Cherating was GREAT!
Before going there, I was a bit skeptical coz after all Cherating was only a beach. Not an island.
We did not get to do any snorkelling this time but it was still fun.
Day 00 - Michelle came to stay over as we were planning on an early start.
Day 01 - The gals came to pick us up before heading for the Karak Highway which I heard was notorious for road accidents! We took it easy though. Even got to stop for ice cream on the way. So then after reaching Cherating, we drove around looking for a place to stay. Ended up at a budget hotel where we met a German Kindergarten teacher who was touring the world, two middle-aged Turkish couples and a Reiki master named David. Oh...oh...and of course there was Mike. A drunk elderly man who shook all our hands while flashing us his gold (plated) watch. He is apparently a muslim who eats pork. Weird guy, that one.
The place we stayed at was pretty awful. There were enough beds for us but we ended up sleeping on the same bed, all four of us. The bunk beds were awful! It smelled and stuff were crawling on it...or so it felt. The washroom was quite filthy...hehehehe...makes you wonder why we chose to live there huh? Well, I suppose we were all kinda tired. It was about 6pm before we decided to check in.
Went for dinner and a drink after. We also managed to squeeze in a few rounds of 'truth or dare' and let me tell ya, it was hilarious. Found out stuff about my friends that even I did not want to know. hawww-hawwwww...
Day 02 - Went for a boat cruise on the Cherating river bright and early that morning. The guide was obviously into snakes coz he kept pointing them out to us. We saw many mangroove snakes and a phyton. The boat ride was okay but a bit slow. The Taman Negara boat ride was waaaayyyyyyyyy better.
So after that we went to the Turtle Sanctuary to look at baby turtles. Cute lil buggers but I refused to touch them. They are after all...similar to reptiles in many ways. Cute though.
Then Lolita ( the German school teacher) brought us to this little cafe where the pak cik Muda taught us to make grasshoppers and prawns out of nipah leaves. That took us ALL afternoon. It's not easy! Lolita dragged us there coz she swore it was the best place in the world for Noodle Soup...which turned out to be Mee Rebus...but not really.
We then checked into a nicer hotel with a swimming pool and all. Went swimming before headed out for a seafood dinner. Food was okay but service was B-A-D. After dinner, we headed for our favourite bar to meet Lolita. She is one funny lady. The Ana that I had so badly wanted to be has much in common with Lolita.
If this trip has taught me nothing else, it has this. Life is about how happy you can make yourself. Sad and stresses out people are a dime a dozen. But the true test of human life is to be happy and content with watever situation you choose to get yourself into.
Within the group of people that went with me...some were happy, some were sad and some did not even know what we wanted. But the funny this is that I could connect with everyone. I felt secure, loved and in return...I have come to care for these people whom I have lost touch with for the past 5 years I have been away. Somehow having lunch together once a year just isn't the same as taking a trip together.
It is just beyond me to describe what this weekend has done.
They have reminded me of the person that I was before. The person that I really am. And for that...
I thank god for friends.
hehe...this is the reason why I go through at least one journal a year...the tendency to go on and on.
Nonetheless, I mean every word of it. Life is good.
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