Thursday 29 June 2017

Pena Kembara #2

"Jgn lama2 nanti basi"

"Haha cite saya tak pernah basi xD"

~


Tiba-tiba rasa nak keep my travelog safe and sound in my book.

I'm more of a 'feel' person. I write when I feel it. Writing without the 'feel' is difficult. Am sure there are pros and cons in doing that huh.

~

The Before Story

Before embarking on the journey to Yala, I was slightly leaving a gloomy life in my little sphere. Felt slightly guilty for not possessing any energy nor spirit for the journey/mission/project. I felt nothing. Probably was in the 'I lost all motivation' phase. A phase I experience on a normal basis.

On the morning before the journey starts,

"Mak, ayah, i'm tired."

"Tak sihat?"

"No. I'm just tired of these emotions. Tired of fighting this heaviness inside of me."

"It's okay if you don't go. You can stay home and rest."

"No. I must go. I need to get out. I'll be worse if I stay."

It's true. Static water becomes murky.


Took a flight to Kelantan with Iman. While waiting for our flight, we sat on the carpeted floor across our waiting room since it's not opened yet. We sat in front of the large ceiling to floor glass pane. I could clearly see the calming sky smiling at me. Calm as ever. I always feel better after looking at the vast sky. No matter what happens, the sky is must always go to panorama.

It was also nice to finally be able to catch up with Iman and her dramatic life. It feels great to be able to tune myself into a life around people. My feelings were slowly returning into my vision. My wreck of a self was slowly rebuilding itself.

We arrived in Kelantan without a hitch. Spent the night at my sister's house, played heartily (and tiringly) with little Zahra and Amani. Iftar at Masjid Telepot (the masjid was very clean and cool). Very fast tarawih berjemaah. Colek at 'Red Card Kelantan'.

I love Kelantan. Something about Kelantan feels like home for me. Maybe because of its striking difference to the twon i'm currently living in and how it's not filled with excessive looming buildings. Quaint, is the word i use for Kelantan. Fight me all you want.

The more steps i took outside of my house, in a new environment and new sensations, something in me heals itself.

The hardest step is always the first step.
Letting go of yourself into a new world is always tough,
but, it's worth it.
Let yourself go and see what you'll become.
Let yourself go and find your worth.
Let yourself go and breathe in the life you're surrounded with.
Let yourself go and witness what the world has to offer.
You might regret it,
but believe me,
you'll regret it even more if you don't let go.
Because to get, you need to let go.

and, for some people, letting go of their own selves is the hardest part. The part where they stand in the path of no return. 'Should I or Should I not?'. Uncertainties. Doubts. Change.

and that's what every new journey reflects to me. Another step into a new world. Another forward step into a land of uncertainties. Little did I know, this world i'm so uncertain of, is a world that reigns under the panoramic view of my beloved sky. The sky that had always calm me and intrigue me, covers the doubts that walks all over earth. Wherever you go, the sky will always remain. As majestic as ever. Stability amidst uncertainties.

Thank you to all who made Kembara Yala/Selatan Thai possible :)

The journey starts from here on .





Thursday 22 June 2017

Pena Kembara #1

Here are some selected pieces of my short journey to Selatan Thailand.

Writing this while randomly listening to Day 6's Sunrise album.

Credits to my amazing Team Kembara Yala which comprised of me, Najah, Ceah, Iman, Acap, Kimi, Aiman, Kak Wanfad, Kak Alia, Kak Arina, Abg Zizi, Abg Nabil and Abg Arif. Great people. Grateful to be able to meet and travel with all of them.


Train To Yala

To get to Yala from Sungai Golok (the place where the imigresen is located/sempadan Thai-Msia) we had to ride a train. It's not like Malaysia's LRT or KTM. I don't think/ am unsure if Malaysia still have those kinds of trains. Trains macam trains dulu dulu. The old rickety trains we often see in old movies and dramas. Those trains without air-conds and open windows. Those trains without doors and you can just stand at the doorway and let the air hits you hard while the train moves. Feels great but intoxicating sebab i find it difficult to breathe when the air particles berebut nak masuk my corong pernafasan. Chill air. Chill.

It was a two hour ride. A very hot ride indeed. Thailand punya panas sangatlah panas. Fasting makes it even more challenging. The occasional gentlemen and lovely ladies carrying fruits/snacks/colorful drinks to sell passing in front of us in short intervals makes it even moreeee challenging *insert facepalm emoji* but we survived!

I slept for a bit, read Alchemy of Happiness for a bit, bored for a bit, stared at the scenery outside of the window for a bit, then ended up standing at the doorless doorway and inhaled sweet Thailand air while marvelling at the new world unfolding in front of me.

The train stopped at quite a few stations. Here are two stations i remembered :
13:46 PM, Lalo
13:58 PM, Riso

The wooden houses, the scattered cows and buffaloes that seemed to be with us throughout the whole ride, the local people and how they carried themselves, the occasional busy towns, the sawah padi, the vast and lush greeneries with looming historical trees, the Alchemy of Happiness and how i could really absorb its words and weight in the train, the heat that makes you want to melt and just stay in a pool forever.


I liked the colorful shop lots. Bila Malaysia nak colorful macamtu? hurhur.

Another thing I liked is how i could be a part of the locals and experience what they experience at least for a short moment. I could sit at the same seat the sat, walk the same road, feel what they feel and see what they see. It's interesting and an eye-opener to see the sign boards at the train stations written in a foreign language and the faces of the locals occupied with their own thoughts. It feels good to be able enter someone else's world for a bit.

A memorable ride indeed.

We arrived at Yala at around 14:30 PM. Alhamdulillah :)