room we had (and yes, we took off our shoes before entering), was mighty clean, and very fresh smelling. Considering it was just below RM100 per night, I sort of expected a less maintained quarters, dark and dank-smelling (I may have been so used to associating cheap with bad service...), so the nice change was indeed very much welcomed. But of course, with a hundred ringgit, you can't expect much frills. In fact, it was kept to a minimum. I would consider that they had been very generous with installing air conditioner (they also had ceiling fans, and this was in a forest where the air is very cool mind you), and also hot water. I couldn't have been a happier lodger.

Called Ibu, but the line kept getting cut off because of the low signal we got there. When Ibu found out where we were at and that we were the only ones there, she worried to bits about us. Not that anything else could have been done. Sleeping in the car (which I imagine would be very uncomfortable), is far more dangerous than going up a steep slope and sleeping with 3 other girls in the middle of the forest. I ended up sleeping soundly throughout the night. Shared the queen bed with Alang and Dik Yoh.

Woke up early the next day. Gotten ready and had roti krim for breakfast. Felt like having a hot coffee (even if I don't even drink coffee) but there was no kettle (should have brought that traveling one with us). Got caught in a traffic jam. We had to do a U-turn because there was no through right turn from where we were. That caused us to be about 15 minutes late to data collection. The traffic light at Sg. Choh was a bit less hectic in terms of size of junction. But there were a lot of lorries and trailers. And the location is just as dangerous as Ampang had been. But because it was a three-legged junction, I was at the sidelines just monitoring the girls. I don't think I can do the site-boss thing all that often. I normally end up feeling sorry and pitying the girls (and even guys at times) if they had to stand in the heat and for long hours. They apparently don't really mind, they even enjoyed it they said. Still, can't help feeling kesian la. (nampak sangat kita semua ni tak used to hard work, for although we can endure it, but we feel like others, especially yang adik-adik, cannot...underestimate sangat kan?)

It was pretty boring though. Until it was approaching the rest period between shifts. I was in the car (Alang and I had waited at this stall by the road side, prior, but I'd gone back to the car to get some stuff), when kakell called and then asked for some data. I got out from the back, and closed the door, to go to the front, when I realised I had locked the car, with the keys and whatnots still inside the car. Haha. Oh yes, its funny now, but it was so worrying back then. I mean, we had the spare key at home, but ask Ibu to send it to us? Now thats funny. Imagine how much of a klutz I had felt I was at the time. Was calling up everyone (and probably had them wondering how much silliness I had in me to have locked my keys inside the car). Ibu relented and said that she'd come, when I had the idea (a brilliant one at that), to call upon the second team to retrieve the spare keys from Ibu.

Cut the story short, we waited patiently (drinking one iced tea after the other) and got the keys, finished our data collection, prayed zuhur and zoomed off to Kuala Selangor. In between that, some stall keepers had bought my sisters cool drink. They probably felt like the girls have been under the sun far too long. Kes kesian lagi la tu.

From getting lost the other day, I became an expert at finding my way back out to E1 and drive into Guthrie. We 'escorted' police van to Sg Buloh jail. Heheh. The way to Kuala Selangor was quite straight forward. There were scarcely any cars on the road, so I didn't have to potong any kereta or snailed behind some lori balak. Alang was a good navigator mind you. Not that I would have needed on on such a straight road. But hearing her confirm one kampung after the other as we passed them, gave a sense of relief to know, yes, positively we are on the right track.

Namun, cerita sesat kami did not stop at that. Just when I thought things were getting along smoothly, I arrived at a junction, one that I did not know which turn to make. We ended up driving up Bukit Melawati, on a very narrow tarred road, going up and up and up. Impossible that the hotel was up there, I told myself. And sure as sure is, I took the wrong turn. Tetapi! Ada hikmah disebaliknya! We got to walk around atop the hill, viewing the shore far off (kuala selangor), visit the museum, took photos with the lotongs (a species of monkey) and the lighthouse (I forgot the name). Had ice creams. It was a relaxing time because that was the last location for this run of data collection. I suppose it gave the girls a bit of a fun time, and it didn't cost a thing (cept for the ice creams lah).

There were lots of lotongs dropping up there. But at least they didn't do it on your hear when they dangled from the trees. Baby lotongs were orange. A stark difference from the older lotongs, black in colour. The babies looked like baby orangutans or an orange teddy bear. Observing them, you get to see a softer side to the animals (which was welcoming, seeing that a couple of days before that I was watching a documentary on how wild chimpanzees went around massacring other chimp clans for territorial gain...gruesome man). At one point, this male (I'm just guessing) lotong gently took the baby from its mother, so the mother could hop to some tourists who were giving breads to these prancing cooing creatures. They do look a whole lot softer than the kera behind our house. They didn't snarl at you. Nor do they snatch food from your hands. I don't know whether that is because they've become somewhat tamed, or because they are naturally so.

I was a tad bit disappointed that I didn't bring my d40. It would have been a great place to take really nice pictures. At least I had Ayah's dc cannon. That helped a bit. There were at least some photographic memories. The girls took dozens of photos. Claiming that they want to put it on their friendster. I can never understand the craze people have over such networking programmes. It seems far too....childish? And very voyeuristic.

I was able to observe the girls socialising. I can't say I actually approve of how they carry themselves. In fact, I reprimanded them a few times with a slight "ei, behave yourself". Too bad if they think its like treating them like children. You travel with me, you follow my rules. They ought to have learnt that when I had had everyone in the car buckle up before I drove (they managed to strap up every time now, without having to be told. It was nice to hear the click click of the buckles being fastened. Kind of like a happy sound, crazy as that may seem). This part continued on the next travel we had. Some nasty episodes there, but I may not even write them, for this have seem to be going on far too long already.

Anyway.

We got down the hill and drove finally on the right track to the hotel. It was an ok hotel I suppose. I preferred the one in the forest. It was cooler there, and way cleaner. Not to mention cheaper. Granted that they didn't have water kettle, but it certainly was a whole lot better in my opinion. I have this tendency to scrutinize every corner of the room I am staying in. A bit too sensitive when there is too much dust and dirt. I'd be sneezing and coughing a lot. Scratches are common when a room is dirty and dusty. There are five star hotels that do not give that much concerns to corners and nooks. It irks me really. We pay the service tax, they should at least get 5/5 for cleanliness, in fact, there shouldn't be a rating in the survey form for cleanliness, it should be a given. Dream on girl? Bleh.

Everything else was uneventful. It rained the next day. We started late because of the rain.

I ate at this Malay restaurant, kampung something, which was horrible. It was hot in there, despite being air conditioned. And then, when I asked for fruit juice : mangga susu, they brought me this sickly yellow drink with milk curdles in it. Eeewwwwwness. I really didn't know what to say. I knew it wasn't bad milk, terangtangtang it was just mango cordial, with a dash (lots of dashes) of milk in it. I really could not drink it. I asked the waitress three times, to confirm that it was blended mango (which I knew it wasn't), and she said, "Ye, tu buah mangga la tu". My inner Sakura was raving like a lunatic at her. Budak tu buat dono jer. Hish.

So guys, don't eat there. It's way too expensive for a place like that, and they certainly don't have quality control. Euggghhh.

Wrapped up early and went home. The girls slept at the back while I drove, uneventful.

The end (or if I find the time, I'll story mory pasal Gemencheh pulak ye?)

I certify myself a good route finder (who squirms when she find that shes lost, but has her head intact despite being at wits end on finding the right road back).

I also certify that I bite peoples head off when I am trying to concentrate on finding the right direction. Especially when said people makes too much noise which does not help me in the least bit.

Another thing, I sympathise with people too much. Yet at the same time, I am capable of holding a stony face when strangers approach me during data collection. Derang nak kata garang ke ape ke, tak kesah, talking to strangers in this age and time is dangerous.

Tada