Meng Chwen • Blog

View of the surrounding area from the summit of Gunung Ledang

‘Tis the tale of the fly from Gunung Ledang.
It flew from Johor to one state then to another—
First to Pahang then to Selangor—
And survived to tell the tale.
…
“From afar, ah spotted the car, a Proton Wira;
Ah would’ve preferred a Bimmer or a Toyota,
But somehow ah was attracted to this one car:
The moment it entered the oil palm plantation, and
Rumbled and rolled along upon the red laterite path
to the Taman Negara office, ah wanted to be in it.
…
…
The wait felt like an eternity—daylight departed
As Apollo raced to circle the globe in his flaming chariot.
As the day dimm’d,
…
…
“Who was friend? Who was foe? Ah wouldn’t know.
Ah kept my silence and watch’d through my eyes
As figures real and imaginary, cold and wispy,
Rose and filled the airy realm.
At long last, Zali came—he and his buddy puttering
Around in a crikety-crakety old motorcycle—
He unlocked the boom gate and to let the car in.
…
…
“It was a long drive—some forty-five minutes—
Along a windy path. Ah stayed silent the entire time.
Ah am black like the night, but ’tis night was darker;
Ah saw not much further than the car’s head lamp allow’d.

…
…
“T’was a strange night—yes, it was—
In recent times, our days and nights on Ledang
Have pass’d by without alarming incidents;
There was no news of ants swept off by the wind,
Nor concern should the morning dew came late.
Yet on ’tis night, the rain came pouring from the heavens
Some two hours before the crowing of the cock.
The rain continued—quite unusually for four hours—
Before it slowed to a rather rhythmic drizzle.

“When the first few drops came, Uur, the guide,
Was abruptly woken up from his restful sleep.
He rose from his hammock, and sat like a hawk upon a rock;
Soaking wet, he waited for the morn to don its russet mantle.

“Amir and Mei claim’d they’d brave the cool dark night
To stand watch o’ver the palace tent.
When the first few drops came, they were caught
Sleeping on the job. They woke up, quickly crept into a tent
Found a spot each and continued to sleep
‘Till the morn had put on it’s ivory cloak.

“At eight, the humans finally emerged from their tent,
Had breakfast and continu’d their trek to the peak.
All this while, Ah was comfortably dry my Proton Wira.
…
…
Trekked about an hour to the peak.
They’d step on little dried twigs and leaves
Along a oft trodden path that’s muddy and wet —
Shoes slosh in the mud and when out it comes
Deep brown soggy soil sticks to its new found friend
…
…

Mei Fong

…
…
“When the dust had settled, ah waited in my Proton Wira
T’was time to travel—eastward bound;
Leaving Johor Darul Takzim for Pahang Darul Makmur.
Ah followed the humans in search for ;
My thoughts could not be contained within me.
Ah’ve heard so much of the “Chicken Fish” grilled with petai
Ah could smell the stirred fried kailan with salted fish
Even though Ah was miles and miles away.
…
…
The car took a left turn at a junction to Tanjung Lumpur—
Ah’ve heard Ana’s Ikan Bakar Petai was by the sea,
And that’s where the humans were heading happily.
Alas, Ana’s Ikan Bakar was not where it used to be.
T’was gone! There, where it used to be, was only darkness.
Not even my distant fellow cousins stirred the dust.
Unsettled and somewhat defeated, the humans settled
For one of three other restaurant that was there.
T’was not a place of choice, but all were hungry.
And hungry people are never choosy eaters.
Ah wasn’t happy, yet ah stayed with the humans
And tasted what they ordered.

“Ah felt ah was a fool for not asking the citizens
Nor venturing around in search for Ana’s Ikan Bakar Petai.
When the humans departed after the meal,
Ah saw with the many lens of my eye:
Ana’s Ikan Bakar Petai across the main road;
Within it, humans mingled and jiggled—
The place was brimming with business!
Haish. How was it that ah missed it earlier on?
…
…
Alas, the fly’s whereabouts is known no more
For it has departed for other worldly adventures.

Mei Fong

Amir

———————

Gunung Ledang Overview
Elevation (feet): 4,186
Elevation (meter): 2,176
Latitude: 2° 21
Longitude: 102° 38
My First Summit: 14-15 April 2000
My First Attempt: 6-7 December 1997 unsuccessful; got lost

———————
Related Links:
• Ophir by Amir Rashid

———————

Just so you know, I’ve never been away. Just needed a little time-off.

In the Terminator’s oft-quoted words, here’s what I’d say, too: “I’ll be back.”

From the Cameron Valley Tea Shop, the group trekked through a scenic tea plantation before reaching Kampung Sungai Ubi. Ismail, whom I met over a year and a half ago, was our guide.

Ismail

Women of Pos Atap

Bepampan

Bahkerop, an Orang Asli, who is over 90 years old

The same two Orang Asli whom I photographed in March last year were our guides out from Pos Atap to the Sungai Ubi village.

All geared up after a night at Pos Atap

Let’s move it, move it…

On the trail to Sungai Ubi

Ammar

Sebastian

Strange Leaf

———————
Related Links:
• The first trek to Pos Atap in March 2008.

I took a night train to Taiping to join Frankie Tan on his charity trishaw ride from Malacca to Penang.
Visit his blog at www.thetrishawman.com for more account of his trip.

As for me, it is something new to ride a trishaw.

On my first day, I travelled from Taiping to Parit Buntar.
On my second day, I’m in Sungai Petani.

For now, that’s all I’ll write. I’ll update more (with photos) after I get back.

Frankie Tan with a paddy field in the background

Until then, watch the Trishawman movie that is posted on Frankie’s blog or chek out this YouTube Video link: