Our destination, Kudat - about 3hrs away from the main city is a sleepy seafarer town, surrounded by gorgeous white sand beaches. its not my first trip, I come here more often than my own hometown!
We pretend to not to care but in truth, sunbathing in gorgeous beaches almost everyday is hardly boring. We don’t let the bosses know that we don’t really mind, they might freak out and not send us down anymore! But this trip…. Well, let’s just say its unexpected.
We travel along quite nicely, passing very scenic areas. Along the way I admired the paddy fields which was decorated with a mock waus dancing in the wind to scare off the encroaching birds. but no photo stops : (
One of my favorite pastime while traveling these roads is imagining what it would be like to go canoeing or kayaking whichever best, on the tame river running alongside the road, sometimes crisscrossing and sometimes disappearing from view altogether. I wonder where it passes through and where it leads to. For most parts its covered by huge dappled trees, some parts large groups of bamboo trees growing alonside the river provided some shade. I imagined myself lying face up on a small bamboo raft, floating along the river slowly, the leaves filtering out the sun, with streaks of sunlight escaping thru. Easy breezy, lazy dazy. Of course someone would have to stir and help me carry the raft at some parts, so I would need to get a partner crazy enough to go adventuring with me. We could take turns! Nice dream eh?
Nah-Ney and Oshean (like the ocean) liaison and guide respectively, were waiting for us at the side of the road of one of the village many lanes and pathways. They told us that that is their usual meeting place or rather lookout post. Not an easy place to find actually, given the fact that there wasn’t a sign in sight.
I had reservations on actually staying with a family instead of a hotel while completing the research and photo assignment 4 d brochure. It was the boss’s idea; I didn’t put up (much) a protest because I’d like to experience it and noyod was with me so i thot it wudn't be sooo bad, but I had my doubts about if I could really swing.
My foremost concern was the amenities issues. I am a creature of comforts. City gal born and bred that I am, without much of country living to speak of. Toilet is the main issue here. before we left KK, the boys were joking around bout the possibility of peeping toms. i got so freaked out about it :(
Meeting our host family was a bit more awkward. They were really nice people. For a reserved person like me these kinda things are never easy. Our host Haji Abdul Rani and family are Muslims. Nah – Ney tells me that the entire village is related somehow. So, by the end of our stay, we got to meet almost all of Haji Abdul Rani’s family member! Imagine that!
We had the rooms on the ground floor, while most of the family occupies the upstairs, we had our own little sitting room with tv. For lunch we had a typical Malay home cooked fare. My favorite dish is - Belacan gravy…ooooo nothing beats it! I ate it mixed with every dish! After all that stuffing, we had to take a breather, I simply couldn’t move for having too much! Hot weather, full tummy, a siesta definitely was in order. Zzzzzzz
Eventually it’s time to get cracking! So we trudged behind our guide from house to house, uphill and downhill we went in the scorching heat. On most of the stops we were plied with more snacks and goodies and we just keep stuffing ourselves!
All done for the day, its off to the beach! Yeah!
Went to a secluded beach lesser known than the famous Bak Bak Beach, lesser still that our very own guide cannot recall the name, however the local fondly nicknamed it “burung unta beach” or “Ostrich Beach” as there used to be an Ostrich farm around the area.
What fun we had! Noyod and i wandered a bit along the beach. We stayed until sundown, then made our way to Kudat town for my appointment with my other colleagues, who incidentally were also in town for our first time ever event Symphony Orchestra at the Tip of Borneo. Noyod and I was to assist, hence the trip to town to attend the briefing.
Reaching Kudat but missing d appointed hour, I thought might as well get comfortable right? I borrowed their room key from the counter and had a quick splash! I was told earlier that our own lodgings for the night was having water problem …. better safe than sorry i always say!
Alright! Alright! I caved! I cheated … but I couldn’t help myself … theres a limit to anyone's adjustability.
Back at d home, after the boys fresh up (hah! its so much easier for them!) we had a brief lesson in bead-making, a tradition within the Runggus community. Its all confusing and even after the lesson, both noyod and i are still baffled! Its fine when someone shows us what comes next but if we had to do it all by our lonesome, we're better off making a hanging rope!
The lesson was interrupted to make way for dinner. And what a dinner it was. My favorite dish was also in evidence and that is all needed to keep me happy. However platters and platters of other mouth-watering dishes tempted me to fill it up…. Hell, if you can’t beat em, join em! I can see noyod and the boys doing justice to the fare and I didn’t want to be left behind.
Later, we removed ourselves to our own sitting room. Hardly 15 minutes after we rest our backsides on the sofa chairs - Nor, our host's daughter came with more goodies. A goodly half of the family came down to join us and we watched tv together and indulged in idle chit chats, all the while stuffing ourselves with the goodies.
After the busy day, time for rest came at last, the sitting room emptied and all went to to their own rooms.
In my room, after changing into something more comfortable, i laid on my bed, staring at the ceiling, recalling back the events of the day. I couldn't sleep, probably all the food i consumed. I decided to look for some company.
In the sitting room, I found noyod all alone, watching tv. I joined him and we watched tv together and treated ourselves with a gossip session as we are wont to do whenever we found ourselves at loose ends. One thing i recalled quite vividly is bawling my eyes out watching the sad drama on tv that night to Noyod's amusement.
It was after midnight that we finally shut the tv.
Back in my room again, staring at the ceiling again.
Strange feeling, living in someone else's house, sleeping in someone else's bed. I left the light on, and eventually drifted off.
