White Water Rafting

Everytime I go back to Malaysia, I try to do something different.

Short of pigging out, trying to see all my friends at the same time contacting those whom I have not been talking to, watching all the shows that I'd missed in the UK, spending time with my parents, going to Hong Kong and South Africa, attending my sister's graduation and also not forgetting my dog, I am constantly on the lookout for filling my days with something extraordinary.

During the summer of 1st year, I went for a BBQ with friends at Pagan Lalang beach and played 'Ice and Fire' in the sunset.
I still remember Neo as saying this is one of the most difficult games he has ever come across at his age. Which is the same as mine.
See how old we are??

2nd year came and I went to Templer's Park Waterfall No. 3 where we had a whale of a time there trying to catch all the glittery golden sand in the pool.

The summer of 3rd year was cut down to ONE month and with it came the unforgettable Chemang Waterfall where we once again frolicked in its cool thunderous waters, like little children.

Then of course, like how we all grow bigger and taller, came the summer of 4th year. If you see my past activities, they have somehow all involved the water. I heart the water. So this year, I decided to do a little something different.
Perhaps a bit of adrenaline rush?
Perhaps with water?

Eureka!

So the idea of white water rafting was born into this evil world.

A few well placed calls, and then abandoning the whole project to Liwan while I jet setted off to South Africa meant that white water rafting -------->

Happened.

Of course lar, you think girls cannot organise stuff?!?!?!?!!

Another check by the boys (sorry, boys also need to do work) and we came to the decision that we will travel there by... public transport.

Well.

As we all know, Malaysia is not amazingly famous for its public transport.

Wait.

Make that NOT famous at all.

We have our pride and joy - the LRT (light rail transit) that takes almost half an hour to get from PJ to KL. Driving takes just the same amount of time, if not faster with little traffic.

And to get to KKB, the place where our supposed 'adventure of a lifetime' is supposed to start, we took the....





KTM. Komuter Tanah Melayu.




KTM. Not even close to the standard of the LRT. So of course, our trip took, yup! FOREVER. Still, it is cheap, it gets us from point A to point B and thanks to the lack of any announcements regarding what stops that we were coming up to, we half jumped out at the wrong station, screamed that it is Rawang and scared all the passengers senseless for missing their station as everyone seemed to be going to Rawang. For what I don't know.

But embarrassment aside, we got to our final destination with no spliced body parts only to find that of course, the train station is in the middle of no where and that there are no buses whatsoever to get us to the city centre.

Never mind! Take taxi! Cheap Cheap!

RM5 to travel for about 5 minutes on the road. Per Person. Make that RM 15 per taxi for a 5 minute ride.
Not Impressed. At All.

Anyway, in the end, we managed to meet up with the team that was to bring us on the trip. The lovely crew from Tracks picked us up and dropped us off at some random point, on some random road, on the slope of some random hill and here we were, the start point of our 5 km run on Sungai Selangor.

Yes, 9 people at the random point.

We then had a 5 minute crash course on what to do when the navigator gives instructions and also how to save yourself if you are in mortal peril.

Listening. Very. Carefully.

Sure, 5 minutes is way, way enough to educate someone on how to safe your life. But no problemo, one medical student that is trained for 4 years and another for 3, available to administer first aid should the need arise for it.

We then slid down a muddy side path to reach the river banks where two inflatable rafts were anchored.

5 people to one and 4 to the other.

If you are afraid, sit in the 5 person raft - because it is more stable. If not, the 4. No fuss at all. So we decided to split a girl to each boat but as Liwan walked over to board the 4 person raft, Mr Ali yells, 'Tak mau perempuan! Lelaki saja!'

Wah. Talk about sexism to the max.


Fine.

We all paddle very well lor, despite having 5 people (top and bottom 2 are the guides) on a boat... look at our concentration.

When the need to showcase our skills arised... we shone. When the need to follow commands the instant it is hollered... we aced.

So when the most difficult rapids of all - a Grade 5 one appeared...

We took it head on.

Sigh.

Just take a look at that. What a beautiful landing. Life is just full of sparkling moments of triumph like how the stars dazzle and hypnotise on a cloudless night.


On the other hand, the LELAKI boat, testosterone fueled and machoism at its highest...Got. Stuck.

See.... all the urban muscular males looking behind to their guide for directions on how to overcome this glitch.

But they then did this fancy thing and got out of the problem.

Complete with theme park styled expressions.

I should charge them a highly reasonable price of USD 50 for this picture in a frame folded from reused paper with the words 'White Water Rafting, 04/07/08' printed all over it.

Jeez, I like how I can see money making opportunities even when I am having fun.


Stop. Being. Jealous.



Back, to reality. DO Not, I repeat, DO NOT underestimate my boat.

HAH. Saw that.... Is that yau yeng or what.

We were also give a chance to body surf.
What is body surf you say?


A little bit of A B C from none other than me. Get your pen and notebook ready.


First of all, you get onto a huge rock... and pose like this:
Seriously. It is to stretch all your muscles and make your limbs as flexible as an elastic band.

Then you scramble to the edge of the huge rock and look into the waters below to spot any hidden rocks.

If spot-able, jump into the water, AVOIDING the rocks.
Sure if you want to jump onto the rocks and break a bone, I'd be more than happy to administer what first aid I can in extreme conditions like this. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to brush up for my finals.

If the water is as brown and murky as Sg Selangor's, slide off the side like this:
Of course, the gay-er the better.

Lift your legs up and let the current carry you down the rapids, and butt up at the correct moments to avoid shattering your sacrum. Or ass bone if you like it mentioned that way.

Also, endeavour to seal your throat and strife to avoid swallowing too much water, lest you acquire C. Difficile and get diarrhoea like how your grandma does when she is in hospital.
Ok, I lied. C. Difficile is a hospital acquired bug. But all of the other parts are true.

(I like how medical this is turning out don't you??)

Of course, by the time you doggy paddle to the edge of the pool (do NOT let the current take you down the whole of the river) you are as tired as a... as a.... as a...


as a...


as...... a....


asss......... aaa.............



....tortoise after it finishes its race with the rabbit.


We were then brought to a waterfall.

Stopping for the water fall.

YEAH. A WATERFALL AGAIN!

WA HEY!!



That guy is Boon, being.. er.. Boon.



Liwan and I doing our Loreal Shampoo pose.

Because You're Worth It.

How True.



So we ended by climbing out at another random spot by the river banks that brought us to another random tar road with a random van there for us to hide about its corners to change in.

Eh, if in the great outdoors, no such thing as private toilet with shower, pre heated towels or even a door for that matter. Girls changing on one side of the van and boys using the windows as a mirror on the other side (while being able to totally see the girls) to gel their hair is Normal.

Tired and happy.

How about upping the game and climbing Mt Kinabalu the next time?


I think I am too old.