the Insane Trip

It’s So Local

There are many things that tugs at my heart while being here.

I’ve always like having the wind in my face as a youngster. I would roll down the car window knowing very well that I would be asked to roll it up again because the car wouldn’t be that cold anymore for my parents. I would think that they were weird. Why wouldn’t they roll down the windows and stick their heads out as well? The sensation of feeling the wind on your skin is superb. Ask Bolt, he should know. (Bolt, zoom zoom!)

Not having the opportunity to ride on the motorbike much as a kid makes me savour every ride I get, up to this day. And so while I was the very happy passenger on the back snapping away pictures of myself with my hair flying and of Sakie being the serious rider, I know that other people would think me funny. Hello, I’m jakun okay?! Yes I’m from Mentakab, but takde motor lah beb. Nak lesen motor pun parents tak bagi, with a very good reason of course. Anak perempuan nan satu.

As I rode away from the night market happy with my newly owned lesung batu, I saw in the distance the nearby mountains, and I chuckled to myself. This place has too many elements of the many places I love back home. The mountains that I saw reminded me of Langkawi. That’s what kept me calm while I was studying there in Langkawi against my will; the view of the mountains would soothe me. Walking to the surau every morning back then was a chance for me to start the day sane. I would be able to see the faint outline of it as the sky got brighter.

Phuket also reminds me of Mentakab. Mentakab is a small little town which I find suffocating. Suffocating for it’s sheer size, and for the inhabitants that sometimes irritates me for knowing me as so-and-so’s daughter, and this and that. Mentakab however is a comfortable little town, and self sustaining. To buy buttons for your shirt, head here, and you’ll reach the shop from your house in not more than 15 minutes. Nice kerepek ubi? Somewhere near there. Cheap and decent haircut? About 3 minutes walk from the shop. Lovely bakery? Near the salon. Awesome cendol? That shop beside the petrol station. Pasar malam, wet market, not more than 10 minutes away. Easy. Everywhere’s near and convenient. It feels cosy.

Mentakab however doesn’t have malls. To balance things up, you have pretty Alamanda-like malls over here, with cinemas to boot. I don’t have to travel for over 2 hours just to feel the sand under my feet, and the beautiful blue waters isn’t so far away. Here I have the hills, the waters, the calm life, cool chill out places and modern amenities to keep me sane.

I’m in love with this place.

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