Tea for Two
Hello friends, I'm writing to you from the Cameron Highlands (again). I went on a 14 km hike today! I'm tired!
We walked on a trail through some nice forest. The only trouble was part of the trail was washed out. I had the misfortune of slipping and falling a couple feet down the side of the hill. I survived with only a few scratches, but emerged covered in mud. But no leeches (yay!).
The trail went through some forest, past a nice waterfall and then came to a road. From the road we walked up to a tea plantation. They have a factory there that gives tours. Unfortunately, they were not giving tours today, which was a bit of a disappointment after walking all the way there. We did enjoy tea and pastries at the tea office, though, so I can't complain.
The Canadian girl I'm traveling with is making me pine for solitude again. Sometimes I just want to tell her to put a sock in it. I don't need to know the details of every hairstyle you've had since you were 6. Especially not after we've walked 14 km and I'm ready to eat my own arm I'm so hungry. She's also on an unrealistically tight budget, so she's constantly counting pennies. She's unceasingly on the lookout for people ripping her off and half of what she wants to talk about is money. It's tedious--especially when all the anxiety she's causing herself is over one or two dollars. I may be stuck with her for a couple more days. Sigh. I did bring earplugs. Maybe I can wear them during the day.
Don't despair, though, friends! I will not let a less-than-ideal travel companion ruin my fun! I shall persevere! The scenery here is lovely. There's rolling mist that moves in and out of the mountain valleys in a very picturesque fashion.
This evening I ate my fill at the night market. First, I had a crepe filled with chopped nuts, sugar and a little sweet corn. Unexpected, but delightful. Then I had a burger. Then I had something on a stick. Not sure what it was. We bought some coconut and sugar-sweetened rice for dessert. After I'd gorged myself, I thought I saw an ex-boyfriend--one of those exes you hope you never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever have to see, ever again (initials: MW, for those who are in the know). I almost yuked. Why I would've thought MW would be in Tanah Rata, Malaysia at the same market as me, I do not know. It really looked like him though.
Anyhoo, tomorrow morning I will visit the mossy forest and in the evening I will make my way to Penang! Then Thailand!
Hugs!
Lauren
posted by Lauren at 5:09 AM
5 Comments:
Hey LoTown!
It's so fun to read all your blogs. I read the last one about leeches and centipedes to the nurses on the unit last night - we all did a collective ewww for you. They were all worried that you were on some jungle trek all by yourself and that you'd get lost and die of gross bug consumption. I told them not to worry.
Then later, oh around 2 or 3am (you know) I was showing your blog to Jason so we decided to look up pictures of giant poisonous centipedes. I almost uked. I think I've finally found the one thing that grosses me out. Stool, vomit, no skin, I'm cool - but giant, nasty, lots-of-legs bugs? I crumble.
But to back track a little, while sharing your stories at the hospital, one nurse mentioned a CNN.com story about a Cambodian woman, who after being lost for 19 years, shows up in a remote, jungle village. I guess she isn't able to speak, walks like a monkey, and cries because people won't let her go back to the forest. She got lost when she was 8. But there's speculation that it's all a hoax. Have you heard anything about this?
OH! And also, when you get to Thailand, you have to find this particularly delish food. OK, maybe it’s also found in other countries, but I don't know. But it makes for a good b-fast if you also get a Thai iced coffee (which comes in a plastic baggie instead of a cup, weird). So its any fruit that you want, I always liked the pineapple and grapefruits, and then you get this stuff to dip it in. Instead of sugar like we usually do, its sugar mixed with peppers and spices. The redder the mix, the spicier it is (I think, cuz some are pretty mild and boring). But it creates quite the party in your mouth with all the sweetness and bitterness and spiciness...mmmmmm....oh man, now I'm hungry and sad I don't know how to concoct that dippin powder.
If I may give you a homework assignment of sorts, you should totally either figure out what's in that stuff, or buy a jar to take home with you.
Hearts and stars!
Mo
11:55 AM
ps - please tell me you got a nasty picture of the jumping poisonous centipede! ew ew ew.
5:15 PM
Lauren,
I have been reading your blogs since you started. You are a wonderful writer and have made your experiences come alive.
As older women, we are in awe of your tenacity and stubbornness as you called it - we call it courage!
As for the yakker, here's a hint. Have conversations with yourself in your mind. Over time, you will be able to tune her out while she is talking. It is a skill I learned in Human Resources work - just kidding (but not really).
Take care,
Kathy Pinkett
10:19 AM
Hi Lauren;
Not knowing where "Cameron Highlands" were located nor knowing anything about the area, I googled the term and found that it seems to be a rather nice resort location. On the map that I have, Cameron Highlands appears to encompass a relatively large area in north central West Malaysia. You ARE still roughing it, aren't you? We really hesitate to think of you lounging in some posh resort area.
I'm starting some new "fun employment" as you would call it, tomorrow, in addition to the fun employment provided by H4H. This place is called Bridging and is basically a warehouse that receives and distributes "pre-driven" household goods to needy families. There are a variety of "employment opportunities" but I've opted for repairing furniture and electrical items that need some TLC to make them serviceable once again. And, who knows, with all this valuable experience that I'm racking up, someday I may be qualified for a "real" job.
We'll be looking forward to the photos of the eeeeuuuuukkkyyy centipedes that momo requested!
George
6:29 PM
Loooooooo-ren!
Thanks for the postcard sweetcheeks! All the blogs AND postcards....you truly are the queen of queens. Mo was a little embarassed that you referenced the target incident and thinks the mailman might be ruded out, but I assured her it was too sutle for any of our fine US postal workers to infer anything. Besides when there are giant centipedes and leeches to worry about, thats barely a blip on the raydar.
My only run in with leeches is when I was fifteen or so and bored at the most boring place on earth, Itazty's (some poopy resort near mille lacs). Drunk with boredom I decided it was a fine idea to swim around in the golf course water trap and came out covered in leeches. I yelled at my mother to get them off and she promptly announced that leech removal was far beyond her duties as a mother. In retrospect, I agree.
love you to pieces,
Rachel
11:45 PM
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