Haven't updated my blog in a while. I got kinda lazy... haha. The long break have been really therapeutical. And my waistline have also expanded exponentially. Life is good... ^_^

Anyways, I took the opportunity to drop by CL's hometown in Perak. It was an hour plus drive from Penang, and it was a small rural kinda place. Which was a nice change of environment... especially after seeing how bad the jams are becoming back home. The lifestyle over here is way more laidback. Try imagining the township in Balik Pulau and you ain't too far off course.

That afternoon, we decided to borrow her mum's aging 2-stroke kapchai and explore the surrounding area. The weather for the past few days was worse than being shoved into a furnance. We wandered around before deciding to head off to the even lagi rural side of the town. The roads were practically empty, with only palm plantations framing both sides of the black tarmac.

Helmets were 'optional' in these type of places. Believe me, it was fun having the wind blowing through your hair instead of being strapped down by a hot humid fibreglass shell on your head. But I kept speeds low for safety related reasons and also to avoid ramming into the stray kerbau or lembu grazzing on both sides of the road (there's a whole battalion of those grass munching four-legged cheeseburgers every few metres down the beaten path... ^_^)

20 minutes later, we reached the entrance to Lata Tebing Tinggi. It looks like a forest reserve, not unlike Taman Rimba in Penang. It was pretty packed with mostly Malay families having picnics and siestas.

The main attraction was a freshwater stream, with cascading waters over several sections; creating mini waterfalls. We went into the inner section of the stream where there were less people, way more serene.

I threw my slippers away and dipped my feet into the stream.

I cringed initially, as the water was bone chillingly cold. But it was fantastically refreshing especially in the hot humid weather.

Really tempted to go skinny dipping in the stream... but I guess I'll spare the kids there the morbid sight of a slightly overweight naked Chinese dude... hahaha. It's amazing how relaxing soaking in the cool clear stream water can be.

Who needs a 15K OGAWA massage chair? Or some multi-grand heath-club membership to enjoy the spa to destress? Sometimes... the simplest things works best.

Nature rulez!