A quick escapade

It must have been one of the most treacherous walk I had in broad daylight. Walking down the highlands along the road shoulder with huge trucks zipping by was no laughing joke. As I held on dearly to my belongings as I held on to my life, I recalled the brief conversation with the young man at the coffee shop.

"You know where is the tea plantation?" I approached the waiter after a hearty breakfast at a roti canai stall in the small town.

"Yeah, it's over there." He raised his hand and pointed to the right.

"How do I get there?" I asked.

"Well... You can take a bus. Two ringgit. Five minutes. Now, already have bus." He replied helpfully in bits of broken english.

Reluctant to take a bus after a filling meal, I wanted to explore an alternative, "I see... How about walking? How long?"

"Walking..." He paused and looked intently into the distance, "I think thirty minutes."

So with his words, I set off in the direction he pointed.

The start of the walk was easy - a pleasant downhill stroll in the wake of an early morning. The weather was cool, the skies were clear and the sun was gentle on the skin. The path was well shaded by the canopy of trees that lined the road, the scent of fresh air was uplifting. Unfortunately, it was not long before the relaxing hike turned into a heart thumping journey.

About one kilometres into my walk, the roads began to meander, as the gradient got steeper. At the same time, the path also became narrower and darker. Huge heavy vehicles were whizzing past me, their drivers honking fiercely for me to get away from the road. Several times, I froze on the road at the approaching traffic, afraid that the drivers might miss the sight and run over me. At deserted parts of the road, I started to recall the stories that the innkeeper had told me the day before - incidents of how some orang asli had previously jumped out of the forest and attacked lone unsuspecting female tourists. My anxiety peaked, my imagination ran amok. The gripping fear for my own safety returned to me like an old nemesis. In my mind, I mumbled prayers after prayers.

I had no idea when my journey was going to end. I did not have a watch, and I was too afraid to take out my phone to check the time. I was sure it had been more than thirty minutes, maybe an hour. I had little water with me. My throat was dry and the sun was getting high. My heart was palpitating but my hands were cold and clammy. I began to sweat under my cardigan. It seemed like a never-ending crawl, until I finally caught sight of a signboard that said '100 metres ahead".

When I touched down at my destination, I would say that I was handsomely rewarded with a picturesque view.


If you have been around long enough, you would know how much I love greenery!

Seeing undulations of tea leaves covering hundreds of acres was definitely a highlight of my short getaway (or you can call it a runaway). Well, regardless of how many times I have seen this, I will always, always be overwhelmed with the same magnitude of admiration and reverence.

For there is truly nothing more beautiful than God's creations, nothing more captivating than the wonders of nature. As I took my rest at a teahouse overlooking the scenery, I gave thanks for the beauty before my eyes, the people in my life, and the grace of the one who has made it all possible.